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Ernie Kovacs (I) (1919–1962)

Actor | Writer | Director

Hailed as a genius for his offbeat comedy style and changing much of the way comedy was played, Ernie Kovacs' life was cut short much too early. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, during his schooldays he hunted rabbits and pheasants by day and concocted mad potions with his chemistry set at night. Later... See full bio »

Born:

Ernest Edward Kovacs
in Trenton, New Jersey, USA

Died:

(age 42) in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA
Still of Ernie Kovacs in Our Man in Havana Edie Adams and Ernie Kovacs Ed Wynn with Jack Benny and Ernie Kovacs, 1958. Ernie Kovacs Ernie Kovacs Ernie Kovacs
12 photos | 1 video | 24 news articles »

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Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

Francine Locke Film Reel

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel -- This reel contains Christopher performing in Film and Television. The clips included are from the following: "The Boundary", "The Wire", "Duplicity", "Law & Order(SVU)", "Michael Clayton", "Cost Of A Soul", "HEROES" and "Law & Order (CI)".

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel

Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

Franklin Ojeda Smith -

My Demo Reel -- Includes clips from GLORY DAZE, COMMUNITY and horror film URBAN EXPLORER.

My Demo Reel


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Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActor (23 titles)
1961-1962 The Ernie Kovacs Show (TV series)
Various / Eugene
– Episode dated 23 January 1962 (1962) … Various
– Episode dated 24 November 1961 (1961) … Eugene
– Episode dated 28 October 1961 (1961) … Various
– Episode dated 20 April 1961 (1961) … Various
 
1962 Medicine Man (TV movie)
Dr. P. Crookshank
 
1961 Sail a Crooked Ship
Bugsy G. Foglemeyer aka The Captain
 
1961 The United States Steel Hour (TV series)
– Private Eye, Private Eye (1961)
 
1961 Five Golden Hours
Aldo Bondi
 
1960 Pepe
Immigration Inspector
 
1960 North to Alaska
Frankie Canon
 
1960 Strangers When We Meet
Roger Altar
 
1960 Goodyear Theatre (TV series)
Maximilian Frederick Krob
– Author at Work (1960) … Maximilian Frederick Krob
 
1960 Wake Me When It's Over
Capt. Charlie Stark
 
1959 Our Man in Havana
Capt. Segura
 
1959 Shotgun Slade (TV series)
Hack Hackberry
– The Salted Mine (1959) … Hack Hackberry
 
1959 It Happened to Jane
Harry Foster Malone
 
1959 Schlitz Playhouse (TV series)
Hack
– The Salted Mine (1959) … Hack
 
1958-1959 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Barney Colby / Sam Lund
– I Was a Bloodhound (1959) … Barney Colby
– The World's Greatest Quarterback (1958) … Sam Lund
 
1959 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV series)
Arthur Witten
– Symbol of Authority (1959) … Arthur Witten
 
1958 Bell Book and Candle
Sidney Redlitch
 
1957 Playhouse 90 (TV series)
Topaze
– Topaze (1957) … Topaze
 
1957 Operation Mad Ball
Capt. Paul Lock
 
1957 The Ernie Kovacs Show (TV movie)
Eugene
 
1956 The Ernie Kovacs Show (TV series)
– Episode dated 13 August 1956 (1956)
 
1956 Showdown at Ulcer Gulch (short)
Cameo appearance (Man in bar)
 
1951 It's Time for Ernie (TV series)
Host
 
Show ShowWriter (4 titles)
1961-1962 The Ernie Kovacs Show (TV series)
– Episode dated 23 January 1962 (1962)
– Episode dated 12 December 1961 (1961)
– Episode dated 24 November 1961 (1961)
– Episode dated 28 October 1961 (1961)
– Episode dated 21 September 1961 (1961)
See all 7 episodes »
 
1957 Producers' Showcase (TV series)
– Festival of Magic (1957) (writer)
 
1957 The Ernie Kovacs Show (TV movie)
 
1956 The Ernie Kovacs Show (TV series)
– Episode dated 2 July 1956 (1956) (writer)
 
Show ShowDirector (2 titles)
Show ShowProducer (1 title)
1961-1962 The Ernie Kovacs Show (TV series) (producer - 7 episodes)
– Episode dated 23 January 1962 (1962) (producer)
– Episode dated 12 December 1961 (1961) (producer)
– Episode dated 24 November 1961 (1961) (producer)
– Episode dated 28 October 1961 (1961) (producer)
– Episode dated 21 September 1961 (1961) (producer)
See all 7 episodes »
 
Show ShowEditor (2 titles)
1961 The Ernie Kovacs Show (TV series)
 
1957 The Ernie Kovacs Show (TV movie)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (1 title)
1958 The Big Record (TV series)
– Episode dated 4 June 1958 (1958) (performer: "Witch Doctor" - uncredited)
 
Show ShowSelf (34 titles)
1962 The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (TV series)
Himself - Host
– Episode dated 9 November 1962 (1962) … Himself - Host
 
1961 Silents Please (TV series)
Himself - Host
– The Road to Yesterday (1961) … Himself - Host
– The Black Pirate (1961) … Himself - Host
– Episode dated 3 August 1961 (1961) … Himself - Host
– America (1961) … Himself - Host
 
1960 The David Susskind Show (TV series)
Himself
– Television Tempest (1960) … Himself
 
1960 Take a Good Look (TV series)
Himself - Moderator
– Episode dated 21 July 1960 (1960) … Himself - Moderator
 
1960 The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (TV series)
Himself
– Lucy Meets the Mustache (1960) … Himself
 
1960 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Himself
– Mervyn LeRoy (1960) … Himself
 
1959 The Bob Hope Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 11 December 1959 (1959) … Himself
 
1959 Startime (TV series)
Himself
– The Wonderful World of Entertainment (1959) … Himself
 
1959 The 31st Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Co-Presenter: Costume Design Awards
 
1959 The Jack Benny Program (TV series)
Himself / Killer Kovacs
– Ernie Kovacs Show (1959) … Himself/Killer Kovacs
 
1958 The Patti Page Oldsmobile Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.8 (1958) … Himself
 
1958 The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #3.3 (1958) … Himself
 
1958 The Eddie Fisher Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 30 September 1958 (1958) … Himself
 
1957-1958 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #11.44 (1958) … Himself
– Episode #10.43 (1957) … Himself
 
1958 The Big Record (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 4 June 1958 (1958) … Himself
 
1958 You Bet Your Life (TV series)
Himself - Contestant
– Episode #8.28 (1958) … Himself - Contestant
 
1957 The George Gobel Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #4.8 (1957) … Himself
 
1957 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.5 (1957) … Himself
 
1956-1957 What's My Line? (TV series)
Himself - Guest Panelist / Himself - Mystery Guest / Himself
– Episode dated 3 November 1957 (1957) … Himself - Guest Panelist
– Episode dated 27 October 1957 (1957) … Himself - Guest Panelist
– Episode dated 13 October 1957 (1957) … Himself - Guest Panelist
– Episode dated 6 October 1957 (1957) … Himself - Guest Panelist
– Episode dated 29 September 1957 (1957) … Himself - Guest Panelist
See all 12 episodes »
 
1957 Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 26 October 1957 (1957) … Himself
 
1957 What's It For (TV series)
Himself - Host
– Episode dated 12 October 1957 (1957) … Himself - Host
 
1957 The Polly Bergen Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.2 (1957) … Himself
 
1957 Producers' Showcase (TV series)
Himself - Host
– Festival of Magic (1957) … Himself - Host
 
1955-1957 Tonight! (TV series)
Himself - Guest Host
– Ernie Kovacs Guest Host Finale (1957) … Himself - Guest Host
– Ernie Kovacs Guest Host (1957) … Himself - Guest Host
– Kovacs Guest Host (1956) … Himself - Guest Host
– Ernie Kovacs Guest Host (1956) … Himself - Guest Host
– Kovacs (1956) … Himself - Guest Host
See all 9 episodes »
 
1957 The Jerry Lewis Show (TV movie)
Himself
 
1956 The Walter Winchell Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.1 (1956) … Himself
 
1956 I've Got a Secret (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 25 July 1956 (1956) … Himself
 
1956 The Ernie Kovacs Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 2 July 1956 (1956) … Himself
 
1956 The NBC Comedy Hour (TV series)
Himself / Percy Dovetonsils
– Episode #1.2 (1956) … Himself/Percy Dovetonsils
 
1954 Time Will Tell (TV series)
Emcee
 
1954 Gamble on Love (TV series)
Himself (host, August, 1954)
 
1954 One Minute Please (TV series)
Himself/panelst
 
1953 Take a Guess (TV series)
Himself/panelist
 
1951 Ernie in Kovacsland (TV series)
Himself - Host
– Episode #1.1 (1951) … Himself - Host
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (4 titles)
2001 I Love Lucy's 50th Anniversary Special (TV documentary)
 
1998 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
1984 TV's Funniest Game Show Moments (TV special)
Himself
 
1982 Ernie Kovacs: Television's Original Genius (TV documentary)
Himself
 

Related Videos

Bell Book and Candle -- Trailer for this bewitching comedy
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Personal Details

Other Works:

Book: "Zoomar". See more »

Publicity Listings:

2 Biographical Movies  | 1 Print Biography  | 1 Article  | See more »

Height:

6' 2" (1.88 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

It's appropriate that television is considered a medium, since it's rare if it's ever well done. See more »

Trivia:

Married Edie Adams in Mexico City. The ceremony was presided over by former New York City mayor William O'Dwyer, and performed in Spanish, which neither Kovacs or Adams understood; O'Dwyer had to prompt each to say "Si" at the "I do" portion of the vows. See more »

Star Sign:

Aquarius