Jack Benny

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Jack Benny: Biography, Latest News & Videos

jack benny, tonight show
  • Birth Name: Benjamin Kubelsky
  • Birth Place: Chicago, IL
  • Date of Birth / Zodiac Sign: 02/14/1894, Aquarius
  • Date of Death: 12/26/1974
  • Profession: Comedian; actor
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VIDEO: Here's Lucy: Lucy and Carol Burnett

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Here's Lucy: Lucy and Carol Burnett
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Aired: 2/8/1971

Lucy and Carol Burnett, both out of work, create the Unemployed Follies to earn a few extra bucks. watch

VIDEO: Here's Lucy: Lucy and Jack Benny's Biography

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Here's Lucy: Lucy and Jack Benny's Biography
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Aired: 11/23/1970

Lucy & Jack Benny clown the story of Benny's life from his childhood to the present day. watch

VIDEO: Here's Lucy: Lucy Visits Jack Benny

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Here's Lucy: Lucy Visits Jack Benny
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Aired: 9/30/1968

An inexpensive vacation becomes quite costly for the Carters when it's spent at cheapskate Jack Benny's in-home hotel. watch

Jack Benny: Videos

Hollywood Stories: The Breakfast Prank
Jack Benny\'s Texaco
The Dick Cavett Show: Comic Legends - Billy Cosby Interview
The Dick Cavett Show: Comic Legends - Woody Allen Interview

more Jack Benny Clips & Interviews videos

   FULL MOVIE
To Be or Not to Be
   FULL MOVIE
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
   FULL MOVIE
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
   FULL MOVIE
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World [HD]

more Jack Benny Movies videos

 FULL EPISODE
Here's Lucy: Lucy and Carol Burnett
 FULL EPISODE
Here's Lucy: Lucy and Jack Benny's Biography
 FULL EPISODE
Here's Lucy: Lucy Visits Jack Benny

more Jack Benny On TV videos

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Year Title Description
2011 The Ed Sullivan Comedy Special TV Show Series, Appearing
2008 Best of The Jack Benny Show TV Show Series, Actor
1994 That's Entertainment! Part III Movie, Actor - Performer
1972 The Man Movie, Actor - Himself
1967 A Guide For The Married Man Movie, Actor - Technical Advisor

more Jack Benny credits (61 total credits)

Monday TV: Remembering Johnny, Smash Finale, House

Imagine a TV world where the late-night comedy audience is not fragmented in a clutter of Dave or Jay or Stewart/Colbert, Conan, the Jimmys and Craig. read more

Please elaborate on this for ...

Question: Please elaborate on this for my dad, who is a big fan of the late Jack Benny. Two of his biggest character traits were his cheapness and his bad violin-playing. Was he really that cheap? And was he really so bad on violin? Thanks.


Answer: You provided the answer in your question, Bill, when you used the term "character traits." Benny, who built a career via vaudeville and a popular radio show before launching TV's The Jack Benny Show, which kicked off on CBS in 1950 and finished 15 years later on NBC, played his stinginess to the hilt, played the violin poorly — and faked both well enough to become an entertainment legend. It was all part of the insecure, self-centered, no-talent character he invented and pulled off well enough to fool those who didn't know any better.

Of course, countering that image — one of the comic's most famous gags was facing down an armed robber who threatened, "Your read more

more Jack Benny news (2 total news articles)
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