George Burns
From Philosopedia
George Burns (20 January 1896 - 9 March 1996)
Burns, the American comedian and actor who lived to be 100, was born Nathan Birnbaum.
When drafted at the age of 21, Birnbaum listed his address as 272 East 7th St., New York City. His registration card lists his occupation as being "performer," his employer as "various circuits," and as to where employed "?".
He was the 9th of 12 children born to Louis and Dorothy (Bluth) Birnbaum. His father was a substitute cantor who worked on and off at a local synagogue until 1903, when he died during the flu epidemic. At the age of 7, George, known when a child as Nattie, started working, selling newspapers, shining shoes, and running errands to help support the large family. When in 4th grade, he quit school and got jobs singing and dancing in small-time vaudeville.
In 1974, comedian Jack Benny signed to play a lead role in the film version of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys, but when his health failed he asked that Burns fill in for him. When Benny died 26 December 1974 of pancreatic cancer, Burns replaced him and became known worldwide as "the Sunshine Boy."
Just 49 days after his milestone birthday, he died in his Beverly Hills home. The funeral was held at the Wee Kirk o'the Heather Church in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, California. Although always referred to as being a Jew, and although some said he looked forward to dying in order to be with his wife - Gracie Allen - again in Heaven, fellow actors in show business found no humor in the Old Testament except what Allen might joke about.
Fernando Vargas and Warren Allen Smith, co-owners of Variety Recording Studio who lived at 425 West 45th Street in Hell's Kitchen, heard that he had once lived on their street. He responded when 81,
