Ed Wynn was a popular comedian and actor who entertained audiences for decades with his witty and whimsical humor. He was known as the Perfect Fool for his silly costumes, props, and voice. He also had a successful career in radio, film, and television, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his dramatic role in The Diary of Anne Frank. But how did Ed Wynn die, and what was his cause of death? Here is a brief overview of his life and death, and the impact he had on the entertainment industry.
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Early Life and Career
Ed Wynn was born Isaiah Edwin Leopold on November 9, 1886, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a Jewish family. His father was a milliner who immigrated from Bohemia, and his mother was of Romanian and Turkish ancestry who came from Istanbul. [according to Wikipedia]
Wynn dropped out of school at age 15 and ran away from home to pursue a career in show business. He worked as a hat salesman and a utility boy before adopting his stage name Ed Wynn. He started his career in vaudeville in 1903 and became a star of the Ziegfeld Follies in 1914. He developed his signature character of the Perfect Fool, a naive and eccentric clown who wore colorful outfits and spoke in a giggly, wavering voice. He also wrote, directed, and produced many Broadway shows in the subsequent decades. [according to Wikipedia]
Radio and Film Success
In the early 1930s, Wynn hosted a popular radio show called The Fire Chief, sponsored by Texaco gasoline. He performed in front of a live studio audience, using visual gags and props to augment his written material. He also bounced his jokes off his announcer and straight man Graham McNamee. His catchphrase “Tonight, Graham, the show’s gonna be different” became one of the most familiar tag-lines of its time. [according to Wikipedia]
Wynn also appeared in several films, reprising his Fire Chief character in Follow the Leader (1930) and The Chief (1933). He also starred in comedies such as The Perfect Fool (1925), The Kid from Spain (1932), Alice in Wonderland (1933), The Great Ziegfeld (1936), and The Chief’s Son (1940). He also had a cameo role in Walt Disney’s Pinocchio (1940) as the voice of the carnival barker. [according to Wikipedia]
Television and Drama Breakthrough
Ed Wynn made his television debut on July 7, 1936, in an experimental broadcast with Graham McNamee on NBC. He later hosted several variety shows on CBS and ABC, such as The Ed Wynn Show (1949-1950), The Ed Wynn Comedy Hour (1958), and On Broadway Tonight (1964-1965). He also appeared as a guest star on many other programs, such as I Love Lucy, The Twilight Zone, The Jack Benny Program, and The Andy Griffith Show. [according to Wikipedia]
In the late 1950s, Wynn surprised his fans by taking on serious roles in drama films and television shows. He was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Mr. Dussel in The Diary of Anne Frank (1959), a role he initially refused because he thought he was not capable of acting. He also won an Emmy for his performance as Army in Requiem for a Heavyweight (1956), written by Rod Serling. He also played roles in films such as Marjorie Morningstar (1958), The Absent-Minded Professor (1961), Babes in Toyland (1961), Son of Flubber (1963), Mary Poppins (1964), That Darn Cat! (1965), and The Gnome-Mobile (1967). [according to Wikipedia]
Ed Wynn Cause of Death: Esophageal Cancer
Ed Wynn died on June 19, 1966, at the age of 79, at his home in Beverly Hills, California. His cause of death was esophageal cancer, which he had been diagnosed with in 1965. He was cremated and his ashes were interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. [according to IMDb]
Wynn was survived by his son Keenan Wynn, also an actor and comedian, who appeared with him in several films and television shows. He also had two grandsons, Tracy Keenan Wynn and Ned Wynn, who became writers and actors, and a great-granddaughter Jessica Keenan Wynn who is an actress. [according to Wikipedia]
Legacy and Influence
Ed Wynn left behind a legacy of laughter and joy for generations of fans and performers. He was one of the pioneers of radio comedy and one of the first vaudeville stars to transition to film and television. He was also one of the few comedians who successfully switched to dramatic roles in his later years. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame and the National Radio Hall of Fame. [according to Wikipedia]
Wynn influenced many comedians and actors who admired his style and versatility, such as Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Lewis, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, and Steve Martin. He also inspired many characters and voices in animation, such as Goofy, Daffy Duck, Woody Woodpecker, Roger Rabbit, and Genie. [according to The Celebrity Deaths]
Ed Wynn was a true legend of comedy and entertainment, who made millions of people smile and laugh with his unique and unforgettable persona. He was the Perfect Fool who became a perfect star.
