Ed Wynn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ed Wynn
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Wynn in the television program All Star Revue (1952)
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| Born |
Isaiah Edwin Leopold
November 9, 1886 |
| Died | June 19, 1966 (aged 79) |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1903–1966 |
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| Children | Keenan Wynn |
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Isaiah Edwin Leopold (born November 9, 1886 – died June 19, 1966), known as Ed Wynn, was a famous American actor and comedian. He was well-known for his funny "Perfect Fool" character. He also had a very popular radio show in the 1930s. Later in his life, he became a serious dramatic actor.
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About Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn was born Isaiah Edwin Leopold in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His family was Jewish. His father, Joseph, made hats for a living. His mother, Minnie Greenberg, came from Istanbul.
Ed went to Central High School in Philadelphia until he was 15. He left home when he was a teenager. He worked as a hat salesman and a helper. He later changed his middle name, Edwin, to his stage name, "Ed Wynn." He did this so his family wouldn't feel embarrassed by him being a comedian.
Ed Wynn's Career
Ed Wynn started his acting career in vaudeville in 1903. Vaudeville was a type of live show with many different acts. He became a big star in the Ziegfeld Follies starting in 1914. The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of popular Broadway shows.
Wynn wrote, directed, and produced many Broadway shows. He was famous for his silly costumes and props. He also had a unique, giggly, wavering voice. He developed this voice for his 1921 musical show, The Perfect Fool. Wynn also became an active member of The Lambs Club in 1919.
Radio Star
In the early 1930s, Ed Wynn hosted a very popular radio show called The Fire Chief. It was heard across North America on Tuesday nights. The show was sponsored by Texaco gasoline.
Like many performers from vaudeville, Wynn loved performing for a live audience. He did each radio show like a real stage show. He even used visual jokes and wore a colorful costume with a red fireman's helmet. He often joked with his announcer, Graham McNamee. Wynn's famous opening line was, "Tonight, Graham, the show's gonna be different!"
Wynn played his Fire Chief character in two movies: Follow the Leader (1930) and The Chief (1933). He even started his own radio network, the Amalgamated Broadcasting System, in 1933. However, it only lasted five weeks. This failed business caused him a lot of trouble.
Ed Wynn was offered the role of The Wizard in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. But he turned it down, and the part went to Frank Morgan.
Television Appearances
Ed Wynn first appeared on television on July 7, 1936. This was during an early, experimental broadcast by NBC. In 1949, Wynn hosted The Ed Wynn Show, one of the first comedy-variety shows on CBS. He won a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award for it. Many famous stars like Buster Keaton and Lucille Ball were guests on his show.
After his third TV series ended in 1959, Ed's son, actor Keenan Wynn, encouraged him not to retire. Instead, he suggested his father try acting in serious dramas. Ed, who was a comedian, was nervous about this. But he started a new career as a dramatic actor in TV and films.
Father and son appeared together in three productions. The first was a 1956 TV play called Requiem for a Heavyweight. Ed was very scared and kept forgetting his lines during practice. But on the night of the live show, he surprised everyone with his amazing performance. He even made quick jokes to cover any mistakes.
This role showed everyone that Wynn could be a serious dramatic actor. His performance in The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) earned him a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
In 1959, Wynn also appeared in Rod Serling's TV series The Twilight Zone. Serling had written an episode just for him. For the rest of his life, Ed Wynn successfully played both funny and serious roles. He became loved by new generations of fans.
Voice Acting and Films
Ed Wynn also lent his voice to cartoons. He was the voice of the Mad Hatter in Walt Disney's movie Alice in Wonderland (1951).
He played The Toymaker in the Christmas movie Babes in Toyland (1961). In Walt Disney's Mary Poppins (1964), he played the funny Uncle Albert. Uncle Albert floated around the ceiling because he couldn't stop laughing. He sang the song "I Love to Laugh".
Wynn also appeared in other Disney films like That Darn Cat! (1965) and The Absent Minded Professor (1961). His last movie role was as Rufus in Walt Disney's The Gnome-Mobile, which came out after he passed away.
Personal Life
Ed Wynn was married three times. He had a son named Keenan Wynn, who also became an actor.
Death
Ed Wynn passed away on June 19, 1966, in Beverly Hills, California. He was 79 years old. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
The comedian Red Skelton, whom Wynn had helped early in his career, said: "His death is the first time he ever made anyone sad."
Legacy
Ed Wynn's unique voice is still copied by many actors and comedians today. For example, Alan Tudyk used it for the character King Candy in Disney's Wreck-It Ralph. Daws Butler used it for Wally Gator, and Paul Frees used it for Captain Peter "Wrongway" Peachfuzz in Rocky and Bullwinkle.
Wynn was honored as a Disney Legend on August 10, 2013. This award recognizes people who have made a great impact on the Disney company.
Images for kids
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Ed Wynn as "Mr. Busybody" 1908
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Wynn in the film Stage Door Canteen (1943)
