BIO

Bert Lahr was born Irving Lahrheim in New York City, in 1895.   He dropped out of high school to join a vaudeville act.

He became a top performer, making his Broadway debut in a musical revue in 1927, at the age of 32.   Lahr appeared in 18 Broadway productions through 1964, including starring roles in:

• George White’s Music Hall Varieties (1932),
• Life Begins at 8:40 (1934-1935),
• Du Barry was a Lady (1939-1940),
• Seven Lively Arts (1944-1945),
• Burlesque (1946-1948),
• Two on the Aisle (1951-1952),
• Waiting for Godot (1956),
• The Girls Against the Boys (1959),
• The Beauty Part (1962-1963) and
• Foxy (1964)

He received the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for Foxy in 1964 and was nominated for another Tony for Best Actor in a Play in 1963 for his performance in The Beauty Part.

Although primarily a stage performer throughout his career, Lahr starred in his film debut, a short-reel comedy for Vitaphone in 1929.

He appeared in 16 feature films including his last film role in 1968.

Lahr married Mercedes Delpino in 1929.   They raised one child.  His wife was committed to an asylum after a few years and their marriage was annulled in 1940.   Lahr married the stage actress Mildred Schroeder shortly thereafter.   The couple raised two more children.   Their son, John Lahr, was a senior drama critic for The New Yorker magazine.

Lahr died from cancer in New York City, in 1967.   He was 72 years old.

Additional Broadway stage history is available at:

Additional biographical information is available at:

NOTED FILMS

Complete filmography at: