George Jessel

Birthday: April 3, 1898 in New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name: George Albert 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. Show less «

If you haven't struck oil in your first three minutes, stop boring.

My draft status is 8-T--that means I go when the Japs are in the lobby.

[on receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, 1969)] For a minute I thought I was dead. I've w...Show more »

[on receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, 1969)] For a minute I thought I was dead. I've waited a long time, but it shows that God's delay is not God's denial. Show less «

George Jessel

George Jessel's FILMOGRAPHY

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