Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Milton Berle

Role / Field:

Iconic American comedian and actor known as "Mr. Television" for decades.

Born:

1908-07-12

Died:

2002-03-27

Century / Era:

1908s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Milton Berle (born Mendel Berlinger; Yiddish: ‏מענדעל בערלינגער; July 12, 1908 – March 27, 2002) was an American actor and comedian. His career as an entertainer spanned over eight decades, first in silent films and on stage as a child actor, then in radio, movies and television. As the host of NBC's Texaco Star Theatre (1948–1953), he was the first major American television star and was known to millions of viewers as "Uncle Miltie" and "Mr. Television" during the first Golden Age of Television.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in both radio and TV. Milton Berle was born into a Jewish family in a five-story walkup in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. His given name was Mendel Berlinger, but he chose Milton Berle as his professional name when he was 16. His father, Moses Berlinger (1872–1938), was of German-Jewish descent and worked as a paint and varnish salesman. His mother, Sarah (Sadie) Glantz Berlinger (1877–1954), who was of Polish-Jewish ancestry, changed her name to Sandra Berle when Milton became famous.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He had three older brothers. For many years, two of the brothers worked on Berle's TV production staff while Phil...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abraham Maslow — Contemporary (Born in 1908) (1908): Pioneering American psychologist known for the Hierarchy of Needs and self-actualization theory.
• Amon Göth — Contemporary (Born in 1908) (1908): Austrian SS functionary and war criminal, commandant of Płaszów concentration camp.
• Anna Magnani — Contemporary (Born in 1908) (1908): Iconic Italian actress, celebrated for her fiery passion and raw, volcanic talent.
• Abba Eban — Contemporary (Died in 2002) (2002): Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar of Arabic and Hebrew languages.
• Aileen Wuornos — Contemporary (Died in 2002) (2002): American serial killer known for murdering seven male clients in Florida.
• Alan Lomax — Contemporary (Died in 2002) (2002): Pioneering ethnomusicologist known for preserving global folk music traditions.
• Alexander Cartwright — Shared historical date (07-12 · Died) (1892): Founding member of the Knickerbockers and developer of early baseball rules.
• Alexander Hamilton — Shared historical date (07-12 · Died) (1804): American Founding Father, first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and Federalist leader.
• A. P. Elkin — Shared historical date (03-27 · Born) (1891): Influential Australian anthropologist and Anglican clergyman (1891–1979)
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Shared historical date (03-27 · Died) (2005): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• 1908 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1908
• July 12 (07-12) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 12
• 2002 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2002
• March 27 (03-27) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 27

Frequently Asked Questions about Milton Berle