George Burns

January 20, 1896

March 9, 1996

Nathan Birnbaum

Gracie Allen (1926–1964; her death)

Actor:

Radioland Murders (1994)

18 Again! (1988)

Oh, God! You Devil (1984)

Grandpa, Will You Run with Me? (1983) (TV)

Two of a Kind (1982) (TV)

Oh, God! Book II (1980)

Going in Style (1979)

Just You and Me, Kid (1979)

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)

Oh, God! (1977)

"Ellery Queen" (1 episode, 1975)

The Sunshine Boys (1975)

"That's Life" (1 episode, 1968)

Carnival Nights (1968) (TV)

All About People (1967) Narrator

"Mister Ed" (1 episode, 1963)

"General Electric Theater" (1 episode, 1959)

"The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" (90 episodes, 1950-1958)

"The Bob Cummings Show" (1 episode, 1957)

The Solid Gold Cadillac (1956) (voice)

"Shower of Stars" (1 episode, 1956)

Honolulu (1939)

College Swing (1938)

A Damsel in Distress (1937)

College Holiday (1936)

The Big Broadcast of 1937 (1936)

The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935)

Love in Bloom (1935)

Many Happy Returns (1934)

We're Not Dressing (1934)

Six of a Kind (1934)

College Humor (1933)

International House (1933)

Walking the Baby (1933)

Let's Dance (1933)

The Big Broadcast (1932)

Once Over, Light (1931)

The Antique Shop (1931)

Pulling a Bone (1931)

Fit to Be Tied (1930)

Producer:

"Summer Fun" (producer) (1 episode, 1966)

"Mona McCluskey" (1965) TV series (executive producer)

"Wendy and Me" (producer) (17 episodes, 1964-1965)

Maggie (1960) (TV) (executive producer)

"Mister Ed" (producer) (1 episode, 1958)

"The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" (executive producer) (3 episodes, 1951-1956)

Writer:

Walking the Baby (1933) (writer)

Let's Dance (1933) (writer)

Your Hat (1932) (writer)

The Big Broadcast (1932) (additional dialogue) (uncredited)

The Babbling Book (1932) (writer)

Oh, My Operation (1932) (writer)

100% Service (1931) (writer)

Once Over, Light (1931) (story)

The Antique Shop (1931) (story)

Fit to Be Tied (1930) (story)

As Himself:

Bobby Darin: The Darin Invasion (2003)

The 68th Annual Academy Awards 1996 (TV)

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995) (TV)

1st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (1995) (TV)

A Century of Cinema (1994)

Biography (1 episode, 1994)

Legend to Legend Night: A Celebrity Cavalcade (1993) (TV)

Bob Hope: The First 90 Years (1993) (TV)

The Golden Palace (1 episode, 1993)

The First Annual Comedy Hall of Fame (1993) (TV)

Jack Benny: Comedy in Bloom (1992) (TV)

Montana Christmas Skies (1991) (TV) (voice)

The 63rd Annual Academy Awards 1991 (TV) (film sequence on favourite films)

George Burns' 95th Birthday Party (1991) (TV)

"A Conversation with Dinah" (1989) TV series

Sinatra 75: The Best Is Yet to Come (1990) (TV)

Bob Hope: Don't Shoot Special (1990) (TV)

The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening (1989) (TV)

Super Bowl Party (1989) (TV)

George Burns - His Wit and Wisdom (1989)

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1988) (TV)

America's Tribute to Bob Hope (1988) (TV)

Magic in the Magic Kingdom (1988) (TV)

A Beverly Hills Christmas (1987) (TV)

NBC Investigates Bob Hope (1987) (TV)

Better Homes and Gardens Super Picnic (1987) (TV)

All-Star Tribute to General Jimmy Doolittle (1986) (TV)

George Burns' 90th Birthday Party: A Very Special Special (1986) (TV)

Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary (1986) (TV)

The 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1986 (TV)

"George Burns Comedy Week" (10 episodes, 1985)

Late Night with David Letterman (2 episodes, 1983-1985)

The American Film Institute Salute to Gene Kelly (1985) (TV)

Night of 100 Stars II (1985) (TV)

Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets (1985)

Unrehearsed Antics of the Stars (1984) (TV)

George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business (1983) (TV)

Parade of Stars (1983) (TV)

Bob Hope Laughs with the Movie Awards (1982) (TV)

Night of 100 Stars (1982) (TV)

George Burns and Other Sex Symbols (1982) (TV)

George Burns in Concert (1982) (TV)

George Burns' Early, Early, Early Christmas Special (1981) (TV)

Live from Studio 8H: 100 Years of America's Popular Music (1981) (TV)

John Denver with His Special Guest George Burns: Two of a Kind (1981) (TV)

A Love Letter to Jack Benny (1981) (TV)

Bob Hope's 30th Anniversary Special (1981) (TV)

George Burns in Nashville (1980) (TV)

Ann-Margret: Hollywood Movie Girls (1980) (TV)

The 22nd Annual Grammy Awards 1980 (TV)

The 51st Annual Academy Awards 1979 (TV)

Movie Movie (1978) (uncredited)

Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy (1978) (TV)

The Comedy Company (1978) (TV)

Happy Birthday, Bob (1978) (TV)

"CBS: On the Air" (1978) TV mini-series

The Goldie Hawn Special (1978) (TV)

Alice (1 episode, 1978)

Science Fiction Film Awards (1978) (TV)

Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jimmy Stewart (1978) (TV)

Circus of the Stars #2 (1977) (TV)

The George Burns One-Man Show (1977) (TV)

Hollywood Out-Takes (1977) (TV)

"The Muppet Show" (1 episode, 1977)

"The Captain and Tennille" (1 episode, 1977)

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Frank Sinatra (1977) (TV)

The George Burns Special (1976) (TV)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (14 episodes, 1963-1976)

The 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1976 (TV)

The 48th Annual Academy Awards 1976 (TV)

Joys (1976) (TV)

"Cher" (1 episode, 1975)

The Lion Roars Again (1975) (uncredited)

"ABC's Wide World of Entertainment" (1 episode, 1974)

"The Dean Martin Show" (6 episodes, 1966-1974)

Jack Benny's Second Farewell Special (1974) (TV)

"The Merv Griffin Show" (2 episodes, 1971-1973)

Ann-Margret: When You're Smiling (1973) (TV)

A Look at the World of SOYLENT GREEN (1973) (uncredited)

"The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" (2 episodes, 1972)

The Great Radio Comedians (1972) (TV)

"This Is Your Life" (1 episode, 1971)

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Jack Benny But Were Afraid to Ask (1971) (TV)

"The David Frost Show" (3 episodes, 1970-1971)

Swing Out, Sweet Land (1970) (TV)

"Here's Lucy" (1 episode, 1970)

"The Bob Hope Show" (1 episode, 1970)

The Darin Invasion (1970) (TV)

The Ed Sullivan Show (2 episodes, 1957-1970)

The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians (1970) (TV) (voice)

"The Kraft Music Hall" (2 episodes, 1967-1970)

"The Jackie Gleason Show" (3 episodes, 1968-1970)

The Max Bygraves Hour (1970) (TV)

Jack Benny's New Look (1969) (TV)

"This Is Tom Jones" (1 episode, 1969)

"The Pat Boone Show" (1 episode, 1967)

"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (2 episodes, 1967)

"The Hollywood Palace" (6 episodes, 1964-1967)

"The Danny Kaye Show" (1 episode, 1967)

"The Lucy Show" (1 episode, 1966)

An Evening with Carol Channing (1966) (TV)

"Wendy and Me" (34 episodes, 1964-1965)

"What's My Line?" (3 episodes, 1954-1964)

"The Jack Benny Program" (10 episodes, 1952-1964)

Music Shop (1963) (TV)

"Here's Hollywood" (1 episode, 1962)

"Mister Ed" (1 episode, 1962)

"The DuPont Show of the Week" Narrator (1 episode, 1961)

"The Garry Moore Show" (1 episode, 1961)

"The Dinah Shore Chevy Show" (2 episodes, 1959-1960)

"This Is Your Life" (2 episodes, 1955-1959)

"Startime" (1 episode, 1959)

"The George Burns Show" (5 episodes, 1958-1959)

"The Bob Cummings Show" (2 episodes, 1955-1958)

"Climax!" (1 episode, 1956)

Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Beauty (1955)

Screen Snapshots 7855: Pennies from Hollywood (1955)

Screen Snapshots Series 33, No. 10: Hollywood Grows Up (1954)

Stars in the Eye (1952) (TV)

Screen Snapshots 9860: Hollywood Friars Honor George Jessel (1948)

Screen Snapshots Series 25, No. 10: Famous Fathers and Sons (1946)

Here Comes Cookie (1935)

Hollywood on Parade No. A-9 (1933) (uncredited)

Your Hat (1932)

Hollywood on Parade No. A-2 (1932)

The Babbling Book (1932)

Oh, My Operation (1932)

100% Service (1931)

Lambchops (1929)

Academy Awards

1976 Won Oscar Best Actor in a Supporting Role for: The Sunshine Boys (1975)


Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA

1985 Nominated Saturn Award Best Actor for: Oh, God! You Devil (1984)

1978 Won Saturn Award Best Actor for: Oh, God! (1977)


American Comedy Awards, USA

1988 Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy

1987 Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy


British Comedy Awards

1991 Lifetime Achievement Award International.


Emmy Awards

1978 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Special - Comedy-Variety or Music for: The George Burns One-Man Show (1977) (TV)
Shared with:Irving Fein (executive producer) Stan Harris (producer)


Golden Apple Awards

1975 Won Golden Apple Male Star of the Year


Golden Globes

1976 Won Golden Globe Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy for: The Sunshine Boys (1975) Tied with Walter Matthau for The Sunshine Boys (1975).


Screen Actors Guild Awards

1995 Life Achievement Award


Venice Film Festival

1980 Won Pasinetti Award Best Actor for: Going in Style (1979) Shared with:Art Carney Lee Strasberg


Walk of Fame

Star on the Walk of Fame Motion Picture At 1639 Vine Street. Television At 6510 Hollywood Blvd.

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George Burns was an accomplished vaudevillian before moving to radio with his soon-to-be second wife, Gracie Allen, in one of the most successful radio situation comedies of all time, The Burns and Allen Show. Originally Burns played the comic part of the duo before he realized that his wife got more laughs and switched to become the straight man. The couple was seduced away from NBC to CBS in the late 1940s. CBS chairman William Paley saw the opportunity to adapt the show to television in 1950, and it ran until Allen's retirement in 1958 because of failing health. The marriage was believed to be one of th ehappiest in show business, and when Allen died in 1964, Burns was heartbroken. He visited her grave at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California, every month for the rest of his life. Burns spent the intervening ten years producing of television and performing in nightclubs with a variety of stars.

In 1974, Burns's best friend, Jack Benny, was slated to star in a film version of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys but was forced to pull out due to his own poor health. Burns reluctantly stepped into the role as vaudevillian Al Lewis. although Burns had made several low-key film appearances in the 1930s, The sunshine Boys marked a new epoch in his career, and he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor - age eighty at the time, he was the award's oldest recipient. This movie was followed by Oh, God! (1977), its two sequels in 1980 and 1984, and Just you and Me, Kid (1979), among others. Burns continued to work well into his nineties, arguing that, "The happiest people I know are the ones that are still working." His final film was Radioland Murders (1994). Despite booking himself to play the Lopndon Palladium for his one-hundredth birthday, ill health prevented him from performing.

[on his age] I get a standing ovation just standing.

Nice to be here? At my age it's nice to be anywhere.

Interred along with his wife Gracie Allen at Forest Lawn (Glendale), Glendale, California, USA, in the Freedom Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Heritage.

Actually wore a hairpiece for most of his performing career; appears briefly without it in The Sunshine Boys (1975).

Until his death he smoked as many as ten cigars a day.

Discovered Ann-Margret and made her his opening act in Las Vegas.