{{short description|American comedic actor and performer (1899–1986)}} {{Infobox person | name = Jerry Bergen | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1899|1|4}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|1986|1||1899|1|4}} | death_place = | occupation = | years_active = | spouse = | website = }}
'''Jerry Bergen''' was a comedic actor and performer. He was in numerous films and television shows and he also performed on the vaudeville circuit. ''The Chicago Sunday Tribune'' called him "one of the funniest men in the world".<ref>{{Cite news|date=1944-03-26|title=Joan Merrill, Jerry Bergen Highlight Bill|pages=115|work=Chicago Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73004049/joan-merrill-jerry-bergen-highlight/|access-date=2021-03-09}}</ref>
He hosted his own short-lived 15 minute variety show titled ''Buzzy Wuzzy''. He performed pantomimes and musical comedy.<ref name=lamb>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C2tRDwAAQBAJ&q=jerry+bergen&pg=PT193|title=The Early Shows: A Reference Guide to Network and Syndicated PrimeTime Television Series from 1944 to 1949|first=Richard|last=Irvin|date=February 23, 2018|publisher=BearManor Media|via=Google Books}}</ref> He also appeared on various television comedy variety shows.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOmoBQAAQBAJ&q=jerry+bergen&pg=PA60|title=Television Variety Shows: Histories and Episode Guides to 57 Programs|first=David M.|last=Inman|year=2014|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9781476608778|via=Google Books}}</ref> The ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'' referred to Bergen as a "top pantomime comedian".<ref>{{Cite news|date=1948-07-12|title=Carousel Gets Jerry Bergen|pages=8|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73003759/carousel-gets-jerry-bergen/|access-date=2021-03-09}}</ref>
Small in stature,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YDkeAQAAMAAJ|title = Hot Times: True Tales of Hollywood and Broadway|isbn = 9780809254279|last1 = Wilson|first1 = Earl|year = 1984}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GAwEAAAAMBAJ&q=jerry+bergen+4+feet&pg=PA13|title=Billboard|date=7 November 1942}}</ref> he was reported to be 4 feet 6 inches tall.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1960-01-17|title=Ham Served Every Monday|page=199|work=The San Francisco Examiner|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73001200/ham-served-every-monday/|access-date=2021-03-09}}</ref>
A ''Billboard'' article reported that his first vaudeville performance was in 1930 in the afterpiece ''Amateur Night'' that played at the Palace Theatre in New York. He had previously been a drummer with the Meyer Davis Orchestra.<ref>"Jerry Bergen." ''The Billboard''. Vol. 42, Iss. 13, (Mar 29, 1930): 25. {{ProQuest| }}</ref> He also played the fiddle.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1959-12-29|title=B'Way Revives Chicago Humor|pages=3|work=The Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73003509/bway-revives-chicago-humor/|access-date=2021-03-09}}</ref>
A review of the 1952 show in which he performed at Ciro's London read, in part, "Way above the rest is diminutive Jerry Bergen, whose comedics on the violin rouses the customers and brings new life to a limping show. He's a natural comic and his entire act bears the stamp of impeccable timing and immaculate showmanship. Show would have been far more attractive had he been allowed to hold the fort alone".<ref name=":0">"Night Club Reviews: Ciro's, London." ''Variety''. Vol. 188, Iss. 9, (Nov 5, 1952): 50.{{ProQuest| }}</ref>
He appeared on ''The Jackie Gleason Show''. He was also on ''The Lambs Gambol'' comedy television show.<ref name="lamb" />
==Filmography== * ''20,000 Cheers for the Chain Gang'' (1933) * ''Tomalio'' (1933) * ''With Love and Kisses'' (1936) * ''The Little Maestro (American film)'' (1937) * ''Flying with Music'' (1942) as Wilbur * ''Big V Comedies'' film short * ''Let's Get Tough!'' (1942)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K9ejsOrootcC&q=jerry+bergen&pg=PA195|title=Screen Enemies of the American Way: Political Paranoia About Nazis, Communists, Saboteurs, Terrorists and Body Snatching Aliens in Film and Television|first=Fraser A.|last=Sherman|year=2014|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786462254|via=Google Books}}</ref> * ''The Pirate (1948 film)''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xyGdloa9zS4C|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows, 1946–present|first1=Tim|last1=Brooks|first2=Earle|last2=Marsh|year=1988|publisher=Ballantine Books|isbn=9780345356109|via=Google Books}}</ref> as Bolo * ''Buzzy Wuzzy'' (1948), television show, starred with Imogene Coca
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|id=nm0074049|name=Jerry Bergen}} * [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73003634/gets-laughs/ Photo]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bergen, Jerry}} Category:20th-century American comedians Category:Place of birth missing Category:American vaudeville performers Category:American male comedians Category:American comedy musicians Category:American mimes Category:20th-century American drummers Category:20th-century American fiddlers Category:1899 births Category:1986 deaths