- Born
- Died
- Birth nameBenjamin Kubelsky
- Height5′ 7½″ (1.72 m)
- The son of a saloon keeper, Jack Benny (born Benny Kubelsky) began to study the violin at the age six, and his "ineptness" at it, would later become his trademark (in reality, he was a very accomplished player). When given the opportunity to play in live theatre professionally, Benny quit school and joined vaudeville. In the same theatre that Benny was working with were the very young The Marx Brothers. Their mother, Minnie Marx, wanted Benny to go on the road with them. However, this plan was foiled by his parents who would not let their 17-year-old son on the road.
Having a successful vaudeville career, Benny also had a greater career on radio for "The Jack Benny Program". The show was one of the few successful radio programs that also became a successful television show.
Benny also starred in several movies, including The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929), Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935), The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945) and George Washington Slept Here (1942), although he had much greater success on radio and on TV than he did on the big screen.
He was good friends with Fred Allen, with whom he had a long-standing comic "feud".
- IMDb mini biography by: rocknrollunderdawg
- SpouseMary Livingstone(January 24, 1927 - December 26, 1974) (his death, 1 child)
- Children
- Billed himself as "the Original 'Old Blue Eyes'"
- His inept violin playing
- Theme song: "Love in Bloom"
- Image as penny-pincher
- Never admitted to being older than 39
- At his funeral, George Burns began the eulogy but broke down. Bob Hope rose to the podium in a shaky voice and honored the comedian by reading, "For a man who was the undisputed master of comedy timing, you'd have to say that this was the only time when Jack Benny's timing was all wrong. He left us much too soon.".
- Had a rose delivered to his wife Mary Livingstone each day after his death until the day she died, almost nine years later.
- Towards the end of his TV series, he was waiting for his show to air and began watching Bonanza (1959), which started half an hour sooner. He wound up missing his show and said "If I won't even watch me, what chance do I have?".
- Jack's radio program that followed the premature death of Carole Lombard was canceled because Benny, a good friend and admirer, was grief-stricken. The time was filled with music instead. Both had just starred together in To Be or Not to Be (1942).
- Took his father to see To Be or Not to Be (1942), but he left the theatre disgusted when he saw Jack in a Nazi uniform. It wasn't until years later that Jack finally managed to convince him that he was making fun of Nazis not supporting them. His father saw the movie again and loved it.
- [Commenting on the vocal talents of his radio show's co-star] There's only five real people in Hollywood. Everyone else is Mel Blanc.
- [After being presented with an award] I don't deserve this, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that, either.
- [After being introduced by Ed Sullivan on his radio debut] This is Jack Benny talking. There will now be a slight pause while you say, "Who cares?"
- I began my show business career playing violin in San Francisco at the corner of Market and Taylor. I understand that there is a theater there now.
- [on Al Jolson] When you talk about the world's greatest entertainer you have to say Al Jolson, because there was no one like him. Only Judy Garland and perhaps Frank Sinatra got anywhere near him!
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