Eddie Cantor

Eddie Cantor
Cantor in 1945
Born
Isidore Itzkowitz

(1892-01-31)January 31, 1892
DiedOctober 10, 1964(1964-10-10) (aged 72)
Resting placeHillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • dancer
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • film producer
  • screenwriter
  • author
Years active1907–1962
Spouse
Ida Tobias
(m. 1914; died 1962)
Children5
President of the Screen Actors Guild
In office
1933–1935
Preceded byRalph Morgan
Succeeded byRobert Montgomery

Eddie Cantor (born Isidore Itzkowitz;[1][2] January 31, 1892 – October 10, 1964) was an American comedian, actor, dancer, singer, songwriter, film producer, screenwriter and author.[3] Cantor was one of the prominent entertainers of his era.

Some of his hits include "Makin' Whoopee", "Ida (Sweet as Apple Cider)", "If You Knew Susie", "Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me", “Mandy”, "My Baby Just Cares for Me”, "Margie", and "How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree)?" He also wrote a few songs, including "Merrily We Roll Along", the Merrie Melodies Warner Bros. cartoon theme.

His eye-rolling song-and-dance routines eventually led to his nickname "Banjo Eyes". In 1933, artist Frederick J. Garner caricatured Cantor with large round eyes resembling the drum-like pot of a banjo. Cantor's eyes became his trademark, often exaggerated in illustrations, and leading to his appearance on Broadway in the musical Banjo Eyes (1941).

He helped to develop the March of Dimes and is credited with coining its name.[4] Cantor was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1956 for distinguished service to the film industry.

  1. ^ Eddie Cantor, with Jane Kesner Ardmore, Take My Life, Mr. Cantor's second autobiography, 1957.
  2. ^ Kenrick, John.Who's Who in Musicals: Ca-Cl Musicals101.com, accessed September 5, 2011.
  3. ^ Obituary Variety, October 14, 1964.
  4. ^ "Origin of our name". March of Dimes Official Website. Retrieved May 29, 2024.