Jack Benny
Sign in to saveAmerican comedic entertainer (1894–1974)
Person · Open Library
- Born
- 1894
- Died
- 1974
- Works
- 13
Top works
- Loony laws
- Sunday Nights At Seven
- Grund
- The Jack Benny show
- I Love Her, That's Why!
via Open Library + Wikidata
Film & TV
Acting · Chicago, Illinois, United States
Jack Benny (February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film. Widely recognized as one of the leading American entertainers of the 20th century, Benny played the role of the comic penny-pinching miser, insisting on remaining 39 years old on stage despite his actual age, and often playing the violin badly. Benny was known for…
Known for
- The Automat — Self (archive footage)2021
- Mike Wallace Is Here — (archive footage)2019
- Studio 54 — Self (archive footage)2018
- The Last Laugh — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)2016
- Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration — Self / Shower of Stars (archive footage)2015
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)2015
- Beatles Stories — Self2011
- The Best of Johnny Carson — Self (archive footage)2010
- Pioneers of Primetime2005
- Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour — Self (archive footage)2002
via TMDB
Listeners · Last.fm
- Listeners
- 2,481
- Total plays
- 20,115
Tags
timelesscomedystandup comedyAllOTR
Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky February 14, 1894 - December 26, 1974) was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film. Widely recognized as one of the leading American entertainers of the 20th Century, Benny was known for his comic timing and his ability to get laughs with either a pregnant pause or a single expression, such as his signature exasperated "Well!" His radio and television programs, tremendously popular in the 1940s and '50s, were a foundational
Key facts
- Born
- Benjamin Kubelsky , ( 1894-02-14 ) February 14, 1894, Chicago , Illinois , U.S.
- Died
- December 26, 1974 (1974-12-26) (aged 80), Los Angeles , California , U.S.
- Resting place
- Hillside Memorial Park
- Occupations
- Actor comedian vaudevillian violinist
- Years active
- 1911–1974
- Known for
- The Jack Benny Program
- Spouse
- Mary Livingstone ( married</span>"}]]}'>m. 1927 )
- Relatives
- Robert F. Blumofe , (son-in-law), Robert Blumofe (grandson)
- Awards
- Golden Globe for Best TV Show (1958) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1957, 1959) more
- Allegiance
- United States
- Branch
- United States Navy
- Service years
Key dates
- Born
- 14 February 1894
- Died
- 26 December 1974
via Wikidata · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Given name
- Jack
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- United States
- Place of birth
- Chicago
- Place of death
- Los Angeles
- Spouse
- Mary Livingstone
- Occupation
- military personnel
- Genre
- comedy
- Instrument
- violin
Article
Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky; February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was an American entertainer who evolved from a modest success as a violinist on the vaudeville circuit to one of the leading entertainers of the twentieth century with a highly popular comedic career in radio, television, and film.
His radio and television programs, popular from 1932 until his death in 1974, were a major influence on the sitcom genre. Benny, with self-deprecating humor, portrayed himself as a miser who obliviously played his violin badly and perpetually claimed to be 39 years of age. He was known for his comic timing and the ability to cause laughter with a long pause or a single expression, such as his signature exasperated summation "Well! "
Gallery (2)
Connections
Categories
1894 births1974 deaths20th-century American comedians20th-century American Jews20th-century American male actors20th-century American male musicians20th-century American violinists20th-century autobiographersAmerican male film actorsAmerican male radio actorsAmerican male television actorsAmerican male violinists