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.

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