Another great loss to the world of television and cinema. Milton Berle passed away from colon cancer. Mr. Television, Uncle Miltie, It's a mad mad mad mad world . This vaudeville comic will be very missed although we can say he lived a complete life, unlike the other recent death of dudley moore, who was taken too quickly.
Here's a link to his list of work. First appearance in 1914.
A farceur who stole most of his jokes from other comics--and yes, it's been documented repeatedly. He was well known for it in show business, and during the radio age it was running gag on many comedy shows: "Oh, hi, Fred. What's going to be on the show, tonight?" "I don't know, Portland. I haven't checked Milton Berle to see, yet."
Age shouldn't bring a patina of respectability to a man who simply lifted his humor from others without even acknowledging it, much less paying for 'em. Sorry if that sounds unkind, but I think we should make cultural icons without examining what they were really like.
To the Righteous belong the fruits of violent victory. The rest of us will have to settle for warm friends, warm lovers, and a wink from a quietly supportive universe.