Phil Silvers

Biography

Phil Silvers was an American comic actor and entertainer who started out singing in movie theaters as a boy, then worked in vaudeville and burlesque. His Broadway debut came in Yokel Boy in 1939, and he later won a Tony Award for Top Banana. He became a household name in 1955 for his portrayal of the scheming Sergeant Ernie Bilko on The Phil Silvers Show, which brought him two Emmy Awards. In films he was a character actor, with credits including All Through the Night (1942), Cover Girl (1944), Summer Stock (1950), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966). He also won a second Tony for a revival of Forum and wrote the words for the song Nancy (with the Laughing Face), which became a hit in 1945. He died in 1985.

74years old at death

Born May 11, 1911Brooklyn
Died November 1, 1985California
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Philip Silversmith (birth name)Also credited as Philip Silver

Movie Career

Films: 16
Career span: 39 years1941 to 1980

Genres

Comedy94%, 15 films
Romance44%, 7 films
Action13%, 2 films
Adventure13%, 2 films
Crime13%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
In 1972, Larry Blyden brought a Broadway revival of Forum back, and he wanted Phil Silvers for the lead. Silvers took the part, the show was a hit, and he was the first leading actor to win a Tony for a musical revival.
Behind the camera
Silvers was not a songwriter, but he wrote the lyrics for Frank Sinatra's "Nancy (with the Laughing Face)" while visiting the composer Jimmy Van Heusen.
Behind the camera
Silvers's company Gladasya, which took its name from his catchphrase "Gladdaseeya!", helped pay for Gilligan's Island. In the 1966 episode "The Producer", he played Harold Hecuba, a Hollywood producer.

Phil Silvers movies on Netflix

The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood1980IMDb rating 4.2as William B. Warkoff
The Cheap Detective1978IMDb rating 6.4as Hoppy
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood1976IMDb rating 4.8as Murray Fromberg
The Strongest Man in the World1975IMDb rating 5.9as Kirwood Krinkle
The Boatniks1970IMDb rating 5.6as Harry Simmons
Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell1968IMDb rating 6.8as Phil Newman
Carry on in the Legion1967IMDb rating 6.0as Sergeant Nocker
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum1966IMDb rating 6.8as Marcus Lycus
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World1963IMDb rating 7.4as Otto Meyer
40 Pounds of Trouble1962IMDb rating 6.3as Bernie Friedman
Summer Stock1950IMDb rating 7.1as Herb Blake
Cover Girl1944IMDb rating 6.7as Genius
A Lady Takes a Chance1943IMDb rating 6.3as Smiley Lambert
All Through the Night1942IMDb rating 7.1as Waiter
Roxie Hart1942IMDb rating 6.9as Babe
Tom, Dick and Harry1941IMDb rating 6.3as Ice Cream Man

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World1963 Action, Adventure, Comedyas Otto Meyer
IMDb rating 7.452K votes
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum1966 Comedy, Musicalas Marcus Lycus
IMDb rating 6.811K votes
Carry on in the Legion1967as Sergeant Nocker
IMDb rating 6.03.0K votes
Cover Girl1944as Genius
IMDb rating 6.76.5K votes
The Strongest Man in the World1975as Kirwood Krinkle
IMDb rating 5.94.2K votes
Summer Stock1950as Herb Blake
IMDb rating 7.15.3K votes
Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell1968as Phil Newman
IMDb rating 6.82.2K votes
A Lady Takes a Chance1943as Smiley Lambert
IMDb rating 6.31.7K votes

Most often with

Eleven 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.

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William Demarest

Gene Kelly

Ginger Rogers

Hans Conried

Eve Arden

Madeline Kahn

Films together

William Demarest2 films together, 1942 to 1976
William Demarest's page
- Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood1976IMDb rating 4.8Silvers as Murray FrombergDemarest as Studio Gatekeeper
- All Through the Night1942IMDb rating 7.1Silvers as WaiterDemarest as Sunshine
Gene Kelly2 films together, 1944 to 1950
Gene Kelly's page
- Summer Stock1950IMDb rating 7.1Silvers as Herb BlakeKelly as Joe D. Ross
- Cover Girl1944IMDb rating 6.7Silvers as GeniusKelly as Danny McGuire
Ginger Rogers2 films together, 1941 to 1942
Ginger Rogers's page
- Roxie Hart1942IMDb rating 6.9Silvers as BabeRogers as Roxie Hart
- Tom, Dick and Harry1941IMDb rating 6.3Silvers as Ice Cream ManRogers as Janie
Hans Conried2 films together, 1943 to 1950
Hans Conried's page
- Summer Stock1950IMDb rating 7.1Silvers as Herb BlakeConried as Harrison I. Keath
- A Lady Takes a Chance1943IMDb rating 6.3Silvers as Smiley LambertConried as Gregg Stone
Eve Arden2 films together, 1944 to 1975
Eve Arden's page
- The Strongest Man in the World1975IMDb rating 5.9Silvers as Kirwood KrinkleArden as Harriet Crumply
- Cover Girl1944IMDb rating 6.7Silvers as GeniusArden as Cornelia Jackson
Madeline Kahn2 films together, 1976 to 1978
Madeline Kahn's page
- The Cheap Detective1978IMDb rating 6.4Silvers as HoppyKahn as Mrs. Montenegro
- Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood1976IMDb rating 4.8Silvers as Murray FrombergKahn as Estie Del Ruth
Also two films together5 more actors
- Peter ButterworthCarry on in the Legion (1967) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
- Sid CaesarThe Cheap Detective (1978) and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- John BluthalCarry on in the Legion (1967) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
- Edie AdamsThe Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood (1980) and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
- Jack GarganSummer Stock (1950) and Tom, Dick and Harry (1941)
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 from 1952 to 1972, two of them major.

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Phil Silvers's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Result
Tony Awards
1972	Best Actor in a Musical	Won
1952	Best Actor in a Musical	Won
Other honors
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame	Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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