Bert Lahr

Bert Lahr, born Irving Lahrheim , was an American iconic actor, particularly of stage and film and comedian. Lahr is principally known for his role as the Cowardly Lion, as well as his counterpart Kansas farmworker Zeke, in The Wizard of Oz . He was well known for his explosive humor, but also adapted well to dramatic roles and his work in burlesque, vaudeville, and on Broadway.

Lahr was born in New York City, the son of Augusta and Jacob Lahrheim. His parents were German Jewish immigrants. Lahr grew up in the Yorkville section of Manhattan. Dropping out of school atto join a juvenile vaudeville act, Lahr worked up to top billing on the Columbia Burlesque Circuit. In 1927 he debuted on Broadway in Delmars Revels. He played to packed houses, performing classic routines such as The Song of the Woodman . Lahr had his first major success in a stage musical playing the prize fighter hero of Hold Everything! . Other musicals followed, notably Flying High , Florenz Ziegfelds HotCha! and The Show is On in which he costarred with Beatrice Lillie. In 1939, he costarred as Louis Blore alongside Ethel Merman in the Broadway production of DuBarry Was a Lady.

Source: Wikipedia