Milton Berle
Who Milton Berle is
Actor and comedian whose career ran for more than eight decades, from silent films and vaudeville through radio to television. As host of NBC's Texaco Star Theatre (1948–1953) he became the first major American television star, known to millions as 'Uncle Miltie' and 'Mr. Television'; he later hosted further variety shows and acted in films such as It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
At a glance
- Born
- 1908
- Died
- 2002
- Style
- Vaudeville to television
- Podcasts
- Milton Berle: An Autobiography
- On screen
- Texaco Star Theatre, The Buick-Berle Show, The Milton Berle Show and 15 more
Specials, shows and podcasts
On screen
- Texaco Star Theatre host, NBC, 1948–1953
- The Buick-Berle Show host, 1953–1955
- The Milton Berle Show host, NBC, 1955–1956
- The Kraft Music Hall host, 1958–1959
- Jackpot Bowling host, 1960
- The Milton Berle Show host, ABC, 1966–1967
- The Milton Berle Show radio host, NBC, 1947–1949
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World J. Russell Finch, 1963
- The Muppet Movie Mad Man Mooney, 1979
- Always Leave Them Laughing Kipling "Kip" Cooper, 1949
- The Oscar Kappy Kapstetter, 1966
- The Loved One Mr. Kenton, 1965
- Who's Minding the Mint? Luther Burton, 1967
- Sun Valley Serenade Nifty Allen, 1941
- Journey Back to Oz the Cowardly Lion, voice, 1972
- Lepke Mr. Meyer, 1975
- Seven in Darkness Sam Fuller, ABC Movie of the Week, 1969
- Tall, Dark and Handsome Frosty Welch, 1941
Podcasts
- Milton Berle: An Autobiography with Haskel Frankel, 1975
Comedians like Milton Berle
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
- Jack Benny also in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
- George Burns the same style: vaudeville to television
Career timeline
- 1908Born
- 1941Sun Valley Serenade (Nifty Allen, 1941) On screen
- 1941Tall, Dark and Handsome (Frosty Welch, 1941) On screen
- 1947The Milton Berle Show (radio host, NBC, 1947–1949) On screen
- 1948Texaco Star Theatre (host, NBC, 1948–1953) On screen
- 1949Always Leave Them Laughing (Kipling "Kip" Cooper, 1949) On screen
- 1953The Buick-Berle Show (host, 1953–1955) On screen
- 1955The Milton Berle Show (host, NBC, 1955–1956) On screen
- 1958The Kraft Music Hall (host, 1958–1959) On screen
- 1960Jackpot Bowling (host, 1960) On screen
- 1963It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (J. Russell Finch, 1963) On screen
- 1965The Loved One (Mr. Kenton, 1965) On screen
- 1966The Milton Berle Show (host, ABC, 1966–1967) On screen
- 1966The Oscar (Kappy Kapstetter, 1966) On screen
- 1967Who's Minding the Mint? (Luther Burton, 1967) On screen
- 1969Seven in Darkness (Sam Fuller, ABC Movie of the Week, 1969) On screen
- 1972Journey Back to Oz (the Cowardly Lion, voice, 1972) On screen
- 1975Lepke (Mr. Meyer, 1975) On screen
- 1975Milton Berle: An Autobiography (with Haskel Frankel, 1975) Podcast or book
- 1979The Muppet Movie (Mad Man Mooney, 1979) On screen
- 2002Died
Questions about Milton Berle
What podcast does Milton Berle host?
Milton Berle: An Autobiography.
What TV shows and films are they in?
Texaco Star Theatre, The Buick-Berle Show, The Milton Berle Show, The Kraft Music Hall, Jackpot Bowling and The Milton Berle Show, among 18 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), Jack Benny (also in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World) and George Burns (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.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Milton Berle ↗ Birth and death years, vaudeville-to-TV career, Texaco Star Theatre and later shows, radio show, film roles, autobiography
Updated 5 October 2026 · the record checked 27 September 2026