- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- June 8, 1923
- Place of Birth
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Died
- September 30, 1995
George Kirby
George Kirby (June 8, 1923 – September 30, 1995) was an American comedian, singer, and actor from Chicago, Illinois. Kirby broke into show business in the 1940s at the Club DeLisa, a South Side establishment that employed a variety-show format and preferred to hire local singers, dancers, and comedians. His first recording was as a stand-up blues singer, performing "Ice Man Blues" on a Tom Archia session done in 1947 for Aristocrat Records. He was one of the first African-American comedians to begin to appeal to white as well as black audiences during the height of the Civil Rights era, appearing between 1966 and 1972 on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Jackie Gleason Show, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He was an excellent impressionist — targeting, somewhat scandalously for the time, many white actors such as John Wayne and Wa…
Filmography
movieSummer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
2021 · Self (archive footage)
movieYou Must Remember This
1992 · George
tvBaby Talk
1991
movieBeverly Hills Brats
1989 · Elmo
movieLeonard Part 6
1987 · Duchamp
movieCameo by Night
1987 · Gruddy
movieTrouble in Mind
1985 · Lieutenant Gunther
tv227
1985
moviePuss in Boots
1985 · King
tvCrazy like a Fox
1984 · Manny
tvMurder, She Wrote
1984 · Eubie Sherwin
movieSunset Limousine
1983 · Elmer
Amos 'n' Andy: Anatomy of a Controversy
1983 · Self / Narrator
tvFaerie Tale Theatre
1982 · King Fortuitous
tvFame
1982
tvGimme a Break!
1981
On Location with George Kirby
1978 · Self
movieJoys
1976 · Self
tvDinah!
1974 · Self
movieSaga of Sonora
1973 · Bartender
The ABC Comedy Hour
1972
movieThe Special London Bridge Special
1972 · Kirk Douglas Impressionist
The Pearl Bailey Show
1971 · Self
tvLove, American Style
1969 · Mr. Mystic
movieDionne Warwick: Souled Out
1969 · Self
movieThe Temptations Show
1969 · Himself
tvRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968 · Self (uncredited)
movieOh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad
1967 · Moses
tvABC Stage 67
1966 · Self
movieA Man Called Adam
1966 · Party Guest (uncredited)
movieThe Strolling '20s
1966 · Self
tvThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
tvThe Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self - Co-Host
tvKraft Music Hall
1958 · Self
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
1957 · Self
tvThe Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · Self