Jerry Lester

Biography

Jerry Lester (February 16, 1910 – March 23, 1995) was an American comedian, singer and performer on radio, television and the stage, who hosted the first network late night television program as host of Broadway Open House on NBC, a vaudeville-esque combination of comedy and music, whose success demonstrated the potential for late-night television and led to the creation of the Tonight Show.

Movies & TV Shows

1. Odds and Evens (1978) — Mike Firpo
2. Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) — Warehouse Guard
3. The Monkees (1966) — Kramm
4. Mickey's Gala Premiere (1933) — Maurice Chevalier / Ed Wynne / Jimmy Durante (voice)
5. Hardly Working (1980) — Slats
6. The Mike Douglas Show (1961) — Self - Co-Host
7. Arizona to Broadway (1933) — Jimmy Dante
8. The Godmothers (1973) — Ricky Mastrasso
9. The Rookie (1959) — Jerry Mann
10. Sleepytime Gal (1942) — Downbeat
11. 50 Years of NBC Late Night (2001) — Self (archive footage)
12. The Name's the Same (1951)