Steve Lawrence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Steve Lawrence |
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Lawrence in 1999
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sidney Liebowitz |
| Born | July 8, 1935 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | March 7, 2024 (aged 88) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1953–2019 |
Steve Lawrence (born Sidney Liebowitz; July 8, 1935 – March 7, 2024) was a famous American singer, comedian, and actor. He was best known for performing as a musical duo with his wife, Eydie Gormé. They were known as "Steve and Eydie". He also played the character Maury Sline in the movie The Blues Brothers. Steve and Eydie started performing together in 1954 on a TV show called Tonight Starring Steve Allen. They continued to perform as a duo until Eydie retired in 2009.
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Early Life and Start
Steve Lawrence was born Sidney Liebowitz in Brooklyn, New York City. His parents were Jewish. His father, Max, was a cantor (a singer who leads prayers) at a synagogue. His mother, Helen, took care of their home.
Steve went to Thomas Jefferson High School. While he was in high school, he earned money by singing for songwriters. These songwriters worked in a famous area called the Brill Building.
A Star is Born: Steve's Career
When Steve was 18, he got a job singing on a local TV show in New York City. The show was hosted by Steve Allen in 1953. Other singers on the show included Eydie Gormé and Andy Williams.
When this show became The Tonight Show and was shown across the country, Steve, Eydie, and Andy stayed on. They performed until the show ended in 1957.
Serving His Country
In the late 1950s, Steve Lawrence joined the U.S. Army. He became the official singer for the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" in Washington, D.C..
Music Hits
Steve had many popular songs in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Some of his big hits included "Go Away Little Girl" (which was number 1 in the U.S.), "Pretty Blue Eyes", and "Footsteps". His song "Go Away Little Girl" sold over one million copies! This earned it a Gold record.
Even with these hits, Steve spent a lot of his music career performing in nightclubs and on stage.
Acting on Screen
Steve Lawrence was also a talented actor. He appeared in many TV shows over several decades. After starting with Steve Allen's show, he was seen on programs like The Danny Kaye Show and The Judy Garland Show. He also appeared on Murder, She Wrote and CSI.
Steve and Eydie Gormé even had their own summer TV show in 1958. It was called The Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé Show. Steve also appeared many times on The Carol Burnett Show.
Broadway Star
In 1964, Steve Lawrence starred in a Broadway musical called What Makes Sammy Run?. The show was about a young man trying to become successful in Hollywood. It ran for 504 performances.
Steve and Eydie also starred together in another Broadway musical, Golden Rainbow, in 1968. This show featured the famous song "I've Gotta Be Me". Steve originally sang this song in the musical. Later, Sammy Davis, Jr. recorded his own popular version.
Movie Roles
Steve Lawrence also acted in movies. In 1980, he became known to a new group of fans when he played Maury Sline in The Blues Brothers. He played this role again in the 1998 sequel, Blues Brothers 2000. He also appeared in the comedy The Lonely Guy (1984) and the thriller The Yards (2000).
In 1985, Steve and Eydie Gormé played Tweedledum and Tweedledee in the movie Alice in Wonderland.
Later TV Appearances
Steve continued to appear on TV shows. He was on Hardcastle and McCormick and several times on The Nanny. In 2011, he played a character named Jack on Hot in Cleveland. He also guest-starred on Two and a Half Men in 2014.
Personal Life and Family
Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé got married on December 29, 1957. They had two sons. Their son David Nessim Lawrence (born 1960) is a composer. He wrote music for High School Musical. Their other son, Michael Robert Lawrence (1962–1986), passed away at age 23 due to a heart condition.
Eydie Gormé passed away on August 10, 2013, at the age of 84.
In June 2019, Steve Lawrence shared that he was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. He passed away from complications of Alzheimer's disease in Los Angeles on March 7, 2024, at 88 years old.
Awards and Honors
Steve Lawrence received a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award. He was also nominated for a Tony Award for his role in What Makes Sammy Run? on Broadway. He won two Emmy Awards for his TV work. One Emmy was for producing Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin (1978).
With Eydie Gormé, he won two Emmys for their tribute to George and Ira Gershwin. They also won a Grammy Award for their album We Got Us.
The duo won the Las Vegas Entertainment Award for "Musical Variety Act of the Year" four times. They received a lifetime achievement award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1995, they were honored with an Ella Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Singers. This group helps professional singers.
See also
In Spanish: Steve Lawrence para niños
