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Eddie Bracken

 
Actor: Eddie Bracken
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  • Born: Feb 07, 1920 in Astoria, Queens, New York
  • Died: Nov 14, 2002 in Montclair, New Jersey
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '40s-'60s, '80s-'90s
  • Major Genres: Comedy, Musical
  • Career Highlights: The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, Hail the Conquering Hero, Summer Stock
  • First Major Screen Credit: Too Many Girls (1940)

Biography

Comic character actor Eddie Bracken has worked steadily in full-length feature films and on-stage for decades, but was most popular during the '40s when he played leads and co-leads in several sprightly Paramount comedies and light musicals. He typically played shy, twitchy fellows with a constantly cracking voice and a tendency toward cluelessness and helplessness. Bracken began singing and acting on-stage and in vaudeville as a young child. He made his film debut in a quartet of Our Gang shorts and in six episodes of the New York Kiddie Troopers series. Later he began appearing on Broadway and performing in traveling shows. In 1938, Bracken played a bit part in Brother Rat, but did not win his first major role until the 1940 musical comedy Too Many Girls. Bracken is best remembered for his work in a pair of frothy, irreverent Preston Sturges comedies: The Miracle of Morgan's Creek and Hail the Conquering Hero (both 1944). These roles led to his being typecast as a chronically befuddled bumbler. Bracken's popularity continued through the decade, but by the early-'50s, musicals were on the wane and the style of comedy in which Bracken had been hopelessly typecast was out of style. By 1953, he had exchanged his film career for one on stage and television. In 1962, Bracken suddenly showed up in the Italian comedy Always on Sunday. In addition to live-action performances, he also voiced a few cartoon characters, notably in the animated feature Shinbone Alley (1970). In the early '70s, Bracken tried to establish a chain of stock theaters and ended up losing two million dollars. Bracken returned to making occasional film appearances in the early '80s, beginning with a cameo as a theme park owner in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983). He continued to work in films and on-stage through the '90s. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
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Wikipedia: Eddie Bracken
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Eddie Bracken
Born Edward Vincent Bracken
February 7, 1915(1915-02-07)
Astoria, New York‹See Tfd›, U.S.
Died November 14, 2002 (aged 87)
Montclair, New Jersey‹See Tfd›, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1940–2000
Spouse(s) Connie Nickerson (1939–2002) (her death)

Edward Vincent "Eddie" Bracken (February 7, 1915 – November 14, 2002) was an American actor.

Contents

Life and career

Bracken was born in Astoria, New York, the son of Catherine and Joseph L. Bracken.[1] Bracken performed in vaudeville at the age of nine and gained fame with the Broadway musical Too Many Girls in a role he reprised for the 1940 film adaptation. He had performed in a short film series called The Kiddie Troupers (one of many Our Gang-like series) prior to that, but that film was his big break. In 1936, Bracken pursued success on Broadway with his starring run in the Joseph Viertel play So Proudly We Hail. The military drama, co-starriing Richard Cromwell, opened to much fanfare but closed after 14 performances at the 46th Street Theater.

In the 1940s, director Preston Sturges cast Bracken in two of his best-loved films, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, opposite Betty Hutton, and Hail the Conquering Hero. Due to the popularity of these films, Eddie Bracken was a household name during World War II. He made numerous radio broadcasts during this era, notably on The Eddie Bracken Show.

In 1953, Bracken left Hollywood. He appeared on Broadway in Shinbone Alley, Hello, Dolly!, The Odd Couple and Sugar Babies. After nearly 40 years out of feature films, he returned to perform character roles for director/writer John Hughes.

Death

Bracken died in Montclair, New Jersey of complications from (undisclosed) surgery at the age of 87. His wife of 63 years, Connie, a former actress, died in August 2002, just three months before his death. Connie was his leading lady in the Broadway production of What a Life in 1938. Together Eddie and Connie had five children: two sons (Michael and David) and three daughters (Judy, Carolyn and Susan).

Hollywood Walk of Fame

For his contribution to radio, Eddie Bracken has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1651 Vine Street and a second star at 6751 Hollywood Blvd. for his contribution to the television industry.

Filmography

References

  1. ^ http://www.filmreference.com/film/74/Eddie-Bracken.html

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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