Biography
George Burns — comedian and actor with roots in the Russian Empire
George Burns (born Nathan Birnbaum; 20 January 1896 – 9 March 1996) was an American comedian and actor. With his wife Gracie Allen he performed on radio from 1932 to 1950 and on television from 1950 to 1958. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Sunshine Boys (1975) and starred in Oh, God! (1977).
Russian Connection
Tracing the roots — Ropczyce (Galicia, Austria-Hungary)
Born Nathan Birnbaum in New York City in 1896 to Louis 'Lipa' Birnbaum and Hadassah 'Dora' Birnbaum (née Bluth), Jewish immigrants from Ropczyce in Galicia, then part of Austria-Hungary and now in Poland.
Family Tree
Subject
George Burns🇺🇸 USA
↑
Parents
Louis 'Lipa' Birnbaum
Hadassah 'Dora' Birnbaum (née Bluth)
↑
Origin
Ropczyce (Galicia, Austria-Hungary)🇷🇺 Russian Empire
Historical context
Russian Empire · c. 1721–1917
.svg?width=900)
Ropczyce (Galicia, Austria-Hungary). At the time, this region lay within the Russian Empire, which spanned from Poland to the Pacific.
Map: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Key Achievements
A career defined by ambition
01
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor — The Sunshine Boys (1975); at 80, the oldest Oscar winner until 1989
02
Oh, God! (1977)
03
Radio (1932–1950) and television (1950–1958) partnership with Gracie Allen
04
Last film role in Radioland Murders (1994)
05
Signed a lifetime contract with Caesars Palace at 96
"You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old."
George Burns
Sources