Born in 1920 in New York City, George Youngman is the son of an English theatre producer Edward Youngman and Jewish actress Katarina Aronowitz (Stage name Katherine Aaron).
George's childhood was spent around the Vaudeville circuit of New York City. His father ran a 'very' off-off Broadway theater, renowned only for being completely un-renowned.
Despite his father's lack of success, George began performing at the age of 10 and appeared on stage with greats of the industry including Milton Berle, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, James Cagney and his two main mentors George Burns and Henny Youngman (who was no relation and purely coincidentally shared George's surname. Henny's real surname was Yungman). The name similarities to Burns and Youngman were the source of many on-stage jokes and in later years many falsely believed George to be Henny's son.
George Youngman began performing solo as a comedian in his 20s and in the 1940s played the famous Catskills Resorts (also known as The Borscht Belt). Technically Youngman was Jewish due to his mother's lineage, but he was the first comedian who ever had to change his name to sound more Jewish. For a number of years he appeared under his stage name, George Youngberg.
In 1951 George married his childhood sweetheart Sally Mahoney and they had three children together, Brendan, Nick and Stacey. Sally died in 2005. George was heartbroken, but prefers to remember her for all the good times and material the marriage gave him.
With the advent of television George appeared as a guest on The Jack Benny Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Ernie Kovacs Show and had un-billed appearances on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.
In the 1950s George and his family moved to Vegas where he played at all the great casinos of the time. Through the 1960s and 70s his career waned as alternative stand-up comedy acts like Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen and Richard Pryor took center stage. George took the opportunity to tour the world including a trip to Australia in 1973 where he was invited to open the Wrest Point Casino in Tasmania. Unfortunately, the organizers thought they were booking Henny Youngman, but George, ever the professional, was a hit anyway. He made many friends there and still regularly visits the small island to this day.
George now lives from a suitcase (more literally than you might think) and continues to tour.
George's childhood was spent around the Vaudeville circuit of New York City. His father ran a 'very' off-off Broadway theater, renowned only for being completely un-renowned.
Despite his father's lack of success, George began performing at the age of 10 and appeared on stage with greats of the industry including Milton Berle, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, James Cagney and his two main mentors George Burns and Henny Youngman (who was no relation and purely coincidentally shared George's surname. Henny's real surname was Yungman). The name similarities to Burns and Youngman were the source of many on-stage jokes and in later years many falsely believed George to be Henny's son.
George Youngman began performing solo as a comedian in his 20s and in the 1940s played the famous Catskills Resorts (also known as The Borscht Belt). Technically Youngman was Jewish due to his mother's lineage, but he was the first comedian who ever had to change his name to sound more Jewish. For a number of years he appeared under his stage name, George Youngberg.
In 1951 George married his childhood sweetheart Sally Mahoney and they had three children together, Brendan, Nick and Stacey. Sally died in 2005. George was heartbroken, but prefers to remember her for all the good times and material the marriage gave him.
With the advent of television George appeared as a guest on The Jack Benny Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Ernie Kovacs Show and had un-billed appearances on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.
In the 1950s George and his family moved to Vegas where he played at all the great casinos of the time. Through the 1960s and 70s his career waned as alternative stand-up comedy acts like Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen and Richard Pryor took center stage. George took the opportunity to tour the world including a trip to Australia in 1973 where he was invited to open the Wrest Point Casino in Tasmania. Unfortunately, the organizers thought they were booking Henny Youngman, but George, ever the professional, was a hit anyway. He made many friends there and still regularly visits the small island to this day.
George now lives from a suitcase (more literally than you might think) and continues to tour.