George Jessel

Birth Name:

George Albert Jessel

Birth Place:

Bronx, New York City, New York, United States

Profession

Actor, Soundtrack, Producer, Writer

For his charitable work, he was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1969
Came to the attention of entrepreneur Gus Edwards while singing as part of a boy trio, and was quickly hired for his traveling vaudeville troupe
Started out singing at his grandfather's lodge meetings
Toured with Eddie Cantor in an act called Kid Cabaret
Quote: "My father didn't want me in the theater․ He hadn't done well there and grew to hate it․ But he died when I was 10 years old, and I went to live with my mother's father․ He was a tailor, and he like to hear me singing around the shop․"
Quote: "[on working] "Why not? What else should I do with my time--collect stamps?""
Became known as a toastmaster and after-dinner speaker in the latter half of his life, traveling approximately 8,500 miles a week and addressing 200 gatherings a year
Would conduct imaginary telephone conversations with his mother in stage in his vaudeville acts, a bit that traveled with him into nightclubs, film appearances and his first published book, "Talking to Mother․"
Published an autobiography in 1975 called "The World I Lived In․"
Ran an entertainment village called "Little Old New York" during the 1939 New York World's Fair

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