Eddie Cantor
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Born

  • January 31(?), 1892
  • New York, NY

Died

  • October 10, 1964
  • Beverly Hills, CA

Real Name

  • Edward Israel Iskowitz
  • Isidore Itzkowitz
  • Sources differ

Marriages / Children

  • Ida Tobias (1914-d. 1962)
  • Margie (d. 1959)

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Eddie Cantor

Show business legend Eddie Cantor was orphaned as a child and raised by his grandmother on New York's Lower East Side. He won several talent shows as a teen and worked at Coney Island as a singing waiter. Hired by Florenz Ziegfeld in 1916 he became a big hit in the revue Midnight Frolic and went on to star in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1917, 1918, and 1919 before he was snubbed by Ziegfeld for supporting a strike by the Actor's Equity Union.

Cantor was a popular star by that time and easily found work in other revues. Ziegfeld eventually hired Cantor back for the Follies of 1923. By the end of the year he was starring in his own show, Kid Boots. After a long, successful run Paramount turned the show into a film in 1926. Cantor starred in several feature films over his career. He was the number one box office draw for three years.

Cantor continued working for Ziegfeld until 1931, when he received his own radio show. The Eddie Cantor Show remained on the air in various versions until the mid-1950s. Cantor was responsible for several big recordings in his career, the most popular being ''If You Knew Susie.'' Cantor's big eyes and exuberant persona made him a popular film and recording star during the 1930s.

Cantor was also active in charities and popular causes. During WWII Cantor helped take care of refugees as well as entertain the troops. When asked by President Roosevelt to help raise money to cure polio, Cantor came up with the famous ''March of Dimes'' slogan, a take on the popular March of Time newsreel series.

Cantor was the frequent host of television's Colgate Comedy Hour from 1950 to 1955. He then starred in his own program, The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater. A heart attack forced him into semi-retirement after only one season. He continued to make guest appearances and wrote several books. Eddie Cantor died in 1964.