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Bert Lahr 1895 - 1967

Bert Lahr of New York, New York County, NY was born on August 13, 1895 in New York, and died at age 72 years old on December 4, 1967 at His home in in New York. Bert Lahr was buried on December 5, 1967 at Union Field Cemetery 82-11 Cypress Ave, in Queens, Queens County.

Bert Lahr

Irving Lahrheim - at birth.

New York, New York County, NY 10028

August 13, 1895

New York, New York, United States

December 4, 1967

His home in in New York, New York, United States

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Bert Lahr Bert Lahr (1895 - 1967)

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Bert Lahr's History: 1895 - 1967

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Introduction

Bert Lahr was an American actor, comedian, and vaudevillian, best known for his portrayal of the Cowardly Lion in the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). Born Irving Lahrheim on August 13, 1895, in New York City, Lahr began his career in show business as a vaudeville performer. He quickly rose to fame for his eccentric and comedic performances, earning him the nickname "The Funniest Man in the World." Lahr made his Broadway debut in 1927 in the musical "Harry Delmar's Revels," which led to a successful career in theater. He went on to appear in several Broadway productions, including "The Show is On" (1936) and "DuBarry Was a Lady" (1939). Lahr's film career began in the early 1930s with small roles in films like "Flying High" (1931) and "Merry-Go-Round" (1932), but it was his role as the Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz" that made him a household name. Throughout his career, Lahr appeared in more than 50 films and several television shows, including "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." He was known for his unique comedic style, which often involved physical humor and witty one-liners. Lahr passed away on December 4, 1967, at the age of 72, but his legacy as one of the greatest comedians of all time lives on today.
08/13

1895

Birthday

August 13, 1895

Birthdate

New York, New York United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Bert Lahr was of Jewish descent, born to parents who emigrated from Germany and Austria-Hungary. Lahr's birth name was Irving Lahrheim, and he was born on August 13, 1895, in New York City. His parents, Jacob Lahrheim and Augusta Levy, were both Jewish immigrants who came to the United States seeking better opportunities. Lahr grew up in a Yiddish-speaking household on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, which was then a predominantly Jewish neighborhood. Lahr's family history reflects the immigrant experience of many Jewish families who came to America in the early 20th century. His parents arrived in the United States with little money and limited English proficiency, but they were determined to make a better life for their family. Lahr's father worked as a waiter in various restaurants, and his mother ran a small grocery store. Despite the challenges they faced, they were able to provide their children with a stable home and an education. Growing up, Lahr was exposed to the Yiddish theater, which was popular among Jewish immigrants in New York City. He began performing in amateur productions as a child and eventually made a career in show business. Lahr's Jewish heritage and upbringing had a profound influence on his life and career, shaping his sense of humor and comedic timing. He often incorporated Yiddish expressions and inflections into his performances, and his characters were often drawn from the Jewish tradition of comedic storytelling.
Nationality & Locations

He was born in New York City in 1895 and grew up in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. As a child, he attended P.S. 188 and later dropped out of high school to pursue a career in show business. Lahr performed in vaudeville and on Broadway before making his way to Hollywood in the 1930s. After his success in Hollywood, Lahr continued to perform on Broadway and also toured with various productions. He owned a home in Beverly Hills, California, where he lived for many years. In the 1940s, Lahr moved to New York City and became a fixture of the Broadway scene, starring in numerous productions including "Waiting for Godot" and "The Girls in 509." He also lived in a penthouse apartment in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Later in life, Lahr lived primarily in New York and Connecticut. He owned a farm in East Haddam, Connecticut, where he spent his summers with his family. Lahr also owned a townhouse in Greenwich Village, which he purchased in the 1950s and lived in until his death in 1967. Throughout his life, Lahr traveled extensively for work and pleasure, but his roots remained in New York City, where he was born and began his career.
Early Life & Education

He attended P.S. 77 and Morris High School, although he left school at age 15. He attended the public schools in his hometown of New York City, but he left before completing his studies to pursue a career in entertainment.
Religious Beliefs

Jewish.
Military Service

Bert Lahr served in World War I as a seaman second class.
Professional Career

Bert Lahr was a highly successful and beloved American actor, known for his comedic roles on both stage and screen. He got his start in show business performing vaudeville in the 1920s and 30s, and eventually made his way to Broadway, where he gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of the Cowardly Lion in the 1939 production of "The Wizard of Oz." He went on to have a successful career in film, television, and theater, appearing in a number of popular productions throughout the 1940s and 50s. One of Lahr's most notable roles was in the 1956 Broadway production of "Waiting for Godot," in which he played the character Estragon. He also appeared in a number of successful films, including "The Night They Raided Minsky's" (1968) and "The Lion" (1962), and made numerous television appearances, including a recurring role on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Throughout his career, Lahr was known for his impeccable comedic timing and his ability to bring levity and humor to any role he played. In addition to his work in show business, Lahr was also an accomplished writer, penning several memoirs throughout his life. He was also a passionate advocate for the arts, serving as a member of the board of directors for the National Theater and Academy of Dramatic Arts, as well as a board member for the Screen Actors Guild. Lahr's contributions to American entertainment have earned him a lasting place in the hearts of audiences and fellow performers alike, and his legacy continues to be celebrated to this day.
Personal Life & Family

Bert Lahr was married twice in his life. His first marriage was to Mercedes Delpino, a Catholic chorus girl, in 1929. The couple had two children, a son named Herbert and a daughter named Jane. However, their marriage was reportedly turbulent, and they separated in 1936, divorcing in 1940. Lahr then married Mildred Schroeder, a wealthy socialite, in 1940. The couple had two children, a son named John and a daughter named Vicki. Lahr and Schroeder remained married until his death in 1967. Despite his success in show business, Lahr was said to be a private and introverted person offstage. He was known to be a devoted family man who loved spending time with his children. Lahr also had a reputation for being generous and kind-hearted, often giving away money to friends and colleagues in need. He was known for his love of dogs and owned several throughout his life. In his later years, Lahr suffered from a number of health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. He continued to perform despite his failing health, however, and appeared in a number of films and television shows throughout the 1960s. Lahr passed away in 1967 at the age of 72, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest comic actors of his time.
12/4

1967

Death

December 4, 1967

Death date

Cancer.

Cause of death

His home in in New York, New York United States
Death location

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12/5

1967

Gravesite & Burial

December 5, 1967

Funeral date
Union Field Cemetery 82-11 Cypress Ave, in Queens, Queens County, New York 11385, United States
Burial location
Obituary

Death Lahr was filming The Night They Raided Minsky's when he died on December 4, 1967 at the age of 72. The official cause of death was listed as pneumonia. Lahr had been hospitalized on November 21 for what was reported as a back ailment. In Notes on a Cowardly Lion: The Biography of Bert Lahr, John Lahr wrote: "Bert Lahr died in the early morning of December 4, 1967. Two weeks before, he had returned home at 2 a.m., chilled and feverish, from the damp studio where The Night They Raided Minsky's was being filmed. Ordinarily, a man of his age and reputation would not have had to perform that late into the night, but he had waived that proviso in his contract because of his trust in the producer and his need to work. The newspapers reported the cause of death as pneumonia; but he succumbed to cancer, a disease he feared but never knew he had." Most of Lahr's scenes had already been shot. Norman Lear told the New York Times that "through judicious editing we will be able to shoot the rest of the film so that his wonderful performance will remain intact." The producers used test footage of Lahr, plus an uncredited voice double and a body double, burlesque actor Joey Faye, to complete Lahr's role.

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18 Memories, Stories & Photos about Bert

Lizzie Kunde

27.6k+ favorites

05/08/2023

Bert's Filmography and Stage productions

Filmography
Faint Heart (1929, Short) - Rudolf
Flying High (1931) - Rusty
Mr. Broadway (1933) - Himself
Hizzoner (1933, Short) - Bert Lahr, Cop
Henry the Ache (1934, Short) - King Henry VIII
No More West (1934, Short) - Gunpowder Bert
Gold Bricks (1936, Short) - Bert
Boy, Oh Boy (1936, Short) - The Butler
Whose Baby Are You? (1936, Short) - Bert Halibut
Off the Horses (1937, Short) - Chester Twitt
Montague the Magnificent (1937, Short) - Egbert Bunting / Roland Montague
Merry Go Round of 1938 (1937) - Bert Lahr
Love and Hisses (1937) - Sugar Boles
Josette (1938) - Barney Barnaby
Just Around the Corner (1938) - Gus
Zaza (1939) - Cascart
The Wizard of Oz (1939) - 'Zeke' / The Cowardly Lion
Sing Your Worries Away (1942) - Clarence 'Chow' Brewster
Ship Ahoy (1942) - 'Skip' Owens
Meet the People (1944) - The Commander
Always Leave Them Laughing (1949) - Eddie Eagen
Mister Universe (1951) - Joe Pulaski
Rose Marie (1954) - Barney McCorkle
The Second Greatest Sex (1955) - Job McClure
The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968) - Professor Spats (final film role)

Stage productions
Lahr as Louis Blore in the Broadway production of DuBarry Was a Lady, 1939
Harry Delmar's Revels (1927)
Hold Everything! (1928)
Flying High (1930)
George White's Music Hall Varieties (1932)
Life Begins at 8:40 (1934)
George White's Scandals of 1936 (1936)
The Show is On (1936)
DuBarry Was a Lady (1939)
Seven Lively Arts (1944)
Burlesque (1946)
Two on the Aisle (1951)
Waiting for Godot (1956)
Hotel Paradiso (1957)
The Girls Against the Boys (1959)
The Beauty Part (1962)
Foxy (1964)
Never Too Late (1965)
The Birds (1966)

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

16.8k+ favorites

07/07/2017

Si Seadler and friends

A photo of Amanda Stevenson, Si Seadler, Bert Lahr, Huntington Hartford & Raymond Rohauer. Raymond Rohauer was the film curator at the Museum of Modern Art, and MGM's Si Seadler and I were invited to his retrospectives.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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