Ken Murray
Biography
Ken Murray was an American comedian, actor, and radio and television personality who began his career on stage in the 1920s, doing stand-up comedy in vaudeville and burlesque. He was born in New York City into a vaudeville family and won notice on Broadway in Earl Carroll's Vanities in 1935. During the 1940s he drew large audiences with his Blackouts, a Hollywood variety revue staged at the El Capitan Theatre that ran for 3,844 performances before closing in 1949; he later brought it back in Las Vegas in 1956 for a three-year run. His first film was the 1929 romantic drama Half Marriage. He hosted radio's The Ken Murray Show and Queen for a Day, and a CBS television music and comedy program from 1950 to 1953. He produced Bill and Coo, which earned a special Academy Award, and appeared in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Follow Me, Boys! (1966).
85years old at death
- Born New York City
- Died Burbank
- Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
- Kenneth Abner Doncourt (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 19 years1949 to 1968
Every film, newest first
- 1968The PowerIMDb rating 5.9
- 1966Follow Me, Boys!IMDb rating 7.1
- 1963Son of FlubberIMDb rating 6.1
- 1962The Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceIMDb rating 8.1
- 1949Red LightIMDb rating 6.4
Genres
Share
Did you know?!
Behind the camera
Murray produced Bill and Coo, a 1947 feature whose cast was trained birds and other animals, and it won a special Academy Award for its novel use of the medium and for artistry and patience.
A first
Murray's racy Hollywood variety show the Blackouts ran for 3,844 performances at the El Capitan Theatre, ending in 1949, then flopped on Broadway and closed after six weeks.
A first
Murray hosted The Ken Murray Show, a weekly CBS Television music and comedy program that aired from 1950 to 1953. It became the first recipient of a Freedom Foundation Award.
Ken Murray movies on Netflix
Most often with
Five 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
Fred MacMurray's page
Willis Bouchey's page
Vera Miles's page
Charles Ruggles's page
Elliott Reid's page
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.