28 September 1901, New York City, New York, USA
Date of Death
13 October 1974, New York City, New York, USA (cancer of the esophagus )
5' 7½" (1.71 m)
The beloved graven image of TV variety from 1948 to 1971 on CBS, Ed
Sullivan originally made his name as a newspaper sportswriter, radio
broadcaster and theater columnist for the New York Daily News. His
column focused primarily on
Broadway shows and juicy items about its stars. Hired in 1932 by the CBS network as a rival of radio commentator
Walter Winchell, future radio stars introduced on Sullivan's program included
Jack Benny. Sullivan made his film
debut as himself in
Mr. Broadway (1933), which he also wrote.
His subsequent screenplay and story involvements included the screwy comedy
There Goes My Heart (1938) and the Universal musical
Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me (1940). So successful was he on radio that CBS hired him to do
"Toast of the Town"
(1948) just as TV sets were becoming a home staple. The show, which
balanced amazing novelty acts with singing and comedy talents, both
legendary and up-and-coming, was broadcast from CBS Studio 50 on
Broadway in New York City. In 1967 the studio was aptly renamed the Ed Sullivan Theater. As of this writing, it is the home for
David Letterman's
late-night show.
Although Sullivan himself had zilch stage or camera
presence and had an unlikely habit of forgetting performers' names as he
was about to present them, audiences were taken by his charming
idiosyncrasies and mellow, almost funereal approach. He and the show
became a resounding success. Moreover, Sullivan had a knack for
identifying talent and his Sunday night variety platform became a
springboard for a number of stars, including comics
Dean Martin &
Jerry Lewis and singers
Elvis Presley and
The Beatles.
He also was color blind when it came to talent, generously promoting a number of black crossover acts, such as
The Supremes and other Motown artists, when few other TV shows would. Sullivan appeared as himself in such films as
Un beso para Birdie (1963),
Jerry Calamidad (1964) and
Dominique
(1966), among others. The irrepressibly stiff, hunch-shouldered emcee
was unmercifully parodied by a parade of impressionists over the
decades, including
Will Jordan,
John Byner and
David Frye. Sullivan died in his beloved New York of esophageal cancer in 1974, three years after the cancellation of his series.
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