Jack Benny
Who Jack Benny is
American comedian and violinist who rose from the vaudeville circuit to become one of the leading entertainers of the 20th century. The Jack Benny Program ran on radio from 1932 to 1955 and on television until 1965, built on his persona as a vain miser who played the violin badly and claimed to be 39, and he was known for getting laughs from a long pause or a single expression; his programs were a major influence on the sitcom. After his series ended he performed live as a violinist and stand-up comedian until his death in 1974.
At a glance
- Born
- 1894
- Died
- 1974
- Style
- Radio timing
- On screen
- The Jack Benny Program, Shower of Stars, To Be or Not to Be and 9 more
Specials, shows and podcasts
On screen
- The Jack Benny Program star, television, 1950–1965
- Shower of Stars co-host, CBS, 1954–1958
- To Be or Not to Be Joseph Tura, United Artists, 1942
- Charley's Aunt Babbs Babberley, 20th Century-Fox, 1941
- George Washington Slept Here Bill Fuller, Warner Bros., 1942
- The Hollywood Revue of 1929 master of ceremonies, MGM, 1929
- Broadway Melody of 1936 Bert Keeler, MGM, 1935
- Buck Benny Rides Again himself, Paramount, 1940
- The Horn Blows at Midnight Athanael, Warner Bros., 1945
- Artists and Models Mac Brewster, Paramount, 1937
- The Mouse That Jack Built himself, voice, Warner Bros. cartoon, 1959
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Man in Car in Desert, cameo, United Artists, 1963
Comedians like Jack Benny
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.
- Buddy Hackett also in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
- Dick Shawn also in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
- Jerry Lewis also in Artists and Models
- Milton Berle also in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Career timeline
- 1894Born
- 1929The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (master of ceremonies, MGM, 1929) On screen
- 1936Broadway Melody of 1936 (Bert Keeler, MGM, 1935) On screen
- 1937Artists and Models (Mac Brewster, Paramount, 1937) On screen
- 1940Buck Benny Rides Again (himself, Paramount, 1940) On screen
- 1941Charley's Aunt (Babbs Babberley, 20th Century-Fox, 1941) On screen
- 1942To Be or Not to Be (Joseph Tura, United Artists, 1942) On screen
- 1942George Washington Slept Here (Bill Fuller, Warner Bros., 1942) On screen
- 1945The Horn Blows at Midnight (Athanael, Warner Bros., 1945) On screen
- 1950The Jack Benny Program (star, television, 1950–1965) On screen
- 1954Shower of Stars (co-host, CBS, 1954–1958) On screen
- 1959The Mouse That Jack Built (himself, voice, Warner Bros. cartoon, 1959) On screen
- 1963It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (Man in Car in Desert, cameo, United Artists, 1963) On screen
- 1974Died
Questions about Jack Benny
What TV shows and films is Jack Benny in?
The Jack Benny Program, Shower of Stars, To Be or Not to Be, Charley's Aunt, George Washington Slept Here and The Hollywood Revue of 1929, among 12 credits.
Who are some comedians like them?
Buddy Hackett (also in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World), Dick Shawn (also in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World), Jerry Lewis (also in Artists and Models) and Milton Berle (also in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World).
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.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Jack Benny ↗ Birth and death years, vaudeville start, radio (1932–1955) and TV (1950–1965) programs, persona and timing, Shower of Stars, later live work as violinist and…
- Wikipedia — Jack Benny filmography ↗ To Be or Not to Be (1942, United Artists, Joseph Tura); Charley's Aunt (1941, 20th Century-Fox, Babbs Babberley); George Washington Slept Here (1942, Warner…
Updated 5 October 2026 · the record checked 27 September 2026