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Milton Berle

Comedy history · 21 facts, each from at least two of 13 independent sources · last reviewed 2026-10-17

Milton Berle (1908–2002) was an American comedian and actor.1,2,3,4 He began performing as a child actor and later found success on television, where he earned the nicknames Mr. Television and Uncle Miltie during the medium's golden age.1,3,4,5,6,7

Early Life and Stage Career

He was born on July 12, 1908, in Harlem, Manhattan, in New York City, under the name Mendel Berlinger.1,5,8,9,10 When he was 5, he took first place in a contest for Charlie Chaplin look-alikes.11,12 His stage debut came in 1920 with Floradora in Atlantic City, and he went along when the production moved to New York.1,5 In 1931 he performed at New York's Palace Theater and became the youngest master of ceremonies on Broadway.5,10

Television Stardom

Berle starred in the Texaco Star Theater, which premiered on NBC in 1948 and soon gained popularity.4,5,10,13 Berle's show was broadcast on Tuesday nights.8,14 He renegotiated the agreement in 1965, which allowed him to work for any network.1,10

Comedy Reputation

Berle was known for drawing on material from other comedians, and his frequent borrowing of their jokes led to the nickname Thief of Bad Gags.3,5,6,8,10 He belonged to the Friars Club.15,16

Personal Life and Honors

Berle's first wife was Joyce Matthews, and the marriage ended in divorce.1,17 In 1978/79 he was given a special Emmy honoring his lifetime achievement.1,10 He died in 2002.1,2

Sources

  1. Milton Berle | Jewish Virtual Library (jewishvirtuallibrary.org)
  2. Milton Berle | | The Guardian (theguardian.com)
  3. Berle, Milton (museum.tv) · archived copy
  4. Milton Berle - Hollywood Walk of Fame (walkoffame.com)
  5. 'Mr. TV' Milton Berle dies (variety.com)
  6. Berle's Pals Rise To The Occasion - CBS News (cbsnews.com)
  7. Milton Berle, Yesterday's 'Mr. Television,' Returns; The Vitality Is There, but the Material Isn't 'The Green Hornet' and 'Time Tunnel' Bow - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
  8. Berle laid to rest amid fond laughter – Deseret News (deseret.com)
  9. How Jewish television pioneer Milton Berle inspired modern comedy stars — JNS.org (jns.org) · archived copy
  10. CNN.com - 'Mr. Television,' Milton Berle, dead at 93 - March 28, 2002 (cnn.com) · archived copy
  11. CNN.com - 'Mr. Television,' Milton Berle, dead at 93 - March 28, 2002 (cnn.com)
  12. 1948: Milton Berle Debuts in Game-changing TV Show - Jewish World - Haaretz.com (haaretz.com) · archived copy
  13. 1948: Milton Berle Debuts in Game-Changing TV Show - Jewish World (haaretz.com) · archived copy
  14. CNN.com - Entertainment - Entertainer Milton Berle has colon cancer - April 25, 2001 (cnn.com) · archived copy
  15. Men in Dresses Dept. | The New Yorker (newyorker.com) · archived copy
  16. Enter Laughing, Again - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
  17. THERE WAS SOMETHING FUNNY ABPIT "UNCLE MILTIE"AFTER 42 YEARS, MILTON BERLE AND HIS SECRET LOVE CHILD-SCOTTSDALE'S BOB WILLIAMS-TELL THEIR STORY | Phoenix New Times (phoenixnewtimes.com)

Updated November 12, 2026.

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