This Day in Humor with Mike Durrett


Born 1896: George Burns, showbiz animal, with more than 90 years as a performer, starting as a child in Vaudeville. The comedian's career was unexceptional until he teamed with (future wife) Gracie Allen in 1922. They became stars of the stage, movies (1932's "The Big Broadcast," 1937's "A Damsel in Distress"), radio, and television. The truly classic and surreal sitcom, "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" (1950-58) could've run longer, but Gracie said "Good night" and retired. Burns continued solo, remolded his persona from straight man to comic and reaped four additional decades of great success, especially in the films "The Sunshine Boys" (Best Supporting Actor Academy Award, 1975) and "Oh, God!" (1977). For many years, George Burns joked he couldn't die because he was booked. Long scheduled to play the London Palladium on his 100th birthday, he missed the engagement, due to poor health after a debilitating fall in the bathtub months before. But, he did pass 100. Died 1996.

Born 1929: Arte Johnson, comedian and actor, became famous as the scene-stealing wonder boy of TV's revolutionary "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" (1968-71). His most popular characters were the ever-present Nazi soldier behind the fern ("Verrrrrrrry interesting!") and Tyrone F. Horneigh, the world's dirtiest old man. A parade of comic guest roles followed and voice work in cartoons and books-on-tape (a Dave Barry regular).

Born 1956: Bill Maher, stand-up comedian and actor, created and hosted TV's controversial "Politically Incorrect" (1994-2002), a talk show of issues and humor.

Copyright ©2003 Mike Durrett. All rights reserved.