Burl Ives Picture
STARmeter
SEE RANK
Up 2,224 this week

Burl Ives (1909–1995)


Burl Ives was one of six children born to a Scottish-Irish farming family. He first sang in public for a soldiers' reunion when he was age 4. In high school, he learned the banjo and played fullback, intending to become a football coach when he enrolled at Eastern Illinois State Teacher's College in 1927. He dropped out in 1930 and wandered, hitching rides, doing odd jobs, street singing... See full bio »

Related Lists

a list of 82 people by sweetheart17-1 created 09 Jun 2011
 
a list of 86 people by GraceGuy created 7 months ago
 
a list of 100 people by mescal-1 created 14 Feb 2011
 
a list of 200 people by rcmeyerjr created 23 Nov 2010
 
a list of 300 people by atcarroll90 created 6 months ago
 

Connect with IMDb


Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of Burl Ives.
Won Oscar. Another 2 wins See more awards »

Known For


Filmography

Hide HideActor (55 titles)
1987 Danger Bay (TV series)
Old Friends (1987)
 
1986 Uphill All the Way
Sheriff John Catledge
 
1984 The Ewok Adventure (TV movie)
Narrator (voice)
 
1982 White Dog
Carruthers
 
1981 Earthbound
Ned Anderson
 
1979 Just You and Me, Kid
Max
 
1978 The New Adventures of Heidi (TV movie)
Grandfather
 
1978 The Bermuda Depths (TV movie)
Dr. Paulis
 
1977 Roots (TV mini-series)
Sen. Arthur Johnson
Part Eleven (1977) … Sen. Arthur Johnson
 
1976 Baker's Hawk
Mr. McGraw
 
1976 Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Sam Shelby
The Hunters (1976) … Sam Shelby
 
1976 Captains and the Kings (TV mini-series)
Old Syrup
Chapter V (1976) … Old Syrup
 
1976 The First Easter Rabbit (TV movie)
Narrator/Older Stuffy (voice)
 
1975 Hugo the Hippo
Narrator (voice)
 
1972 Rod Serling's Night Gallery (TV series)
Old Man Doubleday
The Other Way Out (1972) … Old Man Doubleday
 
1971-1972 Alias Smith and Jones (TV series)
Big Mac McCreedy / Pat 'Big Mac' McCreedy
Jailbreak at Junction City (1971) … Big Mac McCreedy (voice) (uncredited)
 
1970 The Man Who Wanted to Live Forever (TV movie)
T.M. Trask
 
1970 The McMasters
McMasters
 
1969 Daniel Boone (TV series)
Prater Beaseley
 
1968 The Sound of Anger (TV movie)
Walter Nichols
 
1968 Pinocchio (TV movie)
Gepetto
 
1968 The Name of the Game (TV series)
Arthur Jellicoe
The Taker (1968) … Arthur Jellicoe
 
1968 The Other Side of Bonnie and Clyde
Narrator (voice)
 
1968 The Red Skelton Hour (TV series)
Big Pappy Tumbleweed
Sheriffs Are Bought, Not Made (1968) … Big Pappy Tumbleweed
 
1967 NBC Children's Theatre (TV series)
Narrator
Little Georgie of Rabbit Hill (1967) … Narrator
 
1966 The Daydreamer
Father Neptune (voice)
 
1965-1966 O.K. Crackerby! (TV series)
O.K. Crackerby
3+1=1 (1965) … O.K. Crackerby
 
1964 Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV movie)
Sam the Snowman (voice)
 
1964 I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (short)
Singer (voice)
 
1963 Summer Magic
Osh Popham
 
1962 The Spiral Road
Dr. Brits Jansen
 
1960 Zane Grey Theater (TV series)
Ox
The Ox (1960) … Ox
 
1960 Let No Man Write My Epitaph
Judge Bruce Mallory Sullivan
 
1959 Our Man in Havana
Dr. Hasselbacher
 
1956-1959 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
King David
Absalom, My Son (1959) … King David
The Second Stranger (1956)
 
1959 Day of the Outlaw
Jack Bruhn
 
1958 Wind Across the Everglades
Cottonmouth
 
1957 Playhouse 90 (TV series)
Captain Keller
 
1957 The United States Steel Hour (TV series)
Matthew Randolph
To Die Alone (1957) … Matthew Randolph
 
1956 The Power and the Prize
George Salt
 
1950 Sierra
Lonesome
 
1948 So Dear to My Heart
Uncle Hiram Douglas
 
1948 Station West
Hotel Clerk
 
1946 Smoky
Willie (as The Singing Troubadour Burl Ives)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (35 titles)
2010 Newsnight (TV series)
Episode dated 3 August 2010 (2010) (performer: "Ugly Bug Ball" - uncredited)
 
2009 Fantastic Mr. Fox (writer: "Buckeye Jim", "The Grey Goose" / performer: "Fooba Wooba John", "Buckeye Jim", "The Grey Goose")
 
2009 The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story (documentary) (performer: "On The Front Porch")
 
2007 Chuck (TV series)
Chuck Versus the Crown Vic (2007) (performer: "A Holly Jolly Christmas" - uncredited)
 
2007 Expired (performer: "Holly Jolly Christmas")
 
2003-2006 The Simpsons (TV series)
Kill Gil, Volumes I & II (2006) (music: "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" - uncredited / lyrics: "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" - uncredited)
'Tis the Fifteenth Season (2003) (performer: "Silver and Gold" - uncredited)
 
2006 Big Momma's House 2 (performer: "Pass the Dutchie", "Little White Duck")
 
2005 My Name Is Earl (TV series)
White Lie Christmas (2005) (performer: "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas")
 
2003 Bad Santa (performer: "Holly Jolly Christmas" 1962)
 
2003 Radio (performer: "A Holly Jolly Christmas" 1962)
 
2003 Silver Bells (short) (performer: "Silver Bells")
 
2001 The Wedding Planner (writer: "Cowboy's Lament")
 
2000 Roswell (TV series)
A Roswell Christmas Carol (2000) (performer: "Holly Jolly Christmas")
 
2000 The Family Man (performer: "A Holly Jolly Christmas")
 
2000 Pollock (performer: "Old Dan Tucker" / arranger: "Old Dan Tucker")
 
1997 Fools Rush In (performer: "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town")
 
1994 The Ref (performer: "A Holly Jolly Christmas")
 
1993 True Romance (performer: "A Little Bitty Tear")
 
1992 Melrose Place (TV series)
A Melrose Place Christmas (1992) (performer: "Holly Jolly Christmas")
 
1992 The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song (video documentary) (performer: "Lavenders Blue")
 
1987 Dolly (TV series)
A Down Home Country Christmas (1987) (performer: "I'll Be Home With Bells On", "Down Home Country Christmas", "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas", "Santa Went On a Diet", "Christmas Medley")
 
1984 DTV: Golden Oldies (video) (performer: "Lavender Blue Dilly Dilly")
 
1975 Hugo the Hippo (performer: "You Said a Mouthful", "The Best Day Ever Made")
 
1970 The Johnny Cash Show (TV series)
Episode #2.7 (1970) (performer: "Don't Go Near the Water", "Johnny Horizon")
Episode #1.29 (1970) (performer: "Mary Don't You Weep", "Goober Peas", "Lorena", "Give My Love to Rose", "Children Go Where I Send Thee")
 
1969 Daniel Boone (TV series)
Love and Equity (1969) (performer: "Three Little Piggies" - uncredited, "I Was Born About Ten-Thousand Years Ago" - uncredited, "Seven Great Towns Of Greece" - uncredited, "The Tea Tax" - uncredited)
A Tall Tale of Prater Beaseley (1969) (performer: "On Springfield Mountain" - uncredited, "Devilish Mary" - uncredited)
 
1968 All Things Bright and Beautiful (TV movie) (performer: "Beautiful Things")
 
1968 The Red Skelton Hour (TV series)
Sheriffs Are Bought, Not Made (1968) (performer: "The Little White Duck" - uncredited, "Consider Yourself" - uncredited)
 
1964 Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV movie) (performer: "Silver and Gold", "A Holly Jolly Christmas", "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer")
 
1963 Summer Magic (performer: "Ugly Bug Ball" - uncredited, "On the Front Porch" - uncredited)
 
1958 Wind Across the Everglades (writer: "Kissin' 'n' Killin'" - uncredited)
 
1957 Gun Glory (performer: "The Ninety and Nine")
 
1950 Sierra (writer: "THE WHALE SONG", "SARAH THE MULE" / performer: "HIDEAWAY", "END OF THE ROAD", "THE WHALE SONG", "SARAH THE MULE", "BLACK ANGUS MCDOUGAL", "DRIFT ALONG")
 
1948 So Dear to My Heart (performer: "Lavender Blue", "Ol' Dan Patch")
 
1948 Station West (performer: "A Stranger in Town" - uncredited, "The Sun Shining Warm", "A Man Can't Grow Old" - uncredited)
 
1948 Green Grass of Wyoming (writer: "The Ballad of Thunderhead" / performer: "The Ballad of Thunderhead", "I Married a Wife I Wish I Were Single Again", "Where, Oh Where Is Dear Little Susie Way Down Yonder in the Papaw Patch")
 
Show ShowThanks (1 title)
2004 Dribble (short) (dedicatee)
 
Show ShowSelf (47 titles)
1987 Dolly (TV series)
Himself
A Down Home Country Christmas (1987) … Himself
 
1987 Wogan (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 9 March 1987 (1987) … Himself
 
1985 Hee Haw (TV series)
Himself
Episode #17.11 (1985) … Himself
 
1979 Stars on Sunday (TV series)
Himself
Final Edition (1979) … Himself
 
1979 Saturday Night at the Mill (TV series)
Himself
Episode #4.12 (1979) … Himself
 
1979 Pebble Mill at One (TV series)
 
1979 The Val Doonican Music Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #3.2 (1979) … Himself
 
1978 The 50th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1976 Parkinson (TV series)
Himself
Episode #6.7 (1976) … Himself
 
1975 The 17th Annual Grammy Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1974 Herbie Day at Disneyland (TV documentary short)
Himself
 
1973 Dinah's Place (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 16 April 1973 (1973) … Himself
 
1973 The Merv Griffin Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 29 March 1973 (1973) … Himself
 
1971-1973 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 16 March 1973 (1973) … Himself
Episode dated 19 February 1971 (1971) … Himself
 
1973 The Bobby Darin Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 19 January 1973 (1973) … Himself
 
1973 Tennessee Williams' South (TV documentary)
Charlie Colton
 
1970-1971 The David Frost Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #3.174 (1971) … Himself
Episode #3.38 (1970) … Himself
 
1971 The Val Doonican Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #1.1 (1971) … Himself
 
1970 Flip (TV series)
Himself
Episode #1.14 (1970) … Himself
 
1970 The Johnny Cash Show (TV series)
Himself - Singer
Episode #2.7 (1970) … Himself - Singer
Episode #1.29 (1970) … Himself - Singer
 
1968-1970 The Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
Himself
Christmas Show (1968) … Himself
 
1969 The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (TV series)
Himself
Episode #3.17 (1969) … Himself
 
1964-1969 The Hollywood Palace (TV series)
Folk Singer / Himself - Host / Himself - Singer
Episode #6.15 (1969) … Himself - Singer
Episode #2.12 (1964) … Himself - Host/Folk Singer
 
1968 All Things Bright and Beautiful (TV movie)
Himself - Host
 
1967 The Andy Williams Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 19 February 1967 (1967) … Himself
 
1967 The Danny Kaye Show (TV series)
Himself - Singer / Sketch Actor
Episode #4.20 (1967) … Himself - Singer/Sketch Actor
 
1967 West to the Mountains (documentary short)
Balladeer
 
1959-1966 The Bell Telephone Hour (TV series)
Himself - Host / Himself - Singer
Music That Mirrors the Times (1966) … Himself - Host
Wayfarer on the Mississippi (1965) … Himself - Host
Episode #7.1 (1964) … Himself - Host
A Galaxy of Music (1961) … Himself - Singer
Music of the West (1959) … Himself - Singer
 
1966 Late Night Lineup (TV series)
 
1966 The Eamonn Andrews Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #2.14 (1966) … Himself
 
1963 Ready, Steady, Go! (TV series)
Himself
Episode #1.1 (1963) … Himself
 
1962 Mediterranean Holiday (documentary)
Narrator (US version)
 
1959 The Jack Paar Tonight Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #3.39 (1959) … Himself
 
1959 The Red Skelton Chevy Special (TV movie)
Himself
 
1959 The 31st Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Best Supporting Actor Winner
 
1955-1959 What's My Line? (TV series)
Himself - Mystery Guest
Episode dated 1 February 1959 (1959) … Himself - Mystery Guest
Episode dated 7 August 1955 (1955) … Himself - Mystery Guest
 
1958 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #3.12 (1958) … Himself
Episode #3.1 (1958) … Himself
 
1953-1957 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #11.8 (1957) … Himself
Episode #9.41 (1956) … Himself
Episode #8.41 (1955) … Himself
Episode #8.37 (1955) … Himself
Episode #6.28 (1953) … Himself
 
1957 A Face in the Crowd
Himself (uncredited)
 
1957 High Low Quiz (TV series)
Himself/panelist
 
1956 Person to Person (TV series documentary)
Himself
Episode #3.34 (1956) … Himself
 
1955 Music 55 (TV series documentary)
Himself
Episode #1.7 (1955) … Himself
 
1954 The George Jessel Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #1.21 (1954) … Himself
 
1953 Tonight! (TV series)
Himself - Guest
Episode #2.6 (1953) … Himself - Guest
 
1953 The Coronation Concert (TV movie)
Himself - Singer
 
1950 The Faye Emerson Show (TV series)
Himself
Burl Ives (1950) … Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (10 titles)
2008 Qwerty (TV series)
 
2007 The Bare Necessities: The Making of 'The Jungle Book' (video documentary short)
Himself - Voice of Baloo
 
2000 All About 'The Birds' (video documentary)
Fakrash from "The Brass Bottle"
 
1996 The 68th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Memorial Tribute
 
1994 American Masters (TV series documentary)
 
1992 Rock Hudson's Home Movies (documentary)
Dr. Brits Jansen (archive footage: The Spiral Road [1962])
 
1992 The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song (video documentary)
Uncle Hiram Douglas
 
1989 John Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)
 
1984 DTV: Golden Oldies (video)
Himself
 
1954-1965 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV series)
 

Related Videos

Alias Smith and Jones: Season 2: Episode 16 -- Heyes and Curry are hired to dispose of a very expensive bust of Caesar. So Dear to My Heart -- US Home Video Extra (Clip) from Buena Vista Home Entertainment East of Eden -- Open-ended Trailer from Warner Bros.
Edit

Personal Details

Other Works:

(????) Book: "Sailing on a Very Fine Day" See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Print Biography  | See more »

Official Sites:

Official Site | See more »

Alternate Names:

The Singing Troubadour Burl Ives

Height:

6' 1" (1.85 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

I was fortunate to be born into a family of Masons. Indeed, my older sister Audrey was Grand Matron of the Order of Eastern Star in Illinois. My DeMolay experience came very naturally because of my father and brothers. Thus was my youth enhanced. See more »

Trivia:

An activist liberal Democrat, in 1952 he named fellow folk singer Pete Seeger and others as possible Communists to the House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC) in order to avoid being blacklisted. See more »

Star Sign:

Gemini