Burns & Allen

Biography

George Burns (Nathan Birnbaum, 20 January 1896, New York City, New York, USA, d. 9 March 1996, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA) and Gracie Allen (b. Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie Allen, 26 July 1902, San Francisco, California, USA, d. 27 August 1964, Hollywood, California, USA). A child performer in vaudeville, Burns met Allen in the early 20s. She too had performed from childhood. They formed a double act, marrying in January 1926. Successful on stage, they transferred well to radio, television and films. Burns’ phlegmatic acceptance of Allen’s scatterbrained character was the basis for gag-strewn routines. Among their films are The Big Broadcast (1932, with Bing Crosby and Kate Smith), International House (1933, with W.C. Fields and Cab Calloway), Six Of A Kind (1934, with Fields), We’re Not Dressing (1934, with Crosby and Ethel Merman), Love In Bloom (1935), Big Broadcast Of Broadway (1935, with Merman and Bill ‘Bojangles’...

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