Jerry Bergen was a comedic actor and performer. He was in numerous films and television shows and he also performed on the vaudeville circuit. The Chicago Sunday Tribune called him "one of the funniest men in the world".[1]
Jerry Bergen | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 4, 1899 |
| Died | January 1986 (aged 86–87) |
He hosted his own short-lived 15 minute variety show titled Buzzy Wuzzy. He performed pantomimes and musical comedy.[2] He also appeared on various television comedy variety shows.[3] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette referred to Bergen as a "top pantomime comedian".[4]
Small in stature,[5][6] he was reported to be 4 feet 6 inches tall.[7]
A Billboard article reported that his first vaudeville performance was in 1930 in the afterpiece Amateur Night that played at the Palace Theatre in New York. He had previously been a drummer with the Meyer Davis Orchestra.[8] He also played the fiddle.[9]
A review of the 1952 show in which he performed at Ciro's London read, in part, "Way above the rest is diminutive Jerry Bergen, whose comedics on the violin rouses the customers and brings new life to a limping show. He's a natural comic and his entire act bears the stamp of impeccable timing and immaculate showmanship. Show would have been far more attractive had he been allowed to hold the fort alone".[10]
He appeared on The Jackie Gleason Show. He was also on The Lambs Gambol comedy television show.[2]
Filmography
edit- 20,000 Cheers for the Chain Gang (1933)
- Tomalio (1933)
- With Love and Kisses (1936)
- The Little Maestro (American film) (1937)
- Flying with Music (1942) as Wilbur
- Big V Comedies film short
- Let's Get Tough! (1942)[11]
- The Pirate (1948 film)[12] as Bolo
- Buzzy Wuzzy (1948), television show, starred with Imogene Coca
References
edit- ^ "Joan Merrill, Jerry Bergen Highlight Bill". Chicago Tribune. 1944-03-26. p. 115. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ a b Irvin, Richard (February 23, 2018). "The Early Shows: A Reference Guide to Network and Syndicated PrimeTime Television Series from 1944 to 1949". BearManor Media – via Google Books.
- ^ Inman, David M. (December 3, 2014). Television Variety Shows: Histories and Episode Guides to 57 Programs. McFarland. ISBN 9781476608778 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Carousel Gets Jerry Bergen". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1948-07-12. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ Wilson, Earl (1984). Hot Times: True Tales of Hollywood and Broadway. ISBN 9780809254279.
- ^ "Billboard". 7 November 1942.
- ^ "Ham Served Every Monday". The San Francisco Examiner. 1960-01-17. p. 199. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ "Jerry Bergen." The Billboard. Vol. 42, Iss. 13, (Mar 29, 1930): 25. Via Proquest.
- ^ "B'Way Revives Chicago Humor". The Times. 1959-12-29. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ "Night Club Reviews: Ciro's, London." Variety. Vol. 188, Iss. 9, (Nov 5, 1952): 50. Via Proquest.
- ^ Sherman, Fraser A. (January 10, 2014). Screen Enemies of the American Way: Political Paranoia About Nazis, Communists, Saboteurs, Terrorists and Body Snatching Aliens in Film and Television. McFarland. ISBN 9780786462254 – via Google Books.
- ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (October 27, 1988). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows, 1946-present. Ballantine Books. ISBN 9780345356109 – via Google Books.