History Creator / JimmyDurante

James Francis Durante (February 10, 1893 – January 29, 1980) was an American comedian, actor, singer, and pianist. His distinctive gravelly speech, thick New York accent, comic language-butchery, jazz-influenced songs, and protruberant nose helped to make him one of America's most familiar and popular entertainers from the [[TheRoaring20s 1920s]] through the [[TheSeventies '70s]]. He often referred to his nose as the ''schnozzola''--an Italianization of the American Yiddish slang word ''schnoz'' (big nose)--and the word became his nickname.

James Francis Durante (February 10, 1893 – January 29, 1980) was an American comedian, actor, singer, and pianist. His distinctive gravelly speech, thick New York accent, comic language-butchery, jazz-influenced songs, and prominent nose helped to make him one of America's most familiar and popular entertainers from the [[TheRoaring20s 1920s]] through the [[TheSeventies '70s]]. He often referred to his nose as the ''schnozzola''--an Italianization of the American Yiddish slang word ''schnoz'' (big nose)--and the word became his nickname.

James Francis Durante (February 10, 1893 – January 29, 1980) was an American comedian, actor, singer, and pianist. His distinctive gravelly speech, thick New York accent, comic language-butchery, jazz-influenced songs, and prominent nose helped to make him one of America's most familiar and popular entertainers from the 1920s through TheSeventies. He often referred to his nose as the ''schnozzola''--an Italianization of the American Yiddish slang word ''schnoz'' (big nose)--and the word became his nickname.

** His radio and television shows ended with the cryptic SigningOffCatchphrase "Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are!"[[note]]Durante eventually revealed that the phrase was a tribute to his first wife, Jean; while driving across the country they had stopped in Calabash, North Carolina and she had been delighted by the town's name.[[/note]]

Durante retired from performing in 1972, having become wheelchair-bound following a stroke. He died of pneumonia in Santa Monica, California on January 29, 1980, 12 days before he would have turned 87. He received Catholic funeral rites four days later--with fellow entertainers like Creator/DesiArnaz, Marty Allen, Creator/ErnestBorgnine, and Creator/JackCarter in attendance--and was subsequently interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Durante retired from performing in 1972, having become wheelchair-bound following a stroke. He died of pneumonia in Santa Monica, California on January 29, 1980, 12 days before he would have turned 87. He received Catholic funeral rites four days later--with fellow entertainers like Creator/DesiArnaz, Marty Allen, Creator/ErnestBorgnine, and Creator/JackCarter in attendance--and was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Durante was easily '''the''' most imitated celebrity during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation. He has been impersonated by the likes of WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, WesternAnimation/PopeyeTheSailor and [[WesternAnimation/SylvesterTheCatAndTweetyBird Tweety]], and at least three major characters -- Creator/{{Terrytoons}}' Sourpuss, Creator/HannaBarbera's [[WesternAnimation/AugieDoggieAndDoggieDaddy Doggie Daddy]], and Spike in the ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' shorts -- are based directly on him.

By the mid-1920s, Durante had become a vaudeville star and radio personality as part of a trio called Clayton, Jackson and Durante. By 1934, he had a major hit record with his own novelty composition, "Inka Dinka Doo", which became his theme song for the rest of his life.

Durante retired from performing in 1972, after he'd become wheelchair-bound following a stroke. He died of pneumonia in Santa Monica, California on January 29, 1980, 12 days before he would have turned 87. He received Catholic funeral rites four days later, with fellow entertainers including Creator/DesiArnaz, Creator/ErnestBorgnine, Creator/MartyAllen, and Creator/JackCarter in attendance, and was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

** [[Franchise/TheMuppets Muppet]] performer Jerry Nelson also used Durante's voice as the basis for [[Series/SesameStreet Herry Monster]].

His prolific career continued for five decades across film, stage, radio, television, and records, making such an impression that people came to instantly recognize his prominent nose and gruff voice in animated parodies, even if they couldn’t name the actor himself.

Durante retired from performing in 1972 after he became wheelchair-bound following a stroke. He died of pneumonia in Santa Monica, California on January 29, 1980, 12 days before he would have turned 87. He received Catholic funeral rites four days later, with fellow entertainers including Creator/DesiArnaz, Creator/ErnestBorgnine, Creator/MartyAllen, and Creator/JackCarter in attendance, and was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

[[folder:Films]]

* ''The Christmas Party'' (1931) (short subject) as Santa Claus (uncredited)

James Francis Durante (February 10, 1893 – January 29, 1980) was an American comedian, actor, singer, and pianist. His distinctive gravelly speech, thick New York accent, comic language-butchery, jazz-influenced songs, and prominent nose helped to make him one of America's most familiar and popular entertainers from the 1920s through the '70s. He often referred to his nose as the ''schnozzola''--an Italianization of the American Yiddish slang word ''schnoz'' (big nose)--and the word became his nickname.

* CoverAlbum: In the '60s Durante found unexpected success as a crooner of traditional pop standards on a series of bestselling albums.