Edgar Bergen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edgar Bergen
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Bergen with his ventriloquist dummies Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd in 1949
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| Born |
Edgar John Berggren
February 16, 1903 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | September 30, 1978 (aged 75) Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
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| Resting place | Inglewood Park Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, ventriloquist |
| Years active | 1922–1978 |
| Spouse(s) |
Frances Westerman
(m. 1945) |
| Children | 2; including Candice |
Edgar John Bergen (born Edgar John Berggren; February 16, 1903 – September 30, 1978) was a famous American ventriloquist, actor, and comedian. He was best known for his amazing skill with ventriloquism and his popular dummy characters, Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. He was also the father of actress Candice Bergen.
Contents
Early Life and Charlie's Creation
Edgar Bergen was born in Chicago in 1903. His parents were immigrants from Sweden. When he was four, his family moved back to Sweden for a few years, where he learned the Swedish language.
When Edgar was eleven, his family returned to Chicago. He taught himself ventriloquism from a small book called "The Wizard's Manual". A famous ventriloquist named Harry Lester was so impressed by Edgar that he gave him lessons.
In 1919, Edgar paid a woodcarver to create a dummy that looked like a mischievous newspaper boy. This dummy became Charlie McCarthy, Edgar's most famous partner. Edgar built the dummy's body himself, using simple materials like a broomstick and rubber bands.
Edgar went to Northwestern University for a while, studying speech and drama. He performed in public for the first time at a church across the street from his home. He later changed his last name from Berggren to Bergen for his show bills.
Radio Stardom
Edgar Bergen started his career performing in vaudeville shows. He also appeared in short movies. But his biggest success came on the radio.
In 1936, Edgar and Charlie performed at a party in New York. Two producers saw them and invited them to appear on a radio show. Their first appearance was a huge hit!
The next year, they got their own regular show, The Chase and Sanborn Hour. This show ran from 1937 to 1956. It was surprising that a ventriloquist became so popular on radio, since listeners couldn't see the dummies or Edgar's skill. But Edgar was so good at making Charlie sound like a real person that listeners believed it.
Edgar also created other characters for the radio show. These included the slow-witted Mortimer Snerd and the bold Effie Klinker. Charlie, however, remained the main star. He was always presented as a very clever, well-dressed child. Because he was a wooden dummy, Charlie could say funny, slightly cheeky things that real people on radio couldn't.
Edgar was a very skilled ventriloquist. Even though he didn't always keep his lips perfectly still on radio (because it wasn't necessary), his comedic timing was excellent. He made Charlie's quick jokes sound perfect. Edgar's talent for creating these distinct personalities was what made his show so popular.
A famous story says that Bergen and McCarthy might have "saved the world" on October 30, 1938. On that night, Orson Welles broadcast his scary radio play, War of the Worlds, which caused many people to panic. However, most Americans were listening to Bergen and McCarthy's show on another station and missed Welles' play. Some people think that when Bergen's show went to a musical break, some listeners changed the channel and tuned into War of the Worlds already in progress, which added to the confusion.
In 1948, Edgar's show faced tough competition from a new quiz show. He decided to temporarily "retire" from radio in December 1948.
The Charlie McCarthy Show
In 1949, Bergen moved to CBS with a new show, The Charlie McCarthy Show. This show continued until July 1, 1956. By then, more and more people were watching television instead of listening to radio.
Films and Television
Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy starred in several movies. These included The Goldwyn Follies (1938) and You Can't Cheat an Honest Man (1939) with W. C. Fields.
In 1937, Edgar Bergen received a special Honorary Oscar. It was a unique wooden Oscar statue, given for his amazing creation of Charlie McCarthy.
Bergen, Charlie, and Mortimer Snerd also appeared in Walt Disney's movie Fun and Fancy Free (1947). Later, Edgar Bergen made cameo appearances in films like The Muppet Movie (1979). He also guest-starred on The Muppet Show in 1977, as Jim Henson (the creator of the Muppets) looked up to him. His daughter, Candice, also appeared on the show. The Muppet Movie was Edgar Bergen's last film role and was dedicated to him after he passed away.
Television Appearances
Even though his main radio show didn't move to TV, Edgar Bergen appeared on television many times. His first TV appearance with Charlie McCarthy was in 1946.
He hosted the game show Do You Trust Your Wife? from 1956 to 1957. Later, Johnny Carson took over the show.
Bergen also appeared in a Christmas TV movie called The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971). This movie later became the popular TV series The Waltons. In The Waltons series, you could sometimes hear Bergen and Charlie McCarthy's voices on the family's radio.
Family Life
In 1941, Edgar Bergen met Frances Westerman, a young fashion model. They met when she was in the audience of his radio show. They got married in Mexico in 1945.
Their daughter, Candice Bergen, was born in 1946. She later became a famous actress. Their second child was a son named Kris Bergen, who became a film editor. Frances also acted in movies and TV shows.
Later Years and Legacy
In September 1978, Edgar Bergen announced he was retiring after more than 50 years in entertainment. He planned to send Charlie McCarthy to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
He started a two-week "Farewell to Show Business" performance in Las Vegas on September 27. Just three days later, on September 30, 1978, he passed away. Edgar Bergen was buried with his parents in Inglewood Park Cemetery in California.
In his will, Edgar Bergen left money to his dummy, Charlie McCarthy. He explained that he did this for sentimental reasons, because Charlie had been his constant companion and felt like a real person to him.
In 1990, Edgar Bergen was chosen for the Radio Hall of Fame. The Muppet Movie, which was his last film, was dedicated to his memory. In 1991, the United States Postal Service honored him with a special stamp.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Edgar Bergen has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He received these stars in 1960 for his contributions to television, movies, and radio. His stars are located on Hollywood Boulevard.
Images for kids
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Bergen with his ventriloquist dummies Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd in 1949
