Bespectacled vaudevillian who made his feature debut in the early 1940s and established himself as an engaging comic character player in films such as "You're in the Army Now" (1942), "Cover Girl" (1944) and "It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World" (1963). Best known as the wily "Sergeant Bilko" in the popular 1950s TV series, "The Phil Silvers Show."
- Also Credited As:
Philip Silversmith
- Born:
May 11, 1911 in Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Died:
November 1, 1985.
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Job Titles:
Actor, Comedian, Vaudevillian
Family
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Brother: Harry Silversmith. older
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Daughter: Candace Silvers.
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Daughter: Cathy Silvers.
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Daughter: Nancy Silvers.
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Daughter: Tracey Edythe Silvers.
Milestones
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1934 Joined Minsky s burlesque toupe
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1939 Broadway debut, Yokel Boy
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1939 Signed to seven-year contract at MGM
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1940 Film debut as a priest in Pride and Prejudice
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1940 First major film, Hit Parade of 1941
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1944 Acted in Cover Girl
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1947 Starred in the musical High Button Shoes
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1950 Played featured role in Summer Stock
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1951 Had lead in the Broadway musical Top Banana ; received Tony Award
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1953 Reprised role in film version of Top Banana
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1954 Last film for nearly a decade, Lucky Me
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1955 Became a TV star with You ll Never Get Rich/The Phil Silvers Show/Sgt Bilko (CBS)
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1960 Returned to Broadway in the musical Do Re Mi
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1963 Resumed film career with 40 Pounds of Trouble and It s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
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1968 Co-starred in Buona Sera, Mrs Campbell
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1971 Had lead in the comedy How the Other Half Loves
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1972 Earned second Tony Award starring in the revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
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1975 Appeared in the Disney film The Strongest Man in the World
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1978 Acted in The Cheap Detective , scripted by Neil Simon
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1980 Final features There Goes the Bride and The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood
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2000 Posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (November)
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Began appearing in vaudeville shows at age 12