Charlie Tuna

Gulf Beach News

Star Dies

Sunset Beach residents were witness to the tragic end of the life of one of television's most beloved characters as red tide claimed yet another victim.

City workers arrived on Sunset Beach early Monday morning to begin the clean up following the onslot of Hurricane Dennis. The combination of refuse left on the beach from the large surf caused by Dennis and the remains of thousands of marine creatures consumed by red tide posed a challenge to the clean up crews.

The crew worked through most of the morning when they came upon a sight that will be burned in their memories forever. As workers filled dumpster's with shovels full of dead fish carcases they came upon the remains of one of Hollywood's most beloved sea creatures. A shocked worker looked helplessly into the surf they stared at the floating remains of the world famous spokesman for Star Kist Food Products, Charlie the Tuna. Yet another victim of red tide.

Word spread quickly across Sunset Beach of the death of the aquatic superstar. Hundreds of semi sober Sunset Beach residents descended on the beach as the County Coroner wrapped the lifeless remains of Charlie in the morning's St. Petersburg Times. Charlie, or what was left of him, was then placed in a large ice filled cooler and was transported to a local taxidermist. Evidently Star Kist wants to have Charlie mounted and hung in the entrance hall of corporate head quarters.

Charlie began his career in 1961 when he was first cast as Star Kist's spokesfish and made the phrase "Sorry Charlie" his trademark. In recent years Charlie had fallen on hard times having to take bit parts in Disney made for home release films. Star Kist considered bringing Charlie back to the small screen but chose Charlie's cross dressing cousin Charlene Tuna, for a series of nostalgic commercials.

Family and friends have no idea how Charlie ended up in the Gulf of Mexico but there are reports that he became involved in the Jamaican drug trade and may have gotten caught in Hurricane Dennis. This would explain Charlie's tragic ending on Sunset Beach.