After several unsuccessful attempts at a vaudeville career, Burns's luck changed in 1923, when he formed the Burns and Allen duo with young comic Gracie Allen (he would marry her in 1926). Gracie at first played the "straight man", but her wacky descriptions of her large family managed to garner all the laughs and the team wisely reversed roles. Having become vaudeville stars, the team appeared in several short films, made their feature debut with "The Big Broadcast" (1932) and played in several, mostly forgettable, movies during the 1930s and 40s.
With their low-keyed comic banter, Burns and Allen became a successful radio team and then starred in their own TV series from 1950 until Allen's retirement in 1958 (she died six years later).
Burns continued his career as a solo comedian and made an outstanding film comeback in 1975 with his award-winning performance as a cantankerous old vaudevillian in "The Sunshine Boys". He subsequently appeared in several features, notably as the omniscient title character of Carl Reiner's "Oh, God!" (1977), and continued to smoke his trademark cigars, talk-sing his charming vaudeville-based patter songs, and wryly joke about his ageless virility and various other ups and downs about growing old. As he had promised for years, Burns did indeed make it to age 100 and his centennial birthday was celebrated nationally. Seven weeks later, Burns died in his sleep of natural causes on March 9, 1996.
Family
DAUGHTER: Sandra Luckman. Teacher. Adopted; teaches elementary school in San Diego.
SON: Ronnie Burns. Actor. Adopted; involved in investments and real estate.
Companion
WIFE: Hannah Siegel. Vaudevillian. Burns' partner; first wife; Burns claimed marriage was annulled because it was never consumated.
WIFE: Gracie Allen. Comedienne, actor. Married from January 7, 1926 until her death on August 28, 1964 from heart ailment.
Milestone
Formed a group of children singers called the Peewee Quartet at age eight
Worked as a trick roller-skater, a dance teacher and vaudeville performer from age 14
1923: Teamed with Gracie Allen; performed on Keith and Orpheum vaudeville circuits
1929: Appeared with Allen in 10-minute short film "Lamb Chops", the first of over a dozen shorts for Paramount
1930: "Burns and Allen" show first premiered on radio
1932: Feature film debut, "The Big Broadcast"
1939: Last film before 35-year break from screen, "Honolulu"
1950 - 1958: "Burns and Allen" show premiered on TV
1958: Began performing as solo comedian after Gracie Allen retired
1964: Gracie Allen died
1975: Returned to screen in "The Sunshine Boys"; won Oscar as Best Supporting Actor
1976: Portrayed the Almighty in "Oh, God"; reprised role in two sequels
1994: Final film, "Radioland Murders"
Bibliography
"I Love Her, That's Why" George Burns and Cynthia Lindsay 1955
"Living It Up, or They Still Love Me in Altoona!" George Burns 1976
"The Third Time Around" George Burns 1980
"How to Live to Be 100: or More!" George Burns 1983
"The Ultimate Diet, Sex and Exercise Book" George Burns
"Dr. Burns' Prescription for Happiness" George Burns 1985
"Dear George: Advice and Answers from America's Leading Expert on Everything From A to Z" George Burns 1985
"Gracie: A Love Story" George Burns 1988
"Wisdom of the 90s" George Burns and Hal Goldman 1991
"George Burns and the Hundred Yard Dash" Morton Gottfried 1996
When he underwent triple bypass surgery in 1974 at age 78, it was reported he was oldest person ever to have that operation
Inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1988
The week before his 95th birthday Burns quipped, "I never felt better, never looked better, never made love better--and never lied better." --From New York Post. January 17, 1991.
Concerning his monthly visit to Gracie Allen's grave at Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles he said, "I talk to her. Sometimes I tell her a joke, but Gracie doesn't laugh. She's heard all my jokes." --From New York Post, January 17, 1991.
"I did 15 or 20 acts before I met Gracie, and they were all flops. I worked with a dog, a seal, anything that would work with me. The act was so bad the seal used to throw the fish back." --George Burns describing his early vaudeville career to New York Post, January 17, 1991.
Burns serves as one of several Proctors (along with Billy Crystal and Buddy Hackett) for the Friars Club
Tcm.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network.