George Burns
Stand-up comedian · 1896–1996

George Burns

Who George Burns is

American comedian, actor and writer whose career spanned vaudeville, radio, film and television. With his wife Gracie Allen he formed the double act Burns and Allen, starring on radio from 1932 and on CBS television in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950–1958). Late in life he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Sunshine Boys (1975), starred as God in Oh, God! (1977) and kept doing nightclub stand-up, cigar in hand, into his 90s.

At a glance

Born
1896
Died
1996
Style
Vaudeville precision, Vaudeville to television
Albums
George Burns Sings, An Evening with George Burns: Live at Shubert Theater, I Wish I Was Eighteen Again and 2 more
Podcasts
I Love Her, That's Why, Living It Up; or, They Still Love Me in Altoona!, The Third Time Around and 1 more
On screen
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The George Burns Show, Wendy and Me and 11 more

Specials, shows and podcasts

Albums

On screen

Podcasts

Comedians like George Burns

Each linked to them by something on the record — a stage they both came through, a bill, a show, a style or a home town.

Every stand-up comedian with a page, A to Z →

Career timeline

  1. 1896Born
  2. 1932The Big Broadcast (himself, 1932) On screen
  3. 1933International House (Doctor Burns, 1933) On screen
  4. 1937A Damsel in Distress (himself, 1937) On screen
  5. 1950The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (star, CBS, 1950–1958) On screen
  6. 1955I Love Her, That's Why (autobiography, 1955) Book
  7. 1958The George Burns Show (star, NBC, 1958–1959) On screen
  8. 1964Wendy and Me (narrator, ABC, 1964–1965) On screen
  9. 1970George Burns Sings (1970) Album
  10. 1975The Sunshine Boys (Al Lewis, MGM, 1975) On screen
  11. 1975An Evening with George Burns: Live at Shubert Theater (1975) Album
  12. 1976Living It Up; or, They Still Love Me in Altoona! (book, 1976) Book
  13. 1977Oh, God! (God, 1977; sequels Oh, God! Book II, 1980, and Oh, God! You Devil, 1984) On screen
  14. 1978Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Mr. Kite, 1978) On screen
  15. 1979Going in Style (Joe, 1979) On screen
  16. 1979Just You and Me, Kid (Bill, 1979) On screen
  17. 1980I Wish I Was Eighteen Again (1980) Album
  18. 1980George Burns in Nashville (1980) Album
  19. 1980The Third Time Around (memoir, 1980) Book
  20. 1982Young at Heart (1982) Album
  21. 1985George Burns Comedy Week (host, CBS, 1985) On screen
  22. 198818 Again! (Jack Watson / David Watson, 1988) On screen
  23. 1988Gracie: A Love Story (book, 1988) Book
  24. 1994Radioland Murders (Milt Lackey, 1994) On screen
  25. 1996Died

Questions about George Burns

What podcast does George Burns host?

I Love Her, That's Why, Living It Up; or, They Still Love Me in Altoona!, The Third Time Around and Gracie: A Love Story.

What TV shows and films are they in?

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The George Burns Show, Wendy and Me, George Burns Comedy Week, The Sunshine Boys and Oh, God!, among 14 credits.

Who are some comedians like them?

W. C. Fields (also in International House) and Milton Berle (the same style: vaudeville to television).

The full SUCDb record

The full record — the career in order, the specials and credits, and the sources for each — is on SUCDb, with their place on the Legends ballots.

Their SUCDb record →

Sources

Updated 5 October 2026 · the record checked 27 September 2026