Berle, Milton, 1908–2002, American entertainer, b. New York City as Milton Berlinger. Berle first performed in vaudeville and on (1939–48) radio. His great success, however, came as television's first real star, and his broadly appealing comedy routines contributed significantly to the young medium's growing popularity. His successful weekly "Texaco Star Theater" (1948–54) earned him the nickname "Mr. Television." Also affectionately called "Uncle Miltie," Berle appeared in numerous movies, including Always Leave Them Laughing (1949), It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963), and Broadway Danny Rose (1984).

Bibliography

See his autobiography (1974).

Berle, Milton

orig. Milton Berlinger

(born July 12, 1908, New York, N.Y., U.S.—died March 27, 2002, Los Angeles, Calif.) U.S. comedian. He appeared in vaudeville from age 10 and later acted in more than 50 silent films. He worked chiefly as a nightclub comedian (1939–49) while vainly seeking a radio audience. His slapstick routines and facial contortions, however, were more suited to a visual medium, and between 1937 and 1968 he appeared in 19 movies. His greatest success came with the television variety show Texaco Star Theater (1948–54), a show so popular that many people are said to have bought television sets just to watch “Uncle Miltie.”

Berle, Milton (b. Milton Berlinger) (1908– ) stand-up/television comedian; born in New York City. A child actor in silent films, he appeared in vaudeville and New York musicals like the Ziegfield Follies, returning to movies in the 1940s. "Uncle Miltie" hosted the television variety show, Texaco Star Theatre, from 1948–56; the series' popularity earned him the title "Mr. Television" and helped change the television set from a toy for the wealthy into a family fixture. He continued his career, appearing in occasional movies as well as doing his one-man turns in clubs, but although he retained the admiration of his fans and fellow comedians, he never regained the broad public of his television days.