Known for movies
Short Info
Died | March 9, 1996, Beverly Hills, California, United States |
Spouse | Gracie Allen |
Mark | His ever present cigar |
Fact | He was in very fragile health and could not attend his 100th birthday celebration in person. |
Payments | Earned $850 from Lambchops (1929) |
George Burns (born Nathan Birnbaum; January 20, 1896 – March 9, 1996) was an American comedian, actor, singer, and writer. He was one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, radio, film and television. His arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation became familiar trademarks for over three quarters of a century. Burns, who was a member of the First City Troop of Philadelphia, served as a private during World War I.
Early Life
George Burns was born on January 20, 1896 in New York City, the ninth of twelve children born to Jacob and Esther “Dolly” (née Cohen) Birnbaum, Jewish immigrants from Poland who had settled on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He was raised in a Yiddish-speaking home. According to a 1978 profile in The New Yorker, Burns grew up in a poor Jewish family that emigrated from Poland to New York City, where he was born. When he was four years old, his father died and his mother moved the family to Brooklyn.
Burns began working in vaudeville as a teenager, first as a coat checker and then as a singer. He gained notoriety as a comedian when he began working with his wife, Gracie Allen. The duo worked together for more than 40 years, appearing on stage, radio and television.
Career
Burns’ career began in vaudeville in 1912 with partner Al Shean. The team lasted until Burns’ retirement in 1949. From 1928 to 1934, they had their own radio show called The Burns and Allen Show. In addition to his work with Gracie Allen, Burns also wrote material for other comedians, including Jack Benny. He also wrote for film and television. He appeared in over fifty films, including A Night at the Opera (1935) and Oh, God! (1977). He also had a successful career as a singer, recording such songs as “I Wish I Was Eighteen Again” and “Auld Lang Syne”.
In the early 1950s, Burns retired from show business to focus on his personal life. He made a comeback in the late 1950s with a new partner, Connie Stevens. The two appeared together on The Steve Allen Show and The George Burns and Connie Stevens Show. In the 1960s and 1970s, Burns appeared on such television shows as The Love Boat and Fantasy Island. He also continued to perform in nightclubs and concert halls until his retirement in 1996.
George Burns’ net worth at the time of his death was $8 million. He was survived by his wife, Connie Stevens.
General Info
Full Name | George Burns |
Died | March 9, 1996, Beverly Hills, California, United States |
Height | 1.7 m |
Profession | Television producer, Comedian, Writer, Actor, Radio personality |
Nationality | American |
Family
Spouse | Gracie Allen |
Children | Ronnie Burns, Sandra Burns |
Parents | Lippe Birnbaum, Dorah Birnbaum |
Siblings | William Burns, Izzy Birnbaum |
Accomplishments
Awards | Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Kennedy Center Honors, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Saturn Award, Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album, Academy of Country Music Awards Gene Weed Special Achie... |
Nominations | Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance - Variety Or Music Program, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special, Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance |
Movies | Oh, God!, The Sunshine Boys, Going in Style, 18 Again!, Oh, God! You Devil, Oh, God! Book II, International House, A Damsel in Distress, College Swing, The Big Broadcast, Just You and Me, Kid, Six of a Kind, Lambchops, Radioland Murders, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Big Broadcast of 19... |
TV Shows | Burns and Allen, Wendy and Me, George Burns Comedy Week, George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business, The George Burns One-Man Show, The George Burns Show |
Social profile links
Marks
# | Marks / Signs |
---|---|
1 | Deep, scratchy voice. |
2 | Wearing glasses in his later years. |
3 | Played the straight man to his wife, Gracie Allen. After her death and his retirement period, he created a new image as an remarkably active amiable old comedian. |
4 | His ever present cigar |
Salary
Title | Salary |
---|---|
Lambchops (1929) | $850 |
Quotes
# | Quote |
---|---|
1 | Acting is all about honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made. |
2 | You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you're down there. |
3 | [on his act with Gracie Allen]: The only rule we followed was that we would only use jokes that were funny. If people wanted jokes that weren't funny they could listen to our competitors. |
4 | I'd announce that I was going to sing, and all our guests would make a ring around the piano. But somehow I managed to fight my way through the ring and sing anyway. |
5 | At home we ate fish every Friday, as Catholics were then supposed to do. Being Jewish, I compromised. I wore a hat when I ate fish, out of respect for my own religion and the fish's family. |
6 | Yale men do not like to be told anything by people who didn't go to Yale. The closest I came to Yale was once I had one of their padlocks. |
7 | [on vaudeville] When we played the back end of a horse we always knew that if we worked hard and did a good job we could become the front end. |
8 | [on meeting Gracie Allen] I remember looking down at her, looking right into her green eye and her blue eye, and thinking what a pretty little girl she is. I was hoping she'd work with me. |
9 | [on his wedding] The justice of the peace spoke so fast I didn't know if Gracie and I had gotten married or had bought land in Florida. |
10 | It's one of the old show business axioms. No matter how successful you've been, there's always a younger and sexier seal coming along. |
11 | "I never wanted to play Shakespeare", [Gracie Allen] a statement she had proved by becoming my partner. Instead we played Cleveland. |
12 | [as he was about to sing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" during the 1983 All-Star Game at Comiskey Park in Chicago] I not only sang this song at the first All-Star Game, I also sang it at the first ballgame. |
13 | [asked what he thought of Mary Pickford] I never slept with her. |
14 | [sitting in an empty movie theater] The first movie I ever saw was the first movie I was ever in. I was sitting alone in the theater then like I am now. |
15 | [on W.C. Fields] When he was 22 he played England with his young wife, who was 20. His trick was juggling cigar boxes. The star of the show was an old geezer who had a funny voice. The wife fell in love with the old man. Fields stole his accent and delivery, and the old guy stole Fields' wife. I think Fields got the best of the deal. |
16 | [about his relationship with wife Gracie Allen] The only thing I ever felt guilty about was a telegram we got in vaudeville. It was from [Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.] and he was out front and that was one of the nights I blew smoke in Gracie's face and he hated my guts. So he sends a cable saying, "I'll pay $200 for the dame, $100 for the act". I never read it to her. I told her it was from some of the boys at the Friars Club. Before she died I said, "Gracie, I got a confession to make. Remember that cable we got that time in vaudeville?" and she said, "You mean the one from Ziegfeld?" |
17 | [on how his act with Gracie Allen got started in vaudeville] Gracie was supposed to be the straight woman. The first night we had 40 people out front and they didn't laugh at one of my jokes, but every time Gracie asked me a question they fell out of their seats. So I made her the comic and the act was a hit from that moment on. That was the beginning of Burns and Allen. |
18 | [on Al Jolson] It was easy enough to make Jolson happy at home. You just had to cheer him for breakfast, applaud wildly for lunch, and give him a standing ovation for dinner. |
19 | [on Carol Channing] She never just enters a room. Even when she comes out of the bathroom, her husband applauds. |
20 | Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city. |
21 | [during Dean Martin's roast for Frank Sinatra] We singers aren't worried about getting laughs . . . see, nobody's laughing, and I'm not worried. |
22 | If you live to the age of a hundred, you have it made, because very few people die past the age of a hundred. |
23 | The most important thing to succeed in show business is sincerity. And if you can fake that, you've got it made. |
24 | [when asked how he got the title role in Oh, God! (1977)] I was the closest to Him in age. |
25 | [discussing his role in Going in Style (1979)] I had to learn how to act old." |
26 | At my age, the only thing hot waiting for me in my dressing room is a bowl of soup. |
27 | I'd rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate. |
28 | [interviewed in his old age about sex scenes] What actresses do today when they appear on the screen is what they did once upon a time for getting to appear on the screen. |
29 | Happiness is: A good martini, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman . . . or a bad woman, depending on how much happiness you can stand. |
30 | [on adultery] If you were married to Marilyn Monroe, you'd cheat with some ugly girl. |
31 | [at 87 years old] I was brought up to respect my elders and now I don't have to respect ANYBODY. |
32 | [commenting on winning the Oscar at age 80] It couldn't have happened to an older guy. |
33 | I can't afford to die; I'd lose too much money. |
34 | There are many ways to die in bed, but the best way is not alone. |
35 | I don't believe in dying . . . it's been done. |
36 | I use the cigar for timing purposes. If I tell a joke, I smoke as long as they laugh and when they stop laughing I take the cigar out of my mouth and start my next joke. |
37 | If you stay in the business long enough and get to be old enough, you get to be new again. |
38 | A young mind in a healthy body is a wonderful thing. Especially for an old man with an open night. |
39 | Bridge is a game that separates the men from the boys. It also separates husbands and wives. |
40 | I would go out with women my age, but there are no women my age. |
41 | [on gravity] Everything that goes up must come down. But there comes a time when not everything that's down can come up. |
42 | In what other business can a guy my age drink martinis, smoke cigars and sing? I think all people who retire ought to go into show business. I've been retired all my life. |
43 | Nice to be here? At my age it's nice to be anywhere. |
44 | [on his age] I get a standing ovation just standing. |
45 | Well, anybody can be a straight man if he hears well. You just have to wait for laughs. A straight man just repeats the questions and the comedian gets the laughs and you just wait for them and don't let them die completely at the tail end of the laugh. |
46 | You know, lots of times people have asked me what [Gracie Allen] and I did to make our marriage work. It's simple - we didn't do anything. I think the trouble with a lot of people is that they work too hard at staying married. They make a business out of it. When you work too hard at a business you get tired, and when you get tired you get grouchy, you start fighting, and when you start fighting you're out of business. |
47 | I did go to school - my kind of school. When I was a kid I went out . . . and you meet people. You talk to them. Anybody says something that makes sense, it stays with you, rubs off on you. That kind of school. |
48 | [on appearance] Take care not to wear stripes that are out of sync with your wrinkles. |
49 | Retire? I'm going to stay in show business until I'm the only one left. |
50 | Fall in love with what you do for a living. I don't care what it is. It works. |
51 | I've been a straight man for so many years that from force of habit I repeat everything. I went out fishing with a fellow the other day and he fell overboard. He yelled, "Help! Help! Help!" so I said, "Help? Help? Help?" And while I was waiting for him to get his laugh, he drowned. |
52 | Smartness runs in my family. When I went to school I was so smart my teacher was in my class for five years. |
Facts
# | Fact |
---|---|
1 | Along with Bob Hope and Señor Wences, he is one of three The Muppet Show (1976) guest stars to live to be 100 years old. |
2 | His father was an Austrian Jewish immigrant and his mother was a Polish Jewish immigrant. |
3 | Interviewed in "The Great Comedians Talk About Comedy" by Larry Wilde. [1968] |
4 | Was a struggling vaudevillian in his early youth, often appearing as a trick roller skater and in ballroom dance acts. Some of his acts were pretty bad and work was hard to come by, so he was forced to frequently change his stage name, appearing variously as Willy Delight, Captain Betts and Buddy Links. |
5 | At age 13, he charged immigrants coming by boat from Ellis Island $5 for dance lessons, telling his clients that this was a necessary prerequisite for becoming a U.S. citizen. |
6 | Brother of William Burns. |
7 | Pictured with wife Gracie Allen on a 44¢ USA commemorative postage stamp, issued 11 August 2009, in the Early TV Memories issue honoring The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950). |
8 | He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 6672 Hollywood Boulevard; for Motion Pictures at 1639 Vine Street; and for Television at 6510 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. |
9 | According to Phyllis Diller's autobiography "Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse", in the late 1960s Broadway producer David Merrick approached Burns with the idea of him playing Horace Vandergelder in "Hello, Dolly!" with his good friend Jack Benny in drag as Dolly Levi. The intention was to turn Broadway on its ear and revive flagging interest in the show, which had been running since 1964, originally with Carol Channing as Dolly Levi. This idea never came to fruition (Diller did appear in the show for three months in 1970). |
10 | Although Gracie Allen was in love with another man when they first met, he carried a ring in his pocket until she finally agreed to marry him. |
11 | The whales in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) were named George and Gracie after Burns and his wife, Gracie Allen. |
12 | Interviewed around the time of the death of wife Gracie Allen in the summer of 1964, he described her as being his "next breath". |
13 | Was very good friends with Harpo Marx. |
14 | In the early 1940s, during the height of their popularity, Burns had a brief extramarital affair. He apologized to Gracie Allen by giving her a new coffee table, and nothing more was said about it. However, years later, when Gracie was serving coffee to a friend in their living room, George overheard her say, "You know, I wish George would have another affair. I really need a new coffee table". |
15 | In the movie 18 Again! (1988) Burns' character celebrates his 81st birthday, although Burns himself was already 92 years old. |
16 | Was originally supposed to deliver the eulogy at the funeral of his best friend, Jack Benny, but he was so overcome with emotion after trying that he let someone else do it. |
17 | Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 82-84. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. |
18 | He was in very fragile health and could not attend his 100th birthday celebration in person. |
19 | Discovered Ann-Margret and made her his opening act in Las Vegas, Nevada. |
20 | Daughter Sandra Burns adopted 1934, son Ronnie Burns adopted 1935. |
21 | In the beginning of their partnership, Gracie Allen played the straight character and Burns had the funny lines. When he realized Gracie got more laughs, he switched their roles. |
22 | His first marriage was in name only. In the early 1920s, he was doing a ballroom dancing act with Hannah Siegal, and they were offered a 36-week contract to go out on the road. When her father objected to her traveling with a young man outside the bonds of matrimony, George and Hannah got married so as not to turn down the offer. When they returned from their three-month engagement, they divorced. |
23 | Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 78-80. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387 |
24 | Until his death, he smoked as many as ten cigars a day. |
25 | Took the name "Burns" from the Burns Brothers Coal Company, whose trucks he'd stolen lumps from growing up, to help heat the family home. "George" was a sobriquet his brother occasionally used. |
26 | He and Gracie Allen continued to play single, even years after they were married; declining ratings prompted George to "update" the act on-air. He said later, "We were the only couple on radio who got married because we had to". |
27 | Actually wore a hairpiece for most of his performing career; appears briefly without it in The Sunshine Boys (1975). |
28 | Best friends with fellow comedian Jack Benny, who also served as best man at his and Gracie Allen's wedding. Burns loved playing jokes on Benny, almost as much as watching him laugh (and pound the floor) afterward. |
29 | At the time of his Oscar win, he was the oldest recipient of an Academy Award. He was 80 when he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Sunshine Boys (1975). This record was surpassed by Jessica Tandy in 1990 and later by Christopher Plummer in 2012 who received his Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at age 82. |
30 | "The Burns & Allen Show" (on CBS and NBC from 1934 to 1950) was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1994. |
31 | Was a regular on the "Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts". He was even a guest of honor in 1978. |
32 | Uncle of Lou Weiss, chairman emeritus of William Morris Agency, who got his mailroom start in agency business with help of 'Uncle Nate'. |
33 | Interred along with his wife Gracie Allen at Forest Lawn (Glendale), Glendale, California, USA, in the Freedom Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Heritage. |
34 | As a child, he attended P.S. 22 and left after the fourth grade due to economic reasons. |
Pictures
Movies
Actor
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Radioland Murders | 1994 | Milt Lackey | |
The Golden Palace | 1993 | TV Series | George Burns |
George Burns - His Wit and Wisdom | 1989 | Video | George Burns |
18 Again! | 1988 | Jack Watson David Watson | |
George Burns Comedy Week | 1985 | TV Series | George Burns |
Oh, God! You Devil | 1984 | God Harry O. Tophet | |
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business | 1983 | TV Movie | George Burns |
Fame | 1983 | TV Series | George Burns |
George Burns in Concert | 1982 | TV Movie | George Burns |
Two of a Kind | 1982 | TV Movie | Ross 'Boppy' Minor |
Oh, God! Book II | 1980 | God | |
Going in Style | 1979 | Joe | |
Just You and Me, Kid | 1979 | Bill | |
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | 1978 | Mr. Kite | |
Alice | 1978 | TV Series | George Burns |
Oh, God! | 1977 | God | |
Ellery Queen | 1975 | TV Series | Sam Packer |
The Sunshine Boys | 1975/I | Al Lewis | |
The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour | 1972 | TV Series | George Burns |
Here's Lucy | 1970 | TV Series | George Burns |
That's Life | 1968 | TV Series | Cupid |
The Lucy Show | 1966 | TV Series | George Burns |
Wendy and Me | 1964-1965 | TV Series | George Burns |
The Jack Benny Program | 1952-1964 | TV Series | George Burns / Devil |
General Electric Theater | 1959 | TV Series | Eddie Martin |
Startime | 1959 | TV Series | George Burns |
The Bob Cummings Show | 1955-1959 | TV Series | George Burns |
The George Burns Show | 1958-1959 | TV Series | George Burns |
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show | 1950-1958 | TV Series | George Burns |
The Jackie Gleason Show | 1957 | TV Series | George Burns |
The Solid Gold Cadillac | 1956 | Narrator (voice) | |
Honolulu | 1939 | Joe Duffy | |
College Swing | 1938 | George Jonas | |
A Damsel in Distress | 1937 | George | |
College Holiday | 1936 | George Hymen | |
The Big Broadcast of 1937 | 1936 | Mr. Platt | |
The Big Broadcast of 1936 | 1935 | George Burns | |
Here Comes Cookie | 1935 | George Burns | |
Love in Bloom | 1935 | George | |
Many Happy Returns | 1934 | George Burns | |
We're Not Dressing | 1934 | George | |
Six of a Kind | 1934 | George Edward | |
College Humor | 1933 | George | |
International House | 1933 | Doctor Burns | |
Walking the Baby | 1933 | Short | George (as Burns) |
Let's Dance | 1933 | Short | George, a Sailor (as Burns) |
Your Hat | 1932 | Short | Hat Salesman (as Burns) |
The Big Broadcast | 1932 | George | |
The Babbling Book | 1932 | Short | George (as Burns) |
Oh, My Operation | 1931 | Short | The New Patient (as Burns) |
100% Service | 1931 | Short | George (as Burns) |
Once Over, Light | 1931 | Short | Barbershop Customer (as Burns) |
The Antique Shop | 1931 | Short | Customer (as Burns) |
Pulling a Bone | 1931 | Short | Man with Bone |
Fit to Be Tied | 1930 | Short | A Tie Customer (as Burns) |
Lambchops | 1929 | Short | George the Boyfriend (as Burns) |
Producer
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
McNab's Lab | 1966 | TV Movie producer | |
Summer Fun | 1966 | TV Series producer - 1 episode | |
Mona McCluskey | TV Series executive producer - 24 episodes, 1965 - 1966 producer - 2 episodes, 1965 | ||
Wendy and Me | 1964-1965 | TV Series producer - 34 episodes | |
No Time for Sergeants | 1964 | TV Series executive producer - 3 episodes | |
Maggie | 1960 | TV Movie executive producer | |
Mister Ed | 1958 | TV Series producer - 1 episode | |
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show | 1950-1957 | TV Series executive producer - 46 episodes |
Soundtrack
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Mwah! The Best of the Dinah Shore Show | 2003 | TV Movie documentary performer: "I Ain't Got Nobody" | |
Young at Heart | 1987 | Documentary short performer: "Young at Heart" | |
George Burns' 90th Birthday Party: A Very Special Special | 1986 | TV Special performer: "Good Old Bad Old Days" | |
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business | 1983 | TV Movie performer: "Lovey Joe" | |
Parade of Stars | 1983 | TV Movie performer: "Young at Heart" | |
George Burns' Early, Early, Early Christmas Special | 1981 | TV Special performer: "White Christmas" uncredited, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" uncredited, "Winter Wonderland" uncredited, "Just Send Me One" uncredited, "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You", "Tea for Two/I Ain't Got Nobody" uncredited, "It All Depends on You" uncredited, "You Made Me Love You" uncredited, "Using Things and Loving People" uncredited | |
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | 1978 | performer: "Fixing A Hole", "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite", "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" Finale | |
The George Burns One-Man Show | 1977 | TV Special performer: "Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl, And Leave the Rest to Me", "All That I Want is You", "I'll Buy the Ring And Change Your Name to Mine", "Do You Believe Me?", "I Ain't Got Nobody", "Good Old Bad Old Days" | |
The Muppet Show | 1977 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
The Captain and Tennille | 1977 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
The George Burns Special | 1976 | TV Special performer: "I'll Buy the Ring And Change Your Name to Mine" uncredited, "Not Your'n", "Goodnight, Little Girl, Goodnight", "April Showers", "Grizzly Bear", "Don't Take Me Home", "The Only Way to Go" | |
The Lion Roars Again | 1975 | Documentary short performer: "Not Your'n" | |
The Danny Kaye Show | 1967 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
The Hollywood Palace | 1965 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show | 1961 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
The George Burns Show | 1960 | TV Special performer: "Doin' the Grizzly Bear", "The Red Rose Rag" - uncredited | |
Startime | 1959 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show | 1951-1957 | TV Series performer - 15 episodes | |
Honolulu | 1939 | performer: "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" 1938 - uncredited | |
College Swing | 1938 | performer: "What A Rumba Does To Romance" | |
A Damsel in Distress | 1937 | performer: "Put Me to the Test" I've Just Begun to Live 1937, "Stiff Upper Lip" 1937 - uncredited | |
International House | 1933 | "Comin' Thro' the Rye", uncredited | |
Lambchops | 1929 | Short performer: "Do You Believe Me?" - uncredited |
Writer
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Walking the Baby | 1933 | Short story - as George N. Burns | |
Let's Dance | 1933 | Short story - as George N. Burns | |
Your Hat | 1932 | Short story - as George N. Burns | |
The Big Broadcast | 1932 | additional dialogue - uncredited | |
The Babbling Book | 1932 | Short story - as George N. Burns | |
Oh, My Operation | 1931 | Short story - as George N. Burns | |
100% Service | 1931 | Short story - as George N. Burns | |
Once Over, Light | 1931 | Short story - as George N. Burns | |
The Antique Shop | 1931 | Short story - as George N. Burns | |
Fit to Be Tied | 1930 | Short story - as George N. Burns |
Production Manager
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
No Time for Sergeants | 1965 | TV Series production under the supervision of - 1 episode |
Thanks
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Donald Little Hands | 2016 | Video short in memory of |
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Bob Hope Laughs with the Movie Awards | 1982 | TV Special | |
Night of 100 Stars | 1982 | TV Special | Himself |
George Burns' Early, Early, Early Christmas Special | 1981 | TV Special | George Burns |
Live from Studio 8H: 100 Years of America's Popular Music | 1981 | TV Special | |
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Fred Astaire | 1981 | TV Movie documentary | Himself (uncredited) |
John Denver with His Special Guest George Burns: Two of a Kind | 1981 | TV Special | Himself |
A Love Letter to Jack Benny | 1981 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
New American Bandstand 1965 | 1981 | TV Series | Himself |
Bob Hope's 30th Anniversary Special | 1981 | TV Special | Himself |
George Burns in Nashville | 1980 | TV Special | George Burns |
Ann-Margret: Hollywood Movie Girls | 1980 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
The 22nd Annual Grammy Awards | 1980 | TV Special | Himself |
The Annual Friars Club Tribute Presents a Salute to Milton Berle | 1980 | TV Movie | Himself |
The Best Joke I Ever Heard | 1980 | TV Mini-Series | Himself |
The Mike Douglas Show | 1975-1979 | TV Series | Himself - Comedian |
Good Morning America | 1979 | TV Series | Himself |
The 51st Annual Academy Awards | 1979 | TV Special documentary | Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
George Burns' 100th Birthday Party | 1979 | TV Movie | Himself |
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy | 1978 | TV Special | George Burns |
Movie Movie | 1978 | Himself - Introductory Segments (uncredited) | |
The Comedy Company | 1978 | TV Movie | Himself |
Happy Birthday, Bob | 1978 | TV Special | Himself |
The Road to Eltham | 1978 | TV Movie | Himself |
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: George Burns | 1978 | TV Special | Himself |
Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jimmy Stewart | 1978 | TV Special | Himself |
CBS: On the Air | 1978 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Himself |
The Goldie Hawn Special | 1978 | TV Special | Himself |
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Frank Sinatra | 1978 | TV Special | Himself |
Science Fiction Film Awards | 1978 | TV Movie documentary | Himself - Winner |
Bob Hope's All-Star Tribute to the Palace Theater | 1978 | TV Movie | Himself |
Circus of the Stars #2 | 1977 | TV Special | Himself - Performer |
The George Burns One-Man Show | 1977 | TV Special | George Burns |
Hollywood Out-Takes | 1977 | TV Movie | Himself - Host |
The Muppet Show | 1977 | TV Series | Himself - Special Guest Star |
The People's Command Performance: '77 | 1977 | TV Movie | Himself - Host |
The Captain and Tennille | 1977 | TV Series | Himself |
The George Burns Special | 1976 | TV Special | George Burns |
Donny and Marie | 1976 | TV Series | Himself |
Dinah! | 1975-1976 | TV Series | Himself |
Festival of Entertainment | 1976 | TV Movie | Himself |
The 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1976 | TV Special | Himself - Performer |
The 48th Annual Academy Awards | 1976 | TV Special | Himself |
Joys | 1976 | TV Special | Himself |
The 2nd Annual People's Choice Awards | 1976 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Introducing Sally Kellerman to Stage |
The Merv Griffin Show | 1971-1976 | TV Series | Himself |
Friars Club Tribute to Gene Kelly | 1976 | TV Movie | Himself - Speaker |
The Lion Roars Again | 1975 | Documentary short | Himself |
Cher | 1975 | TV Series | Himself |
The 1975 Annual Entertainment Hall of Fame Awards | 1975 | TV Special | Himself |
The Smothers Brothers Show | 1975 | TV Series | Himself - Cameo |
The Sunshine Boys | 1975/II | Documentary short | Himself |
ABC Late Night | 1974 | TV Series | Himself |
Music Country U.S.A. | 1974 | TV Series | Himself |
The Dean Martin Show | 1966-1974 | TV Series | Himself |
Jack Benny's Second Farewell Special | 1974 | TV Special | George Burns |
A Look at the World of SOYLENT GREEN | 1973 | Documentary short | Himself (uncredited) |
Ann-Margret: When You're Smiling | 1973 | TV Movie | Himself |
Dean Martin Presents: The Bobby Darin Amusement Co. | 1972 | TV Series | Himself |
The Great Radio Comedians | 1972 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
The Dick Cavett Show | 1971 | TV Series | Himself |
This Is Your Life | 1971 | TV Series | Himself |
The David Frost Show | 1970-1971 | TV Series | Himself |
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Jack Benny But Were Afraid to Ask | 1971 | TV Special | Himself |
Swing Out, Sweet Land | 1970 | TV Movie | Himself |
The Bob Hope Show | 1970 | TV Series | Himself |
The Ed Sullivan Show | 1957-1970 | TV Series | Himself - Comedian / Himself |
The Darin Invasion | 1970 | TV Movie | Himself |
The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians | 1970 | TV Movie | Himself (voice) |
Della | 1970 | TV Series | Himself |
The Kraft Music Hall | 1967-1970 | TV Series | Himself / Himself - Host |
The Jackie Gleason Show | 1968-1970 | TV Series | Himself |
The Max Bygraves Hour | 1970 | TV Special | Himself |
Jack Benny's New Look | 1969 | TV Special | George Burns |
Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters | 1969 | TV Series | Himself |
The Joey Bishop Show | 1967-1969 | TV Series | Himself |
This Is Tom Jones | 1969 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
The Steve Allen Show | 1968 | TV Series | Himself |
Carnival Nights | 1968 | TV Special | Himself (Cameo) |
Carol Channing and 101 Men | 1968 | TV Movie | Himself (uncredited) |
The Pat Boone Show | 1967 | TV Series | Himself |
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour | 1967 | TV Series | Himself |
The Hollywood Palace | 1964-1967 | TV Series | Himself - Host / Himself - Singer / Himself |
The Danny Kaye Show | 1967 | TV Series | Himself |
All About People | 1967 | Documentary short | Narrator (voice) |
An Evening with Carol Channing | 1966 | TV Special | Himself |
Sing Along with Mitch | 1964 | TV Series | Himself |
What's My Line? | 1954-1964 | TV Series | Himself - Mystery Guest |
Music Shop | 1963 | TV Movie | Himself |
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall | 1963 | TV Series | Himself |
The Jack Paar Program | 1962-1963 | TV Series | Himself |
Here's Hollywood | 1962 | TV Series | Himself |
The Jack Paar Tonight Show | 1958-1962 | TV Series | Himself |
Keyhole | 1961 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show | 1959-1961 | TV Series | Himself |
The Royal Variety Performance 1961 | 1961 | TV Movie | Himself |
The DuPont Show of the Week | 1961 | TV Series | Himself - Narrator |
The Garry Moore Show | 1961 | TV Series | Himself |
The David Susskind Show | 1960 | TV Series | Himself |
The George Burns Show | 1960 | TV Special | George Burns |
This Is Your Life | 1955-1959 | TV Series | Himself |
The Eddie Fisher Show | 1958 | TV Series | Himself |
The All-Star Christmas Show | 1958 | TV Movie | Himself |
Shower of Stars | 1956-1958 | TV Series | Himself |
The World Our Stage | 1957 | TV Movie | Himself - Broadcast from America |
Climax! | 1956 | TV Series | Himself |
Hollywood Mothers and Fathers | 1955 | Documentary short | Himself |
Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Beauty | 1955 | Documentary short | Himself |
Screen Snapshots 7855: Pennies from Hollywood | 1955 | Short | Himself - Commentator |
The Jack Benny Program | 1953 | TV Series | Himself |
Stars in the Eye | 1952 | TV Special | George Burns |
Olympic Fund Telethon | 1952 | TV Special | Himself |
Screen Snapshots 9860: Hollywood Friars Honor George Jessel | 1948 | Short | Himself - Speaker |
Screen Snapshots Series 25, No. 10: Famous Fathers and Sons | 1946 | Documentary short | Himself |
Hollywood on Parade No. A-9 | 1933 | Short | Himself (uncredited) |
Hollywood on Parade No. A-2 | 1932 | Short | Himself |
Bobby Darin: The Darin Invasion | 2003 | Video | Himself |
Television: The First Fifty Years | 1999 | Video documentary | Himself - Interviewee |
Biography | 1996 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
The 68th Annual Academy Awards | 1996 | TV Special | Himself - Memorial Tribute |
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies | 1995 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
1st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | 1995 | TV Special | Himself |
A Century of Cinema | 1994 | Documentary | Himself |
Phenom | 1994 | TV Series | Himself |
Legend to Legend Night: A Celebrity Cavalcade | 1993 | TV Special | Himself |
Montreal International Comedy Festival '93 | 1993 | TV Movie | Himself |
Bob Hope: The First 90 Years | 1993 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
The First Annual Comedy Hall of Fame | 1993 | TV Movie | Himself / Inductee |
Jack Benny: Comedy in Bloom | 1992 | TV Movie documentary | George Burns |
Live with Kelly and Michael | 1992 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
Montana Christmas Skies | 1991 | TV Special | God (voice) |
Today | 1991 | TV Series | Himself |
The 63rd Annual Academy Awards | 1991 | TV Special | Himself - Film Sequence on Favorite Films |
George Burns' 95th Birthday Party | 1991 | TV Special | George Burns |
Sinatra 75: The Best Is Yet to Come | 1990 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
Bob Hope: Don't Shoot, It's Only Me | 1990 | TV Special | Himself |
The Arsenio Hall Show | 1990 | TV Series | Himself |
Mary Hart Presents Love in the Public Eye | 1990 | TV Movie | Himself |
50 Years of Television: A Golden Celebration | 1989 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1963-1989 | TV Series | Himself / Himself - Guest |
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy | 1989 | TV Movie | Himself |
A Conversation with... | 1989 | TV Mini-Series | Himself |
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | 1989 | TV Series | Himself |
The Pat Sajak Show | 1989 | TV Series | Himself |
5th Annual TV Academy Hall of Fame | 1989 | TV Special | Himself - Inductee |
Super Bowl Party | 1989 | TV Special | Himself |
A Conversation with Dinah | 1989 | TV Series | Himself (1990) |
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts | 1988 | TV Special | Himself - Honoree |
CBS This Morning | 1988 | TV Series | Himself |
The 2nd Annual American Comedy Awards | 1988 | TV Special | Himself - Winner: Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy |
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC | 1988 | TV Special | Himself |
Hour Magazine | 1981-1988 | TV Series | Himself |
America's Tribute to Bob Hope | 1988 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
Magic in the Magic Kingdom | 1988 | TV Special | Himself |
Better Homes and Gardens Super Picnic | 1987 | TV Movie | Himself |
A Beverly Hills Christmas | 1987 | TV Movie | Himself |
NBC Investigates Bob Hope | 1987 | TV Special | Himself |
Candid Camera: First 40 Years | 1987 | TV Movie | Himself |
Lou Rawls Parade of Stars | 1986 | TV Series | Himself |
The 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1986 | TV Special | Himself |
Bob Hope Lampoons the New TV Scene | 1986 | TV Movie | Himself |
All-Star Tribute to General Jimmy Doolittle | 1986 | TV Movie | Himself |
George Burns' 90th Birthday Party: A Very Special Special | 1986 | TV Special | George Burns |
Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary | 1986 | TV Special | Himself |
Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets | 1985 | Video | Himself |
George Burns Comedy Week | 1985 | TV Series | Himself |
Late Night with David Letterman | 1983-1985 | TV Series | Himself |
Bob Hope Buys NBC? | 1985 | TV Special | Himself |
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Gene Kelly | 1985 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
Night of 100 Stars II | 1985 | TV Movie | Himself |
Bob Hope Lampoons Television | 1985 | TV Movie | Himself |
Bob Hope's Unrehearsed Antics of the Stars | 1984 | Documentary | Himself |
Bob Hope's Who Makes the World Laugh? - Part II: The Newest! The Funniest! The Greatest! | 1984 | TV Movie | Himself |
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team | 1984 | TV Movie | Himself - Performer |
Grandpa, Will You Run with Me? | 1983 | TV Movie | Himself - Host |
Happy Birthday, Bob! | 1983 | TV Special | Himself |
Parade of Stars | 1983 | TV Movie | Himself |
Texaco Star Theatre Presents Bob Hope in 'Who Makes the World Laugh?' | 1983 | TV Movie | Himself |
Bob Hope's Road to Hollywood | 1983 | TV Movie | Himself |
The 10th Annual American Music Awards | 1983 | TV Special | Himself |
George Burns and Other Sex Symbols | 1982 | TV Special | George Burns |
Archive Footage
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
America's Clown: An Intimate Biography of Red Skelton | 2014 | Video | Himself |
Pioneers of Television | 2008-2014 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Himself - Burns and Allen Show / Himself |
Carson on TCM | 2013 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
Excavating the 2000 Year Old Man | 2012 | Documentary short | Himself |
Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl | 2012 | TV Special | Himself |
Gloria: In Her Own Words | 2011 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work | 2010 | Documentary | Himself |
Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America | 2009 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
Mel Blanc: The Man of a Thousand Voices | 2008 | Video documentary | Himself |
The 80th Annual Academy Awards | 2008 | TV Special | Himself (uncredited) |
The O'Reilly Factor | 2008 | TV Series | Himself |
The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk | 2007 | Video documentary | George the Boyfriend (as Burns) |
Larry King Live: The Greatest Interviews | 2007 | Video | Himself |
100 Greatest Stand-Ups | 2007 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
The Kingston Trio: 50 Years of Havin' Fun | 2006 | Video documentary | |
60 Minutes | 2003-2006 | TV Series documentary | Himself - Comedian |
The Barbara Walters Summer Special | 2006 | TV Series | Himself |
The Best of the Royal Variety | 2006 | TV Series | Himself |
I Love the '70s: Volume 2 | 2006 | TV Series | Himself |
Cavett Remembers the Comic Legends | 2006 | Video documentary short | Himself |
Paul Henning & The Hillbillies | 2005 | Video documentary | Himself |
Just for Laughs | 2005 | TV Series | Himself |
100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time | 2004 | TV Mini-Series | Himself #31 |
Larry King Live | 2003 | TV Series | Himself |
Cher: The Farewell Tour | 2003 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
Mwah! The Best of the Dinah Shore Show | 2003 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour | 2002 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
Biography | 1998-2002 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
Bob Hope's Funniest Out-Takes | 2002 | TV Movie | Himself |
Hollywood Remembers | 2000 | TV Series documentary | |
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts | 1998 | TV Movie documentary | Himself - Roaster |
American Masters | 1997 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
Naked Songs: The Life & Times of Rickie Lee Jones | 1996 | Documentary | Himself |
Classic Stand-Up Comedy of Television | 1996 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
Kelsey Grammer Salutes Jack Benny | 1995 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
Pioneers of Primetime | 1995 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
50 Years of Funny Females | 1995 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
Larry King Live: 10th Anniversary Volume One | 1995 | Video documentary | Himself |
Paul Merton's Palladium Story | 1994 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Himself |
Legends of Comedy | 1992 | TV Movie documentary | |
Memories of 1970-1991 | 1991 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
60 Minutes: The Entertainers | 1991 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1990 | TV Series | Himself - from the Bob Hope NBC Special DON'T SHOOT: IT'S ONLY ME |
Playboy Playmates of the Year: The 80's | 1989 | Video documentary | Himself (uncredited) |
Classic Comedy Teams | 1986 | Video documentary | Himself |
Bodywatch | 1986 | TV Series | Himself |
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years | 1986 | TV Movie | Himself |
Going Hollywood: The '30s | 1984 | Documentary | |
The Great Standups | 1984 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
Of Muppets and Men: The Making of 'The Muppet Show' | 1981 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
TV: The Fabulous Fifties | 1978 | TV Movie | Himself |
Bob Hope's World of Comedy | 1976 | TV Movie | Himself |
The Hollywood Palace | 1970 | TV Series | Himself |
Hollywood and the Stars | 1963 | TV Series | Himself |
Screen Snapshots Series 33, No. 10: Hollywood Grows Up | 1954 | Documentary short | Film Clips Character |
Screen Snapshots: Memories of Famous Hollywood Comedians | 1952 | Documentary short | Himself |
Awards
Won Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | OFTA TV Hall of Fame | Online Film & Television Association | Actors and Actresses | |
1995 | Life Achievement Award | Screen Actors Guild Awards | ||
1994 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Publicists Guild of America | ||
1991 | Lifetime Achievement Award | British Comedy Awards | International. | |
1990 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performance in Informational Programming | A Conversation with... (1988) |
1988 | Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy | American Comedy Awards, USA | ||
1987 | Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy | American Comedy Awards, USA | ||
1980 | Pasinetti Award | Venice Film Festival | Best Actor | Going in Style (1979) |
1978 | Saturn Award | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Best Actor | Oh, God! (1977) |
1976 | Oscar | Academy Awards, USA | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | The Sunshine Boys (1975) |
1976 | Golden Globe | Golden Globes, USA | Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical | The Sunshine Boys (1975) |
1975 | Golden Apple | Golden Apple Awards | Male Star of the Year | Who, after open-heart surgery at the age of 79, has come back to star in The Sunshine Boys |
1960 | Star on the Walk of Fame | Walk of Fame | Motion Picture | On 8 February 1960. At 1639 Vine Street. |
1960 | Star on the Walk of Fame | Walk of Fame | Television | On 8 February 1960. At 6510 Hollywood Blvd. |
1960 | Star on the Walk of Fame | Walk of Fame | Live Performance | On 8 February 1960. At 6672 Hollywood Blvd. |
Nominated Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
1985 | Saturn Award | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Best Actor | Oh, God! You Devil (1984) |
1984 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business (1983) |
1979 | Stinker Award | The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards | Worst On-Screen Couple | Just You and Me, Kid (1979) |
1978 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Special - Comedy-Variety or Music | The George Burns One-Man Show (1977) |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia