Irving Benson (January 31, 1914 â€" May 19, 2016) was an American
actor and comedian. He was one of the last survivors of the vaudeville
era.Having enjoyed a long and successful run on the east coast
American Burlesque circuit, Benson travelled west to play Las Vegas
for the first time in 1957, with the Minsky Follies show. Benson
gained national exposure during the 1960s, when fellow vaudevillian
Milton Berle hired him to play a faux heckler named Sidney
Spritzer.The character would turn up in the balcony overlooking the
stage of Berle's variety show (where the studio audience could see
him) and banter with Berle about the host's alleged lack of talent and
originality. The character was likely the inspiration for The Muppets'
Statler and Waldorf. Benson became Johnny Carson's favorite comic and
appeared frequently on the Carson-hosted Tonight Show. He was honored
for Best Documentary at the 2011 Backlot Film Festival for "The Last
First Comic" uncovering the roots of American comedy also going inside
the colorful world of the Burlesque show.Benson married his wife
Lillian in November 1936; the 79-year marriage, which lasted until her
death in March 2016, remains the longest entertainment industry
marriage on record, surpassing Dolores and Bob Hope's 69-year marriage
in 2006. Irving and Lillian had two children, and at the time of their
death, they were survived by them, five grandchildren and seven
great-grandchildren. He turned 100 in January 2014, and died on May
19, 2016 at the age of 102.
actor and comedian. He was one of the last survivors of the vaudeville
era.Having enjoyed a long and successful run on the east coast
American Burlesque circuit, Benson travelled west to play Las Vegas
for the first time in 1957, with the Minsky Follies show. Benson
gained national exposure during the 1960s, when fellow vaudevillian
Milton Berle hired him to play a faux heckler named Sidney
Spritzer.The character would turn up in the balcony overlooking the
stage of Berle's variety show (where the studio audience could see
him) and banter with Berle about the host's alleged lack of talent and
originality. The character was likely the inspiration for The Muppets'
Statler and Waldorf. Benson became Johnny Carson's favorite comic and
appeared frequently on the Carson-hosted Tonight Show. He was honored
for Best Documentary at the 2011 Backlot Film Festival for "The Last
First Comic" uncovering the roots of American comedy also going inside
the colorful world of the Burlesque show.Benson married his wife
Lillian in November 1936; the 79-year marriage, which lasted until her
death in March 2016, remains the longest entertainment industry
marriage on record, surpassing Dolores and Bob Hope's 69-year marriage
in 2006. Irving and Lillian had two children, and at the time of their
death, they were survived by them, five grandchildren and seven
great-grandchildren. He turned 100 in January 2014, and died on May
19, 2016 at the age of 102.
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