Gilford Family History & Genealogy

Sam Gilford was born in New York United States to Jack Gilford and Madeline Lee Gilford, and has siblings Joe Gilford and Lisa Gilford. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Sam Gilford.

Lisa Gilford was born in New York, New York United States to Jack Gilford and Madeline Lee Gilford, and has siblings Joe Gilford and Sam Gilford. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Lisa Gilford.

Joe Gilford was born on December 6, 1952 in New York, New York United States to Jack Gilford and Madeline Lee Gilford, and has siblings Sam Gilford and Lisa Gilford. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Joe Gilford.

Jack Gilford Biography Born July 25, 1908 in New York City, New York, USA Died June 2, 1990 in New York City, New York, USA (stomach cancer) Birth Name Jacob Aaron Gellman Jack Gilford was born in Brooklyn, New York, as Yankel Gellman. He began his career in the Amateur Nights of the 1930s moving on to nightclubs as an innovative comedian doing satire and pantomime. He was a regular at the Greenwich Village nightspot, Cafe Society and hosted shows featuring Zero Mostel, Billie Holiday and jazz greats like Hazel Scott. It is said that he invented the expression, "The butler did it!", as part of one of his movie satire routines. He also did a facial pantomime of "Pea Soup Coming to a Boil". He became a regular popular comic character actor on dozens of TV series and movies. He was most recognized for being the rubber-faced guy on the "Cracker Jacks" commercials for a dozen years, from 1960-1972. He was nominated for Tony awards on Broadway for best supporting actor in the musical, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", and "Cabaret". The song "Meeskite" was written for him by John Kander & Fred Ebb. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film, Save the Tiger (1973), starring opposite Jack Lemmon, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance. Spouse Madeline Lee (16 April 1949 - 2 June 1990) (his death) (3 children) He and his wife, Madeline Lee, were blacklisted during the Hollywood Blacklist of the 1950s. Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 179-180. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387 He was nominated for the Tony Award for his work in musicals: as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 325-327. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999. Nominated for the 1967 Tony Award (New York City) for Actor in a Musical for "Cabaret". Brother-in-law of Fran Lee. Personal Quotes You stay in the business longer. Even leading men who have been character actors prolong their careers -- we all know character actors who have been around for a long time. I was always a character actor. Mount Hebron Flushing, NY The Eternal Flame - Actors

Gilford met actress (and later producer) Madeline Lee at progressive political meetings and events during the late 1940s. Gilford entertained at many of these events, some of them produced by Lee. She was married at the time and divorced her first husband soon after meeting Gilford. The couple married in 1949, remaining together for 40 years until Jack Gilford's death in 1990. The couple raised three children: Lisa Gilford, a producer (from Lee's previous marriage); Joe Gilford, a screenwriter/playwright/stage director; and Sam Max Gilford, an artist/archivist. Death Following a year-long battle with stomach cancer, Gilford died in his Greenwich Village home in 1990, aged 81. His wife, Madeline Lee Gilford, died on April 15, 2008, from undisclosed causes. Gilford is buried in the Yiddish theater section of Flushing, New York's Mount Hebron Cemetery.

Flora Lee (Gilford) Underwood was born on April 6, 1934, and died at age 45 years old in June 1979. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Flora Lee Underwood.

Charles Andrew Gilford of Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio was born on October 18, 1920, and died at age 88 years old on January 8, 2009.

Larence E Gilford of Huntsville, Walker County, Texas was born on February 20, 1948, and died at age 60 years old on October 15, 2008.

Russell W Gilford of Dover, Hillsborough County, FL was born on February 17, 1916, and died at age 77 years old on September 24, 1993.

Paul F Gilford of Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland was born on December 8, 1916, and died at age 54 years old in September 1971.

Jimmie D Gilford of Houston, Harris County, TX was born on December 17, 1935, and died at age 59 years old on February 10, 1995.

Willie R Gilford of Houston, Fort Bend County, TX was born on July 9, 1948, and died at age 45 years old on April 29, 1994. Willie Gilford was buried at Houston National Cemetery Section G2 Site 572 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, in Houston.

Willie Odell Gilford of Houston, Harris County, TX was born on November 16, 1922, and died at age 81 years old on August 8, 2004. Willie Gilford was buried at Houston National Cemetery Section N3 Site 1799 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, in Houston.

Adam Gilford of Vernon, Wilbarger County, TX was born on February 7, 1926, and died at age 66 years old on August 14, 1992.

Rotea J Jr Gilford of San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA was born on November 20, 1927, and died at age 70 years old on March 14, 1998.

Robert Lee Gilford of Houston, Harris County, Texas was born on May 30, 1917, and died at age 92 years old on March 20, 2010.

Jeff Gilford of Wagoner, Wagoner County, OK was born on May 12, 1912, and died at age 83 years old on May 17, 1995.

Albert Lee Gilford of Houston, Harris County, Texas was born on June 22, 1945, and died at age 66 years old on August 2, 2011.

John H Gilford of Abilene, Taylor County, TX was born on January 24, 1915, and died at age 78 years old on May 20, 1993.

John L Gilford of Houston, Harris County, TX was born on March 25, 1927, and died at age 56 years old on August 13, 1983. John Gilford was buried at Houston National Cemetery Section I Site 1918 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, in Houston.