After that, Burns had chauffeurs drive him around. While I had known of George and Gracie and grew up watching George solo (he would often mention her), like others here I also discovered George and Gracie on Antenna TV. The concerto was featured in the film Two Girls and a Sailor (1944) with an orchestra conducted by Albert Coates.[16]. So those of you that want to adopt or are adopted never feel like you were unwanted because you were chosen! I feel the same way about being identified as adopted daughter of. I want the truth told, but I dont want to have to wear it around my neck and explain it all the time either. Continue Learning about General Arts & Entertainment. In this film, Burns played an 81-year-old self-made millionaire industrialist who switched bodies with his awkward, artistic, 18-year-old grandson (played by Charlie Schlatter). [10][11]:33, His first wife was Hannah Siegel (stage name Hermosa Jose), one of his dance partners. Burns attributed all of the couple's early success to Allen, ignoring his own brilliance as a straight man. George and Gracie forever. Theme images by, WHERE ARE THEY NOW: FORGOTTEN CHILD STARS, HOLLYWOOD LOVE: DINAH SHORE AND BURT REYNOLDS, Danny G's SPECIAL Dino-Amore Month Sunday Serenade with Dino: "Senza Fine", The Classic Film Collective: 7 Amazing Facts from Sidney Poitiers Memoir The Measure of a Man. He sincerely thought that the nitro would cure what he thought were heart attacks. The show received and maintained a Top 10 rating for the rest of its radio life. George Burns was born April 1790 about two hours after dark. Directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. Their good friend Jack Benny reached a negotiating impasse with NBC over the corporation he set up ("Amusement Enterprises") to package his show, the better to put more of his earnings on a capital-gains basis and avoid the 80 percent taxes slapped on very high earners in the World War II period. It's show business from now on. What can marijuana do for me that show business hasn't done?" Nobody EVER had a greater comedic voice AND timing than Gracie. Some years ago i can recall when ask about Gracie he often spoke of her witth geat love .He loved and missed her dearly. The Burns family has deep roots in the United States. 6 grandchildren. [22] The awards program encourages the realistic and multifaceted portrayal of women in entertainment, news, features and other programs. She took it pretty hard and George loved it. Remember that many babies were conceived in rape, incest, love affairs with married menthis would be hard for some. A lively musical comedy came next titled Honolulu (1939) starring Eleanor Powell, Robert Young and Burns and Allen billed above the title. [5], Costar Bea Benaderet said of Allen in 1966: "She was probably one of the greatest actresses of our time. I have been surprised at the response Ive had to this blog on Ronnie. I love Lucy, however Gracie had a born in natural talent. Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen. I adored their radio shows and later their TV Show. great-grandchildren reside in California. [18] As much as he looked forward to reaching the age of 100, Burns also stated, about a year before he died, that he also looked forward to death, saying that on the day he would die, he would be with Gracie again in Heaven. He was born in Honolulu. Feingold was his real name, but he changed it to Farley. 13.7M . His wife is Gracie Allen (m. 1926-1964), Hannah Siegal (m. 1917-1921) George Burns Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Goodwin remained, and the music was now led by Meredith Willson (later to be better known for composing the Broadway musical The Music Man). Very sad in that Gracie never received the accolades that she deserved. The picture was directed by Raoul Walsh. Audiences immediately fell in love with Allen's character, which combined the traits of naivete, zaniness and innocence. [12] This proves that Allen was born before 1900 and indicates that the birthdate of July 26, 1895 may be correct. When I tried to find her thru the agency when she was 18 they treated me like I was some kind of asshole pervert and threw my contact info away. After the last show they went to a wrap party and at the end Gracie took a drink of champagne and said, "Well, that's it." Allen was billed above Warren William (the actor then portraying Philo Vance in the series of Vance films), and without Burns. and she talked for 38 years. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Upon being interred with Gracie, the crypt's marker was changed from, "Grace Allen BurnsBeloved Wife And Mother (19021964)" to "Gracie Allen (19021964) & George Burns (18961996)Together Again". A popular legend holds that she would reply "Good night, Gracie," but according to Burns, recordings of their radio and television shows and several histories of old-time radio (such as John Dunning's On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio), she never used the phrase. With his wife and collaborator Grace Allen, he developed a trademark straight man style, playing the foil to Allen's comedic "illogic logic" persona. children: Sandra Jean Burns - Ronald Jon Burns Born Country: United States Quotes By George Burns Jewish Actors Died on: March 9, 1996 place of death: Beverly Hills, California, United States Ancestry: Romanian American, Polish American Grouping of People: Centenarian Cause of Death: Cardiac Arrest U.S. State: New Yorkers Recommended Lists: It's such a joy to realize all these years later that we can still laugh and enjoy a program without the inclusion of outrageous themes and vulgarity. Months?? He is the subject of Rupert Holmes's one-actor play Say Goodnight, Gracie. Jennie Sodder holding John, her first child. "[13] Burns then broke down and had to be helped to his seat. Look around onlinenewspapers say she was 58 and her vault says she was born 1902,but online says 1895 George just didn't understand. "Other accounts said, George was at her bedside when she died. Started out in an Irish dancing group called "The Allen Sisters" with her three older sisters, Bessie, Hazel and Pearl. Arthur Marx estimated that Burns smoked around 300,000 cigars during his lifetime, starting at the age of 14. The new format's success made it one of the few classic radio comedies to completely reinvent itself and regain great success. George Burns. In 1938, Paramount producer and managing director William LeBaron was planning a vehicle for Burns and Allen to team with established star Bing Crosby, with a script written by Don Hartman and Frank Butler. Her father left the family - she, her mother, her three sisters, and one brother when Gracie was 5 years old. He always smoked a cigar onstage and reputedly timed his monologues by the amount the cigar had burned down. Comedian George Burns is not only a living legend, he's living proof that smoking between 10 and 15 cigars a day for 70 years contributes to one's longevity. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Leotta Burns and his grandson Zachary. In February 1995, Burns, in what would be his final television appearance, was presented with the very first SAG Lifetime Achievement Award by the Screen Actors Guild. At a performance in 1922, Allen met George Burns, and the two formed a comedy act. Oh, God! Her foil would press her for proof or corroborating information, and she would reply that her birth certificate had been destroyed in the earthquake. Almost two decades later, they landed a spot on television and premiered the "George Burns and Gracie Allen Show." STARTING A FAMILY. You can find it on Amazon! They didn't tell him how sick Gracie really was. In the early 1930s, Burns and Allen appeared in several short films in which they performed some of their classic vaudeville routines. Courtesy of Jennie Henthorn. He and his wife Gracie Allen appeared on radio, television and film as the comedy duo Burns and Allen. I am trying to remember who my first adoptee was outside of my abrother. The marker on the crypt was changed from "Grace Allen BurnsBeloved Wife And Mother (18951964)" to "Gracie Allen (18951964) and George Burns (18961996)Together Again".[21]. When Ronnie died, his AP obit read in part: Born in Evanston, Ill., he was adopted when he was 3 months old. I was always a huge I Love Lucy fan and always thought of Lucy being the queen of comedy but my opinion has changed because Gracie Allen definitely deserves that title. I'm almost 80 yes old and ant TV and metv have given me the opportunity to relive these wonderful old Burns and Allen productions. There had never been any secret about his adoption. March 09 Comedian George Burns dies at age 100 On March 9, 1996, the legendary cigar-chomping performer George Burns dies at his home in Beverly Hills, California, just weeks after. It did not make me feel better about being adopted. [18] Astaire's costar Joan Fontaine was not a dancer, and he was reluctant to dance on screen alone. MUSIC: UP FOR A TAG AND OUT TRUMAN: And now for those two friendly hams, George Burns and "Hinds Honey" Gracie Allen! At the age of 79, Burns experienced a sudden career revival as an amiable, beloved and unusually active comedy elder statesman in the 1975 film The Sunshine Boys, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Damn that Claude Daigel and his snotty penmanship.= =. Comedian, Actor. [13] Additionally, her senior year high school year book has been located.[2]. Singer Tony Martin also played Gracie's unwilling love interest whom she comically threatened to fire if he would not reciprocate her romantic interest. Bobby suggested that he sleep on Gracie's side of the bed. The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible. Ronnie Burns was the adopted son of George Burns and Gracie Allen. George Burns (January 20, 1896 - March 9, 1996) and Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie "Gracie" Allen (July 26, 1895 - August 27, 1964), adopted two children: Sandra Jean Burns (b. George was a resident of South Dakota at the time of passing. McCadden Productions co-produced the television series No Time for Sergeants, based on the hit Broadway play; George also produced Juliet Prowse's 196566 NBC situation comedy, Mona McCluskey. Happy Birthday, Bob-50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years. He summarized their act by saying: "All I had to do was say, 'Gracie, how's your brother?' He was astounded when she wanted to retire and ignored her for a couple of years until she finally told him enough was enough. However, her brother did not find it comical and eventually asked them to stop; he was so irked by the gag's popularity that he disappeared from society at the height of its popularity. . shelved 8,881 times Showing 30 distinct works. George Burns was an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and singer who had a net worth of $20 million at the time of his death in 1996. . I am currently watching re runs of the old Burns and Allen show and loving it. [7]:182 The Burns and Allen staff hired a composer to write the "Concerto for Index Finger", a joke piece in which the orchestra would play madly, only to pause while Allen played a one-finger scale with a final incorrect note. I never knowingly knew another adoptee or bastard until my first job out of college when I worked with a man whod been adopted during the Great Depression. "[6], Allen was born in San Francisco, California, to George Allen and Margaret Theresa ("Molly") Allen (ne Darragh; later Mrs. Edward Pidgeon), who were both of Irish Catholic descent. . On television, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show put faces to some of the radio characters audiences had come to love although they were already familiar with Burns and Allen's faces from their films. better than lucy ever hoped to be gracie was simply grand. You know I think it may have been Rhoda, although when I met her I was around 6 or 7 and didnt realize that she wasnt the adoptee. The Gracie Award is presented by the Alliance for Women in Media to recognize exemplary programming created by women, for women and about women in radio, television, cable and web-based media, including news, drama, comedy, commercials, public service, documentary and sports. GEORGE: Hello. Charles had a younger brother James Burns. A blurb on the cover even announced "Oh God, she's nude!". George knew she was not only special,but a gold mine. In celebration of Burns' 99th birthday in January 1995, Los Angeles renamed the eastern end of Alden Drive "Gracie Allen Drive." George Burns was born Nathan Birnbaum on January 20, 1896, in New York City,[1] the ninth of 12 children born to Hadassah "Dorah" (ne Bluth; 18571927) and Eliezer Birnbaum (18551903), known as Louis or Lippa, Jewish immigrants who had come to the United States from Ropczyce,[2] Galicia, now Poland. Im will be 44 years old aug. 3rd 2018. I have had people who have never adopted tell me You cant love them as much as your REAL children really? Hello, I Must Be Going. My fake plants died because I did not pretend to water them. Your words about Gracie describe how I feel too. those are your parents. "Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair.". [4] She and Burns were inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1988. The crazy mother was located by our daughter however and we met when she was 18. His parents are George Burns and Mary (LNU); both died in Glasgow, Scotland. A Short Memoir. [21] Burns is also a member of the Television Hall of Fame, where he and Gracie Allen were both inducted in 1988. I love them so. There were at least two of us out there, even though intellectually I knew there were millions. In his later years he raised Arabian horses on a ranch in Santa Ynez. 69 is correct: July 26, 1895 August 27, 1964. His nickname was Birnbaum Nathan, Nattie. i was just thinking the same exactcomputition because i am 69 and i thought how sad she still had a lot of life to live and a lot more comedy togive to people. George Burns. August 27, 1964), and. Watch The George Burns and The Gracie Allen Show..They were Great together! In a flashback Burns had, his father let him sit on Santa's lap at Gimbels department store. It was bad enough being adopted without having your business spread all over front street. The gifted comic, dancer and vaudeville performer began working when he was 7 years old, soon after his father died. The cast were excellent actors as well. Burns also did regular nightclub stand-up acts in his later years, usually portraying himself as a lecherous old man. George Burns (born Nathan Birnbaum; January 20, 1896 March 9, 1996) was an American comedian, actor, writer, and singer, and one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, radio, film and television. He was. They are pro life and the girls mother has another daughter with health problems. This is interesting. George Burns. Gracie Allenm. "[citation needed]. Theresa Opunui, Julia Van Kuren, Catherine "Momi" Keomaka, Valerie Daoang and Leila Mamiya; 17 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Of course, in Catholic countries it is more normal to just accept that in a fallen world it is good to be grateful something positive came out of it. After Gracie's death in 1964, George immersed himself in work. Who Is George Burns's Wife? Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie Allen (July 26, 1895[1][2][3] August 27, 1964) was an American vaudevillian, singer, actress, and comedian who became internationally famous as the zany partner and comic foil of husband George Burns, her straight man, appearing with him on radio, television and film as the duo Burns and Allen. Lucy was a far 2nd yo her in the talent categorybut nobody matched Lucy on the production side.she introduced so many other comedy shows to tv you would be amazed! In his memoir The Third Time Around, Burns shared a letter from a college fraternity complaining that its weekly dance parties were interrupted by Burns and Allen routines. [7]:100105 They would make unannounced cameo appearances on other shows, asking if anyone had seen Allen's brother. They continued to use the formula that had kept them longtime radio stars, playing themselves only now as television stars, still living next door to Harry and Blanche Morton. Burns, heartbroken, said that the only time he ever wept in his life other than Gracie's death was when Benny died. I remember a song, Shes Kinda Cute performed here on the Jack Benny Show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLnDT0xJnFU. The Birnbaums were a large family, and Burns had 11 siblings. Behind them is Burns' son, Ronald. Gracie said they chose him because he was the most sickly baby there and needed the most care. Gracie was the first. Had she lived today chances are they could have prolonged her life since they have become so advanced with heart problems.In the early 60's they still didn't have solutions for many aliments as of yet. Appearing. In those days there really wasn't anything anybody could do except give you nitro to control the angina. It really puts a smile on my face! I'd rather be a failure at something I enjoy than a success at something I hate. It is really nice to see someone else who has these deep feelings too. Thank you Miss Allen for sharing your gift, it was greatly appreciated. Jack and his wife, Mary Livingstone, adopted Joan when she was about two weeks old. I have read George's books about their life together and I am pleased that it is a true love story. ALL MATERIALS, CONTENTS, AND ARTICLES ARE THE COPYRIGHT OF DAVID LOBOSCO (unless otherwise stated). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. We were all about the same age, six and seven, and when we were bored making syrup, we used to practice singing harmony in the basement. LOVE them separately, love them together, and the supporting cast is great, too: Harry Von Zell, Larry Keating, and the beautiful Bea Benadaret, who I only knew from Petticoat Junction! Allen has twice been nominated to the National Women's Hall of Fame, though she has not been inducted. Like Gracie, George had a tough. Some of hers have living parents. I was so a slow learner, that it wasnt until I saw the Proud and Profane on the late night movie when I was 14, that it occurred to me that my parents might not have been married when I was born. I recently moved to a new city and discovered Antenna TV. im sure he's with the love of his life . George was a long time member of Wheeler Grove Baptist Church, where he served as a . I was just a child watching the show with my parents, and still watch it. A year after that, at a school dance, I was talking to a wallflower-in-arms, when she casually mentioned her parents had gotten married a year after she was born. A day cannot go that I don't watch Gracie on Burns and Allen on YouTube. I Love Lucy too. On March 9, 1996, 49 days after his centenary, Burns died in his Beverly Hills home. His sister, Sandra Burns, now Mrs. Sandra Luckman, made only bit appearances on her parents' shows, and soon retired from showbiz permanently to marry and rear a family. "If I'd taken my doctor's advice and quit smoking when he advised me to, I wouldn't have lived to go to his funeral," deadpans the HERE ARE THE essential items that George Burns requires to put on a show: (1) a backless stool on which to perch; (2) a lightly rehearsed orchestra; (3) a martini or two chased by a cup of hot . Book II (in which the Almighty engages a precocious schoolgirl played by Louanne Sirota to spread the word) and Oh, God! I have adopted 2 children. One hundred years ago, he was born Nathan Birnbaum, the ninth of 12 children of a Polish-born immigrant, who eked out a living as a part-time cantor and kosher food inspector. Burns and Allen found their own show and radio audience, first airing on February 15, 1932. [7]:205. I cannot imagine my life without Jack Benny, and I will miss him so very much. I guess I want some control over the label in recognition of the fact that it is MY truth. inspired two sequels Oh, God! I will always be grateful for Ronnies visibility and the lifeline he threw out to me so many years ago, by his mere visibility, even if that visibility was front streetscaped- and surely an albatross. There is something about her that touches me deep inside. 46,377 Views . George Burns tells the audience how he met Gracie Allen. He started his career at the age of seven, singing in the Pee Wee Quartet. They truly are a love story made in Heaven. In later years, Burns admitted that he had a very brief extramarital affair. I think George was truly a genius and it scares me how much I love Gracie. We started out singing on ferryboats, in saloons, in brothels, and on street corners. Burns never fully recovered and his performing career came to an end. Ronnie had a brief singing career with performances on the Burns and Allen Show. Gracie and George are wonderful! They concluded each show with a brief dialogue performance in the style of their classic vaudeville and earlier radio routines. [9] To hide his Jewish heritage, he adopted the stage name by which he would be known for the rest of his life. "And all of a sudden," he said in later years, "the audience realized I had a talent. In fact, George declared that she wasn't merely a good comedian; she was a great actor. As with The Jack Benny Program, the new George Burns & Gracie Allen Show portrayed Burns and Allen as entertainers with their own weekly radio show. George Burns was born April 1790 about two hours after dark Martha Burns was born Jany. In 1903, Louis Birnbaum caught influenza and died, during an ongoing influenza epidemic. He also performed a series of solo concerts, playing university campuses, New York's Philharmonic Hall and winding up a successful season at Carnegie Hall, where he wowed a capacity audience with his show-stopping songs, dances, and jokes. Orphaned when 7-years-old, Burns had to work to financially support his family. When George became a professional player, he was given the moniker "Tioga Kid" or "Tioga George" so that he could be distinguished from George Joseph Burns. Her foil would point out that she was born in July, but that the earthquake was three months earlier in April. [2], She soon began performing Irish folk dances with her three sisters, who were billed as "The Four Colleens". I agree that I love Antenna TV. Homework was done, and the family gathered in front of the television set in time to hear the theme song, "Love Nest," followed by "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," a weekly sitcom. George Burns (born Nathan Birnbaum; January 20, 1896 - March 9, 1996) was an American comedian, actor, writer, and singer, and one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, radio, film and television.His arched eyebrow and cigar-smoke punctuation became familiar trademarks for over three-quarters of a century. Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie "Gracie" Allen (July 26, 1895 - We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their . Her grave is marked 1902 - Per Forrest Lawn Cemetery. In 1977, Burns made another hit film, Oh, God!, playing the omnipotent title role opposite singer John Denver as an earnest but befuddled supermarket manager, whom God picks at random to revive his message. Also Known As Jimmy Malone, Nathan Birnbaum, Jed Jackson, Eddie Delight, Jack Harris, Willie Saks, George N. Burns Birth Place New York City, New York, USA Born January 20, 1896 Died March 09, 1996 Biography Read More The ancestry of the BURNS family of Clay and Owsley Counties KY is WILLIAM BURNS (CHARLES, GEORGE), a Revolutionary War soldier, b. abt 1756, probably in what was to become Henry Co Virginia but then Halifax County. STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: FUNERAL OF GRACIE ALLEN, JOAN CRAWFORD AND BING CROSBY: ICONS NOT MONSTERS. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLnDT0xJnFU, The Wicked Witch is Dead! Absolutely. Have a great day Lisa, Your email address will not be published. kiss my ass I love them just as much. He supported his family with his show business earnings after his father died. Their son went by the name of Ronnie - he was also on the Burns & Allen Show - that's Forrest Lawn Glendale - many stars are also close by at Forrest Lawn Hollywood Hills. However, the story didn't fit Burns and Allen's style, so LeBaron ordered script rewrites to fit two male co-stars: Crosby and Bob Hope. Where Burns was born is unspecified, . Not one photo have I ever seen Gracie with a cigarette so I don't know where you obtained your information that she smoked heavily if at all? George Burns died on March 9, 1996 at the age of 100. ", Presumably the most reliable information comes from U.S. Census data collected on June 1, 1900 that shows Grace Allen, age four (born in July 1895), along with her parents and five siblings. How could it not brighten anyones day. Showing 1-30 of 39. Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie Allen (July 26, 1895 [1] [2] [3] - August 27, 1964) was an American vaudevillian, singer, actress, and comedian who became internationally famous as the zany partner and comic foil of husband George Burns, her straight man, appearing with him on radio, television and film as the duo Burns and Allen . Times were protective then. During the influenza epidemic of 1903, Lippe Birnbaum contracted the flu and died at the age of 47. For this reason, he preferred cheap El Producto cigars as the loosely wrapped tobacco burned longer. George Burns Quotes - BrainyQuote. He bought new Cadillacs every year and drove until the age of 93. A family in NC is looking forward to adopting him, but not the old way. Nothing more was said, but years later, Burns discovered that Allen had subsequently told one of her friends about the affair, finishing with, "You know, I really wish George would cheat on me again. George died September 13, 2020 at his residence. Indiana Baby Box Adoption Hits the Wire. See, back then, even during that Golden Age, where it seemed half of Hollywood was adopting, adoption in the real world wasnt discussed in public. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Funny. His spouse is Gracie Allen (m. 1926-1964). The first episode involved the nearly 69-year-old Burns watching his younger neighbor's activities with amusement, just as he would watch the Burns and Allen television show while it was unfolding to get a jump on what Gracie was up to in its final two seasons. [15], Allen was also the subject of one of S. S. Van Dine's Philo Vance mystery novels, The Gracie Allen Murder Case. 19th 1792 near 12 o'clock at night Saml. People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. A fews years back i stumbled upon the burns and allen show and i truley believe she was the funniest lady i have ever watched on telivision and were talking a life span away from each other. George Burns. "She must have been a happy woman, Grandma Moses, doing what she wanted to do, as I do what I. I hope I'm not leaving any more typos, please pardon any you see.). I finally got to match a face with a name. Sometimes the customers threw something in the hats. 126 Copy quote. Thank you for what you said. It was Astaire's first RKO film without dancing partner Ginger Rogers. When they presented the dance to Astaire, he liked it so much that he asked them teach it to him, and it was added to the film with the three of them dancing together. She was just worn out from all the stress of show business. She was previously married to Young James Wilhoite III (Aug 8,1953-July 12, 1957) Rod Amateau (1959-1962). What was George Burns wife's name? I was 9 or 10 years old when he joined the cast of the Burns & Allen Show playing himself, so I wasnt intellectualizing things. At the age of 80, Burns was the oldest Oscar winner in the history of the Academy Awards, a record that would remain until Jessica Tandy won an Oscar for Driving Miss Daisy in 1989. In his final years, he smoked no more than four a day and he never used cigarettes or marijuana, claiming "Look, I can't get any more kicks than I'm getting. Burns is especially proud, however, of a Grandma Moses painting of a snow-covered farmhouse and barn. In a world where adoptees were freakizied internally, his presence tempered my freakishness and help me psychically survive to sort things out later. Substgack or Medium or Anything? My husband commented once while we were watching George in something that when he saw clips of the funeral on TV when he was a kid, he thought he had never seen anyone look so sad as George Burns. The renamed show barely lasted a year. I should have ben told truth from begining. She is known for her work on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950). They would scare me if I were her. I watch it every morning before going to work. They said that George had to practically be CARRIED into the church! They agreed to raise the children as Catholics and to permit them to make their own religious choices as adults. Gracie was the funniest comedienne of her time (if not any time). I Googled him and learned that he died of cancer at the age of 72 in 2007. I used to watch them on late night tv growing up. He was on the TV screen and he was real. We Have Questions. Martha Burns was born Jany. Burns and Allen began their career in motion pictures with a series of comic short films in the late 1920s and early 1930s, such as The Big Broadcast (1932) with Bing Crosby, both International House (1933) and Six of a Kind (1934) with W.C. Fields, The Big Broadcast of 1936 with Crosby again, The Big Broadcast of 1937 with Jack Benny, A Damsel in Distress (1937) with Fred Astaire and Joan Fontaine, and College Swing (1938) with Bob Hope and Martha Raye.