Jimmy Durante
Holy Cross Cemetery
Often known as "The Schnozzola" because of his prominent, bulbous nose,
Jimmy Durante started his career playing the piano and singing in
New York City nightclubs. He moved to Broadway, appearing in the
Durante was then teamed with Buster Keaton, who was
nearing the end of his career, in several unsuccessful comedies,
including "The Passionate Plumber" (1932), "Speak Easily" (1932)
and "What! No Beer?" (1933). Durante was more successful on his
own, providing musical and comedic relief in supporting roles in
"The Phantom President" (1932), "Palooka" (1934), "Strictly Dynamite"
(1934), "Little Miss Broadway" (1938), "Melody Ranch" (1940),
"The Man Who Came to Dinner" (1942), "Music for Millions" (1944),
"It Happened in Brooklyn" (1947) and "On an Island With You" (1948).
Durante was a popular performer on musical and comedy
variety shows on television in the 1950s and 1960s, and he won an
Emmy Award as Best Comedian in 1953. His final film appearance was
in "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" (1963), and he also provided the
narration for the animated Christmas film, "Frosty the Snowman" (1969).
Durante's career was revived posthumously when his
recordings of "As Time Goes By" and "Make Someone Happy" were included
on the popular soundtrack of "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993).
Durante was born James Francis Durante on Feb. 10,
1893, in New York City, NY. He died on Jan. 29, 1980, in Santa Monica, CA.
1893 - 1980
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