Jan Murray American comedian Date of Birth: 04.10.1916 Country: USA

Biography of Ian Murray

Born on October 4, 1916, Ian Murray, an American comedian, was born as Murray Janofsky in a Jewish family in the Bronx, New York. His interest in comedy began in early childhood when he would reenact and perform shows he saw at a local theater for his bedridden mother. Sadly, Murray's mother passed away at the age of 42.

At the age of 18, Murray started performing in local vaudevilles, taking the stage in the theater. He then ventured into the Catskill Mountains, a resort area in the Appalachian Mountains located in New York State. These resorts, tourist camps, and vacation spots in the Catskills were popular among the immigrant Jewish population and were nicknamed the "Borscht Belt" after the dish brought to America by Russian and Eastern European immigrants. With his tall, attractive appearance, a soft sense of humor, and specific Jewish jokes, Murray quickly gained popularity and fame while touring the Catskill Mountains with entertainment troupes. He was also an excellent storyteller and host.

In the early 1950s, Murray moved to Las Vegas and became a renowned performer of comedic acts. Shortly after, he transitioned to television and became one of the first actors to host game shows. Some of his notable television programs include "Sing It Again," a musical quiz show that aired in 1950, the popular show "Dollar a Second" that was on air from 1953 to 1957, and "Treasure Hunt," created by Murray, which aired from 1956 to 1959 and was later revived in the 70s and 80s on different channels.

In 1960-1962, he hosted his own show called "The Jan Murray Show," and in 1966, he hosted "Chain Letter," a program where two teams led by celebrities competed. In 1965, Murray moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career and frequently appeared on the popular nighttime program "The Tonight Show." He appeared in various television series as a guest star, including "The Lucy Show," "Burke's Law," "Cowboy in Africa," "Love, American Style," "Ellery Queen," "My Two Dads," and others.

Murray also appeared in movies such as "Tarzan and the Great River," "Who Killed Teddy Bear," and "Fear City." In 1939, Murray married Pearl Cohen, who gave birth to their child, but they later divorced. In 1949, he remarried Kathleen Mann, with whom he had three children, and their marriage lasted until Ian's death. Murray was an excellent golfer and had many comedian partners.

At the age of 83, Ian Murray retired from performing. On July 2, 2006, he passed away at the age of 89 in Beverly Hills, California, due to complications from pneumonia and emphysema.