Ed Wynn
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.
Alice in Wonderland
as Mad Hatter (voice)On a golden afternoon, young Alice follows a White Rabbit, who disappears down a nearby rabbit...
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Mary Poppins
as Uncle AlbertMr 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 AramFrom 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 DussellThe true, harrowing story of a young Jewish girl who, with her family and their friends, is...
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That Darn Cat!
as Mr. HofstedderA young woman suspects foul play when her cat comes home wearing a wristwatch. Convincing the...
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The Absent-Minded Professor
as Fire ChiefBumbling professor Ned Brainard accidentally invents flying rubber, or "Flubber", an incredible...
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The Gnome-Mobile
as RufusAn eccentric millionaire and his grandchildren are embroiled in the plights of some forest...
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Cinderfella
as Fairy GodfatherWhen his father dies, poor Fella is left at the mercy of his snobbish stepmother and her two...
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The Patsy
as Ed WynnWhen a star comedian dies, his comedy team decides to train a 'nobody' to play the Star in a big...
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Babes in Toyland
as ToymakerAll roads lead to magical, merry Toyland as Mary Contrary and Tom Piper prepare for their...
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Son of Flubber
as A.J. AllenBeleaguered professor Ned Brainard has already run into a pile of misfortunes with his discovery...
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Those Calloways
as Ed ParkerStory of Cam Calloway and his family, who live in a densely wooded area in New England. Cam...
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That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire present more golden moments from the MGM film library, this time...
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Dear Brigitte
as The CaptainProfessor Leaf, an absent-minded poet with a prejudice against the sciences, is forced to face...
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Marjorie Morningstar
as Uncle SamsonWhile working as a counselor at a summer camp, college-student Marjorie Morgenstern falls for...
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Stage Door Canteen
as Ed WynnA young soldier on a pass in New York City visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous...
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The Chief
as Henry SummersThe dim-witted son of a heroic fire chief tries to follow in his late father's footsteps, only...
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Requiem for a Heavyweight
as ArmyAn over-the-hill heavyweight boxing champion who suffers from the ravages of years of head...
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The Daydreamer
as The Emperor (voice)A young Hans Christian Andersen goes in search of knowledge in the Garden of Paradise in order...
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Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge
as Himself (archive footage)A compilation that highlights works from the Three Stooges. It includes the shorts Brideless...
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The Sound of Laughter
as College ProfessorA compilation of film clips of comedies from 1930's.
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Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
as Self (archive footage)Dickson Hughes and Richard Stapley, two young composers and romantic partners, are caught in the...
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Turn Back the Clock
as Cigar Store Customer (uncredited)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 BeaseleyJoe Harris, preparing a eulogy for popular radio commentator Herb Fuller, finds that nobody has...
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The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
as SelfA TV movie with intertwining music numbers and sketches.
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Operation Wonderland
as Self1951 behind the scenes featurette of the Walt Disney animated classic.
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Back Stage Party
as SelfA tour of the Disney Studio and a party celebrating the completion of Babes in Toyland.
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For the Love of Willadean
as AlfredA new boy, Harley, joins a club but shows an interest in the girl on whom the club leader has a...
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Rubber Heels
as Homer ThrushA European royal couple come to New York to sell some of the royal family's crown jewels. A gang...
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Miracle On 34th Street
as Kris KringleIn this charming TV adaptation of the 1947 film classic, a kindly old gentleman (Ed Wynn)...
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Meet Me in St. Louis
as GrandpaThis adaptation of the classic 1944 film musical explores the lives of the close-knit Smith...
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The Golden Horseshoe Revue
as SelfThe 10,000th performance of Disneyland's venerable "Golden Horseshoe Revue," featuring special...
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Follow the Leader
as CricketsEd Wynn, a waiter, tries to get hit employers daughter a start on the stage; Ginger Rogers...
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The Three Stooges: Live and Hilarious
as uncreditedThe Three Stooges are at it again in a hilarious and extremely hard-to-find turn on the Ed Wynn...
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Bonanza
as Professor Phineas T. KlumpThe 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 SelfThe 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 BookmanA series of unrelated stories containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science...
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The Twilight Zone
as Sam ForstmannA series of unrelated stories containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science...
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Burke's Law
as Zachary BeldenBurke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on...
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77 Sunset Strip
as FeigensteinStu Bailey and Jeff Spencer are the wisecracking, womanizing private-detective heroes of this...
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What's My Line?
as Self - Mystery GuestFour panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while...
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The Colgate Comedy Hour
as SelfThe 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 SelfThe Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...
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The 20th Century Fox Hour
as John HodgesThe 20th Century Fox Hour is an American drama anthology series televised in the United States...
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Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
as SelfWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse is an American television anthology series produced by Desilu...
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The Red Skelton Show
as SelfThe 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 FreeloaderThe 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 GodfatherThe 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 MuggsyThe 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 HostThe Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades,...
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The Bob Hope Show
as SelfThe Bob Hope Show hosted by Bob Hope, debuted on April 9, 1950. During the 1952-1953 season, NBC...
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The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
as SelfThe Dinah Shore Chevy Show is an American variety series hosted by Dinah Shore, and broadcast on...
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This Is Your Life
as SelfThis Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally...
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The Hollywood Palace
as Self - HostThe Hollywood Palace is an hour-long American television variety show that was broadcast weekly...
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Startime
as uncreditedStartime is an anthology show of drama, comedy, and variety, and was one of the first American...
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Wagon Train
as Cappy DarrinThe series initially starred veteran movie supporting actor Ward Bond as the wagon master, later...
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December Bride
as SelfDecember Bride is an American sitcom that aired on the CBS television network from 1954 to 1959,...
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Rawhide
as BatemanThe tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across...
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Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
as SelfWalt Disney Productions has produced an anthology television series under several different...
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Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
as AlfredWalt 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)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)Walt Disney Productions has produced an anthology television series under several different...
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Hallmark Hall of Fame
as GrampsHallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark...
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General Electric Theater
as Professor FranzGeneral Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...
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General Electric Theater
as Max GrossblattGeneral Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...
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Playhouse 90
as ArmyPlayhouse 90 is an American television anthology series that was telecast on CBS from 1956 to...
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The Emmy Awards
as SelfAn annual awards ceremony honoring the best in U.S. prime time television programming as chosen...
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