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Stubby Kaye
Stubby Kaye
Stubby Kaye
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Bernard Shalom Kotzin (November 11, 1918 – December 14, 1997), known professionally as Stubby Kaye, was an American actor, comedian, vaudevillian and singer, known for his appearances on Broadway and in film musicals.[1]

Key Information

Kaye originated the roles of Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls and Marryin' Sam in Li'l Abner, introducing two show-stopping numbers of the era: "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" and "Jubilation T. Cornpone". He reprised these roles in the movie versions of the shows. Other well-known roles include Herman in Bob Fosse's Sweet Charity, Sam the Shade in Cat Ballou, and Marvin Acme in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Biography

[edit]

Kaye was first generation born Bernard Sholom Kotzin in 1918, at West 114th Street in the Morningside Heights section of Manhattan. He kept his original name secret throughout his career. His parents were Jewish-Americans originally from Russia and Austria-Hungary. His father, David Kotzin, was a dress salesman, and the former Harriet "Hattie" Freundlish was his mother. He was raised in the Far Rockaway section of Queens and later in The Bronx, where he acted in student productions at DeWitt Clinton High School, and where he graduated in 1937.[2]

In 1939, he won the Major Bowes Amateur Hour contest on radio where the prize included touring in vaudeville,[1] where he was sometimes billed as an "Extra Padded Attraction". During the Second World War, he joined the USO where he toured battle fronts and made his London debut performing with Bob Hope. After the war, he continued to work in vaudeville and as master of ceremonies for the swing orchestras of Freddy Martin and Charlie Barnet.[3]

As Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls, first on Broadway (1950) and then in the film version (1955), Kaye introduced "Fugue for Tinhorns" ("I got the horse right here, his name is Paul Revere...") and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat". He created the role of Marryin' Sam in Li'l Abner on Broadway (1956), introducing the song "Jubilation T. Cornpone".[1] In 1957 he was named best actor in a musical by the Outer Critics Circle.[4] In his New York Times review, Brooks Atkinson said Kaye sang "it with that vaudeville rhythm and those vaudeville blandishments that turn song numbers into triumphant occasions." He also played the role in the film (1959).[5] His next Broadway show, Everybody Loves Opal, starring Eileen Heckart, closed after 21 performances in 1961.[6]

In 1956, he co-starred with June Allyson and Jack Lemmon in the filmYou Can't Run Away from It, a musical remake of It Happened One Night.[1] He played the title character in Michael Winner's British film The Cool Mikado (1962), based on Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera, The Mikado.

In the mid-1950s, Kaye guest starred on NBC's early sitcom The Martha Raye Show. In 1958, he appeared on the short-lived NBC variety show The Gisele MacKenzie Show. About this time, he also appeared on ABC's The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom. In the 1959–60 television season, Kaye co-starred in the short-lived NBC sitcom Love and Marriage.[1]

Kaye in 1964, promoting game show Shenanigans

In the 1960–61 television season, Kaye appeared as Marty, the agent of aspiring actress Eileen Sherwood, in the CBS sitcom My Sister Eileen, starring Shirley Bonne, Elaine Stritch, Jack Weston, Raymond Bailey, and Rose Marie.[1]

In the 1960s, Kaye became known as the host of a weekly children's talent show, Stubby's Silver Star Show. During the 1962–63 television season, he was a regular on Stump the Stars. On April 14, 1963, he guest-starred as "Tubby Mason" in NBC's Ensign O'Toole, a comedy series, starring Dean Jones.

From 1964 to 1965, Kaye hosted the Saturday-morning children's game show Shenanigans on ABC. Shenanigans was a children's television game show produced by Heatter-Quigley Productions that aired from September 26, 1964, to March 20, 1965, and again from September 25 to December 18, 1965. He was dubbed "the Mayor of Shenanigans" and sang the theme song.[7]

Kaye and Nat King Cole portrayed banjo-playing minstrels who sang the title song in the western/comedy Cat Ballou (1965), starring Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin.[1] He played Herman in the Universal musical film Sweet Charity (1969), directed by Bob Fosse and starring Shirley MacLaine in the title role.[1] In that movie, he sang the song "I Love to Cry at Weddings".

During his career he appeared on the television shows The Red Skelton Hour, The Millionaire, Burke's Law, The Monkees, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Adam-12 and Love, American Style.[2]

Kaye's later stage productions included the 1974 Broadway revival of Good News, Man of Magic in London (with Stuart Damon as Harry Houdini), and the 1975 production of The Ritz, in which he replaced Jack Weston.[8] His final Broadway show was Grind, co-starring Ben Vereen, in 1985.[1] He made a guest appearance in the British series Doctor Who, in the serial "Delta and the Bannermen" (1987). His final featured film role was as Marvin Acme in Robert Zemeckis's film Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).[1]

Kaye died at his Rancho Mirage, California, home of lung cancer on December 14, 1997, at the age of 79.[5][9] He was survived by his wife, Angela Bracewell, whom he married in England in 1966.[2]

Partial filmography

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References

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Stubby Kaye

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Stubby Kaye (born Bernard Kotzin; November 11, 1918 – December 14, 1997) was an American actor, comedian, singer, and renowned for his rotund physique, sunny tenor voice, and memorable performances in Broadway musicals and films. Born in to second-generation Jewish American parents of Russian and Austrian descent, Kaye began his entertainment career in 1939 after winning a radio contest on the Amateur Hour, which led to tours and USO performances during . He achieved stardom on Broadway in the , most notably originating the role of the gambling, song-and-dance-loving Nicely-Nicely Johnson in (1950), where he introduced show-stopping numbers like "" and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" during the production's 1,200-performance run. Kaye reprised the role in the 1955 film adaptation opposite and , and he continued to shine in other musicals, including as Marryin' Sam in Li’l Abner (1956 Broadway, 1959 film), where he performed "Jubilation T. Cornpone," and in the 1969 film adaptation of as Herman. His film career also featured comedic supporting roles in Cat Ballou (1965), alongside Nat King Cole as narrating minstrels, 40 Pounds of Trouble (1963), Sex and the Single Girl (1964), and the animated-live action hybrid Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) as Marvin Acme. On television, Kaye starred in short-lived sitcoms such as Love and Marriage (1959) and My Sister Eileen (1960–1961), guested on shows like The Red Skelton Hour (1960–1966), and hosted the children's Shenanigans (1964–1965) and appeared in an episode of . Later in his career, he toured extensively, including as in Fiddler on the Roof, and performed in revivals like Good News (1974), The Ritz (1975), and (1985), while also working in nightclubs and regional theater. Kaye, who kept his birth name private throughout his professional life, died of in , at age 79, survived by his wife, Angela Bracewell, whom he married in .

Early Life

Birth and Family

Stubby Kaye was born Bernard Solomon Kotzin on November 11, 1918, in the section of , , to parents of Eastern European Jewish descent. His father, David Kotzin (1886–1954), worked as a dress salesman, while his mother, Hattie Freundlich Kotzin (1885–1939), managed the home; the couple had married in 1907 and raised their family, including Kaye and his sisters and Ruth, in a modest, working-class Jewish household amid the economic and social changes following . Kaye spent his early childhood in the Far Rockaway section of before the family relocated to , where the vibrant immigrant neighborhoods provided exposure to popular radio broadcasts and local entertainment venues that sparked his early fascination with performance. He later attended in .

Education and Early Influences

Stubby Kaye, born Bernard Solomon Kotzin to a second-generation Jewish-American family of Russian and Austrian descent in New York City's , spent his formative years in . Kaye attended in , from which he graduated in 1936. During his high school years, he discovered his passion for performance through participation in student productions staged in the school's auditorium, where he first fell in love with acting. These experiences, involving comedic roles and likely vocal elements given his later career, shaped his emerging talents in comedy and singing, laying the groundwork for his aspirations in . The school's influence extended beyond the stage; Kaye adopted his professional surname "Kaye" as a tribute to a beloved teacher at , reflecting the personal impact of his educational environment on his artistic identity. In , the era's burgeoning radio broadcasts of and variety shows provided additional inspiration during his teenage years, exposing him to performers whose styles informed his own humorous delivery and timing, though his formal breakthrough came post-graduation. Local theater and school events further nurtured his hobbies of and sketching comedic routines, fostering a drive toward professional entertainment.

Career

Vaudeville and Early Stage Work

Stubby Kaye's professional career began in 1939 when, at age 20, he won a spot on the Amateur Hour , a popular talent contest that offered winners opportunities in . The prize included a for a tour, where Kaye performed as a comedian and singer, often billed as "Stubby Kaye: Extra Padded Attraction" to highlight his rotund build. This victory launched him into the declining but still active circuit, providing his initial platform to entertain audiences with humorous songs and monologues. Throughout the 1940s, Kaye toured extensively across the United States in small theaters and regional circuits, refining his act amid the era's variety shows that mixed comedy, music, and novelty performances. His appearances honed a distinctive comic persona—cherubic and roly-poly—that capitalized on his 280-pound frame for self-deprecating humor, endearing him to audiences in venues from urban playhouses to rural halls. During World War II, Kaye contributed to the war effort by entertaining troops overseas with the United Service Organizations (USO), including a notable performance alongside Bob Hope in London, which broadened his experience in high-stakes, morale-boosting entertainment. Postwar, he continued as an emcee and comic for swing bands, maintaining steady work in live variety formats while building toward larger opportunities.

Broadway Breakthroughs

Stubby Kaye's Broadway career reached its pinnacle in the 1950s with his portrayal of Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the original production of , which opened on November 24, 1950, at the 46th Street Theatre and ran for 1,200 performances until November 28, 1953. In this role, Kaye embodied the affable, superstitious gambler with a penchant for and , delivering standout performances in numbers like and the iconic show-stopper "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," which highlighted his comedic timing and robust tenor voice. His interpretation of the character, drawn from Damon Runyon's short stories, became a defining element of the musical's success, earning Kaye widespread acclaim for bringing warmth and humor to the ensemble. Building on this momentum, Kaye took on the role of Marryin' Sam in Li’l Abner, the musical adaptation of Al Capp's , which premiered on November 15, 1956, at the and enjoyed a run of 693 performances through July 12, 1958. As the fast-talking, opportunistic in the backwoods community of , Kaye infused the character with infectious energy, notably introducing the rousing anthem "Jubilation T. Cornpone," a satirical ode to the town's hapless general that showcased his flair for exaggerated Southern and ensemble harmony. This performance further solidified Kaye's reputation as a versatile comic actor in musical theater, contributing to the show's blend of and social commentary. In the 1970s, Kaye continued his stage contributions through touring productions and revivals, including a notable turn as in a national tour of , where he brought his established stage presence to the patriarch's heartfelt laments and family dynamics. He also reprised his Broadway legacy in the 1974 revival of Good News, playing Pooch Kearney in a production that ran briefly from December 23, 1974, to January 4, 1975, at the , demonstrating his enduring appeal in classic musical revivals. Later, he appeared as a replacement for Gaetano Proclo in The Ritz (1975) and originated the role of Gus in (1985).

Film and Television Roles

Kaye reprised his Broadway role as the affable gambler Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the 1955 film adaptation of Guys and Dolls, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, where he appeared alongside Marlon Brando as Sky Masterson and Frank Sinatra as Nathan Detroit. His performance retained the character's comic energy, including the memorable "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" sequence, making him one of the few original cast members retained from the stage production. In 1959, Kaye portrayed the fast-talking preacher Marryin' Sam in the Li’l Abner, based on the Broadway show and Al Capp's , leading the ensemble in numbers like "Jubilation T. Cornpone." He continued with supporting roles in comedies and Westerns throughout the 1960s, including as Cranston, the hotel's casino manager, in (1963), opposite and . He teamed with as a banjo-playing narrator in the satirical Western Cat Ballou (1965), providing humorous framing for Jane Fonda's story. He also appeared as Sam Fairman, providing comic relief, in the epic (1967), alongside and . Additional film roles included Helen's cabbie in (1964), Herman in (1969), and Marvin Acme in the animated-live action hybrid (1988). Kaye's television career included leading roles in two short-lived sitcoms during the late and early : as the hapless husband Stubby Wilson in (1959–1960) on ABC and as talent agent Marty Scott in My Sister Eileen (1960–1961) on CBS. He made frequent guest appearances on variety programs in the , including multiple spots on , where he performed musical numbers from his stage hits. Later guest roles spanned anthology series such as Burke's Law (1963), (1963), and (1967), often leveraging his vaudeville-honed comic timing. He also hosted the children's game show Shenanigans (1964–1965) on ABC, guested multiple times on (1960–1966), appeared in the 1984 miniseries as Abe Shulman, and played Weismuller in the Doctor Who serial "" (1987).

Personal Life

Marriages and Relationships

Stubby Kaye was married twice during his lifetime. His first marriage was to Jeanne Watson, a studio clerical worker, which took place in 1961 and ended in divorce the following year after approximately one year together. Kaye's second marriage, which provided greater personal stability, was to Angela Bracewell, a former dancer who later became a television hostess on the British program Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium. The couple met in the mid-1960s while Kaye was living in England for an extended period, influenced by his touring commitments and her British background; they wed on July 15, 1967, in London and remained together until Kaye's death in 1997. This time abroad, spanning much of the 1960s and into the 1970s, allowed Kaye to build a reputation as a comedian in the UK while deepening their relationship. The couple had no children, and their partnership focused on mutual support amid Kaye's performing career, with Bracewell occasionally appearing alongside him in social and professional contexts.

Health Issues and Death

In the mid-1990s, Stubby Kaye was diagnosed with , which marked the beginning of a significant decline in his over his final decade. His condition progressively worsened, limiting his public appearances and professional activities as he focused on managing the illness. Kaye spent his last years in , receiving care at his home, where he was cared for by his wife, Angela. This support from his second marriage provided essential comfort during his prolonged battle with the disease. On December 14, 1997, Kaye died at age 79 from complications of , surrounded by family including his wife Angela, who survived him.

Legacy

Awards and Honors

Stubby Kaye earned the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his performance as the exuberant preacher Marryin' Sam in the 1956 Broadway production of Li’l Abner. This recognition highlighted his comedic timing and show-stopping delivery of the number "Jubilation T. Cornpone," which became a highlight of the long-running musical. Additionally, the original 1950 Broadway cast recording of Guys and Dolls, in which Kaye originated the role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson and introduced the iconic song "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 as a landmark musical theater album. This honor acknowledged the recording's historical and artistic significance, preserving Kaye's contributions to one of Broadway's most celebrated scores.

Cultural Impact and Tributes

Stubby Kaye achieved iconic status in mid-20th-century musical theater for his portrayals of jovial, characters, such as the affable gambler Nicely-Nicely Johnson in , which showcased his rotund physique, comic timing, and booming singing voice to embody relatable, lighthearted figures that resonated with audiences. His performances influenced subsequent comedians in theater and film by blending traditions with Broadway polish, helping to define the archetype of the cheerful, larger-than-life supporting player in musical comedies. Kaye's legacy endures in the preservation of vaudeville-style humor during Broadway's , particularly through roles like Marryin' Sam in Li’l Abner, where he delivered satirical numbers such as "The Country's in the Very Best of Hands," injecting broad, energetic comedy that has inspired parodies and elements in later revivals of the show. This approach bridged older performance styles with modern musicals, contributing to the genre's evolution by maintaining accessible, crowd-pleasing antics amid more sophisticated narratives. Posthumously, Kaye has been recognized in theater histories for his pivotal contributions to landmark productions, with his original renditions of show-stopping songs like "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" preserved on cast albums and cited as benchmarks for comedic musical performance. Obituaries and archival accounts highlight his enduring appeal, noting how his work enlivened classics like Guys and Dolls and Li’l Abner, ensuring his influence on musical theater scholarship and fan appreciation on production anniversaries.

References

  1. https://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/stubby-kaye/
  2. https://variety.com/1997/scene/people-news/stubby-kaye-1116680427/
  3. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5971684/stubby-kaye
  4. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88883319/hattie-kotzin
  5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0443401/bio/
  6. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/9FPJ-97G/bernard-solomon-%2522stubby-kaye%2522-kotzin-1918-1997
  7. https://kids.kiddle.co/Stubby_Kaye
  8. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/16/arts/stubby-kaye-79-rotund-comic-and-singer.html
  9. https://www.dewittclintonalumni.com/uploads/1/2/4/4/124431105/dwc_notable_alumni_july_2020_ev_1.pdf
  10. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-16-mn-64593-story.html
  11. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/guys-and-dolls-1892
  12. https://playbill.com/article/guys-dolls-stubby-kaye-dead-at-79-com-72496
  13. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/lil-abner-2585
  14. https://playbill.com/person/stubby-kaye-vault-0000098472
  15. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/good-news-3712
  16. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/stubby-kaye-47554
  17. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/81424/lil-abner
  18. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0443401/
  19. https://historicimages.com/products/dfpy79941
  20. https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/obituary-stubby-kaye-1289257.html
  21. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/12/16/deaths/54d694ba-c1af-4c35-9143-50a94ef50986/
  22. https://grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award
  23. https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Stubby-Kaye/
  24. https://travsd.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/stars-of-vaudeville-270-stubby-kaye/
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