vaudeville performers (A-C

 

Name	Birth	Death	Nationality	Performance notes	Reference
Abbott and Costello			American	Comic duo consisting of William (Bud) Abbott (October 2, 1897 – April 24, 1974) and Lou Costello (March 6, 1906 – March 3, 1959). Abbott began working in vaudeville in 1918, producing a "tab show" on the Gus Sun circuit with his wife. Later, he began working as a comic "straight man." Abbott and Costello met around 1929 and possibly performed together in vaudeville in the very early 1930s. The duo went on to work in radio and film.	[1]
Jean Acker	October 23, 1893	August 16, 1978	American	Actress known primarily for her work on film and as the first wife of Rudolf Valentino.	[2]
Janet Adair	c. 1892	November 24, 1938	American	Singing comedienne with piano accompanist; she was the lead female performer in Bombo with Al Jolson.	[3][4]
Jean Adair	June 13, 1873	May 11, 1953	Canadian	Actress of the legitimate stage who appeared in vaudeville in a sketch, Maggie Taylor, Waitress. Adair usually played mothers and elderly aunts onstage following her New York debut in 1922. One of her best known roles was as Aunt Martha in the play, Arsenic and Old Lace.	[5][6]
Milton Ager	October 6, 1893	May 6, 1979	American	Pianist and songwriter. Ager worked in vaudeville prior to 1910 as an accompanist. He wrote for the stage and Hollywood and composed the song, "Happy Days Are Here Again" with lyrics by Jack Yellen.	[7]
Will Ahern	October 9, 1896	May 16, 1983	American	Cowboy comedian and entertainer who performed in a comic duo with his wife, Gladys Reese. Ahern told jokes and performed rope tricks while his wife, using a Mexican accent, sang and danced.	[8]
Harry Akst	August 15, 1894	March 31, 1963	American	Pianist and songwriter, Akst accompanied singers including Al Jolson, Nora Bayes and Frank Fay. Perhaps his most notable song is "Dinah", which has been covered by such artists as Bing Crosby, the Mills Brothers and Fats Waller.	[9]
Jack Albertson	June 16, 1907	November 25, 1981	American	Actor, comedian, dancer and singer. After vaudeville, Albertson worked in burlesque, on Broadway and in Hollywood, winning a Tony Award, an Emmy Award and an Academy Award.	[10]
Robert Alda	February 26, 1914	May 3, 1986	American	Actor, singer and dancer whose vaudeville career began in earnest after winning a talent contest. After working in vaudeville and burlesque, Alda appeared on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for the role of Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls. He later appeared in film, as well. He is the father of TV and film actor Alan Alda.	[11][12]
Joe Bennet Aldert	1889	1967	American	Dancer	[13]
Russell Alexander	February 26, 1877	October 2, 1915	American	Euphonium virtuoso and musician who performed in a novelty musical act with his brothers, Newton and Woodruff. It was Newton who first formed the act, called "The Exposition Four", which consisted of Newton, Woodruff, James Brady and Willie Patten. Russell replaced Patten later. The group performed a comedy act with some blackface but also performed virtuosic feats on their instruments. Russell would become one of the greatest of circus music composers.	[14]
Hadji Ali	1892	November 5, 1937	Egyptian	Regurgitator, billed as "The Egyptian Enigma", who performed an act where he swallowed kerosene followed by water. After regurgitating the kerosene and setting it ablaze, he would put out the flames with the regurgitated water. He also swallowed and regurgitated nuts and live goldfish.	[15]
Maud Allan	August 27, 1873	October 7, 1956	Canadian	A dancer, Allan created the famous "Salome Dance", a dance of her own creation. After performing it first at London's Palace Theatre, in March 1908, she appeared at New York's Palace Theatre January 20, 1910. She toured in American vaudeville from 1916 to 1917 and 1919 to 1920.	[16][17][18]
Fred Allen	May 31, 1894	March 17, 1956	American	Juggler and comedian who also performed in a comic duo with his wife, Portland Hoffa (January 25, 1905 – December 25, 1990). His original act featured Allen as a ventriloquist, the comedy coming from his lack of talent (at one point the dummy would fall apart). Later his act featured Allen as a clumsy juggler and once his wife joined, she would act as the "straight man" to his bad juggling routine. Later, the couple would gain prominence on the radio.	[19]
Lester Allen	November 17, 1891	November 6, 1949	American	Comedian who appeared in a double act with Nellie Breen. He also emceed at the Palace.	[20]
Louis Alter	June 18, 1902	November 5, 1980	American	Pianist and songwriter who accompanied Nora Bayes for a number of years and wrote songs for Irène Bordoni, Beatrice Lillie and Helen Morgan. Among his most popular songs are "Manhattan Serenade" and "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans."	[21][22]
Nick Altrock	September 15, 1876	January 20, 1965	American	Former baseball player who appeared in a comedy routine with Al Schacht, The Clown Prince of Baseball.	[23]
Kirk Alyn	May 31, 1908	December 6, 1993	American	Singer and dancer. Later notable as the first actor to play Superman on film.	[24]
Don Ameche	May 31, 1906	March 14, 1999	American	Comedian with Texas Guinan's troupe. After vaudeville, Ameche worked in film, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1985 for his work on the film, Cocoon.	[25][26]
Morey Amsterdam	December 14, 1908	October 27, 1996	American	Amsterdam debuted in vaudeville as a cellist with his brother, a pianist. Within a short while, the act had become a comedy routine; Amsterdam's cello becoming a mere prop. After working in a nightclub owned by Al Capone, Amsterdam worked in radio, where he had his own variety show, The Morey Amsterdam Show, and in television where he was cast as one of Dick Van Dyke's co-workers on The Dick Van Dyke Show. He also wrote comedy dialogue for motion pictures.	[27]
"Broncho Billy" Anderson	March 21, 1880	January 20, 1971	American	Actor who, following vaude, became the first star of the Western film genre. In addition, with George K. Spoor, he founded Essanay Studios ("S" for Spoor and "A" for Anderson) in Chicago.	[28]
Eddie Anderson	September 18, 1905	February 28, 1977	American	Born into a vaudevillian family, Anderson began performing in a song and dance act with his brother, Cornelius and another young man, at the age of 14. The act was billed as the "Three Black Aces." Following vaude, Anderson appeared with fellow vaudevillian, Jack Benny, as "Rochester" on The Jack Benny Show on radio and later TV.	[29]
Andrews Sisters			American	Trio of sisters, LaVerne (July 6, 1911 – May 8, 1967), Maxine (January 3, 1916 – October 21, 1995) and Patty (February 16, 1918 – January 30, 2013) who sang in close harmony. The trio started touring vaudeville in the early 1930s with the Larry Rich band.	[30]
Margaret Anglin	April 3, 1876	January 7, 1958	Canadian	Actress from the legitimate stage who appeared in a sketch of the play The Wager, The Playhouse Theatre, New York, December 1917. Anglin was one of the most noted actresses on the American stage in her time, having gained the admiration of Sarah Bernhardt, the greatest actress of the age.	[5][31]
A. E. Anson	September 14, 1879	June 25, 1936	British	Shakespearian actor who appeared in a vaudeville sketch entitled 1690 which he wrote himself.	[32]
Capt. Adrian C. "Cap" Anson	April 17, 1852	April 14, 1922	American	Former baseball player who appeared in a sketch in 1913 with a monologue and short dance. He reappeared with his daughters in 1921.	[33]
Dave Apollon	1898	May 30, 1972	Russian-American	Mandolinist. Apollon arrived in the US from Russia in 1921. Finding success in vaude, Apollon appeared as an emcee at the Palace and also appeared with his Filipino Orchestra on the last two-a-day program there, May 7, 1932. He also appeared in the final vaudeville presentation at the Loew's State Theatre, New York City, December 23, 1947.	[34]
Macklyn Arbuckle	July 9, 1866	March 31, 1931	American	Character actor who toured vaudeville in the sketch, The Welcher in 1910. Arbuckle made his stage debut in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1888 and his New York debut in 1900. He found success playing "homespun" type characters and eventually he moved into film, creating the San Antonio Pictures Corporation.	[35][36][37]
Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle	March 24, 1887	June 29, 1933	American	Arbuckle was a portly comic actor who was mentored by vaudeville veteran, Leon Errol. After leaving the stage, Arbuckle became a well-known comedian in silent films, eventually partnering with Buster Keaton. His career was destroyed by accusations that he murdered a young actress. Following two trials ending in hung juries and a final trial that acquitted him, Arbuckle's career was ruined. He would not return to motion pictures until 1932.	[38]
Harold Arlen	February 15, 1905	April 23, 1986	American	Pianist, musician and composer. Among his more well-known songs are "Stormy Weather", "Get Happy" and songs for the movie-musical, The Wizard of Oz.	[39]
Armida	May 29, 1911	October 23, 1989	American	Mexican-American singer and actress discovered while performing with her sister, Dolores, in Los Angeles. After becoming a part of Gus Edwards' vaudeville troupe, she made a number of films, including 1930's On the Border with John Barrymore and Rin-Tin-Tin.	[40]
Julia Arthur	May 3, 1868	March 28, 1950	Canadian	Actress from the legitimate stage who appeared at the Palace in May 1917 in a sketch called Liberty Aflame. As well as working onstage, Arthur made 10 silent films from 1908 to 1919.	[41][42]
Adele and Fred Astaire			American	Ballroom dance duo with Fred Astaire (May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) and his sister, Adele (September 10, 1896 – January 25, 1981). The duo first appeared in vaudeville in 1912, but as Fred was underage, the duo did not return until 1916, when they toured many vaudeville circuits.	[43][44]
Roscoe Ates	January 20, 1896	March 1, 1962	American	Comedian known for his portrayals of comic, stuttering characters. Ates later appeared in films.	[34]
Cholly Atkins	September 13, 1913	April 19, 2003	American	Tap dancer in a noted dance act with Charles "Honi" Coles. Later Atkins became a choreographer for Motown.	[45]
Lionel Atwill	March 1, 1885	April 22, 1946	British	An actor, Atwill toured with Lillie Langtry as her leading man in the play, Ashes during 1915. Following his stage career, Atwill worked in Hollywood, appearing in many horror films during the 1930s and 1940s. His career was cut short by a scandal involving an orgy at his home where a young woman was raped.	[46][47]
Adrienne Augarde	May 12, 1882	March 17, 1913	British	Singer and stage actress,	[48]
Gene Austin	June 24, 1900	January 24, 1972	American	Singer and songwriter who first appeared in vaudeville in the early 1920s. He performed as one of the first "crooners." Austin appeared on radio in 1923 and began recording as "The Voice of the Southland."	[49]
Lovie Austin	September 19, 1887	July 10, 1972	American	Jazz pianist who toured extensively in vaude, often with her own band, the "Blues Serenaders."	[50][51]

B

Name	Birth	Death	Nationality	Performance notes	Reference
Frank Bacon	January 16, 1864	November 19, 1922	American	Actor and playwright, appeared in vaudeville skits and playlets. Father of Lloyd Bacon.	[52]
Lloyd Bacon	December 4, 1889	November 15, 1955	American	Broadway actor who, following a season in vaudeville went to Hollywood where he became a director with Warner Bros. after appearing as an actor in nearly 40 films.	[53]
Pearl Bailey	March 29, 1918	August 17, 1990	American	Singer and actress who followed vaudeville with a career onstage, on film and on TV. She garnered a Tony Award for her role on Broadway in Hello, Dolly!.	[54]
Belle Baker	December 25, 1893	April 29, 1957	American	Baker first ventured onstage with the encouragement of actor, Jacob Adler and later, producer, Lew Leslie. Her debut in vaudeville was in Scranton, Pennsylvania at the age of 15 and she debuted in big-time vaudeville at Hammerstein's Theatre in New York in 1911. As a singer and actress, she established her name in vaudeville as "The Ragtime Singer." Baker is one of the Palace headliners who performed there numerous times. Her Palace debut was in 1913, when she sang the song, "Cohen Owes Me Ninety-Seven Dollars." Following vaudeville she appeared on Broadway and on the radio.	[55][56]
Josephine Baker	June 3, 1906	April 12, 1975	American	Baker debuted as a chorus girl in vaudeville and in the revues Shufflin' Along, The Chocolate Dandies, and Runnin' Wild. Following that she left the US to become a dancer and singer in the cabarets and nightclubs of Paris.	[57]
Phil Baker	324 August 1896	December 1, 1963	American	Pianist, accordionist and comedian who began in a double act with Ben Bernie on violin. Originally a serious musical act, over time it developed comic elements. Following their split, both comedians became successful in their own right. Baker headlined at the Palace in 1930 and 1931. He later enjoyed a career on Broadway in musicals and later radio.	[58][59]
Balasis family acrobatic act				Acrobats performing in vaudeville, variety shows and circuses in Europe, US, and Canada from c.1900 - 1930	[60]
Nikita Balieff	c. 1877	September 3, 1936	Armenian	Singer, dancer, actor, monologist and impresario of the Chauve-Souris comedy troupe.	[61]
Ernest Ball	July 21, 1878	May 3, 1927	American	Accompanist, singer and songwriter known for writing sentimental ballads, usually with Irish themes such as "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." Ball appeared at the Palace in 1923 and 1926 and died the next year in his dressing room at the Yost Theatre in Santa Ana, California while on tour with his singing group, "Ernie Ball and His Gang."	[62]
Barbette	December 9, 1904	August 5, 1975	American	After seeing an aerialist in a circus, Vander Clyde or Van der Clyde (his real name) desired to become one. He responded to an ad in Billboard for the Alfaretta Sisters, an aerial act, who were looking for a replacement member. He began dressing as a female on their encouragement and continued to do so after leaving the act. In 1923, he traveled to Britain and then Paris, where he became the talk of the town. He toured Europe and returned to the US to continue in vaudeville. Following his stage career, Barbette continued to work with performers for various circuses.	[63] [64][65]
Ben Bard	January 26, 1893	May 17, 1974	American	Comedian, in a duo with Jack Pearl.	[59]
Wilkie Bard	March 19, 1870	March 5, 1944	British	Comedian and singer.	[66][67]
Reginald Barlow	June 17, 1866	July 6, 1943	American	Actor and minstrel. Appeared at the age of 9 with the minstrel troupe of Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West. Later he became a film actor.	[68]
The Barrison Sisters			Swedish	Five sisters who performed risqué songs and dances. The sisters were Lona, Sophia, Inger, Olga and Gertrude Barrison.	[69]
Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Barry			American	Married couple who performed as a comedy duo	[70]
Ethel Barrymore	August 15, 1879	June 18, 1959	American	Actress who appeared in "tab" versions of her hits in the legitimate theatre as well as one-act plays. Barrymore's debut in vaudeville was in the one-act play, Civilization by Richard Harding Davis at the Palace Theatre the week of April 28, 1913. In 1914, Barrymore toured in Drifted Apart and later toured the Oprheum circuit in J. M. Barrie's The Twelve Pound Look with a salary of $3000 a week. The Twelve Pound Look played the Palace, June 1921 and in September and December 1926.	[66][71][72]
John Barrymore	February 14, 1882	May 29, 1942	American	Actor, Appeared in a sketch called, His Wedding Morn', caused a sensation on Broadway in Justice and later for his portrayals of Hamlet and Richard III.	[66][73]
Lionel Barrymore	April 28, 1878	November 15, 1954	American	Actor from the legitimate stage who appeared in a sketch of Bartley Campbell's play, The White Slave, with Doris Rankin. He also toured in The Still Voice in 1914.	[66][73][74]
Maurice Barrymore	September 21, 1849	March 26, 1905	British	Actor on the "legitimate stage", Barrymore made his vaudeville debut in a one-act version of Augustus Thomas' play, A Man of the World, and headlined many other sketches.	[66][73]
Charles Barton	1902	1981	American	Actor.	[75]
Eileen Barton	November 24, 1929	June 27, 2006	American	Sang "Ain't Misbehavin'" in her parents vaudeville act at the age of 2 in Kansas City, Missouri. At the age of 3½, Barton appeared at the Palace as part of Ted Healy's routine. Barton later became a noted popular music singer.	[76]
James Barton	November 1, 1890	February 19, 1962	American	Comic dancer who made his stage debut at the age of 2. Barton appeared in vaudeville at the age of 4, working steadily in stock and repertory theatre as well. His New York stage debut was in The Passing Show of 1919 and from there on he appeared in many musicals during the 1920s, appearing in vaudeville between roles.	[77][78]
Billy Barty	October 25, 1924	December 23, 2000	American	Diminutive, juvenile actor, Barty originally appeared in film. He appeared in vaudeville with his sisters in an act called "Billy Barty and His Sisters", where he played the drums and did impressions. Later, Barty founded two service organizations for people with dwarfism.	[79]
Count Basie	August 21, 1904	April 26, 1984	American	Pianist, bandleader and composer. Before the age of 20, Basie was touring on the Keith circuit and later, the Columbia Burlesque and T. O. B. A. circuits as a pianist, accompanist and musical director for singers, dancers and comedians.	[80][81][82]
Blanche Bates	August 25, 1873	December 25, 1941	American	Actress of the legitimate stage who appeared at the Palace in December 1918 in The World Mother. Additionally, she would play vaudeville houses in between engagements. Bates debuted in 1897 with Augustin Daly's company later working with David Belasco.	[83][84]
Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates	October 11, 1907	December 6, 1998	American	Rhythm tap dancer with only one leg.	[85]
Warner Baxter	March 29, 1889	May 7, 1951	American	Actor. Later won the 1929 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as the Cisco Kid in the film In Old Arizona.	[86]
Nora Bayes	October 8, 1880	June 19, 1928	American	Singer and comedian who toured with her husband, Jack Norworth from 1908 to 13. She introduced such standards as 'Shine on Harvest Moon' and Cohan's 'Over There.'	[71][87]
Beverly Bayne	November 11, 1894	August 18, 1982	American	Actress with her husband, Francis X. Bushman. Bayne and Bushman, following successful careers in silent films, appeared at the Palace in a comedy sketch, Poor Rich Man. The couple toured vaudeville throughout the 1920s. Unable to revive her film career in the late 1920s, following her divorce from Bushman, Bayne worked the rest of her life onstage.	[88][89]
Ruth Virginia Bayton	November 11, 1894	August 18, 1982	American	Entertainer and actress.	[90]
George Beauchamp	1899	1941	American	Violin and steel lap guitar player. Beauchamp developed the first commercially available electric guitar.	[91]
George Beban	1873	October 5, 1928	American	Known for his Italian characters. Beban began playing French characters but once he began working in film, he played Italian characters. His initial act involved recitation of a poem called, "Mia Rosa." Beban created a one-act play from the poem, The Sign of the Rose, in which he toured vaudeville for seven years. A full-length version, also by Beban, premiered at the Garrick Theatre in New York in 1911. Beban signed with silent film director and producer, Thomas Ince, after his work in vaudeville and appeared in a number of films including a version of The Sign of the Rose called The Alien.	[92]
Martin Beck	1867	November 16, 1940	Austrian-American	Actor and later one of the top vaudeville theatre owners.	[94]
Digby Bell	November 8, 1849	June 20, 1917	American	Comic actor, Bell began his stagework as a singer, but eventually made his mark as a comedian. Bell was the leading comic in Lillian Russell's company and spent much of his later life in plays and vaudeville.	[95]
Rita Bell	December 16, 1893	January 8, 1992	American	A lyric soprano, Bell's vaudeville career included the B. F. Keith Circuit.	[96]
Robert Benchley	September 15, 1889	November 21, 1945	American	Actor and monologist.	[97]
Chief Bender	May 3, 1883	May 22, 1954	American	Former baseball player who did an act with Kathryn Pearl called Learning the Game by George Totten Smith with music by Arthur Behim.	[23]
Bennie Benjamin	November 4, 1907	May 2, 1989	American	Guitarist and banjo player with a number of bands, Benjamin would become a major songwriter following his work in vaude.	[98]
Le Roy Benjamin	1917	1997	American	Built and performed with marionettes, later did voice impressions with Le Roy Brothers Marionettes.	[99]
Belle Bennett	April 22, 1891	November 4, 1932	American	Trapeze artist and later silent film actress, Bennett, following a career in vaudeville, entered film in 1916 and worked through the end of the age of silent films.	[100]
Richard Bennett	1870	1944	American	Actor who appeared in a sketch from the play The Common Man.	[5]
Jack Benny	February 14, 1894	December 26, 1974	American	Comedian and actor, known for his comedic violin playing (a leftover from his stage routine) and for constantly presenting the idea that he is 39 years young. His radio and TV programs featured his wife Mary, comedian Don Wilson as announcer, and character actor Eddie Anderson as Benny's valet Rochester.	[101]
Irving Benson	January 31, 1914	May 19, 2016	American	Comedian and actor known for playing Sidney Spritzer, the wise-cracking heckler of fellow vaudevillian Milton Berle, and for being a frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.[102]
Alphonse Bergé	July 12, 1885	June 23, 1980	English-American	Noted for speedily dressing live models with bolts of fabric	[103]
Edgar Bergen	February 16, 1903	September 30, 1978	American	Ventrilogquist with his dummy, Charlie McCarthy.	[104]
Valerie Bergere	February 8, 1867	September 16, 1938	French-born American	Actress, headlined in vaudeville for 17 years	[105]
Sammy Berk	c. 1894	1983	American	Novelty dancer.	[106]
Milton Berle	July 12, 1908	March 27, 2002	American	Comedian and actor, later known as "Mr. Television" for pulling in record numbers in TV's early days for his "Texaco Star Theater".	[107]
Irving Berlin	May 11, 1888	September 22, 1989	American	Musician and songwriter. Known for such songs as "Alexander's Ragtime Band", "White Christmas", "Easter Parade", "There's No Business Like Show Business", and "God Bless America."	[108]
Sam Bernard	June 5, 1863	May 16, 1927	British	Actor, "Dutch" comedian and monologist known for his German characterizations. In 1885, Bernard toured the British music hall circuit later appearing at the Palace in January 1914 and March 1926.	[109]
Sarah Bernhardt	October 23, 1844	March 26, 1923	French	Actress, known as "The Divine Sarah" and "The First Lady of the Theater"	[110]
Ben Bernie	May 30, 1891	October 20, 1943	American	Violinist and comedian. Had an act with Phil Baker.	[111]
Joe Besser	August 12, 1907	March 1, 1988	American	Besser first began in show business as a song plugger and magician's assistant. He worked his way up to being a comedian and headlined with acts such as Olsen and Johnson. After appearing on radio, Besser appeared on film and was a member of the Three Stooges for two years.	[112]
Amelia Bingham	March 20, 1869	September 1, 1927	American	Actress of the "legit" stage, Bingham appeared in vaudeville at the Palace in July 1909 in Big Moments from Great Plays, which included excerpts from six plays. Bingham was discovered by a traveling actor while she was waiting tables in her father's hotel while on break from Ohio Wesleyan University. Following her Broadway debut in 1893, Bingham was noted for her sparkling performances in comedies and melodramas. In addition to her performances, Bingham also managed the Bijou Theatre in New York beginning in 1900 and organized her own stock company.	[5][113][114]
Billie Bird	February 28, 1908	November 27, 2002	American	Actress and comedian who was discovered in an orphanage. Bird toured with the group for some time before creating an act with another girl called, "The King Sisters" which toured the Keith-Orpheum circuit. After vaudeville began to fade, Bird toured in musicals and comedies and on the nightclub circuit. She also worked in film and on television.	[115]
Harry Blackstone Sr.	September 27, 1885	November 16, 1965	American	Magician.	[116]
J. Stuart Blackton	January 5, 1875	August 13, 1941	British-American	Stage cartoonist billed as Komikal Kartoonist in an act with his friends Albert E. Smith the Komikal Konjuror and Ronald A. Reader who operated a magic lantern.	[117]
Blake and Amber			American	Husband and wife comic duo composed of Winfield Blake and Maude Amber	[118]
Block and Sully			American	Husband and wife comic duo composed of Jesse Block (December 16, 1900 – March 22, 1983) and Eve Sully (1902 – August 7, 1990).	[119]
Joan Blondell	August 30, 1909	December 25, 1979	American	Actress. She joined her parents' act at 3, leaving the act in 1926 for Broadway and later Hollywood.	[120][121]
Lew Bloom	August 8, 1859	December 12, 1929	American	Comic monologist and "society tramp."	[122][123]
Ben Blue	September 12, 1901	March 7, 1975	Canadian	Comedian and dancer.	[122]
Ray Bolger	January 10, 1904	January 15, 1987	American	Dancer and actor known for his "loose-limbed, comic" dancing style. Appeared on Broadway in On Your Toes and By Jupiter. Best known film role is the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.	[124][125]
Bessie Bonehill	February 17, 1855	August 21, 1902	British	Male impersonator, Bonehill first appeared on the American vaudeville in 1889. She worked heavily in the British music hall as well as playing the principal boy in British pantomimes.	[126]
Irène Bordoni	January 16, 1895	March 19, 1953	French	Chanteuse and musical theatre star. Bordoni's first appeared in the chorus at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris at the age of 13. She traveled to the US and began appearing on the vaudeville and the Broadway stages in 1912. The following year she toured the Orpheum circuit with Melville Ellis in tow as both accompanist and costume designer. From 1915 to 28, Bordoni appeared in a number of Broadway musicals but in vaudeville in her spare time. She appeared at the Palace in May and November 1927 and September 1930. After her retirement, she made occasional appearances on Broadway before dying while on tour in the musical, South Pacific.	[127]
Luis Borromeo			Filipino	Also known as Borromeo Lou. A Filipino jazz pianist who performed at the Orpheum Circuit in the late 1910s. He returned to the Philippines in the 1920s where he popularized bodabil, a localized variant of vaudeville.	[128]
Boswell Sisters			American	Trio of singing sisters composed of Meldania "Martha" Boswell (1905–1958), Constance Foore "Connee" Boswell (December 3, 1907 – October 11, 1976), and Helvetia George "Vet" Boswell (May 20, 1911 – 1988).	[129]
Hobart Bosworth	August 11, 1867	December 30, 1943	American	Actor appearing in a sketch from the play Sea Wolf. Bosworth was already an accomplished stage actor having worked with the companies of McKee Rankin and Augustin Daly as well as with some of the leading ladies of the day. After contracting tuberculosis, Bosworth traveled west and became a leading man at the Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles, where he also founded the Hobart Bosworth Institute of Dramatic Arts. He entered silent films in 1909 and created Bosworth Incorporated in order to create feature films based on the works of Jack London. In 1917, Bosworth and Ethel Grey Terry, toured in a sketch of London's Sea Wolf.	[5][130]
Ray Bourbon	1893	July 19, 1971	American	Female impersonator.	[129]
Eddie Bracken	February 7, 1915	November 14, 2002	American	Actor and comedian, started in films as a child and later appeared as comic foil in numerous feature films.	[131]
Hugh Bradley	May 23, 1885	January 26, 1949	American	Baseball player who appeared with the Boston Red Sox Quartette in 1912. The quartet included Buck O'Brien, Marty Hale and Bill Lyons.	[132]
Nellie Breen	c. 1898	1986	American	She appeared in a double act with Lester Allen.	[20]
El Brendel	March 25, 1890	April 9, 1964	American	Comedian.	[133]
Jay Brennan	December 6, 1882	January 14, 1961	American	Comedian. Played the "straight man" to Bert Savoy.	[54][134]
Walter Brennan	July 25, 1894	September 21, 1974	American	Actor.	[135]
Herbert Brenon	January 13, 1880	June 22, 1958	American	Had a comic duo with his wife, Helen Oberg. Later he was a Hollywood screenwriter.	[136]
Elizabeth Brice	c. 1885	1965	American	When she performed in vaudeville with Charles King they were known as Brice and King.	[137][138]
Fanny Brice	October 29, 1891	May 29, 1951	American	Comedian and singer known for comedic songs, except for "My Man", and her portrayal of bratty Baby Snooks. The Ziegfeld Follies regular was famously portrayed by Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl and Funny Lady.	[139]
Lottie Briscoe	April 19, 1883	March 21, 1950	American	Starred in a 1919 vaudeville skit by George Kelly entitled Mrs. Wellington's Surprise	[140]
James Brockman	December 8, 1886	May 22, 1967	American	After beginning as a comedian in vaudeville, Brockman worked in musicals before settling in Hollywood as a songwriter.	[141]
Helen Broderick	August 11, 1891	September 25, 1959	American	Singer-comedian who made her stage debut in the chorus of the Ziegfeld Follies of 1907. After becoming a comedian, she developed a caustic, wisecracking style and appeared in both musical comedies and vaudeville. Later Broderick worked in Hollywood.	[70][142]
Harry Brooks	September 20, 1895	June 22, 1970	American	Pianist and songwriter.	[143]
Shelton Brooks	May 4, 1886	September 6, 1975	American	Singer, pianist and songwriter. Many of Brooks' songs were composed for vaudeville singer, Sophie Tucker and among them, the song, "Some of These Days", which became one of Tucker's best known songs. Her 1911 recording of this song was selected in 2004 to be added to the National Recording Registry, ensuring its preservation in the Library of Congress.	[144][145]
Heywood Broun	December 7, 1888	December 18, 1939	American	Drama critic who worked as a monologuist in vaudeville and appearing at the Palace. Broun began working for the New York Tribune in 1912 and went to serve as the drama critic for the New York World from 1921 to 1928 and also as the drama editor for Vanity Fair.	[146][147]
Joe E. Brown	July 28, 1892	July 6, 1973	American	Comedian with the Bell Prevost Trio, Brown was often billed as "The Corkscrew Kid." Brown made his screen debut in 1928 and quickly became one of the leading comedians in Hollywood and later on television, thanks in part to his mouth and yells. Among his best known film roles is the millionaire, Osgood Fielding, in the 1959 film, Some Like It Hot.	[19][148]
Nacio Herb Brown	February 22, 1896	September 28, 1964	American	Pianist and songwriter. Brown was accompanist to performer, Alice Doll, and toured with her on the Orpheum Circuit. Certainly one of his best known songs is "Singin' in the Rain", which he wrote with lyricist, Arthur Freed.	[149][150]
Tom Brown	June 3, 1888	March 25, 1958	American	Trombonist and leader of Tom Brown's Band from Dixieland. Also put together the vaudeville band, the "Five Rubes" which disbanded shortly thereafter.	[151][152][153]
Bothwell Browne	March 7, 1877	December 12, 1947	Danish	Female impersonator with a brief career; headlined at the Palace in 1919.	[154]
Frank Browning	1882	1948	American	Former baseball player who was in a quartet with 3 other baseball players around 1925. The three other singers were George Crable, Tom Dillon and Kid Gleason.	[33]
Peaches Browning	June 23, 1910	August 23, 1956	American	Actress, known best for her marriage at the age of 16 to Edward Browning, a 51-year-old real estate mogul. Shortly after their marriage, Peaches filed for divorce and her fame lead her to appear in vaudeville.	[155]
Tod Browning	July 12, 1880	October 6, 1962	American	Actor. Later a Hollywood director who directed Dracula and Freaks.	[156]
Harry Bulger	1872	April 14, 1926	American	Actor and comedian who was one half of the duo Matthews and Bulger. Starred in several Broadway musicals.	[157][158]
Brox Sisters			American	Trio of singing sisters consisting of Dagmar Brock, born Josephine and later called Bobbe (1900 – May 2, 1999), Kathleen, later known as Patricia (June 14, 1903 – 1988), and Eunice, later called Lorayne (d. 1993).	[159][160][161]
Buck and Bubbles			American	Dance duo with Ford Lee "Buck" Washington (October 16, 1903 – January 31, 1955) and John W. "Bubbles" Sublett (February 19, 1902 – May 18, 1986).	[162]
John Bunny	September 21, 1863	April 26, 1915	American	Actor, comedians, and minstrel. Later a film star.	[163]
Neil Burgess	1846	1910	American	Female impersonator, mostly playing elderly widows.	[164]
Smiley Burnette	March 18, 1911	February 16, 1967	American	Singer. Later worked with Gene Autry and performed onscreen in Westerns.	[165]
Burns and Allen			American	Comic duo consisting of George Burns (January 20, 1896 – March 9, 1996) and his wife, Gracie Allen (July 26, 1895 – August 27, 1964). Their radio and television shows proved their enduring popularity, thanks in part to Gracie's scatterbrained publicity stunts.	[71][166]
Pesach Burstein	1896	1986	Polish-American	Actor, comedian and singer mostly in Yiddish vaudeville with his family. Burstein, his kids and his wife, Lillian Lux are profiled in the 2002 documentary, The Komediant.	[167]
Mae Busch	June 18, 1891	April 19, 1946	Australian	Actress and comedian who found success in American vaudeville and later appeared in a number of Laurel and Hardy films.	[168]
Francis X. Bushman	January 10, 1883	August 23, 1966	American	Actor who toured with his wife, actress Beverly Bayne. Following his initial silent film career in Hollywood, where he had become a matinee idol, Bushman and Bayne appeared at the Palace in the comedy sketch, Poor Rich Man in 1921 and toured various circuits throughout the 1920s. Bushman returned to Hollywood and continued work in film.	[88][89]
Butterbeans and Susie			American	Comic duo composed of Jodie Edwards (1895–1967) and his wife, Susie Hawthorne (1896–1963). Their act was composed of duets and comedy routines about marital troubles. The duo was active on the T. O. B. A. circuit.	[169]

C

Name	Birth	Death	Nationality	Performance notes	Reference
James Cagney	July 17, 1899	March 30, 1986	American	Actor, before winning an Oscar, Cagney dressed in drag for a comedy act with four other actors. After several other bit parts on the stage, Cagney was spotted by Al Jolson while appearing in the musical Penny Arcade and was soon signed to a Warner Bros. contract.	[170][171]
Marie Cahill	February 7, 1870	August 23, 1933	American	Singer and actress.	[170][172]
Cab Calloway	December 25, 1907	November 18, 1994	American	Musician and bandleader. Calloway headlined at the Palace in June 1931 and at the Loew's State Theatre in 1932. Most famous song is "Minnie the Moocher".	[174]
Emma Calvé	August 15, 1858	January 6, 1942	French	Operatic soprano.	[175]
Mrs. Patrick Campbell	February 9, 1865	April 9, 1940	British	Actress from the legitimate stage who appeared in vaudeville in Expiation (a Russian tragedy).	[176][177][178]
Judy Canova	November 20, 1913	August 5, 1983	American	Comedian and singer. Performed with her brother and sister in an act called the "Three Georgia Crackers" and later in an act called "Annie, Judy & Zeke."	[179]
Eddie Cantor	January 31, 1892	October 10, 1964	American	Singer and comedian who often appeared in blackface. Appeared in various editions of the Ziegfeld Follies and Broadway musicals such as Kid Boots and Whoopee!.	[180]
Cardini	1894	November 11, 1975	Welsh	Sleight-of-hand magician	[181]
Mutt Carey	1891	September 3, 1948	American	Jazz trumpeter who toured the vaudeville circuits in 1917.	[182]
Leo Carrillo	August 6, 1881	September 10, 1961	American	Character actor.	[183]
Richard Carle	July 7, 1871	June 28, 1941	American	Comic actor who appeared in vaudeville in 1914 in A Slice of Life where he played Mr. Hyphen-Brown and in April 1915 in If We Said What We Thought. Carle debuted on the New York stage in 1891 and performed primarily in musicals until 1913 when he left the stage for vaudeville.	[184][185]
Alan Carney	December 22, 1909	May 2, 1973	American	Comic dialectician. Later worked on Broadway and in films of the 1940s where he was partnered with comic Wally Brown.	[186]
Georges Carpentier	January 12, 1894	October 28, 1975	French	Former boxer and song and dance man.	[187]
Harry Carroll	November 28, 1892	December 26, 1962	American	Songwriter, pianist and singer.	[188]
Suzette Carsell	1875	c1945	American	Known as The Mother of the Accordion. Toured from 1916 to 1921 with the Peerless Trio as Anna Vincent with Thomas Francis Savage (Tom Rosa) and Bertha Mae DeCroteau (Mazie Berto)	[189]
Mrs. Leslie Carter	June 10, 1862	November 13, 1937	American	Actress of the legitimate stage who toured vaudeville in the role of Zaza, one of her most famous roles from the play by David Belasco.	[190]
Emma Carus	March 18, 1879	November 18, 1927	German	Singing comedian who first appeared in vaudeville at Proctor's 23rd Street Theatre in New York in 1894. From 1915 onwards, she performed mostly in vaudeville.	[191][192]
Diana Serra Cary	October 26, 1918	February 24, 2020	American	Juvenile actress billed as Baby Peggy. Following her film career, Baby Peggy worked in vaude, making $1500 a week, but with the death of vaudeville, Baby Peggy's career was over as well.	[193]
Charlie Case	1858	1916	American	Blackface singer and pioneering monologist.	[176][194]
Vernon and Irene Castle			American (Irene) and British (Vernon)	Ballroom dance team consisting of Vernon (May 2, 1887 – February 15, 1918) and his wife, Irene (April 17, 1893 – January 25, 1969). Introduced such dances as the foxtrot and tango to U.S. audiences.	[170]
Walter Catlett	February 4, 1889	November 14, 1960	American	Comedian who worked in vaudeville and on the legitimate stage before working in film.	[195]
Joseph Cawthorn	March 29, 1868	April 17, 1959	American	Minstrel and comedian, Joseph Cawthorn, made his stage debut at the age of 4 at Robinson's Music Hall in New York City. Later, he joined Haverly's Minstrels in 1872 and worked in vaudeville as a Dutch dialect comedian. He continued working in musical comedies and in 1926, made his screen debut.	[196][197][198]
Lon Chaney	April 1, 1883	August 26, 1930	American	Actor, "the Man of a Thousand Faces" later scared moviegoers after years in vaudeville houses in films such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera.
Anna Chang	April 21, 1910		Chinese-American	Actor and Singer. Began singing on the stage at the age of six. Active from the 1920 - 1940's. She was billed as "The Chinese Songbird of San Francisco," "The Chinese Princess of Song" and "The Chinese Star of Syncopation. Featured in a singing duet with Hatsu Kuma in the film "Two Little Chinese Maids" (1929). [199][200]
Charlie Chaplin	April 16, 1889	December 25, 1977	British-American	Actor and comedian, toured the US with the Fred Karno troupe in 1910 and 1912–1913 before being signed by Mack Sennett the following year.|[201]
Chaz Chase	1902	August 4, 1983	American	Comedian whose act was to seemingly eat all manner of inedible objects, such as matches and paper (in reality he would turn upstage and spit them into his oversized top hat).	[202]
Dave Chasen	July 18, 1898	June 16, 1973	Russian-American	Comedian who worked with Joe Cook.	[202]
Doc Cheatham	June 13, 1905	June 2, 1997	American	Trumpeter, singer and bandleader who toured T. O. B. A. working in bands accompanying blues singers.	[203]
Cherry Sisters			American	An act consisting of five sisters, Addie, Effie, Ella, Elizabeth and Jessie Cherry who sang, danced and acted. It was known as the worst act in vaudeville and audiences often attended to hurl produce and catcalls at them.	[204][205]
Albert Chevalier	March 21, 1861	July 10, 1923	British	British music hall actor and comedian.	[176]
Frank Christian	September 3, 1887	November 27, 1973	American	Trumpeter.
Chung Hwa Four			Chinese	Singing quartet. Members included E. A. Donsang, L. Alaaron, James Oh Chung and H. K. Liang. Performed as the Chong Hwa Three after Alaaron left the group.	[206]
Ching Ling Foo	1854	1922	Chinese	Magician.	[207]
Chung Ling Soo	April 2, 1861	March 24, 1918	American	Magician.	[208]
Paul Cinquevalli	June 30, 1859	July 14, 1918	German	Juggler.	[209]
Ina Claire	October 15, 1893	February 21, 1985	American	Singer-comedian Ina Claire made her vaudeville debut in 1907 impersonating Harry Lauder. Her first appearance on the musical stage was in 1911 and she debuted at the Palace Theatre in 1915. She toured vaudeville on the Orpheum, Keith and Proctor circuits and appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1915 and 1916. She continued on the stage in musical comedies.	[210][211]
Bobby Clark	June 16, 1888	February 12, 1960	American	Comedian. Member, with Paul McCullough, of the comic team of Clark and McCullough.	[212]
Bessie Clayton	1878	July 21, 1948	American	Dancer.	[213]
Loretta Clemens Tupper	May 6, 1906	September 17, 1990	American	Singer and musician, performed with her brother Jack Clemens.
Stanley Clements	July 16, 1926	October 16, 1981	American	Actor and comedian.
Laddie Cliff	September 13, 1891	December 8, 1937	British	Eccentric dancer.	[214]
Kathleen Clifford	February 16, 1887	December 28, 1962	American	Male impersonator billed as "The Smartest Chap in Town" who appeared in a top hat, tails and a monocle. Clifford's first appearance on the legitimate stage came in 1903 in the musical comedy, The Girl from Kay's. She worked in film from 1917 to 1928 returning to vaudeville in the 1930s.	[215][216]
Herbert Clifton	October 19, 1885	September 26, 1947	British	Female impersonator and singer	[217]
Maggie Cline	January 1, 1857	June 11, 1934	American	Irish American singer whose vigorous persona and hearty performances of Irish songs made her an immensely popular figure in the heyday of the vaudeville stage.	[218]
E. E. Clive	August 28, 1879	June 6, 1940	British	Actor.
June Clyde	December 2, 1909	October 1, 1987	American	Actress, singer and dancer billed as "Baby Tetrazini." Clyde began working in vaudeville at the age of seven progressing to stage musicals and eventually appearing in films in 1929.	[219]
Ty Cobb	December 18, 1886	July 17, 1961	American	Former baseball player.	[33]
Imogene Coca	November 18, 1908	June 2, 2001	American	Comedian who was born into a showbiz family. Coca's first stagework came at the age of 11 as a dancer and she worked in nightclubs and vaudeville houses before being discovered as a comedian. In the 1950s, Coca began work on television with comedian, Sid Caesar. Her work in TV spanned decades.	[220][221]
Ann Codee	March 5, 1890	May 18, 1961	Belgian	Comedian who toured with her husband, Frank Orth. Their act toured the world and could be performed in 5 languages.	[222]
Cole and Johnson			American	Singing and dancing duo consisting of Bob Cole (July 1, 1869 – August 2, 1911) and J. Rosamond Johnson (August 11, 1873 – November 11, 1954).	[223]
Michael Coleman	1889	1945	Irish	Irish fiddler.
Charles "Honi" Coles	April 2, 1911	November 12, 1992	American	Tap dancer.	[224]
Lottie Collins	1866	May 1, 1910	British	Singer-comedian. Most well known for popularizing the song, "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay!."	[225]
Pinto Colvig	September 11, 1892	October 3, 1967	American	Comedian, the voice of Goofy in Disney cartoons and was the first Bozo the Clown.
Chester Conklin	January 11, 1886	October 11, 1971	American	Comedian and actor. Later worked as one of Mack Sennett's Keystone Cops and appeared in some of Charlie Chaplin's films.	[226]
Conlin and Glass	October 14, 1884	May 7, 1962	American	Comic duo consisting of Jimmy Conlin (October 14, 1884 – May 7, 1962) and his wife, Myrtle Glass.
Jackie Coogan	October 26, 1914	March 1, 1984	American	Child actor, best known as Charlie Chaplin's sidekick in The Kid and (as an adult) as Uncle Fester on TV's The Addams Family. The infamous Coogan Law is named after him.	[227]
Elisha Cook Jr.	December 26, 1902	May 18, 1995	American	Actor. Cook first appeared onstage at the age of 14 and worked onstage in stock theatre, vaudeville and Broadway. His first film appearance was in 1929.	[228]
Joe Cook	1890	May 16, 1959	American	Born Joseph Lopez, Joe Cook first appeared in vaudeville in a juggling act with his brother, billed as "The Juggling Kids." He made one of his first solo appearances in July 1907 at Proctor's 125th Street Theatre, New York. He began incorporating comedy, props and monologues into his act and on January 2, 1922, he played the Palace. Following vaudeville, Cook appeared on Broadway and was heard on the radio.	[229][230]
Baldwin Cooke	March 10, 1888	December 31, 1953	American	Actor who toured vaudeville with his wife, Alice and Stan Laurel.
John W. Cooper	1873	1966	American	Ventriloquist with his dummy, Sam Jackson.	[231]
James "Gentleman Jim" J. Corbett	September 1, 1866	February 18, 1933	American	Former boxer	[232]
Maurice Costello	February 22, 1877	October 30, 1950	American	Actor and comedian.	[233]
Willie Covan	1896	May 7, 1989	American	Tap dancer.	[234]
Ida Cox	February 25, 1896	November 10, 1967	American	Blues singer who toured in vaudeville from 1923 to 1929. One of the bandmembers accompanying her was Earl Palmer.	[235]
Joseph E. Coyne	March 27, 1867	February 17, 1941	American	Comedian/Dancer/Actor active on the music hall circuit from roughly 1884–1894 as half of the duo ' ' Evans and Coyne ' ' with actor Frank Evans. Transitioned to legitimate theater in 1895.	[236]
Henry Creamer	June 21, 1879	October 14, 1930	American	Singer and songwriter.
Will Cressy	October 20, 1863	May 7, 1930	American	Actor and writer.	[234]
Crumit and Sanderson			American	Husband and wife singing duo with Frank Crumit (September 26, 1888 – September 7, 1943) and Julia Sanderson (August 20, 1887 – January 27, 1975).	[237]
Pauline Curley	December 19, 1903	December 16, 2000	American	From the age of 7, Curley appeared onstage, including in vaudeville, where she was a singer and dancer. From 1915 to 1928, Curley appeared in silent films.	[238]

D

Name	Birth	Death	Nationality	Performance notes	Reference
Dan Dailey	December 4, 1913	October 16, 1978	American	Dancer, singer and actor.	[239]
Peter F. Dailey	1868	1908	American	Comedian, one of the members of the popular act, "The American Four." His debut on the legitimate stage was with the Howard Atheneum Company. Later, he appeared with Weber and Fields.	[240]
Dainty Marie	November 6, 1886	April 2, 1960	American	Marie Meeker, aerial performer in both vaudeville and circus.	[241]
Dorothy Dalton	September 22, 1893	April 13, 1972	American	Ac