Jerry Colonna
Biography
Jerry Colonna was an American trombonist, comedian, singer, songwriter and actor who became one of Bob Hope's most manic radio and film sidekicks. Born in Boston, he started as a trombonist in dance bands and orchestras, recorded with Joe Herlihy's Orchestra in the late 1920s, and worked with the CBS house orchestra and Columbia Symphony Orchestra during the 1930s, earning a reputation for prankishness. Fred Allen gave him guest slots, and he later performed in the band led by John Scott Trotter for Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall. An opera parody on Hope's show made his deadpan screech a trademark. His films included Road to Singapore (1940), It's in the Bag! (1945), and Road to Rio (1947). He voiced the March Hare in Alice in Wonderland (1951), narrated the Casey at the Bat section of Make Mine Music (1946), hosted The Jerry Colonna Show, and joined ASCAP in 1956 as a songwriter. He died in 1986.
82years old at death
- Born Boston
- Died Woodland Hills
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
- Gerardo Luigi Colonna (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 11 years1940 to 1951
Every film, newest first
- 1951Alice in WonderlandIMDb rating 7.3
- 1946Make Mine MusicIMDb rating 6.1
- 1945It's in the Bag!IMDb rating 6.6
- 1945Road to UtopiaIMDb rating 7.1
- 1940Road to SingaporeIMDb rating 6.6
Genres
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First role
Jerry Colonna began his career playing trombone in dance bands and orchestras around his native Boston. With Joe Herlihy's Orchestra, he appears on recordings made for Edison Records in the late 1920s.
Beyond film
In 1956 Colonna became a member of ASCAP, and among the songs he wrote were "At Dusk", "I Came to Say Goodbye", "Sleighbells in the Sky" and "Take Your Time". Two LPs, Music? for Screaming!!! and He Sings and Swings, came out during the 1950s.
A first
Colonna also showed up in a 1947 live television broadcast whose kinescope recording is among the oldest that still exist.
Jerry Colonna movies on Netflix
Most often with
Clyde Geronimi directed two of these films. Six actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Bing Crosby's page
Bobby Barber's page
Bob Hope's page
Sterling Holloway's page
Dorothy Lamour's page
Robert Benchley's page
Clyde GeronimiDirector, 2 films, 1946 to 1951
All films by Clyde Geronimi
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.