Cohan, George M.

Cohan, George M. (Michael) (1878–1942) actor, playwright, director; born in Providence, R.I. Author, composer, director, and often the high-spirited star of 20 musicals, he wrote many patriotic songs, including "You're a Grand Old Flag," "Give My Regards to Broadway," and "Over There." He began his career in vaudeville as a child with his family, one of The Four Cohans. His first Broadway production was The Governor's Son (1901); his first successful show was Little Johnny Jones (1904). Other shows include Forty-five Minutes from Broadway (1906), Broadway Jones (1912), Hello, Broadway (1914), and The Song and Dance Man (1923). He also adapted other people's works for the stage, including the mystery novel Seven Keys to Baldpate. He made successful appearances as an actor in Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness! (1934) and as the president in I'd Rather Be Right (1937). He wrote an autobiography, Twenty Years on Broadway (1925). His career inspired the movie Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), starring James Cagney.