Eddie Cantor

Eddie Cantor was an American comedian, singer, actor, and songwriter who began winning talent contests as a teenager and made his vaudeville debut in 1907. Born in Manhattan, he reached Broadway in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1917 and stayed with the revue for a decade, later starring in the stage musicals Kid Boots and Whoopee! His film career included a guest spot in Glorifying the American Girl (1929) and the film version of Whoopee! (1930), which made him a leading Hollywood star. Under contract to Samuel Goldwyn he appeared in one major picture a year through 1935, among them Roman Scandals (1933). Later films included Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937), Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943), and Hollywood Canteen (1944). Cantor was also a leading radio star and a regular guest host of television's Colgate Comedy Hour from 1950 to 1954; in 1956 he received an honorary Oscar for distinguished service to the film industry.