Sunny, lovable tenor Stubby Kaye with his butterball frame kept his
real name a secret for his entire career. He was born Bernard Kotzin in
New York and started off in the world of entertainment in 1939 after
winning a radio contest. Touring as a comedian in vaudeville for over a
decade, he also appeared regularly with the USO during the war years.
He finally hit it big on Broadway in 1950 when he created the role of
Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the smash musical hit "Guys and Dolls" singing
his rousing show-stoppers "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" and "Fugue for Tinhorns".
He solidified his status a few years later as Marryin' Sam in "Li'l Abner"
in 1956. He preserved both of these signature roles on film.
Other stage musicals sparked by his presence included "Fiddler on the
Roof", "Good News" and "Grind". In the 60s Stubby had his own kiddie
show and appeared to comical effect in other films as well, including
The Cool Mikado (1963),
Sex and the Single Girl (1964),
Cat Ballou (1965),
The Way West (1967) and
Sweet Charity (1969). Nightclubs
and TV were also an integral part of his career. He lived for a time in
England, marrying
Angela Bracewell,
then a hostess on
Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1955),
and established a growing list of fans there as well. His last featured
role was in
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).
His final years were spent in ill health, dying in 1997 of lung cancer.
American Playhouse(1980)as Nat Danziger
Who Framed Roger Rabbit(1988)as Marvin Acme
Doctor Who(1963)as Weismuller
Ellis Island(1984)as Abe Shulman
MsMojo(2016)
Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me(2009)
A.I. Artificial Intelligence(2001)
Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?(1969)
Sweet Charity(1969)
New Faces(1973)as Self - Panellist
In Performance at the White House: Chorus Lines(1988)as Self
All Star Secrets(1985)as Self - Panellist
Looks Familiar(1970)as Self, Self - Guest
Halls of Fame(1984)as Self
20 to 1(2005)as Self - Actor
Broadway: The American Musical(2004)as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
Hollywood Remembers Lee Marvin(2000)as Shouter
