Wynn, Ed, 1886-1966

Born Isaiah Edwin Leopold, Nov. 9, 1886 of European immigrants in Philadelphia; entered show business at 15; became successful NY vaudeville comic headliner by 17; appeared in Ziegfeld follies; wrote and produced his own shows on Broadway in 1920s and 1930s, featuring songs by Rodgers and Hart, Sammy Fain, and other well-known composers, and billing himself as The perfect fool, featuring his lisp, giggle, fluttering hands, outlandish costumes and inventions, and outrageous puns; starred on radio as Texaco fire chief in 1930s; suffered nervous breakdown late 1930s; returned to Broadway in 1940s; appeared in television and films through 1950s and 1960s in both comic and dramatic roles; father of Keenan Wynn; died of cancer in Beverly Hills on June 19, 1966.

Biography

Born Isaiah Edwin Leopold, November 9, 1886 of European immigrants in Philadelphia; entered show business at 15; became successful New York vaudeville comic headliner by 17; appeared in Ziegfeld follies; wrote and produced his own shows on Broadway in 1920s and 1930s, featuring songs by Rodgers and Hart, Sammy Fain, and other well-known composers, and billing himself as The perfect fool, featuring his lisp, giggle, fluttering hands, outlandish costumes and inventions, and outrageous puns; starred on radio as Texaco fire chief in 1930s; suffered nervous breakdown late 1930s; returned to Broadway in 1940s; appeared in television and films through 1950s and 1960s in both comic and dramatic roles; father of Keenan Wynn; died of cancer in Beverly Hills on June 19, 1966.