Ernie Kovacs
Biography
Ernie Kovacs was an American comedian, actor, and writer known for experimental television comedy. Born in Trenton in 1919, he began paid entertainment work in 1941 as an announcer at radio station WTTM and later became its director of special events. In 1950 he moved to television at Philadelphia's WPTZ, hosting Three to Get Ready. His ad-libbed programs used camera tricks and characters such as Percy Dovetonsils, Wolfgang von Sauerbraten, and the silent Eugene. He hosted a version of the Tonight show from 1956 to 1957 and won a Sylvania Award for the 1957 pantomime special Silent Show. Later ABC specials brought a 1962 Emmy and a Directors Guild of America Award. Films included Operation Mad Ball (1957), Bell, Book and Candle (1958), It Happened to Jane (1959), Our Man in Havana (1959), and North to Alaska (1960), often as a swarthy military captain. He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.
42years old at death
- Born Trenton
- Died Beverly Hills
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- Also credited as Ernest Edward Kovacs
Movie Career
- Films
- 6
- Career span
- 3 years1957 to 1960
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First role
In January 1950, Kovacs showed up for an audition at WPTZ, NBC's Philadelphia affiliate, dressed in a barrel and shorts. That appearance landed him his first television job.
A role that slipped away
Kovacs hosted his own Tonight show on Monday and Tuesday nights from October 1956 until January 1957, relieving Steve Allen. When Allen left in 1957, NBC offered Kovacs the full time job, but he turned it down because of the work involved.
A first
Kovacs did television specials, among them the famous Silent Show from 1957. In it he played his character Eugene, and it was the first prime-time network program done entirely in pantomime.
First role
In 1941 Kovacs took his first paid entertainment job, announcing at WTTM, a radio station in Trenton. He stayed with WTTM for nine years and rose to director of special events there.
Ernie Kovacs movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Richard Quine directed four of these films. Jack Lemmon appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Jack Lemmon's page
Kim Novak's page
Dick Crockett's page
All films by Richard Quine
Awards
Three awards and honors, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| Emmy Award | Won | ||
| Other honors | |||
| 2019 | New Jersey Hall of Fame (posthumous) | Won | |
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.