Harry von Zell
Biography
Harry Von Zell was an American radio announcer who also acted in films and on television, best remembered for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. Raised in Iowa and later in California, he got into radio after friends tricked him into singing on the air, and by the mid-1920s he was singing and announcing at a station in Inglewood. He became a CBS staff announcer in New York, working with Fred Allen and Ed Wynn, and spent nine seasons from 1940 to 1949 as Eddie Cantor's spokesman and straight man. His film work began with narration for RKO's Flicker Flashbacks and grew to include Son of Paleface (1952), Two Flags West (1950) and slapstick shorts for Columbia. From 1951 to 1958 he played the befuddled friend and announcer on Burns and Allen's television show. He died in 1981.
75years old at death
- Born Indianapolis
- Died Woodland Hills
- Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
- Also credited as Harry Rudolph von Zell
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 7 years1945 to 1952
Every film, newest first
- 1952Son of PalefaceIMDb rating 6.8
- 1951You're in the Navy NowIMDb rating 6.3
- 1950Two Flags WestIMDb rating 6.7
- 1946Till the End of TimeIMDb rating 6.7
- 1945The Strange Affair of Uncle HarryIMDb rating 6.8
Genres
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A first
Von Zell made his famous radio blooper in 1931, calling President Herbert Hoover "Hoobert Heever" during a live birthday tribute. He had said the name correctly several times before the slip.
Big break
Von Zell managed KMTR in Los Angeles, then moved to KGB San Diego in January 1929. Later that year he auditioned for Paul Whiteman's radio show and was picked from 250 announcers.
First role
Von Zell made his film debut in 1943, narrating four RKO Flicker Flashbacks entries, silent-film satires, with tongue-in-cheek offscreen commentary. His face appeared on screen in feature films of 1945.
Beyond film
For Charlie Barnet's first recording session, Von Zell sang vocals. At that October 9, 1933 session, he performed "I Want You, I Need You" and "What Is Sweeter (Than the Sweetness of 'I Love You')?".
A first
In 1931, Von Zell was part of television's earliest days, calling the action for boxing matches shown on experimental television broadcasts.
Behind the camera
In the 1958-59 television season, Von Zell kept working with George Burns on The George Burns Show, a short-lived NBC sitcom. That year he also wrote teleplays for four NBC Wagon Train episodes and acted in one.
Harry von Zell movies on Netflix
Worked with
Harry von Zell shares two films with Bill Williams, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Bill Williams's page
Johnny Sands's page
Charles Bronson's page
Robert Mitchum's page
George Sanders's page
Gary Cooper's page
Frank TashlinDirector, 1 film, 1952
All films by Frank Tashlin
All films by Robert Siodmak
Edward DmytrykDirector, 1 film, 1946
All films by Edward Dmytryk
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.