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Jerry Colonna

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
53

Gender
Male

Birthday
September 17, 1904 (121 years old)

Place of Birth
Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Jerry Colonna

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gerardo Luigi "Jerry" Colonna (September 17, 1904 – November 22, 1986) was an American musician, actor, comedian, singer, songwriter and trombonist best remembered as the zaniest of Bob Hope's sidekicks in Hope's popular radio shows and films of the 1940s and 1950s.

With his pop-eyed facial expressions and walrus-sized handlebar moustache, Colonna was known for singing loudly "in a comic caterwaul," according to Raised on Radio author Gerald Nachman, and for his catchphrase, "Who's Yehudi?", uttered after many an old joke, although it usually had nothing to do with the joke. The line was believed to be named for violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin, and the search for Yehudi became a running gag on the Hope show.

Colonna featured in three of the popular Hope-Crosby Road films: Road to Singapore (1940) as Achilles Bombassa, Road to Rio (1947) as a Cavalry captain and The Road to Hong Kong (1962) in a cameo role. He can also be seen in the Fred Allen vehicle, It's in the Bag! (1945), as psychiatrist Dr. Greenglass, and he made a brief appearance with Hope in the "Wife, Husband and Wolf" sketch in Star Spangled Rhythm. In 1956 he performed the featured song "My Lucky Charm" in the film Meet Me in Las Vegas, starring Dan Dailey and Cyd Charisse.

He provided the voice of the March Hare in the Walt Disney animated film version of Alice in Wonderland (1951) (another radio legend, Ed Wynn, voiced the Mad Hatter) and also lent his zany narration style to several Disney shorts, including Casey at the Bat (1946) and The Brave Engineer (1950).

Known For

Acting

2017This Is Bob Hope...as Self (archive footage)
2002Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USOas Self (archive footage)
1996Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidentsas Self (archive footage)
1988Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBCas Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1977Don't Push, I'll Charge When I'm Readyas Self
1976Bob Hope's World of Comedyas Self (archive footage)
1976Joysas Self
1974Dinah!as Self
1966The Monkeesas Dr. Mann
1962The Road to Hong Kongas Man Looking For Match (uncredited)
1958Andy Hardy Comes Homeas Doc
1957Pinocchioas Ringmaster
1956The Rosemary Clooney Showas Self
1956Meet Me in Las Vegasas Jerry Colonna
1955Music Landas Narrator (archive footage)
1954Climax!as Stan
1952Ellis in Freedomlandas The Waste-away (voice)
1951Alice in Wonderlandas March Hare (voice)
1951Operation Wonderlandas Self
1951Kentucky Jubileeas Jerry Harris
1950The Colgate Comedy Houras Self
1950The Brave Engineeras Narrator
1950What's My Line?as Self
1947Road to Rioas Jerry Colonna
1946Casey at the Batas Narrator
1946Make Mine Musicas Narrator (segment "Casey at the Bat") (voice)
1946Road to Utopiaas Man on Boat to Alaska (uncredited)
1945It's in the Bag!as Dr. Greengrass
1944G.I. Journalas Self
1944Atlantic Cityas The Professor
1944Musical Movielandas The Texas Tornado
1943Stars on Horsebackas
1942Ice Capades Revueas Theophilus J. Twitchell
1942Priorities on Paradeas Jeep Jackson
1942True to the Armyas Pvt. 'Pinky' Fothergill
1942Star Spangled Rhythmas Jerry Colonna
1941Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 1as Self (uncredited)
1941Ice-Capadesas Colonna
1941Sis Hopkinsas Professor
1941You're the Oneas Dr. Colonna
1940Melody and Moonlightas Abner Kellogg
1940Comin' Round the Mountainas Argyle Phifft
1940Road to Singaporeas Achilles Bombanassa
1939Naughty but Niceas Allie Gray
1939Sweepstakes Winneras Nick, the Chef
1938Swingtime in the Moviesas The Texas Tornado
1938Garden of the Moonas Musician
1938Valley of the Giantsas Saloon Singer
1938Little Miss Broadwayas Band Member
1938Port of Seven Seasas Arab Rug Dealer
1938The Star Reporteras Singer-Freddie Rich Orchestra
1937Rosalieas Joseph
1936Song Hits on Paradeas

Production