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George BurnsAmerican comedian, actor and writer
Date of Birth: 20.01.1896
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of George Burns
George Burns (Nathan Birnbaum or George Burns, January 20, 1896 - March 9, 1996) was an American comedian, actor, and writer. He had a successful career spanning over three-quarters of a century. His distinctive features were his bushy eyebrows and constant cigar smoking, which became his trademark.
Early Life
Nathan Birnbaum was the ninth of twelve children born to Louis Birnbaum and Dorothy Bluth. His father occasionally earned money singing in the local synagogue. During the 1903 flu epidemic, his father contracted a severe form of the flu and passed away. After his father's death, Nathan began working to support himself. He cleaned shoes, sold newspapers, and performed various odd jobs.
At the age of seven, Nathan was hired as a syrup maker at a local bakery, marking the beginning of his rise to fame. During his time at the bakery, he befriended several children of his age, and together they formed a singing group. The kids soon discovered that adults enjoyed their singing, so they decided to pursue a career in show business. Initially, their quartet performed on ferries, in saloons, brothels, and even on the streets.
In the fourth grade, Burns left school to dedicate more time to performing. Like many artists of his generation, he dabbled in various genres and tried to please the audience with his singing, dancing, and roller-skating tricks. It was during this time that Nathan started smoking cigars, which would become his distinctive trademark. He also came up with his stage name, George Burns. He later revealed that he was inspired by two popular baseball players of the time, George H. Burns and George J. Burns, who had both achieved great success. He believed that their names could bring him some luck as well.
Partnership with Gracie Allen
Burns often performed with female partners, but he actively avoided romantic involvements with them. However, everything changed when he met the young Irishwoman, Gracie Allen. They soon got married, and their partnership lasted for 38 years until Gracie's death in 1964.
Career
In the mid-1930s, Burns transitioned from stage performances to the movie industry. Initially, he appeared in comedy short films, often partnering with stars like Fred Astaire and Bob Hope. It is known that thanks to Burns and Allen's indirect involvement, the famous "Road to" film series starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby was created.
Burns and Allen achieved considerable success in radio as well. Their most famous radio show was "The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show," in which they portrayed a couple who were not married, allowing for a constant stream of guest stars pursuing Gracie's character. In 1950, the program moved to television.
After Gracie Allen passed away in 1964 due to chronic heart disease, George continued to work in radio and television. He also published several books. George outlived his wife by 32 years and passed away in March 1996 at the age of 100.
