Actor, comedian, and impressionist most famous for hosting the CBS TV variety show The Fifty-Fourth Street Review. He also appeared on Broadway in the 1934 production of Calling All Stars, and toured for U.S. soldiers during World War II alongside Mickey Rooney. He is often credited with performing the first televised impersonation of Elvis Presley.
Before Fame
He was a teenager when he was chosen to be a protege of singer Rudy Vallee. In the 1930s, he began performing live impressions of Hollywood celebrities on the radio.
Trivia
He regularly performed as a comedian on The Ed Sullivan Show and numerous other talk shows. He also appeared with Ray Charles in an Atlanta performance to promote the Washington march led by Martin Luther King Jr. He went on to headline at a number of highly esteemed venues, such as the Copa.
Family Life
He was married to wife Arlene up until his passing of Alzheimer's disease in September of 2003. Together, they had two children, including daughter Darlene and production manager/writer Marc Price.
Associated With
He co-starred in the documentary The Great Radio Comedians, which told the story of radio greats such as Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, and Bob Hope.
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