Known for movies

Short Info

DiedAugust 27, 1964, Los Angeles, California, United States
SpouseGeorge Burns
MarkHer scatterbrained antics to George Burns' straight man
FactProfiled in the book "Funny Ladies" by Stephen Silverman. [1999]
PaymentsEarned $850 from Lambchops (1929)


Gracie Allen was born on July 26, 1895, in San Francisco, California. Her parents were George Allen and Margaret Allen. Gracie had two siblings: George Jr. and Harriet. Gracie’s early education took place at the Sacred Heart Convent in San Francisco.

Gracie’s career began when she was just a teenager. She started out as a vaudeville performer and then transitioned to film and television. Gracie is best known for her work on the popular comedy series “The Burns and Allen Show.” The show ran for eight seasons and earned Gracie two Emmy nominations.

After “The Burns and Allen Show” ended, Gracie continued to work in television and film. Some of her notable later roles include appearances on “The Love Boat” and “Murder, She Wrote.” Gracie also did voice work for several animated films, including “The Aristocats” and “The Rescuers.”

Gracie retired from show business in 1958. She died of a heart attack on August 27, 1964, at the age of 69.

Gracie Allen was a successful actress and comedian. She was best known for her work on the popular comedy series “The Burns and Allen Show.” Gracie retired from show business in 1958 and died of a heart attack in 1964.

General Info

Full NameGracie Allen
DiedAugust 27, 1964, Los Angeles, California, United States
Height1.52 m
ProfessionActor, Comedian, Singer, Radio personality, Dancer, Vaudeville Performer
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseGeorge Burns
ChildrenRonnie Burns, Sandra Burns
ParentsGeorge Allen, Molly Darragh
SiblingsBessie Allen, Hazel Allen, Pearl Allen

Accomplishments

NominationsPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actress Starring In A Regular Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance - Variety Or Music Program, Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actress - Continuing Performance, Primetime Emmy Award f...
MoviesA Damsel in Distress, Lambchops, The Big Broadcast, Six of a Kind, College Swing, International House, We're Not Dressing, College Holiday, The Big Broadcast of 1937, The Big Broadcast of 1936, College Humor, The Gracie Allen Murder Case, Mr. and Mrs. North, Honolulu, Two Girls and a Sailor, Here Co...
TV ShowsBurns and Allen, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

Social profile links

Marks

#Marks / Signs
1Innocent, high-pitched voice
2Her scatterbrained antics to George Burns' straight man

Salary

TitleSalary
Lambchops (1929)$850

Quotes

#Quote
1[In a campaign speech (1940) when she was running opposite FDR on the 'Surprise Party' ticket] As I look around me and see all all these trusting and believing faces shining up at me with love and respect, tears come into my eyes. And do you know why? My girdle is killing me.
2[on George Burns] My husband will never chase another woman. He's too fine, too decent, too old.
3[explaining her "Gracie Allen" character] Gracie's the kind of girl who shortens the cord on the electric iron to save electricity.
4[explaining her "Gracie Allen" character] Gracie thought she was terribly smart. Gracie's character was different. Gracie thought everybody was out of step but her. She was always helping people. She was always sorry for you. Like if she would say, "My sister got up in the middle of the night, she screamed, she looked down at her feet and they turned black". You would say to her, "What did she do?" She was sorry for you for asking that question. She thought you were pretty dumb not to know what to do if your feet turned black. "She took off her stocking and went to sleep again."
5[explaining her "Gracie Allen" character] Gracie isn't really crazy. She makes sense in an illogical sort of way. She's off-center. Not quite right really, but nearly right.

Facts

#Fact
1In Star trek IV The Voyage Home Admiral Kirk and Captain Spock set out to retrieve 2 humpback whales from 20th Century earth and transport them to 24th century earth too save the planet. Those two humpback whales were named "George" and "Gracie". They were cared for and featured at the Cetacean Institute near San Francisco.
2She and her husband-to-be became the comedy team of Burns & Allen in 1922 (she was the daft one). They remained spouses and performing partners until her passing.
3Profiled in the book "Funny Ladies" by Stephen Silverman. [1999]
4Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6672 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
5Pictured with husband George Burns 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).
6Although she was in love with another man when they first met, George Burns carried a ring in his pocket until she finally agreed to marry him.
7Had a driver's license, issued under her married name, Grace Burns. Was once pulled over by a policeman, who thought the license was fake because it didn't give her last name as Allen.
8In the early 1940s, during the height of their popularity, George Burns had a brief extramarital affair. He felt so guilty, he bought her an extravagant silver centerpiece for the dining room table, but since neither brought up the affair even once, he assumed she knew nothing about it. Years later, when Gracie had a friend over for coffee, George overheard her say, "You know, I wish George would cheat on me again. I'd really like a new centerpiece for the table".
9Her idol and first childhood crush was Charles Chaplin.
10In 1949, she missed a radio show when she had a migraine so bad she couldn't get out of bed. She was replaced by Jane Wyman, who had won the Best Actress Oscar earlier that year. It turned out to be the only performance she missed in over 35 years of performing with George Burns.
11Graduated from Star of the Sea School for Girls [now co-ed] in San Francisco; graduation ceremony was held in the Columbia Theatre [now American Conservatory Theatre] on 19 June 1914.
12The annual Gracie Allen Awards are presented by American Women in Radio and Television, Inc., to programs by, for and about women.
13Their running gags: Gracie's endless relatives, the elaborate search for Gracie's "missing brother" (who actually left town in the wake of the publicity), Gracie's infatuation with matinée idol Charles Boyer, Gracie's enthusiasm for George's singing.
14Accidentally spilled a pot of boiling water on her arm as a child, which left a bad scar she kept concealed for the rest of her life (her one big wish was to wear a strapless evening gown and no gloves, just once).
15Suffered occasional migraines, which sometimes lasted for days; the only thing that seemed to help was a tight bandana, and bed rest in absolute quiet.
16Staged a mock Presidential campaign in 1940; the theme of her campaign speech appeared to be "My girdle is killing me."
17Had a fear of water and drowning; took swimming lessons secretly to be able to teach her children.
18Declined only one photo session request in her career, when she was asked to pose outside a mental hospital; husband George Burns compared this to having Mae West pose outside a brothel.
19"The Burns & Allen Show" (on CBS and NBC from 1934 to 1950) was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1994.
20When she went to work with George Burns, she was engaged to another man. It took four years for George to change her mind, but they went on to become one of the best remembered couples in Hollywood history.
21Her father left the family - her, her mother, her three sisters and one brother when she was 5 years old, and she never spoke of him again.
22Started out in an Irish dancing group called "The Allen Sisters" with her three older sisters, Bessie, Hazel and Pearl.
23She and George Burns have two adopted children, Sandra Burns and Ronald John (Ronnie Burns).
24The words "Together Again" are engraved on her and George Burns' crypt at the Freedom Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California. This inscription replaced the previous one, "Good Night, Gracie", which appeared on the crypt prior to George's death. She is interred to the left of him as you view the crypt, not above him as has been previously reported, along with the explanation that George "wanted her to have top billing".
25During her run on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950), she stood only 5 feet tall and weighed a dainty, petite 100 pounds.
26The Gracie Allen rose (scientific name Rosa 'WEKuyreg') is named for her.
27Began having mild heart attacks in the late 1950s, which continued until her death in 1964.
28Most people did not know when she was born, as her birth certificate was lost during the California earthquake in 1906, and she was usually evasive about her age. Her family was even forced to guess her birthdate for her death certificate, settling on 1902. Her true age would not be revealed until 1972, when the 1900 Census became public, and gave her actual birth year as 1895.
29The 1939 film The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939) was especially written for her by the creator of Philo Vance, writer S.S. Van Dine. It was one of the few times she appeared on-screen without her husband, George Burns, though he was on the set to support her.
30Had one blue eye and one green.
31Interred along with husband George Burns at Forest Lawn (Glendale), Glendale, California, in the Freedom Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Heritage.
32George Burns called Gracie "Googie", while she called him "Natty".
33In 1922, she and George Burns made their first performance at the Hill Street Theatre in Newark, New Jersey, where they were paid $5 per day. George saw that the audience not only found Gracie's character funny but they fell in love with her, and he did, too. He immediately changed the act to give her all the funny lines and played her straight man. They became a hit.
34Attending secretarial school, Gracie was invited by her roommate to Union Hill, New Jersey, to see if she was interested in working with either member of an act that was splitting up. The act was George Burns and Billy Lorraine, and she chose George.

Pictures

Movies

Actress

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Jack Benny Program1952-1964TV SeriesGracie Allen
Startime1959TV SeriesGracie Allen
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show1950-1958TV SeriesGracie Allen
The Bob Cummings Show1957TV SeriesGracie Allen
Two Girls and a Sailor1944Concerto Number
Mr. and Mrs. North1942Pamela North
The Gracie Allen Murder Case1939Gracie Allen
Honolulu1939Millie De Grasse
College Swing1938Gracie
A Damsel in Distress1937Gracie
College Holiday1936Calliope 'Gracie' Dove
The Big Broadcast of 19371936Mrs. Platt
The Big Broadcast of 19361935Gracie Allen
Here Comes Cookie1935Gracie Allen
Love in Bloom1935Gracie Downey
Many Happy Returns1934Gracie Allen
We're Not Dressing1934Gracie
Six of a Kind1934Gracie Devore
College Humor1933Gracie
International House1933Nurse Allen
Walking the Baby1933ShortMamie (as Allen)
Let's Dance1933ShortGracie, a Dance Hostess (as Allen)
Your Hat1932ShortGracie (as Allen)
The Big Broadcast1932Gracie (as Grace Allen)
The Babbling Book1932ShortGracie (as Allen)
Oh, My Operation1931ShortNurse Allen (as Allen)
100% Service1931ShortSalesgirl
Once Over, Light1931ShortGrace, the Manicurist (as Allen)
The Antique Shop1931ShortMiss Allen (as Allen)
Pulling a Bone1931ShortGracie
Fit to Be Tied1930ShortMiss Allen, a Salesgirl (as Allen)
Lambchops1929ShortGracie the Girlfriend (as Allen)

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
American Masters1997TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show1951-1956TV Series performer - 9 episodes
Two Girls and a Sailor1944performer: "Concerto for Index Finger" 1943 - uncredited
The Gracie Allen Murder Case1939performer: "Snug as a Bug in the Rug"
Honolulu1939performer: "Honolulu" 1939, "The Leader Doesn't Like Music" 1939
College Swing1938performer: "What A Rumba Does To Romance", "You're A Natural", "Irish Washerwoman"
A Damsel in Distress1937performer: "Put Me to the Test" I've Just Begun to Live 1937, "Stiff Upper Lip" 1937 - uncredited
Here Comes Cookie1935performer: "Vamp of the Pampas"
Love in Bloom1935performer: " Lookie, Lookie, Lookie, Here Comes Cookie" - uncredited
We're Not Dressing1934performer: "Aloha Oe" 1908 - uncredited
Fit to Be Tied1930Short performer: "I'm a Whole Lot Wilder Than I Look"
Lambchops1929Short performer: "Do You Believe Me?" - uncredited

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The World Our Stage1957TV MovieHerself - Broadcast from America
The Ed Sullivan Show1957TV SeriesHerself
The Jackie Gleason Show1957TV SeriesHerself
Climax!1956TV SeriesHerself
Shower of Stars1955TV SeriesHerself
This Is Your Life1955TV SeriesHerself
What's My Line?1954TV SeriesHerself - Mystery Guest
Stars in the Eye1952TV SpecialHerself
Olympic Fund Telethon1952TV SpecialHerself
The Actor's Society Benefit Gala1949TV MovieHerself
Hollywood on Parade No. A-91933ShortHerself (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade No. A-21932ShortHerself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
America's Clown: An Intimate Biography of Red Skelton2014VideoHerself
Pioneers of Television2014TV Mini-Series documentaryHerself - Burns and Allen Show
Mel Blanc: The Man of a Thousand Voices2008Video documentaryHerself
The O'Reilly Factor2008TV SeriesHerself
The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk2007Video documentaryGracie the Girlfriend (as Allen)
Paul Henning & The Hillbillies2005Video documentaryHerself
Larry King Live2003TV SeriesHerself
Biography2002TV Series documentaryHerself
Television: The First Fifty Years1999Video documentaryHerself
American Masters1997TV Series documentaryHerself
Classic Stand-Up Comedy of Television1996TV Special documentaryHerself
Pioneers of Primetime1995TV Movie documentaryHerself
50 Years of Funny Females1995TV Movie documentaryHerself
Paul Merton's Palladium Story1994TV Mini-Series documentaryHerself
The First Annual Comedy Hall of Fame1993TV MovieHerself
Legends of Comedy1992TV Movie documentary
5th Annual TV Academy Hall of Fame1989TV SpecialHerself - Inductee
Classic Comedy Teams1986Video documentaryHerself
Going Hollywood: The '30s1984Documentary
The Great Standups1984TV Movie documentaryHerself
Bob Hope's World of Comedy1976TV MovieTribute Montage
The Great Radio Comedians1972TV Movie documentaryGracie Allen
The DuPont Show of the Week1961TV SeriesHerself
Screen Snapshots Series 33, No. 10: Hollywood Grows Up1954Documentary shortFilm Clips Character
Screen Snapshots: Memories of Famous Hollywood Comedians1952Documentary shortHerself

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2005OFTA TV Hall of FameOnline Film & Television AssociationActors and Actresses
1960Star on the Walk of FameWalk of FameTelevisionOn 8 February 1960. At 6672 Hollywood Blvd.

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1959Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsBest Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy SeriesThe George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950)
1958Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsBest Continuing Performance (Female) in a Series by a Comedienne, Singer, Hostess, Dancer, M.C., Announcer, Narrator, Panelist, or any Person who Essentially Plays HerselfThe George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950)
1957Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsBest Continuing Performance by a Comedienne in a SeriesThe George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950)
1956Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsBest Actress - Continuing PerformanceThe George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950)
1956Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsBest Comedienne
1955Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsBest Actress Starring in a Regular SeriesThe George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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