David Burns

• Name — David Burns • Born — 22 June 1902 • Birthplace — Manhattan, New York City, U.S. • Died — 12 March 1971 • Place of death — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1918–1971 • Spouse — Mildred Todd David Burns (June 22, 1902 – March 12, 1971) was an American Broadway theatre and motion picture actor and singer. He appeared in many comedies and musicals over a career of almost 50 years.

Burns was born in Manhattan. He made his Broadway debut in 1923 in Polly Preferred and went to London with the show in 1924. His first Broadway musical was Face the Music (1932), followed by Cole Porter's Nymph Errant (1933), staged in London. David Burns remained in London and was featured in many motion pictures there. His New York speech pattern was distinctive and exotic to British audiences, and he lent American color to a string of comedies, musicals, and mysteries. He came back to America in 1935 for two William Powell features at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, but returned to England where there was far less competition for "New York" character roles. His most famous British screen credit is probably The Saint in London (1939), released as part of RKO's American Saint series of mysteries, with George Sanders as adventurer Simon Templar and David Burns as his New York sidekick. As World War II approached, making working conditions in England uncertain, Burns returned to New York in 1940. He made no further films until 1951, when he was hired for Fourteen Hours, produced on location in New York.

Burns died on stage on March 12, 1971, of a heart attack in Philadelphia during the out-of-town tryout of Kander and Ebb's musical 70, Girls, 70. He had just finished what the Philadelphia Inquirer described as a "rather strenuous dance step" during the musical number "Go Visit Your Grandmother," at the end of Act Two, when he collapsed during the audience applause. He was carried offstage. His lines were read by actress Lillian Roth for the remainder of the performance. He was survived by his widow, Mildred.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1923 — Polly Preferred — Mr. B • 1931 — Wonder Boy — Harry Rich • 1932 — Face the Music — Louis — Credited as "Dave Burns" • 1935 — Them's the Reporters — Cassady — Credited as "Dave Burns" • 1939–1941 — The Man Who Came to Dinner — Banjo • 1940–1941 — Pal Joey — Ludlow Lowell • 1943 — Oklahoma! — Ali Hakim • 1943 — My Dear Public — Walters • 1945-1946 — Billion Dollar Baby — Dapper Welch • 1947 — I Gotta Get Out — Bernie • 1948-1949 — Make Mine Manhattan — Nick/"The Good Old Days" Performer/Taxi Driver/ Mr. Rappaport/Customer • 1948 — Heaven On Earth — H.H. Hutton • 1950 — Alive and Kicking — Dr. Frisbee/Dr. Allen Drawbridge/Army • 1950-1951 — Cole Porter's Out of This World — Niki Skolianos • 1952-1953 — Two's Company — Stanley/Strombolini/Melvin/Dudley Dawson • 1953 — Men of Distinction — Daniel Gaffney • 1955 — Catch a Star! — Max Dillingbert • 1957 — A Hole in the Head — Max • 1957-1961 — The Music Man — Mayor George Shinn • 1960–1962 — Do Re Mi — Brains Berman • 1962-1964 — A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum — Senex • 1964 — Hello, Dolly! — Horace Vandergelder • 1968–1969 — The Price — Gregory Solomon • 1970 — Art Buchwald's Sheep on the Runway — Ambassador Raymond Wilkins • 1970–1971 — Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen — Colonel Wainwright Purdy III

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1955 — The Imogene Coca Show — Regular • 1969 — The Jackie Gleason Show — Uncle Howard — musical comedy with The Honeymooners

David Burns is recorded as actor, singer and musician.

Burns won two Tony Awards for Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Musical, for his performances as "Mayor Shinn" in The Music Man (1958) and as "Senex" in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1963). • Illustration — David Burns and Ginger Rogers in Hello, Dolly! on Broadway (1964) Burns introduced the hit song "It Takes a Woman" from Hello, Dolly (1964) as the original "Horace Vandergelder". In 1969 David Burns was featured in "Happiness Is a Rich Uncle," a musical-comedy episode of The Honeymooners on The Jackie Gleason Show. Burns's energetic comic turn as an 83-year-old millionaire, complete with facial mugging and wild movements, caused Gleason to break up during the live performance, and the script even gave Burns the final punchline. During the curtain call, Gleason complimented his pal "Davey Burns" for making him laugh so much. The show was broadcast on November 8, 1969. Burns won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama for his role of Mr. Solomon in the 1971 TV special (Hallmark Hall of Fame) of The Price by Arthur Miller.

• Year — Award — Category — Nominated work — Result — Ref. • 1966 — Primetime Emmy Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama — The Trials of O'Brien • 1971 — Hallmark Hall of Fame (Episode: "The Price") • 1958 — Tony Awards — Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Musical — The Music Man • 1963 — A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum • 1971 — Best Leading Actor in a Musical — Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen