George Burns

George Burns was a renowned comedian and also an actor, director and producer. He was born Nathan Birnbaum in a Jewish family in New York Click to look into! >> Read More... , U.S. in the year 1896. His father, Hadassah Birnbaum was a cantor and coat presser while his mother was a housewife. George was ninth of the twelve children who lived in poverty. He used to polish shoes and sell newspapers until he found a job of syrup making at a local factory. There, he had met three children of his age and they created a group together who sang in harmony and used to perform in public to earn some pennies. He was forced into U.S. Army for World War I but he failed the physical test.

George started working in Vaudevillian theatres. There, he used to write comedy scripts and also did live stage shows. He met Gracy Allen, his future wife. She was termed as “Dumb Dora” who would ask stupid questions from George and then he would deliver his punch lines. During the tour, he realized, he fell in love with Gracie who was already engaged but in the end, George won Gracy’s heart and the couple got married in Ohio on Jan 7, 1926. The couple adopted their children, a daughter Sandra and a son, Ronnie. Both starred in comic short film in 1930s and soon became a popular duo. The motion picture includes, “The Big Broadcast International House”, “Six of a Kind”, “The Broadcast of 1936”, “The Broadcast of 1937” and “A Damsel in Distress”.

Later on, a new technology radio came into the market so the couple also collaborated with new technology to entertain the audiences. They both did classic comedy roles. The radio show, “Sugerthroat” received Top ten ratings for the rest of his radio life. The show, “The George Burns show” ran successfully from 1950-58 until Allen retired due to heart problems. George Burns created a sitcom, Wendy and me, where he played the narrator. He featured in movies like “The Sunshine Boys”, “Oh God”, “The Muppet Show”, “Just You and Me, Kid” and “Going in Style”.

He had also won an Academy Award for Best Supporting role in “The Sunshine Boys”. George Burns’s trademark was Cigar and arched eyebrows. He never likes the idea of retiring and thus, never stopped working. He has earned three stars in Hollywood Hall of Fame for Television, Live Shows and Films. He died at his home in Beverly Hills due to cardiac arrest. He died on March 9, 1996.