Harry Steppe
| Harry Steppe | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Abraham Stepner March 16, 1888 |
| Died | November 22, 1934 (aged 46) New York, NY |
| Occupation | Actor, Comedian |
| Years active | 1911 – 1934 |
| Spouse(s) | Beatrice (1918) Victoria Dayton (1920-1922)(separated) |
Harry Steppe (born Abraham Stepner, March 16, 1888 – November 22, 1934 was a Russian Jewish-American actor, musical comedy performer, headliner comedian, writer, librettist, director and producer, who toured North America working in Vaudeville and Burlesque. Steppe performed at several well-known theaters on the Columbia, Mutual and Orpheum circuits. Steppe was one of Bud Abbott's first partners.
Born in Russia to Orthodox Jewish parents, Steppe emigrated from Moscow to the United States through Ellis Island with his family in 1892. Steppe became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1899.
Steppe's father was a tailor. His brother Michael was a vocalist. One of Steppe's brothers was named Harry but it is not known if this was an inspiration for part of Steppe's stage name.
Steppe lived in Newark, New Jersey and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At the age of 29, Steppe claimed an exemption from the draft for World War I on the grounds that he supported his widowed mother.
Steppe married twice. His first wife Beatrice, an actress in "Razzle Dazzle of 1918," died at the age of 25 from the Spanish flu, the same year they were married. This sudden loss may have contributed to speculation about Harry's personal struggles with depression.
Other paramours of Harry Steppe included Vaudeville performers Victoria "Vic" Dayton, whom he married in 1920, Edna Raymond and Leona St. Clair. Steppe was often billed with actress Lola Pierce, to whom he was also reportedly linked romantically.
Known to theater patrons as "The Hebrew Gent," Steppe was billed as a Hebrew, Jewish-dialect or Yiddish-dialect character comedian. One of Steppe's alter egos Ignatz Cohen became a recurring and popular character based on an ethnic Jewish stereotype. Many of Steppe's variety shows featured musical revues and olios with dancing girls, comedy sketches and specialty acts. One performance of Steppe's "Girls from the Follies" featured "eight cycling models with thrilling stunts on wheels," operatic songs, ballroom dancing and chorus girls.
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