Vic Oliver
| Vic Oliver von Samek | |
|---|---|
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| Born |
Victor Oliver von Samek 8 July 1898 Vienna, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 15 August 1964 (aged 66) Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Alma mater | Vienna University |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Parent(s) |
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| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Austro-Hungarian Empire |
| Service/branch | Austro-Hungarian Army |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
Victor Oliver von Samek (8 July 1898 – 15 August 1964), known as Vic Oliver, was an Austrian-born British actor and radio comedian.
He was born in Vienna, the son of Baron Viktor von Samek. He studied medicine at Vienna University but abandoned it for his first love, music. For a time he studied under Mahler. During the First World War he served in the Austrian Cavalry. After the war he worked as a banker and a textile manufacturer before returning to music. In 1926 he visited the United States as a conductor and violinist. He discovered his gift for comedy by chance when he had to apologise to his audience for something. A new career as a comedian took him all over the United States. He reached the Palace Theatre, New York in 1929 and the London Palladium two years later. This established him in the United Kingdom and with his deferential, modest humour, he became very popular. He was kept busy in musical revues, variety and pantomime.
He was Roy Plomley's very first guest on Desert Island Discs, on 29 January 1942.
He starred in the BBC radio show Hi, Gang!; and appeared in many others, including Discord in Three Flats (1962) with Cicely Courtneidge and Jack Hulbert. He played the violin (deliberately badly in his shows). He had aspirations as a conductor and founded the Vic Oliver Concert Orchestra which gave light classical concerts. In 1953 he established Variety Playhouse as a primetime radio show featuring music, comedy and light drama. The show did not survive him.
He was a regular on Henry Hall's Guest Night and Workers' Playtime and, as a music-based comedian, has been considered a precursor of Victor Borge. He was the very first 'castaway' on the long-running radio series Desert Island Discs in 1942.
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