Jimmy Durante Overview:

Legendary actor, Jimmy Durante, was born James Francis Durante on Feb 10, 1893 in New York City, NY. Durante died at the age of 87 on Jan 29, 1980 in Santa Monica, CA and was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, Los Angeles County, CA.

MINI BIO:

Piano-playing American comedian with a unique repertoire of inspired comic songs. Under contract to MGM for many years, but the studio never really projected his personality properly, and he remained at his best in solo spots, nightclubs, and records. Died from pneumonia.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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He was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the categories of Motion Pictures and Radio. Jimmy Durante's handprints and footprints were 'set in stone' at Grauman's Chinese Theater during imprint ceremony #73 on Oct 31, 1945. In addition, Durante was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame . Durante was never nominated for an Academy Award.

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Jimmy Durante Quotes:

Ptomaine: [looking at a plus-sized Italian girl on a boat] What big eyes you have, Grandma!


Nick Lombardi: A girl is what you should get first. Then if you don't get anything else, you've still got her.


[after hitting a high note in the song, "Inka Dinka Doo"]
Billy Kipp: That note was given to me by Bing Crosby, and was he glad to get rid of it.


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Grauman's Imprints

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Jimmy Durante on the
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Jimmy Durante Facts
Famous for a number of other beloved catch-phrases besides the "Mrs. Calabash" routine, including: "It's a castastrostroke!", "I'm mortified!" "Surrounded by assassins!", "Everybody wants ta get inta da act!, and "Hotch-cha-cha-cha-cha!".

According to the book, "Hollywood Trivia," (Greenwich House, 1984), by David P. Strauss, Jimmy Durante's famous "Mrs. Calabash" sign-off referred to his first wife, Jeanne Olson. Calabash was the name of a Chicago suburb they both liked.

On August 15,1958, for his charitable acts, Durante was awarded a huge 3ft. high brass loving cup by the Al Bahr Shriners Temple. The inscription was: "JIMMY DURANTE THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS COMEDIAN A loving cup to you Jimmy, Its' larger than your nose, but smaller than your heart Happiness always, Al Bahr Temple August 15, 1958".

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Radio Hall of Fame

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