Jack Benny
Comedy history · 16 facts, each from at least two of 6 independent sources · last reviewed 2026-10-17
Jack Benny was an American comedian who entertained audiences on radio and later on television.1,2 He is widely regarded as one of the foremost American entertainers of the twentieth century.1,3 His life spanned the years 1894 to 1974.2,4
Early Life
Benny came into the world in Chicago, Illinois, on February 14, 1894, under the name Benjamin Kubelsky.1,2,3,5 He eventually adopted a different name.3,6 He was raised in Waukegan, Illinois.3,5 At six years old he took up the violin, an instrument that would later become his trademark.1,3
Comic Persona
In performance, Benny portrayed a stingy miser who insisted he was 39.1,2 His routines frequently featured him playing the violin poorly.1,2,3 He was also known for a signature line, an exasperated exclamation of the word well.1,2 On both his radio and television programs he regularly brought up Waukegan, tying his public identity to that city.6,7
Personal Life and Death
His wife was Mary Livingstone.2,5,8 Benny died on December 26, 1974.1,2,3 His grave is in Culver City, California, at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery.1,8
Sources
- BENNY-JACK | The United States Navy Memorial (navymemorial.org)
- Jack Benny | Hollywood Walk of Fame (walkoffame.com) · archived copy
- Jack Benny - Hollywood Walk of Fame (walkoffame.com)
- Historical marker on Waukegan home honors Jack Benny on his birthday – Chicago Tribune (chicagotribune.com)
- Jack Benny, 80, Dies of Cancer on Coast - The New York Times (nytimes.com) · archived copy
- The Jack Benny Residence | Waukegan, IL - Official Website (waukeganil.gov) · archived copy
- Historical marker on Waukegan home honors Jack Benny on his birthday - Chicago Tribune (chicagotribune.com) · archived copy
- Jack Benny — Posthumous Roses | Snopes.com (snopes.com)
Updated November 12, 2026.