Paul Edward Lynde (13 June 1926 – 10 January 1982) was an American comedian and actor. A noted character actor, Lynde was known for his roles on Bewitched, in Bye Bye Birdie and was also the regular "center square" guest on the classic game show, Hollywood Squares, from 1968 to 1981.
Paul is often cited by Seth MacFarlane as the inspiration for Roger's voice.
When Steve tries to come up with an idea for a school talent show act in "The Talented Mr. Dingleberry" after his singing is sabotaged, Roger pitches becoming his ventriloquist dummy. He shows off a scrapbook of his former act which includes several game show appearances. Later, when Roger turns more psychotic than usual, Steve discovers that the scrapbook also contains clippings from where his former partner Dennis was blamed for a series of murders and sent away to the Danvers Asylum for the Criminally Insane. There, he finds Dennis who reassures him that it was indeed Roger who committed the murders, killing the entire cast of Hollywood Squares in order to become the center square. Paul's body is dumped from his space in the center square as he is replaced.
