Stubby Kaye

Stubby Kaye Biography Born November 11, 1918 in New York City, New York, USA Died December 14, 1997 in Los Angeles, California, USA (lung cancer) Birth Name Bernard Sholom Kotzin Sunny, lovable tenor Stubby Kaye with his butterball frame kept his real name a secret for his entire career. He was born Bernard Kotzin in New York and started off in the world of entertainment in 1939 after winning a radio contest. Touring as a comedian in vaudeville for over a decade, he also appeared regularly with the USO during the war years. He finally hit it big on Broadway in 1950 when he created the role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the smash musical hit "Guys and Dolls" singing his rousing show-stoppers "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" and "Fugue for Tinhorns". He solidified his status a few years later as Marryin' Sam in "Li'l Abner" in 1956. He preserved both of these signature roles on film. Other stage musicals sparked by his presence included "Fiddler on the Roof", "Good News" and "Grind". In the 60s Stubby had his own kiddie show and appeared to comical effect in other films as well, including The Cool Mikado (1963), Sex and the Single Girl (1964), Cat Ballou (1965), The Way West (1967) and Sweet Charity (1969). Nightclubs and TV were also an integral part of his career. He lived for a time in England, marrying Angela Bracewell, then a hostess on Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1955), and established a growing list of fans there as well. His last featured role was in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). His final years were spent in ill health, dying in 1997 of lung cancer. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / [contact link] Spouse (2) Jeanne Watson (30 April 1961 - 1962) ( divorced) Angela Bracewell (? - 14 December 1997) ( his death) Wife Angela Bracewell was a former Broadway chorus girl whom he met while living in England. She was the hostess of the British version of the Beat the Clock (1950) game show, a segment of Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1955). He once performed as Martin Wilson on the Major Bowes radio program, Original Amateur Hour, singing Comes Love, and impersonating celebrities such as Harry Richman, Jerry Colonna, Andy Devine, and Hugh Herbert. He stated that his current occupation was as a fruit sorter at a grocery store. Portrayed Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the original Broadway cast of Guys and Dolls and reprised his role in the movie Guys and Dolls (1955). Appeared as "Marvin Acme", the owner of Toontown, in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?". Is the cousin of Bill Maher.