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Irving Berlin

Composer / Pianist / Songwriter / Screenwriter / Lyricist | * 05/11/1888 († 101, 09/29/1989) | Mogilev, Belarus, Russian Empire
Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin; Yiddish: ישראל ביילין; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was an American composer and lyricist. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook. Berlin received numerous honors including an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, and a Tony Award. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Gerald R. Ford in 1977. Broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite stated he "helped write the story of this country, capturing the best of who we are and the dreams that shape our lives". Born in Imperial Russia, Berlin arrived in the United States at the age of five. He published his first song, "Marie from Sunny Italy", in 1907, receiving 33 cents for the publishing rights, and became known as the composer of numerous international hits, starting with 1911's "Alexander's Ragtime Band". He also was an owner of the Music Box Theatre on Broadway. For much of his career, Berlin could not read sheet music, and was such a limited piano player that he could only play in the key of F-sharp; he used his custom piano equipped with a transposing lever when he needed to play in keys other than F-sharp. He was known for writing music and lyrics in the American vernacular: uncomplicated, simple and direct, with his stated aim being to... ()
Photo of Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin was born Israel Isidor Baline on May 11, 1888 in Mogilev, Belarus, Russian Empire. Towering composer, songwriter, ("God Bless America", "Always", "Blue Skies", "White Christmas") author and publisher, he came to the United States at age 5 and was educated in New York's public schools. His earliest musical education was from his father, a cantor. He earned Honorary degrees from Bucknell University and Temple University. Beginning his career as a song-plugger for publisher Harry von Tilzer, Berlin worked as a singing waiter in Chinatown. In 1909, he was hired as a staff lyricist by the Ted Snyder Company, and became a partner to that firm four years later.In 1910, he began doing vaudeville appearances in the United States and abroad, and also appeared with Snyder in the Broadway musical "Up and Down Broadway", that ran for 72 performances. He joined ASCAP as a charter member in 1914, and served on its first board of directors between 1914-1918. Berlin enlisted the United States Army infantry in World War I, and was a sergeant at Camp Upton, New York. After the war, he established his own public-relations firm, and in 1921, he built the 1025-seat Music Box Theatre (at 239 W. 45th Street, New York) with Sam H. Harris. After Harris' death in 1941, Berlin assumed full ownership and the theatre remains a Broadway institution to this day.Among his many awards was the Medal for Merit for his 1942 all-soldier show "This Is the Army", which toured the United States, Europe and South Pacific battle zones; all proceeds were assigned to Army Emergency Relief and other service agencies. Berlin was also a member of the French Legion of Honor and held the Congressional Medal of Honor for "God Bless America", the proceeds from which went to the God Bless America Fund. His songs were sung by Fred Astaire, Al Jolson, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Dick Powell, Alice Faye and many others. Irving Berlin died at the age of 101 of natural causes on September 22, 1989 in New York City.

Most frequent genres for this person: Music | Comedies | Romance / Love

Known for these Movies & Shows

Awards & Nominations for Irving Berlin

Presidential Medal of Freedom Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Congressional Gold Medal Medal of Liberty Academy Award for Best Original Song Star On Hollywood Walk of Fame 2x Academy Award for Best Story
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Movies with Irving Berlin as Actor(7)

as Self - Songwriter (archive footage)1992 Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show'
as Self (archive footage)1975 Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Himself (archive footage)1950 The Golden Twenties
as Irving Berlin (uncredited)1943 This Is the Army
as himself1943 Show-Business at War
as Flower Store Manager (uncredited)1942 Holiday Inn
as Self (uncredited)1929 Glorifying the American Girl

TV Shows/Series with Irving Berlin as Actor(3)

as Self - Songwriter1948 The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self - Composer1948 The Ed Sullivan Show
as himself1948 The Ed Sullivan Show

Movies with Irving Berlin as Crew(26)

Sound/Music2002 God Bless America
Sound/Original Music Composer1967 Annie Get Your Gun
Editing/Editor1959 Speed Crazy
Sound/Songs1954 White Christmas
Sound/Music1953 Call Me Madam
Writing/Lyricist1953 Call Me Madam
Sound/Songs1950 Annie Get Your Gun
Writing/Lyricist1950 Annie Get Your Gun
Sound/Music1948 Easter Parade
Writing/Lyricist1948 Easter Parade
Writing/Story1946 Blue Skies
Writing/Idea1942 Holiday Inn
Sound/Music1941 Louisiana Purchase
Writing/Lyricist1941 Louisiana Purchase
Sound/Music1938 Carefree
Writing/Lyricist1938 Carefree
Sound/Music1936 Follow the Fleet
Sound/Music1935 Top Hat
Writing/Lyricist1935 Top Hat
Sound/Music1931 Pardon Us
Writing/Theatre Play1930 Mammy
Writing/Story1930 Reaching for the Moon
Writing/Musical1929 The Cocoanuts
Writing/Lyricist1929 Glorifying the American Girl

TV Shows/Series with Irving Berlin as Crew(1)

Editing/Editor1958 Man with a Camera

Born: Friday, 05/11 1888 (May) in Mogilev, Belarus, Russian Empire
Died: Friday, 09/29 1989 (September) in New York City (aged: 101)
Zodiac sign: Taurus (Chinese zodiac sign: Rat)
Languages: English (EN)
Employer: Ted Snyder Company
Member of: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, SACEM
Record Label: Columbia Records
Spouses (current/former): Dorothy Goetz, Ellin Berlin
Children: Mary Ellin Barrett
Father: Moses Beilin
Mother: Lena Jarchin
Other names for Irving Berlin (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Israel Isidor Baline"
"Израиль Моисеевич Бейлин"
Irving Berlin frequently works together with these people:
Jackie Gleason (7x, Actor)
Fred Astaire (7x, Actor)
Bing Crosby (7x, Actor)
Art Carney (6x, Actor)
Charlton Heston (5x, Actor)
Debbie Reynolds (5x, Actress)
Mark Sandrich (5x, Crew)
Red Buttons (5x, Actor)
Ginger Rogers (5x, Actress)
Sergio Franchi (5x, Actor)
Michael Curtiz (4x, Crew)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:77902, Added: 05/24/2018, Last updated: 03/21/2024