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)
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Make Mine Music
1946
as Narrator (segment "Casey at the Bat") (voice)
Joys
1976
as Self
Rosalie
1937
as Joseph
Road to Rio
1947
as Jerry Colonna
Meet Me in Las Vegas
1956
as Jerry Colonna
Little Miss Broadway
1938
as Band Member
Road to Utopia
1946
as Man on Boat to Alaska (uncredited)
Ice Capades Revue
1942
as Theophilus J. Twitchell
Ellis in Freedomland
1952
as The Waste-away (voice)
This Is Bob Hope...
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976
as Self (archive footage)
Naughty But Nice
1939
as Allie Gray
Road to Singapore
1940
as Achilles Bombanassa
The Road to Hong Kong
1962
as Man Looking For Match (uncredited)
It's in the Bag!
1945
as Dr. Greengrass
Music Land
1955
as Narrator (archive footage)
Valley of the Giants
1938
as Saloon Singer
Kentucky Jubilee
1951
as Jerry Harris
Star Spangled Rhythm
1942
as Jerry Colonna
Garden of the Moon
1938
as Musician
Port of Seven Seas
1938
as Arab Rug Dealer
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
1996
as Self (archive footage)
Melody and Moonlight
1940
as Abner Kellogg
Priorities on Parade
1942
as Jeep Jackson
Andy Hardy Comes Home
1958
as Doc
Don't Push, I'll Charge When I'm Ready
1977
as Self
G.I. Journal
1944
as Self
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 1
1941
as Self (uncredited)
Musical Movieland
1944
as The Texas Tornado
Swingtime in the Movies
1938
as The Texas Tornado
Comin' Round the Mountain
1940
as Argyle Phifft
Sweepstakes Winner
1939
as Nick, the Chef
Operation Wonderland
1951
as Self
Atlantic City
1944
as The Professor
Sis Hopkins
1941
as Professor
Stars on Horseback
1943
Ice-Capades
1941
as Colonna
Pinocchio
1957
as Ringmaster
The Brave Engineer
1950
as Narrator
You're the One
1941
as Dr. Colonna
True to the Army
1942
as Pvt. 'Pinky' Fothergill
Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO
2002
as Self (archive footage)
The Star Reporter
1938
as Singer-Freddie Rich Orchestra
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)
- Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC (1988) — as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Make Mine Music (1946) — as Narrator (segment "Casey at the Bat") (voice)
- Joys (1976) — as Self
- Rosalie (1937) — as Joseph
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.