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IMDbPro

George Jessel(1898-1981)

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
George Jessel
George Jessel gained fame in vaudeville, where it was not uncommon for him--and other performers, such as Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor--to perform in blackface, and in fact at age 11 Jessel was Cantor's vaudeville partner. Jessel acted in several movies in the '30s and became a respected film producer. He was also a prolific songwriter, and was noted for his renditions of "Sonny Boy" and "My Yiddishe Mama". In his later years he made many guest appearances (always as himself) on radio, in occasional movies and on TV. He was nicknamed "The Toastmaster General" due to his appearances at many testimonial functions and dinners for various celebrities.
BornApril 3, 1898
DiedMay 24, 1981(83)
BornApril 3, 1898
DiedMay 24, 1981(83)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 2 wins total

Photos24

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Known for

George Jessel and Gwen Lee in Lucky Boy (1929)
Lucky Boy
7.3
  • Georgie Jessel
  • 1929
Diane Keaton and Warren Beatty in Reds (1981)
Reds
7.3
  • Witness
  • 1981
Thomas Gomez, Louis Jourdan, and Jean Peters in Anne of the Indies (1951)
Anne of the Indies
6.6
  • Producer
  • 1951
Busby Berkeley, Maureen O'Sullivan, Richard Pryor, Edgar Bergen, Pat O'Brien, Dick Clark, Xavier Cugat, Cass Daley, Andy Devine, Fritz Feld, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, John Hart, Louis Hayward, George Jessel, Ruby Keeler, Patsy Kelly, Dorothy Lamour, Guy Lombardo, Joe Louis, Trini López, Marilyn Maxwell, Butterfly McQueen, Martha Raye, Harold Sakata, Harland Sanders, Jay Silverheels, Ed Sullivan, Rudy Vallee, Clint Walker, and Johnny Weissmuller in The Phynx (1970)
The Phynx
4.4
  • George Jessell
  • 1970

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor



  • Diane Keaton and Warren Beatty in Reds (1981)
    Reds
    7.3
    • Witness
    • 1981
  • Diary of a Young Comic (1979)
    Diary of a Young Comic
    7.1
    TV Movie
    • 1979
  • Tony Curtis, Robert Urich, Phyllis Davis, and Judy Landers in Vega$ (1978)
    Vega$
    6.9
    TV Series
    • Eulogist at Funeral
    • 1978
  • Bruce Dern, Madeline Kahn, Art Carney, and Augustus von Schumacher in Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
    4.8
    • Awards Announcer
    • 1976
  • Busby Berkeley, Maureen O'Sullivan, Richard Pryor, Edgar Bergen, Pat O'Brien, Dick Clark, Xavier Cugat, Cass Daley, Andy Devine, Fritz Feld, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, John Hart, Louis Hayward, George Jessel, Ruby Keeler, Patsy Kelly, Dorothy Lamour, Guy Lombardo, Joe Louis, Trini López, Marilyn Maxwell, Butterfly McQueen, Martha Raye, Harold Sakata, Harland Sanders, Jay Silverheels, Ed Sullivan, Rudy Vallee, Clint Walker, and Johnny Weissmuller in The Phynx (1970)
    The Phynx
    4.4
    • George Jessell
    • 1970
  • Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969)
    Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?
    4.9
    • The Presence
    • 1969
  • Dick Martin and Dan Rowan in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967)
    Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
    8.0
    TV Series
    • Guest Performer
    • Zsa Zsa Gabor
    • 1968–1969
  • Patty Duke, Susan Hayward, Sharon Tate, and Barbara Parkins in Valley of the Dolls (1967)
    Valley of the Dolls
    6.0
    • MC Grammy Awards
    • 1967
  • The Busy Body (1967)
    The Busy Body
    5.4
    • Mr. Fessel
    • 1967
  • Jackie Gleason: American Scene Magazine (1962)
    Jackie Gleason: American Scene Magazine
    8.5
    TV Series
    • Guest
    • Sketch
    • Guest New Talent Presenter ...
    • 1965–1966
  • Edd Byrnes, Roger Smith, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in 77 Sunset Strip (1958)
    77 Sunset Strip
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Schluessel
    • 1963
  • The Witness
    6.6
    TV Series
    • Character Witness
    • 1960
  • Jack Jones and Jo Morrow in Juke Box Rhythm (1959)
    Juke Box Rhythm
    5.3
    • George Jessel
    • 1959
  • Beau James (1957)
    Beau James
    6.6
    • George Jessel
    • 1957
  • Columbia Musical Travelark: Wonders of Ontario
    Short
    • Commentator
    • 1956

Writer



  • Teresa Brewer in The George Jessel Show (1953)
    The George Jessel Show
    TV Series
    • writer
    • 1953–1954
  • Yesterday and Today (1953)
    Yesterday and Today
    5.4
    • written by
    • 1953
  • All Star Revue (1950)
    All Star Revue
    8.2
    TV Series
    • writer
    • script
    • 1952
  • Anne Baxter and Dan Dailey in You're My Everything (1949)
    You're My Everything
    6.0
    • story
    • 1949
  • June Haver and Mark Stevens in I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (1947)
    I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
    6.6
    • contributing writer (uncredited)
    • 1947
  • The Lyin' Tamer
    Short
    • Writer
    • 1937
  • Freddie Bartholomew and Victor McLaglen in Professional Soldier (1935)
    Professional Soldier
    6.4
    • contract writer (uncredited)
    • 1935
  • Private Jones (1933)
    Private Jones
    5.1
    • adaptation
    • 1933
  • George Jessel and Lila Lee in Love, Live and Laugh (1929)
    Love, Live and Laugh
    • dialogue
    • 1929
  • George Jessel and Gwen Lee in Lucky Boy (1929)
    Lucky Boy
    7.3
    • dialogue (titles)
    • 1929

Producer



  • Tonight We Sing (1953)
    Tonight We Sing
    6.0
    • producer
    • 1953
  • Mitzi Gaynor, Bob Graham, Oscar Levant, and David Wayne in The I Don't Care Girl (1953)
    The I Don't Care Girl
    6.2
    • producer
    • 1953
  • Bloodhounds of Broadway (1952)
    Bloodhounds of Broadway
    6.1
    • producer
    • 1952
  • Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie (1952)
    Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie
    7.0
    • producer
    • 1952
  • Dennis Day, Mitzi Gaynor, Una Merkel, and Dale Robertson in Golden Girl (1951)
    Golden Girl
    5.9
    • producer
    • 1951
  • Thomas Gomez, Louis Jourdan, and Jean Peters in Anne of the Indies (1951)
    Anne of the Indies
    6.6
    • producer
    • 1951
  • Eddie Albert, Betty Grable, and Macdonald Carey in Meet Me After the Show (1951)
    Meet Me After the Show
    6.2
    • producer
    • 1951
  • William Powell, Betsy Drake, and Mark Stevens in Dancing in the Dark (1949)
    Dancing in the Dark
    5.3
    • producer
    • 1949
  • June Haver, S.Z. Sakall, and Mark Stevens in Oh, You Beautiful Doll (1949)
    Oh, You Beautiful Doll
    6.0
    • producer
    • 1949
  • When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948)
    When My Baby Smiles at Me
    5.8
    • producer
    • 1948
  • Tyrone Power, Joan Blondell, Coleen Gray, and Helen Walker in Nightmare Alley (1947)
    Nightmare Alley
    7.7
    • producer
    • 1947
  • June Haver and Mark Stevens in I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (1947)
    I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
    6.6
    • producer
    • 1947
  • Maureen O'Hara, Dick Haymes, and Harry James in Do You Love Me (1946)
    Do You Love Me
    6.3
    • producer
    • 1946
  • Betty Grable, Reginald Gardiner, June Haver, Frank Latimore, John Payne, and S.Z. Sakall in The Dolly Sisters (1945)
    The Dolly Sisters
    6.2
    • producer
    • 1945

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative name
    • George E. Jessel
  • Born
    • April 3, 1898
    • New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • May 24, 1981
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(heart attack)
  • Spouses
      Lois AndrewsApril 13, 1940 - August 30, 1943 (divorced, 1 child)
  • Other works
    Stage: Appeare in "The Passing Show of 1923" on Broadway. Musical revue. Music by Sigmund Romberg and Jean Schwartz. Book / lyrics by Harold Atteridge. Musical Director: Alfred Goodman. Additional lyrics by Cyrus Wood. Additional music by Jay Gorney [earliest Broadway credit]. Scenic Design by Watson Barratt. Costume Design by Paul Arlington. Directed by James C. Huffman, under the supervision of Jacob J. Shubert. Choreographed by Allan K. Foster. Winter Garden Theatre: 14 Jun 1923-15 Sep 1923 (118 performances). Cast: Martha Albert, Olive Ann Alcorn, Phil Baker [Broadway debut], Betty Benton, Frank Bernard, William Birdie, Dorothy Bruce, Lloyd Byron, Nancy Carroll, Theresa Carroll, Neil Courtney, Roy Cummings, Roy Cunningham, Louise Dose, Doris Downes, Josephine Drake, Loretta Duffy, Christine Ecklund, Dolores Edwards, Flanagan & Morrison, George Ford, Elsie Frank, Perle Germonde, Bob Gilbert, Jeannette Gilmore, Cassie Godfrey, Paula Greenlee, Harriet Gustin, Jack Hall, James Hamilton, Ruth Hamilton, George Hassell, Joan Hay, Helen Herendeen, Andy Jochim, Ethel Kenyon, Olive King, Vera King, Rose Lee, Bobby Lester, Libby & Sparrow, Peggy Lockwood, Ann Lowenworth, Francis X. Mahoney, Gladys Marston, Rose Mary Marston, Elsie May, Ladas May, Bobbie McCree, Belle McLaughlin, Nat Nazarro Jr., Bob Nelson, Sidney Nelson, Tom Nip, Barnett Parker, Edith Pierce, William Pringle, Fay Reed, Jack E. Rice, Vera Ross, Norma Rossiter, Rose Sarro, Muriel Seely, Billie Shaw, Helen Shipman, Orilla Smith, Mildred Soper, Jean Steele, Virginia Sullivan, Marja Talwyn, The Trado Twins, Hal Van Renssalaer, Dorothy Vance, Alice Velour, Viola Votrouba, Billy Wagner, Joseph Wagstaff, James Watts, Dolly Wegman, Alice Wheeler, James White, Florence Wilde, Walter Woolf King (credited as Walter Woolf). Produced by Lee Shubert and J.J. Shubert.
  • Publicity listings
    • 5 Print Biographies
    • 3 Portrayals
    • 12 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Having starred in several silent films for Warner Brothers during the 1920s, Jessel was offered the lead in the studio's history-making first talkie, The Jazz Singer (1927) (he had played the part on Broadway). However, he and the studio could not agree on his salary, and the role ultimately went to Al Jolson. Jessel would refer to this, time and again, as the biggest professional mistake he ever made.
  • Quotes
    My draft status is 8-T--that means I go when the Japs are in the lobby.
  • Trademark
      Theme song: "My Mother's Eyes."
  • Nicknames
    • Toastmaster General of the United States
    • Georgie

FAQ

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  • When did George Jessel die?
    May 24, 1981
  • How did George Jessel die?
    Heart attack
  • How old was George Jessel when he died?
    83 years old
  • Where did George Jessel die?
    Los Angeles, California, USA
  • When was George Jessel born?
    April 3, 1898

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