George Jessel Biography

Fast Facts

• For his charitable work, he was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1969
• Came to the attention of entrepreneur Gus Edwards while singing as part of a boy trio, and was quickly hired for his traveling vaudeville troupe
• Toured with Eddie Cantor in an act called Kid Cabaret
• Started out singing at his grandfather's lodge meetings
• Quote: "My father didn't want me in the theater․ He hadn't done well there and grew to hate it․ But he died when I was 10 years old, and I went to live with my mother's father․ He was a tailor, and he like to hear me singing around the shop․"
• Quote: "[on working] "Why not? What else should I do with my time--collect stamps?""
• Became known as a toastmaster and after-dinner speaker in the latter half of his life, traveling approximately 8,500 miles a week and addressing 200 gatherings a year
• Would conduct imaginary telephone conversations with his mother in stage in his vaudeville acts, a bit that traveled with him into nightclubs, film appearances and his first published book, "Talking to Mother․"
• Ran an entertainment village called "Little Old New York" during the 1939 New York World's Fair
• Published an autobiography in 1975 called "The World I Lived In․"