Jan Murray
| Jan Murray | |
|---|---|
Murray in 1961
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|
| Born |
Murray Janofsky October 4, 1916 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 2006 (aged 89) Beverly Hills, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery, Culver City, California |
| Occupation | Actor, Stand-up comedian, and game show host |
| Years active | 1951–1989 |
| Spouse(s) | Pearl Cohen (1939–?; divorced; 2 children) Kathleen (Toni) Mann (1949–2006; his death; 4 children) |
| Children | Howard, Warren, Diane, and Celia; 8 eight grandchildren and 2 great-grandsons |
Jan Murray (born Murray Janofsky; October 4, 1916 – July 2, 2006) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and game show host who originally made his name on the Borscht Belt and later was known for his frequent television appearances over several decades.
Murray was born in The Bronx borough of New York City to Jewish parents. His interest in comedy began during his childhood, when he would often act out comedy routines he'd seen at the local theatre for his bedridden mother.
Murray began performing on the vaudeville stage at the age of 18. During the 1930s, he entertained at the "Borscht Belt" Catskills resorts popular with Jewish vacationers. In the 1940s and early 1950s, he became a Las Vegas marquee performer, including headlining at the Flamingo Hotel during its first year of operation.
Starting in the late 1940s, Murray moved into television, appearing several times on Texaco Star Theater hosted by Milton Berle, and later as a guest on comedy/ variety programs hosted by Jerry Lewis, Steve Allen, Garry Moore, Dean Martin, and Jackie Gleason, among others. During the 1950s and 1960s, he made numerous appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show (including several as guest host), and The Joey Bishop Show (including several as guest host). He co-hosted the annual West Coast Chabad Lubavitch telethon for eighteen years.
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