Biography

Bert Lahr

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Slow warbling vibrato singing voice, most notably used in The Wizard of Oz (1939), but also noted in other movies including Rose Marie (1954), as well as on Broadway.
His iconic role as the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Judy Garland heard of Lahr's death as she was about to go on stage in Las Vegas. At her performance that night, she dedicated "Over the Rainbow" to the memory of Lahr, or, as she referred to him on that occasion, "my beloved Cowardly Lion".
According to his son John Lahr in "Notes on a Cowardly Lion" (the official biography), Lahr had terminal cancer but did not know it when he signed to do "The Night They Raided Minsky's". He agreed to shoot an extensive night scene outdoors in New York City on a cold December night, leading to the pneumonia that was the immediate cause of his death. His completed scenes were left in the film, which was edited around them.
Even though he divorced his first wife, he still loved her and divorced her only because her severe mental state made it impossible for her to function in a marriage. When she died, he did not speak a word for three days.
Had appeared in a total of 18 Broadway shows from 1927 through 1964.
On the night his death was announced, Judy Garland was performing in Las Vegas, and was so distraught she was unable to perform that night. The next night she sang 'Over the Rainbow' and dedicated the performance to 'my dear Cowardly Lion, God bless him.'.

After The Wizard of Oz (1939), I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions.
If you want to be a success in Hollywood, be sure and go to New York.
Mildred, why aren't my clothes laid out? I've got a seven o'clock call. [last words]
Cole Porter was a horrible piano player. 'Oompah, oompah,' he played with a slow, wooden tempo. If you didn't know who it was, you'd have thought he was a learner.
Hollywood is the only community in the world where the entire population is suffering from 'rumourtism.'