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George Burns Biography (1896-1996)

Full name George Nathan Birnbaum Burns; born January 20, 1896, in New York City; died March 9, 1996, in Beverly Hills, CA; married Gracie Ethel Rosalie Allen, January 7, 1926 (died August 27, 1964); children: (adopted) Sandra Jean,Ronald John.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Birth Details

January 20, 1896

New York, New York, United States

Death Details

March 9, 1996

Beverly Hills, California, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; Television Appearances; Series
• The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, CBS, 1950-58.
• The George Burns Show, NBC, 1958-59.
• Wendy and Me, ABC, 1964-65.
• Host, The George Burns Comedy Week, CBS, 1985.
• Credits; Television Producer; Series
• Mister Ed (also known as The Wonderful World of Wilbur Pope), CBS, 1961.
• No Time for Sergeants, ABC, 1964-65.
• Wendy and Me, ABC, 1964-65.
• Meet Mona McCluskey, NBC, 1965-66.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Specials
• Host, George Burns in the Big Time, NBC, 1959.
• Ensemble, Startime (musical revue), NBC, 1960.
• The Perry Como Special, NBC, 1963.
• An Evening with Carol Channing, CBS, 1966.
• Host, Tin Pan Alley Today, NBC, 1967.
• The Brass Are Coming, NBC, 1969.
• Jack Benny's New Look, NBC, 1969.
• The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1969, 1970.
• Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Jack Benny and Were Afraid toAsk, NBC, 1971.
• The Osmond Brothers Show, CBS, 1971.
• Ann-Margret--When You're Smiling, NBC, 1973.
• The Many Faces of Comedy, NBC, ABC, 1973.
• Jack Benny's Second Farewell Show, NBC, 1974.
• One More Time, CBS, 1974.
• The Rich Little Show, NBC, 1975.
• Host, The George Burns Special, CBS, 1976.
• The Second Annual Circus of the Stars, CBS, 1977.
• The George Burns One-Man Show, CBS, 1977.
• Co-host, Marilyn Beck's Second Annual Hollywood Out-Takes, NBC, 1977.
• The Goldie Hawn Special, CBS, 1978.
• Bob Hope's All-Star Tribute to the Palace Theatre, NBC, 1978.
• The National Cheerleading Championships, CBS, 1978.
• Co-host, CBS: On the Air, CBS, 1978.
• Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Frank Sinatra, NBC, 1978.
• Guest of honor, Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: George Burns, NBC, 1978.
• Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jimmy Stewart, NBC, 1978.
• Host, The Other Broadway, syndicated, 1979.
• Ann-Margret's Hollywood Movie Girls, ABC, 1980.
• Host, 100 Years of America's Popular Music, NBC, 1981.
• Bob Hope's 30th Anniversary TV Special, NBC, 1981.
• Host, George Burns' Early, Early, Early, Christmas Show, NBC, 1981.
• Co-host, A Love Letter to Jack Benny, NBC, 1981.
• Host, Two of a Kind: George Burns and John Denver, ABC, 1981.
• Host, George Burns in Nashville, NBC, 1981.
• Host, George Burns' 100th Birthday Party, NBC, 1982.
• Bob Hope Laughs with the Movie Awards, NBC, 1982.
• Host, George Burns and Other Sex Symbols, NBC, 1982.
• Bob Hope's Road to Hollywood, NBC, 1983.
• Happy Birthday Bob!, NBC, 1983.
• Host, George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business, NBC, 1983.
• Host, The Kids From Fame, NBC, 1983.
• Parade of Stars, ABC, 1983.
• Bob Hope in Who Makes the World Laugh, Part 2, NBC, 1984.
• The Funniest Joke I Ever Heard, ABC, 1984.
• Host, George Burns' How to Live to Be 100, NBC, 1984.
• Host, George Burns: An Hour of Jokes and Songs, HBO, 1984.
• Comedy Tonight, syndicated, 1985.
• Host, Disney's Magic in the Magic Kingdom, NBC, 1988.
• America's Tribute to Bob Hope, NBC, 1988.
• Happy Birthday, Bob--50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC, NBC, 1988.
• A Conversation with George Burns, The Disney Channel, 1990.
• George Burns' 95th Birthday Party, CBS, 1991.
• Voice of God, John Denver's Montana Christmas Skies, CBS, 1991.
• Host, The Meaning of Life, 1991.
• Jack Benny: Comedy in Bloom, HBO, 1992.
• What Is This Thing Called Love? (also known as The Barbara Walters Special), ABC, 1993.
• More of the Best of the Hollywood Palace, ABC, 1993.
• Montreal International Comedy Festival '93, Showtime, 1993.
• Legend to Legend Night, NBC, 1993.
• The First Annual Comedy Hall of Fame, NBC, 1993.
• Bob Hope: The First 90 Years, NBC, 1993.
• 60 Minutes...25 Years (also known as 60 Minutes Turns 25), CBS, 1993.
• The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies, HBO, 1995.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Episodic
• Startime, NBC, between 1959 and 1960.
• Monologue, That's Life, ABC, 1969.
• The Muppet Show, syndicated, between 1976 and 1981.
• Himself, "Oh, George Burns," Alice, 1978.
• Alan King: Inside the Comedy Mind, 1991.
• Also appeared in Wayne and Shuster Take an Affectionate Look.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Movies
• Himself, The Comedy Company, CBS, 1978.
• Ross "Boppy" Minor, Two of a Kind, CBS, 1982.
• Credits; Also appeared in the movie Grandpa, Will You Run with Me? Television Producer; Pilots
• "McNab's Lab," Summer Fun, ABC, 1966.
• Credits; Film Appearances
• Lamb Chops, 1929.
• Himself, The Babbling Brook, 1931.
• Man with bone, Pulling a Bone, 1931.
• Himself, Fit to Be Tied, 1931.
• Himself, Once Over, Light, 1931.
• Himself, One Hundred Percent Service (also known as 100% Service), 1931.
• Customer, The Antique Shop, 1931.
• George, The Big Broadcast, Paramount, 1932.
• Himself, Your Hat, 1932.
• Himself, Oh, My Operation, 1932.
• George, Walking the Baby, 1932.
• George, a sailor, Let's Dance, 1933.
• Himself, College Humor, Paramount, 1933.
• Dr. Burns, International House, Paramount, 1933.
• Burns, Many Happy Returns, Paramount, 1934.
• George Edwards, Six of a Kind, Paramount, 1934.
• George, We're Not Dressing, Paramount, 1934.
• George, The Big Broadcast of 1936, Paramount, 1935.
• Himself, Here Comes Cookie, Paramount, 1935.
• George, Love in Bloom, Paramount, 1935.
• Mr. Platt, The Big Broadcast of 1937, Paramount, 1936.
• George Hymen, College Holiday, Paramount, 1936.
• George, A Damsel in Distress, RKO Radio Pictures, 1937.
• George Jonas, College Swing (also known as Swing, Teacher, Swing), Paramount, 1938.
• Joe Duffy, Honolulu, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1939.
• Two Girls and a Sailor, 1944.
• Narrator, The Solid Gold Cadillac, Columbia, 1956.
• Herbie Rides Again, Buena Vista, 1974.
• Al Lewis, The Sunshine Boys, United Artists, 1975.
• Title role, Oh, God!, Warner Bros., 1977.
• Mr. Kite, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Universal, 1978.
• Joe, Going in Style, Warner Bros., 1979.
• Bill, Just You and Me, Kid, Columbia, 1979.
• Title role, Oh God!, Book II, Warner Bros., 1980.
• Devil/God, Oh God! You Devil, Warner Bros., 1984.
• Jack Watson, 18 Again, New World, 1988.
• Wisecracks, Alliance Releasing, 1991.
• Milt Lackey, Radioland Murders, Universal, 1994.
• Himself, A Century of Cinema, 1994.
• Credits; Stage Appearances
• Burns and Allen, Keith and Orpheum Vaudeville Circuit, beginning in 1923.
• Parade of Stars Playing the Palace, Palace Theatre, New York City, 1983.
• Performed as dancer, singer, and comedian with Keith Vaudeville Circuit (stage debut). Also performed in Burns and Allen show in U.S. and European tour.
• Credits; Radio Appearances
• The Burns and Allen Radio Show (series), CBS, 1932-50.
• Appeared on episodes of The Rudy Vallee Show and The Guy Lombardo Show. Made his radio debut on BBC, 1932.
• Credits; Albums
• I Wish I Was Eighteen Again, Mercury, 1980.
• George Burns in Nashville, 1981.
• Gracie: A Love Story, 1990.
• Make Room for Danny, Audio Renaissance Tapes, 1992.
• Joe Franklin Presents Growing up with Radio, Legacy/Sony Music, 1995.
• Credits; Videos
• Videos include George Burns: His Wit and Wisdom, 1989.
• Writings;Films
• Once Over, Light, 1931.
• Fit to Be Tied, 1931.
• The Antique Shop, 1931.
• Himself, One Hundred Percent Service (also known as 100% Service), 1931.
• (As George N. Burns) The Babbling Brook, 1931.
• Oh, My Operation, 1932.
• (As George N. Burns) Walking the Baby, 1932.
• (As George N. Burns) Your Hat, 1932.
• Let's Dance, 1933.
• Writings; Television Specials
• George Burns: An Hour of Jokes and Songs, HBO, 1984.
• Writings; Other
• (With Cynthia Hobart Lindsay) I Love Her, That's Why!, Simon & Schuster (New York City), 1955.
• Living It Up; or, They Still Love Me in Altoona!, Putnam (New York City),1976.
• The Third Time Around: Confessions of a Happy Hoofer, Putnam, 1980.
• How to Be One Hundred--Or More: The Ultimate Diet, Sex and Exercise Book,Putnam, 1983.
• Dear George: Advice and Answers from America's Leading Expert on Everything from A to B, Putnam, 1985.
• Dr. Burn's Prescription for Happiness, Putnam, 1985.
• Gracie: A Love Story, Putnam, 1988.
• (With David Fisher) All My Best Friends, Putnam, 1989.
• (With Hal Goldman) Wisdom of the Nineties, Putnam, 1991.
• One Hundred Years, One Hundred Stories, Putnam, 1996.

Further Reference

Books:

• Gottfried, Martin, George Burns and the Hundred-Year Dash, Simon & Schuster, 1996.

Periodicals:

• Entertainment Weekly, March 22, 1996, p. 14.
• New York Times, March 10, 1996, Section 4, p. E7.
• People, March 25, 1996, p. 44.
• Time, March 18, 1996, p. 99.