Ernie Kovacs Biography

Fast Facts

• Earned a scholarship to the John Drew Memorial Theater in Long Island and another to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
• Began his television career at WPTZ-TV in Philadelphia on an afternoon cooking program called "Deadline for Dinner," which he soon nicknamed "Dead Lions for Breakfast" and turned into his own comedy show
• First became interested in acting during elementary school, appearing in plays at Miss Bowen's Private School in Trenton, New Jersey
• A friend helped him get an interview for a staff announcer position at the Trenton radio station WTTM, hosting a late-night DJ show from 1941 to 1950
• Published the novel "Zoomar" in 1957, a satire about the television industry with thinly-veiled references to his friends that caused much controversy
• Best known as a comedian who had his own television series and appeared in the films "Operation Mad Ball" and "Our Man in Havana․"
• First launched "The Ernie Kovacs Show" on CBS in 1952 and was re-launched on NBC in 1955
• In the 1940s he wrote a column for the newspaper The Trentonian and was the master of ceremonies for wrestling matches at the Trenton Armory
• The final episode of "The Ernie Kovacs Show" was aired ten days after his death without commercials as a homage by ABC