- Born
- Died
- Birth nameEdgar John Berggren
- Nickname
- Eddie
- Height5′ 11½″ (1.82 m)
- Edgar Bergen was born on February 16, 1903 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Letter of Introduction (1938), Fun and Fancy Free (1947) and The Muppet Movie (1979). He was married to Frances Bergen. He died on September 30, 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
- SpouseFrances Bergen(June 23, 1945 - September 30, 1978) (his death, 2 children)
- Children
- ParentsJohan Henriksson BerggrenNilla Svensdotter Berggren
- Ventriloquist dummies Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd
- His generous persona.
- Notorious for moving his lips much when he did the voices of his dummies.
- Reportedly left $10,000 in his will to his dummy Charlie McCarthy through The Actors Fund. The money was intended to preserve Charlie and keep him in good shape. Charlie's original name was Charlie Mack, named after the man who originally sculpted him.
- Was never a flawless ventriloquist, but worked the fact that his lips moved into routines; Charlie McCarthy in particular would rib him about it. Nonetheless, when Bergen appeared in person, everyone reacted to his characters as though they did the talking.
- The Muppet Movie (1979) was dedicated in his memory.
- He and his daughter Candice Bergen were the only parent and child to each make guest appearances on The Muppet Show (1976).
- Pictured on one of five 29¢ US commemorative postage stamps celebrating famous comedians, issued in booklet form 29 August 1991. He is shown with alter ego Charlie McCarthy. The stamp designs were drawn by caricaturist Al Hirschfeld. The other comedians honored in the set are Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy; Jack Benny; Fanny Brice; and Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.
- Show me where Stalin is buried and I'll show you a communist plot.
- {At age 75, Bergen decided to retire. His final show in Las Vegas was packed, and he received six standing ovations. His closing lines that evening were:} Every vaudeville act must have an opening and a closing, so I'll pack up my jokes and my little friends... and say goodbye.
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