Kenny Baker (American performer)
| Kenny Baker | |
|---|---|
in the trailer for Stage Door Canteen (1943)
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| Born | Kenneth Laurence Baker September 30, 1912 Monrovia, California, U.S. |
| Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Solvang, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Film, radio, stage actor and singer |
Kenneth Laurence "Kenny" Baker (September 30, 1912 – August 10, 1985) was an American singer and actor who first gained notice as the featured singer on radio's The Jack Benny Program during the 1930s.
Film
At the height of his radio fame, and after leaving the Benny show in 1939 (succeeded by Dennis Day, whose tenor was similar to Baker's), he appeared in 17 film musicals, including Mr. Dodd Takes the Air (1937), At the Circus (1939), and The Harvey Girls (1946). He also starred in the 1939 movie version of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. He later co-starred with Mary Martin in the original Broadway production of Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash's One Touch of Venus (1943).
Radio
After being on the Benny program 1935-1939, Baker returned to radio as a regular performer on Fred Allen's Texaco Star Theater program (1940–1942). He was also heard on Blue Ribbon Town (1943-1944) and Glamour Manor (1945-1947). He had his own programs, the Kenny Baker Show (1954)[1] and Sincerely--Kenny Baker (1946).[2] The latter was syndicated by Frederick W. Ziv Company via electrical transcription.[3]
Later years
After retiring from performing in the early 1950s, Baker became a Christian Science practitioner and motivational speaker, and recorded a number of record albums of hymns for his church.
Death
Baker died of a heart attack in Solvang, California August 10, 1985, aged 72.
Partial filmography
- King of Burlesque (1936)
- Mr. Dodd Takes the Air (1937)
- The King and the Chorus Girl (1937)
- Turn Off the Moon (1937)
- The Goldwyn Follies (1938)
- At the Circus (1939)
- The Mikado (1939)
- Hit Parade of 1941 (1940)
- Doughboys in Ireland (1943)
- Stage Door Canteen (1943)
- The Harvey Girls (1946)
- Calendar Girl (1947)
References
- ↑ DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. Pp. 19-20.
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External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kenny Baker. |
Audio files
- Best of Jack Benny Spotlight Podcast! 1935-11-03 - Kenny Baker's First Show! with new introduction.
- Fred Allen Podcast 1940-10-02 (ep 01)Grab It Or Leave It - Kenny Baker's First Show with Fred Allen! with new introduction.
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