Ed Wynn

Born: 1886-11-08

Isaiah Edwin Leopold (November 9, 1886 – June 19, 1966), better known as Ed Wynn, was an American actor and comedian noted for his Perfect Fool comedy character, his pioneering radio show of the 1930s, and his later career as a dramatic actor. Ed Wynn first appeared on television on July 7, 1936 in a brief, ad-libbed spot with Graham McNamee during an NBC experimental television broadcast. In the 1949–50 season, Ed Wynn hosted one of the first network, comedy-variety television shows, on CBS, and won both a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award in 1949. Buster Keaton, Lucille Ball, and The Three Stooges all made guest appearances with Wynn. This was the first CBS variety television show to originate from Los Angeles, which was seen live on the west coast, but filmed via kinescope for distribution in the Midwest and East, as the national coaxial cable had yet to be completed. Wynn was also a rotating host of NBC's Four Star Revue from 1950 through 1952. After the end of Wynn's third television series, The Ed Wynn Show (a short-lived situation comedy on NBC's 1958–59 schedule), his son, actor Keenan Wynn, encouraged him to make a career change rather than retire. The comedian reluctantly began a career as a dramatic actor in television and movies. Father and son appeared in three productions, the first of which was the 1956 Playhouse 90 broadcast of Rod Serling's play Requiem for a Heavyweight. Ed was terrified of straight acting and kept goofing his lines in rehearsal. When the producers wanted to fire him, star Jack Palance said he would quit if they fired Ed. (However, unbeknownst to Wynn, supporting player Ned Glass was his secret understudy in case something did happen before air time.) On live broadcast night, Wynn surprised everyone with his pitch-perfect performance, and his quick ad libs to cover his mistakes. A dramatization of what happened during the production was later staged as an April 1960 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse episode, "The Man in the Funny Suit", starring both senior and junior Wynns, with key figures involved in the original production also portraying themselves. Ed and his son also worked together in the Jose Ferrer film The Great Man, with Ed again proving his unexpected skills in drama. Requiem established Wynn as a serious dramatic actor who could easily hold his own with the best. His role in The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) won him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Also in 1959, Wynn appeared on Serling's TV series The Twilight Zone in "One for the Angels". Serling, a longtime admirer, had written that episode especially for him, and Wynn later in 1963 starred in the episode "Ninety Years Without Slumbering". For the rest of his life, Wynn skillfully moved between comic and dramatic roles. He appeared in feature films and anthology television, endearing himself to new generations of fans.


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Alice in Wonderland

as Mad Hatter (voice)
Released: 1951-07-28

On a golden afternoon, young Alice follows a White Rabbit, who disappears down a nearby rabbit...

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Mary Poppins

as Uncle Albert
Released: 1964-12-17

Mr Banks is looking for a nanny for his two mischievous children and comes across Mary Poppins,...

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The Greatest Story Ever Told

as Old Aram
Released: 1965-04-09

From his birth in Bethlehem to his death and eventual resurrection, the life of Jesus Christ is...

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The Diary of Anne Frank

as Albert Dussell
Released: 1959-03-18

The true, harrowing story of a young Jewish girl who, with her family and their friends, is...

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The Absent-Minded Professor

as Fire Chief
Released: 1961-03-16

Bumbling professor Ned Brainard accidentally invents flying rubber, or "Flubber", an incredible...

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That Darn Cat!

as Mr. Hofstedder
Released: 1965-12-02

A young woman suspects foul play when her cat comes home wearing a wristwatch. Convincing the...

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Babes in Toyland

as Toymaker
Released: 1961-12-14

All roads lead to magical, merry Toyland as Mary Contrary and Tom Piper prepare for their...

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Stage Door Canteen

as Ed Wynn
Released: 1943-06-24

A young soldier on a pass in New York City visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous...

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Son of Flubber

as A.J. Allen
Released: 1963-01-16

Beleaguered professor Ned Brainard has already run into a pile of misfortunes with his discovery...

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The Patsy

as Ed Wynn
Released: 1964-06-24

When a star comedian dies, his comedy team decides to train a 'nobody' to play the Star in a big...

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Cinderfella

as Fairy Godfather
Released: 1960-12-18

When his father dies, poor Fella is left at the mercy of his snobbish stepmother and her two...

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That's Entertainment, Part II

as (archive footage)
Released: 1976-05-16

Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire present more golden moments from the MGM film library, this time...

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The Gnome-Mobile

as Rufus
Released: 1967-07-19

An eccentric millionaire and his grandchildren are embroiled in the plights of some forest...

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Dear Brigitte

as The Captain
Released: 1965-01-08

Professor Leaf, an absent-minded poet with a prejudice against the sciences, is forced to face...

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Those Calloways

as Ed Parker
Released: 1965-01-28

Story of Cam Calloway and his family, who live in a densely wooded area in New England. Cam...

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Marjorie Morningstar

as Uncle Samson
Released: 1958-04-24

While working as a counselor at a summer camp, college-student Marjorie Morgenstern falls for...

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Operation Wonderland

as Self
Released: 1951-06-14

1951 behind the scenes featurette of the Walt Disney animated classic.

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Turn Back the Clock

as Cigar Store Customer (uncredited)
Released: 1933-08-25

While recuperating in a hospital after he's hit by an automobile, a struggling shopowner dreams...

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The Great Man

as Paul Beaseley
Released: 1956-12-01

Joe Harris, preparing a eulogy for popular radio commentator Herb Fuller, finds that nobody has...

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The Chief

as Henry Summers
Released: 1933-11-03

The dim-witted son of a heroic fire chief tries to follow in his late father's footsteps, only...

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The Daydreamer

as The Emperor (voice)
Released: 1966-06-01

A young Hans Christian Andersen goes in search of knowledge in the Garden of Paradise in order...

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Back Stage Party

as Self
Released: 1961-12-17

Party, enterianment, and Behind the scenes

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Meet Me in St. Louis

as Grandpa
Released: 1959-04-26

This adaptation of the classic 1944 film musical explores the lives of the close-knit Smith...

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Boulevard! A Hollywood Story

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2021-08-16

Dickson Hughes and Richard Stapley, two young composers and romantic partners, are caught in the...

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Rubber Heels

as Homer Thrush
Released: 1927-06-11

A European royal couple come to New York to sell some of the royal family's crown jewels. A gang...

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Requiem for a Heavyweight

as Army
Released: 1956-10-11

An over-the-hill heavyweight boxing champion who suffers from the ravages of years of head...

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The Sound of Laughter

as College Professor
Released: 1963-12-17

A compilation of film clips of comedies from 1930's.

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Hollywood on Parade

as Self
Released: 1932-06-05

A short featuring many stars

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Miracle On 34th Street

as Kris Kringle
Released: 1959-11-27

In this charming TV adaptation of the 1947 film classic, a kindly old gentleman (Ed Wynn)...

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Follow the Leader

as Crickets
Released: 1930-12-06

Ed Wynn, a waiter, tries to get hit employers daughter a start on the stage; Ginger Rogers...

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For the Love of Willadean

as Alfred
Released: 1964-03-08

A new boy, Harley, joins a club but shows an interest in the girl on whom the club leader has a...

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The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers

as Self
Released: 1962-01-06

A TV movie with intertwining music numbers and sketches.

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The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious

as uncredited
Released: 1941-12-16

The Three Stooges are at it again in a hilarious and extremely hard-to-find turn on the Ed Wynn...

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Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge

as Himself (archive footage)
Released: 2008-03-18

A compilation that highlights works from the Three Stooges. It includes the shorts Brideless...

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The Golden Horseshoe Revue

as Self
Released: 1962-09-23

The 10,000th performance of Disneyland's venerable "Golden Horseshoe Revue," featuring special...

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Bonanza

as Professor Phineas T. Klump
First aired: 1959-09-12

The High-Sierra adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their ranch...

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The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self
First aired: 1962-10-01

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight...

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The Twilight Zone

as Lou Bookman
First aired: 1959-10-02

A series of unrelated stories containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science...

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The Twilight Zone

as Sam Forstmann
First aired: 1959-10-02

A series of unrelated stories containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science...

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Burke's Law

as Zachary Belden
First aired: 1963-09-20

Burke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on...

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The 20th Century Fox Hour

as John Hodges
First aired: 1955-10-05

The 20th Century Fox Hour is an American drama anthology series televised in the United States...

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77 Sunset Strip

as Feigenstein
First aired: 1958-10-10

Stu Bailey and Jeff Spencer are the wisecracking, womanizing private-detective heroes of this...

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The Steve Allen Show

as Self
First aired: 1956-06-24

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The Red Skelton Show

as Self
First aired: 1951-09-30

The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades,...

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The Red Skelton Show

as Self / Colonel Jungle-Rot Freeloader
First aired: 1951-09-30

The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades,...

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The Red Skelton Show

as Fairy Godfather
First aired: 1951-09-30

The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades,...

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The Red Skelton Show

as Muggsy
First aired: 1951-09-30

The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades,...

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The Red Skelton Show

as Guest Host
First aired: 1951-09-30

The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades,...

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What's My Line?

as Self - Mystery Guest
First aired: 1950-02-02

Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while...

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The Bob Hope Show

as Self
First aired: 1950-04-09

The Bob Hope Show hosted by Bob Hope, debuted on April 9, 1950. During the 1952-1953 season, NBC...

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The Colgate Comedy Hour

as Self
First aired: 1950-09-10

The Colgate Comedy Hour is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC...

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The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self
First aired: 1948-06-20

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...

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Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

as Self
First aired: 1958-10-06

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse is an American television anthology series produced by Desilu...

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The Hollywood Palace

as Self - Host
First aired: 1964-01-04

The Hollywood Palace is an hour-long American television variety show that was broadcast weekly...

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The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

as Self
First aired: 1956-10-05

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show is an American variety series hosted by Dinah Shore, and broadcast on...

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Wagon Train

as Cappy Darrin
First aired: 1957-09-18

The series initially starred veteran movie supporting actor Ward Bond as the wagon master, later...

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This Is Your Life

as Self
First aired: 1952-10-01

This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally...

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Rawhide

as Bateman
First aired: 1959-01-09

The tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across...

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December Bride

as Self
First aired: 1954-10-04

December Bride is an American sitcom that aired on the CBS television network from 1954 to 1959,...

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Startime

as uncredited
First aired: 1959-10-06

Startime is an anthology show of drama, comedy, and variety, and was one of the first American...

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Playhouse 90

as Army
First aired: 1956-10-04

Playhouse 90 is an American television anthology series that was telecast on CBS from 1956 to...

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Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Gramps
First aired: 1951-12-24

Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark...

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Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color

as Self
First aired: 1954-10-27

Walt Disney Productions has produced an anthology television series under several different...

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Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color

as Alfred
First aired: 1954-10-27

Walt Disney Productions has produced an anthology television series under several different...

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Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color

as The Mad Hatter (voice) (archive footage)
First aired: 1954-10-27

Walt Disney Productions has produced an anthology television series under several different...

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Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color

as A.J. Allen (archive footage)
First aired: 1954-10-27

Walt Disney Productions has produced an anthology television series under several different...

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The Emmy Awards

as Self
First aired: 1949-01-25

An annual awards ceremony honoring the best in U.S. prime time television programming as chosen...

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The Ed Wynn Show

as John Beamer
First aired: 1958-09-25

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General Electric Theater

as Professor Franz
First aired: 1953-02-01

General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...

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General Electric Theater

as Max Grossblatt
First aired: 1953-02-01

General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...

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