Danny Thomas
Danny Thomas, born Muzyad Yakhoob to Lebanese immigrants, was a prominent American comedian and actor known for his unique storytelling style of comedy. Initially named Amos Jacobs after his parents Americanized their names, he began his career in comedy in 1934 on an amateur-hour radio program. In 1940, he adopted the stage name Danny Thomas, inspired by his brothers, and gained recognition performing at the 5100 Club in Chicago. Throughout the late 1940s, he transitioned to radio, hosting his own program on CBS Radio.
Thomas made his film debut in 1947 with "The Unfinished Dance" and starred in several films, including "The Jazz Singer." He is best known for his role as Danny Williams in the iconic television sitcom "Make Room for Daddy," which aired from 1953 to 1956 on ABC and continued as "The Danny Thomas Show" until 1964 on CBS. His work on the show earned him an Emmy Award for best actor in 1954, solidifying his impact on the television landscape. Thomas's contributions to family entertainment and comedy have made him a significant figure in American pop culture.
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Subject Terms
Danny Thomas
- Born: January 6, 1912
- Birthplace: Deerfield, Michigan
- Died: February 6, 1991
- Place of death: Los Angeles, California
Identification American comedian, television actor, and producer
Danny Thomas starred in one of the most popular television situation comedies of the 1950’s.
Born Muzyad Yakhoob to Lebanese immigrants, Danny Thomas was raised as Amos Jacobs after his parents Americanized the family members’ names. After dropping out of high school, Thomas got his start in comedy on an amateur-hour radio program in 1934. Initially using borrowed burlesque theater routines, Thomas soon developed his own trademark storytelling style of comedy. In 1940, after securing a contract to perform at the 5100 Club in Chicago, he changed his name to Danny Thomas, borrowing two of his older brothers’ first names. Returning to radio from 1944 to 1949, Thomas hosted his own program on CBS Radio.
In 1947, Thomas made his film debut in The Unfinished Dance. He also starred in Big City (1947), Call Me Mister (1951), I’ll See You in My Dreams (1951), and the Jazz Singer (1953). He became best known, however, for his portrayal of Danny Williams, an entertainer who is rarely home with his family, in the long-running television comedy Make Room for Daddy, which aired on ABC from 1953 to 1956. The show then continued on CBS as The Danny Thomas Show from 1957 to 1964. In 1954, Thomas won an Emmy Award for best actor for his role in the comedy.
Impact
By combining his comedic talents with his ability to act, Thomas starred in one of the longest-running family sitcoms in television history.
Bibliography
Sackett, Susan. Prime-Time Hits: Television’s Most Popular Network Programs, 1950 to the Present. New York: Billboard Books, 1993. Provides a history of Thomas’s sitcom, Make Room for Daddy.
Thomas, Danny, and Bill Davidson. Make Room for Danny. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1991. Thomas’s autobiography.