Jan Murray facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jan Murray
Murray in 1961
Born	Murray Janofsky (1916-10-04)October 4, 1916 The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Died	July 2, 2006(2006-07-02) (aged 89) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Resting place	Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Occupation	Actor comedian game show host
Years active	1951–1999
Spouse(s)	Pearl Cohen (m. 1939; div. 194?) Kathleen (Toni) Mann ​ (m. 1949)​
Children	4

With Micki Marlo on The Jan Murray Show (1961)

Jan Murray (born Murray Janofsky) was a famous American comedian, actor, and TV show host. He was born on October 4, 1916, and passed away on July 2, 2006. Jan Murray became well-known for his stand-up comedy and for appearing on television for many years.

Early Life and Comedy Beginnings

Jan Murray was born in the Bronx, a part of New York City. His parents were Jewish. He loved comedy from a young age. He would often perform funny routines he had seen at the theater for his mother, who was sick in bed.

Jan Murray's Entertainment Career

Jan Murray started performing on stage when he was 18 years old. This was in the 1930s. He performed in a type of show called vaudeville, which had different acts like singers, dancers, and comedians.

Performing in the Catskills and Las Vegas

In the 1930s, Jan Murray entertained people at resorts in the Catskills mountains. These resorts were popular vacation spots, especially for Jewish families. This area was often called the "Borscht Belt" because of the many Jewish resorts there.

Later, in the 1940s and early 1950s, he became a big star in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was a main performer at famous hotels, like the Flamingo Hotel when it first opened.

Jan Murray on Television

Jan Murray started working in television in the late 1940s. He appeared on many popular shows.

• He was on Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle.
• He was a guest on comedy and variety shows hosted by stars like Jerry Lewis, Steve Allen, and Dean Martin.
• He often appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show. He even guest-hosted The Tonight Show several times.
• For 18 years, he helped host a special TV fundraiser called the West Coast Chabad Lubavitch telethon.

Hosting Game Shows

In the 1950s and early 1960s, Jan Murray hosted many TV game shows. Some of these included:

• Blind Date (1953)
• Dollar a Second (1953–1957)
• Treasure Hunt (1956–1959), which he helped create
• Charge Account (1960–1962)
• Chain Letter (1966)

He was also a regular guest on The Hollywood Squares from 1966 to 1980. He appeared in almost 250 episodes of that show! He also played on other celebrity game shows like Match Game.

Acting Roles in TV and Movies

From the 1960s to the 1980s, Jan Murray acted in many TV shows. He appeared in both comedies and dramas.

• Some TV shows he acted in were Dr. Kildare, The Lucy Show, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and Fantasy Island.
• He even played himself in episodes of Car 54, Where Are You? and The Defenders.
• His last TV acting role was in 1989 on the show My Two Dads.

Jan Murray also acted in several movies.

• He was in Of Love and Desire (1963) and Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965).
• He also appeared in Tarzan and the Great River (1967).
• One of his most famous movie roles was in Mel Brooks' comedy History of the World, Part I (1981).

Awards and Recognition

For his amazing career, Jan Murray received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Later, in 1997, he also got a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in California.

Jan Murray's Personal Life

Jan Murray was married twice. He first married Pearl Cohen in 1939 and had one child with her, but they later divorced. In October 1949, he married Kathleen (Toni) Mann. They had three children together and stayed married until he passed away. His production company, Jantone, was named using parts of their first names.

Jan Murray loved to play golf. He often played with other comedians like Jack Carter and Jerry Lewis. He would even create funny routines about golf for charity events. He led the Comedians' Golf Classic for many years.

Later Years and Passing

Jan Murray stopped working in show business when he was 83 years old. He felt that his asthma (a breathing condition) was making it hard for him to perform well. He passed away at the age of 89 on July 2, 2006, in Beverly Hills, California. He is buried at the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Partial Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Jan Murray para niños