When it comes to the Hollywood craze of older women dating younger men, Phyllis Diller has Demi Moore beat by a country mile.
The still-spry comedienne spent New Year’s Eve with a hunk a half-century her junior!
While there’s a mere 16 years difference between Demi, 41, and her boyfriend Ashton Kutcher, 25, Phyllis stepped out with 37-year-old actor Ryan Cassidy.
“If Demi can do it, so can I,” quipped the 86-year-old funnylady in an exclusive ENQUIRER interview.
Cassidy is son of “Partridge Family” mom Shirley Jones and the late Jack Cassidy, but high-stepping Phyllis just shrugs off their 49-year age difference.
“I may be robbing the cradle, but Ryan’s a doll,” beams Phyllis.
“He’s tall, dark and handsome. We have a lot of fun together; and at 37, he’s still very malleable.
“What more could a girl ask for?”
Although Phyllis and Ryan have known each other for more than five years, they hooked up this New Year’s Eve – traditionally one of the most romantic nights of the year – for a party at the home of Joanne Carson (Johnny’s second wife).
“Joanne lit over 300 candles during dinner,” Phyllis told The ENQUIRER.
“At the stroke of midnight, we toasted by releasing 700 white helium-filled balloons with our wishes inside.”
Cassidy – who also has his own set design business – told The ENQUIRER that any man who dates the comedy queen is a very lucky guy.
“Who wouldn’t want to go out with Phyllis?” he asked.
“She’s a great lady – and lots of fun to be with. She even taught me how to play gin.”
Marty Ingels, who’s married to Cassidy’s mom Shirley, told The ENQUIRER:
“When Ryan told us he had invited Phyllis to be his New Year’s Eve date, I have to admit I was a bit taken aback. I asked Shirley, ‘Do we start calling him Fang (the name Phyllis called her husband in her routines)?’
“Seriously, Phyllis is terrific. Who cares about age?”
Story Originally Printed In The National Enquirer January 20, 2004
Ryan’s Side of the Story: (Because this is after all, The National Enquirer.)
He and Phyllis are indeed good friends and he agreed to be her driver for New Year’s Eve. He picked her up and took her to Joanne’s party (also a friend of Ryan’s). He helped her out of the car, went into the party, had a good time and the next thing he knew, he’s in The Enquirer as Phyllis’ boyfriend. Honestly, he thinks the whole thing is funny. (Honestly, his telling of this is hysterical.)
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