Jimmy Durante
Biography
Jimmy Durante was an American actor, comedian, singer, and pianist known for his gravelly voice, Lower East Side accent, and comic wordplay. Born in Manhattan, he left school in seventh grade to play ragtime piano in bars under the name Ragtime Jimmy. He joined the Original New Orleans Jazz Band and later led Jimmy Durante's Jazz Band. By the mid-1920s he had become a vaudeville and radio star with Lou Clayton and Eddie Jackson. His novelty song Inka Dinka Doo, recorded in 1934, became his lifelong theme. Durante appeared on Broadway in Jumbo and in films such as Speak Easily (1932), The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962). He hosted radio's The Durante-Moore Show and television's The Jimmy Durante Show. He died in 1980.
86years old at death
- Born Manhattan
- Died Santa Monica
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- Also credited as James Francis Durante and Schnozzola
Movie Career
- Films
- 8
- Career span
- 44 years1932 to 1976
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A change of course
Durante left school in seventh grade and became a full-time ragtime pianist. He performed in piano bars using the name "Ragtime Jimmy".
Beyond film
Durante recorded a hit in 1934 with his novelty composition "Inka Dinka Doo," which had lyrics by Ben Ryan. The song stayed his theme for the rest of his life.
A role that slipped away
In MGM's comedies with Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante was the comic foil after Cliff Edwards, appearing in Speak Easily, The Passionate Plumber, and What! No Beer?. The series ended when MGM fired Keaton.
A first
Durante first appeared on television in 1944, making a surprise unannounced appearance on John Reed King's local WCBW show that startled the staff and audience.
Jimmy Durante movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Seven 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
Frank Sinatra's page
Bing Crosby's page
Doris Day's page
Judy Garland's page
Hedda Hopper's page
Greer Garson's page
Also two films together1 more actor
- Kathryn GraysonThat's Entertainment, Part II (1976) and It Happened in Brooklyn (1947)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
Three awards and honors, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Won | ||
| Other honors | |||
| Peabody Awards | Won | ||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.