Jerry Colonna
Known for Acting · 53 credits
- Born
- 1904-09-17
- Died
- 1986-11-21
- Place of birth
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Also known as
- Gerardo Luigi Colonna
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gerardo Luigi "Jerry" Colonna (September 17, 1904 – November 22, 1986) was an American musician, actor, comedian, singer, songwriter and trombonist best remembered as the zaniest of Bob Hope's sidekicks in Hope's popular radio shows and films of the 1940s and 1950s.
With his pop-eyed facial expressions and walrus-sized handlebar moustache, Colonna was known for singing loudly "in a comic caterwaul," according to Raised on Radio author Gerald Nachman, and for his catchphrase, "Who's Yehudi?", uttered after many an old joke, although it usually had nothing to do with the joke. The line was believed to be named for violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin, and the search for Yehudi became a running gag on the Hope show.
Colonna featured in three of the popular Hope-Crosby Road films: Road to Singapore (1940) as Achilles Bombassa, Road to Rio (1947) as a Cavalry captain and The Road to Hong Kong (1962) in a cameo role. He can also be seen in the Fred Allen vehicle, It's in the Bag! (1945), as psychiatrist Dr. Greenglass, and he made a brief appearance with Hope in the "Wife, Husband and Wolf" sketch in Star Spangled Rhythm. In 1956 he performed the featured song "My Lucky Charm" in the film Meet Me in Las Vegas, starring Dan Dailey and Cyd Charisse.
He provided the voice of the March Hare in the Walt Disney animated film version of Alice in Wonderland (1951) (another radio legend, Ed Wynn, voiced the Mad Hatter) and also lent his zany narration style to several Disney shorts, including Casey at the Bat (1946) and The Brave Engineer (1950).
Known For
TV Shows (6)
Movies (47)
Alice in Wonderland
1951
as March Hare (voice)
Make Mine Music
1946
as Narrator (segment "Casey at the Bat") (voice)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976
as Self (archive footage)
Sis Hopkins
1941
as Professor
Star Spangled Rhythm
1942
as Jerry Colonna
Valley of the Giants
1938
as Saloon Singer
Joys
1976
as Self
Meet Me in Las Vegas
1956
as Jerry Colonna
Rosalie
1937
as Joseph
Naughty but Nice
1939
as Allie Gray
The Road to Hong Kong
1962
as Man Looking For Match (uncredited)
This Is Bob Hope...
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Ice Capades Revue
1942
as Theophilus J. Twitchell
Port of Seven Seas
1938
as Arab Rug Dealer
Andy Hardy Comes Home
1958
as Doc
It's in the Bag!
1945
as Dr. Greengrass
Melody and Moonlight
1940
as Abner Kellogg
G.I. Journal
1944
as Self
Road to Singapore
1940
as Achilles Bombanassa
Road to Rio
1947
as Jerry Colonna
Road to Utopia
1946
as Man on Boat to Alaska (uncredited)
Ellis in Freedomland
1952
as The Waste-away (voice)
Don't Push, I'll Charge When I'm Ready
1977
as Self
Swingtime in the Movies
1938
as The Texas Tornado
Little Miss Broadway
1938
as Band Member
You're the One
1941
as Dr. Colonna
Atlantic City
1944
as The Professor
Garden of the Moon
1938
as Musician
Music Land
1955
as Narrator (archive footage)
Musical Movieland
1944
as The Texas Tornado
Sweepstakes Winner
1939
as Nick, the Chef
True to the Army
1942
as Pvt. 'Pinky' Fothergill
Stars on Horseback
1943
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Operation Wonderland
1951
as Self
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 1
1941
as Self (uncredited)
The Brave Engineer
1950
as Narrator
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
1996
as Self (archive footage)
Ice-Capades
1941
as Colonna
Kentucky Jubilee
1951
as Jerry Harris
Priorities on Parade
1942
as Jeep Jackson
Comin' Round the Mountain
1940
as Argyle Phifft
Pinocchio
1957
as Ringmaster
The Star Reporter
1938
as Singer-Freddie Rich Orchestra
Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO
2002
as Self (archive footage)
Casey at the Bat
1946
as Narrator
Song Hits on Parade
1936
About Jerry Colonna
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Gerardo Luigi "Jerry" Colonna (September 17, 1904 – November 22, 1986) was an American musician, actor, comedian, singer, songwriter and trombonist best remembered as the zaniest of Bob Hope's sidekicks in Hope's popular radio shows and films of the 1940s and 1950s. With his pop-eyed facial expressions and walrus-sized handlebar moustache, Colonna was known for singing loudly "in a comic caterwaul," according to Raised on Radio author Gerald Nachman, and for his catchphrase, "Who's Yehudi?", uttered after… With 53 credits spanning from 1936 to 2017, Jerry Colonna has appeared in 47 films and 6 TV shows.
Fans searching for Jerry Colonna movies, Jerry Colonna filmography, or the latest projects starring Jerry Colonna can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Jerry Colonna Movies
- Alice in Wonderland (1951) — as March Hare (voice)
- Make Mine Music (1946) — as Narrator (segment "Casey at the Bat") (voice)
- Bob Hope's World of Comedy (1976) — as Self (archive footage)
- Sis Hopkins (1941) — as Professor
- Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) — as Jerry Colonna
Where to Watch Jerry Colonna Films
Most Jerry Colonna movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Jerry Colonna, check our movies catalogue and browse page.