The beloved graven image of TV variety from 1948 to 1971 on CBS, Ed Sullivan originally made his name as a newspaper sportswriter, radio broadcaster and theater columnist for the New York Daily News. His column focused primarily on Broadway shows and juicy items about its stars. Hired in 1932 by the CBS network as a rival of radio commentator Walter Winchell, future radio stars introduced on Sullivan's program included Jack Benny. Sullivan made his film debut as himself in Mr. Broadway, which he also wrote. His subsequent screenplay and story involvements included the screwy comedy There Goes My Heart and the Universal musical Ma, He's Making Eyes at Me. So successful was he on radio that CBS hired him to do The Ed Sullivan Show just as TV sets were becoming a home staple. The show, which balanced amazing novelty acts with singing and comedy talents, both legendary and up-and-coming, was broadcast from CBS Studio 50 on Broadway in New York City. In 1967 the studio was aptly renamed the Ed Sullivan Theater. As of this writing, it is the home for David Letterman's late-night show. Although Sullivan himself had zilch stage or camera presence and had an unlikely habit of forgetting performers' names as he was about to present them, audiences were taken by his charming idiosyncrasies and mellow, almost funereal approach. He and the show became a resounding success. Moreover, Sullivan had a knack for identifying talent and his Sunday night variety platform became a springboard for a number of stars, including comics Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis and singers Elvis Presley and The Beatles. He also was color blind when it came to talent, generously promoting a number of black crossover acts, such as The Supremes and other Motown artists, when few other TV shows would. Sullivan appeared as himself in such films as Bye Bye Birdie, The Patsy and The Singing Nun, among others. The irrepressibly stiff, hunch-shouldered emcee was unmercifully parodied by a parade of impressionists over the decades, including Will Jordan, John Byner and David Frye. Sullivan died in his beloved New York of esophageal cancer in 1974, three years after the cancellation of his series.


Interred at Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York, USA. Survivor of a pair of twins. Reportedly columnist Harriet Van Horne wrote of Sullivan, "He got where he is not by having a personality, but by having no personality; he is the commonest common denominator." Sullivan sent her a short note back reading: "Dear Miss Van Horne, You bitch. Sincerely, Ed Sullivan.". Although Elvis Presley made his debut on Sullivan's show on September 9, 1956, Sullivan was not actually the host that evening. Less than a week earlier, Sullivan was involved in a near-fatal auto accident that knocked out all his teeth and broke his ribs. Nonetheless, Sullivan was watching from his hospital room when guest host Charles Laughton introduced Presley in New York, followed by Presley's segment live from CBS Television City in Hollywood. Legit singer Roberta Peters appeared on Sullivan's show more than anyone else - a record 67 times. One of the songs in the rave Broadway musical "Bye Bye Birdie" was a choral, evangelical song sung by the McAfee family, who have just found out they are going to appear on Ed's show. On June 12, 1960, the cast of "Bye Bye Birdie," fronted by patriarch Paul Lynde, appeared on Sullivan's 12th anniversary program to perform the complete song, with dialog, that led up to "Hymn for a Sunday Evening" and Paul's declaration, "Ed, I love you!" He has always been a very popular target for impressionists. He is also one of the few celebrities to have had impressionists (such as 'Jerome Patrick Hoban' and Nick Toth) who have made a career just out of impersonating him. Like Elvis Presley and Liberace, both of whom guested on his show at various times, Ed Sullivan was the survivor of a pair of twins, the other of whom was stillborn.