Person

Al Jolson

Acting May 26, 1886

Sredniki, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire [now Seredžius, Lithuania]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Al Jolson (born Asa Yoelson; May 26, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-born American singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. In…

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Al Jolson (born Asa Yoelson; May 26, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-born American singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer". He was born in the Russian Empire (the part of which is now in Lithuania) and emigrated to America at the age of five with his Jewish parents. His performing style was brash and extroverted, and he popularized a large number of songs that benefited from his "shamelessly sentimental, melodramatic approach". Numerous well-known singers were influenced by his music, including Bing Crosby Judy Garland, rock and country entertainer Jerry Lee Lewis, and Bob Dylan, who once referred to him as "somebody whose life I can feel". Broadway critic Gilbert Seldes compared him to "the Great God Pan," claiming that Jolson represented "the concentration of our national health and gaiety." In the 1930s, he was America's most famous and highest paid entertainer. Between 1911 and 1928, Jolson had nine sell-out Winter Garden shows in a row, more than 80 hit records, and 16 national and international tours. Although he's best remembered today as the star in the first (full length) talking movie, The Jazz Singer in 1927, he later starred in a series of successful musical films throughout the 1930s. After a period of inactivity, his stardom returned with the 1946 Oscar-winning biographical film, The Jolson Story. Larry Parks played Jolson with the songs dubbed in with Jolson’s real voice. A sequel, Jolson Sings Again, was released in 1949, and was nominated for three Oscars. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Jolson became the first star to entertain troops overseas during World War II, and again in 1950 became the first star to perform for G.I.s in Korea, doing 42 shows in 16 days. He died just weeks after returning to the U.S., partly due to the physical exertion of performing. Defense Secretary George Marshall afterward awarded the Medal of Merit to Jolson's family. He enjoyed performing in blackface makeup – a theatrical convention since the mid-19th century. With his unique and dynamic style of singing black music, like jazz and blues, he was later credited with single-handedly introducing African-American music to white audiences. As early as 1911 he became known for fighting against anti-black discrimination on Broadway. Jolson's well-known theatrics and his promotion of equality on Broadway helped pave the way for many black performers, playwrights, and songwriters, including Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, and Ethel Waters. Description above from the Wikipedia article Al Jolson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

2026
O Filme que Fala
Movie Jakie Rabinowitz (archive footage)
2025
Gene Kelly: An American in Hollywood
Movie Self (archive footage)
2022
Sunshine State
Movie Self (archive footage)
2021
The Real Charlie Chaplin
Movie Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2020
Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty
Movie archive footage
2011
Vito
Movie Self (archive)
2007
The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk
Movie Self (archive footage)
1997
Vaudeville
Movie Self (archive footage)
1990
Jacob's Ladder
Movie Songs
1990
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To
Movie (archive footage)
1984
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Movie (archive footage)
1982
Showbiz Goes to War
Movie (archive footage)
1976
Salsa
Movie (archive footage)
1975
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Movie Self (archive footage)
1961
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
Movie Self (archive footage)
1952
Screen Snapshots: Memorial to Al Jolson
Movie Self (archive footage)

More credits

1951
Purple Heart Diary
Movie Al Jolson (archive footage) (uncredited)
1950
The Golden Twenties
Movie Self (archive footage)
1949
Jolson Sings Again
Movie Himself (singing voice) (uncredited)
1946
The Jolson Story
Movie Singing Voice / Al Jolson (uncredited)
1946
Okay for Sound
Movie
1945
Rhapsody in Blue
Movie Al Jolson
1944
Take It or Leave It
Movie (archive footage) (uncredited)
1943
The Voice That Thrilled the World
Movie Self (segment 'The Jazz Singer') (archive footage)
1943
Show-Business at War
Movie Self
1939
Swanee River
Movie Edwin P. Christy
1939
Hollywood Cavalcade
Movie Al Jolson
1939
Rose of Washington Square
Movie Ted Cotter
1939
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8
Movie Al Jolson
1938
Hollywood Handicap
Movie Himself
1937
Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 12
Movie Self (uncredited)
1937
A Day at Santa Anita
Movie Al Jolson (uncredited)
1936
The Singing Kid
Movie Al Jackson
1935
Go Into Your Dance
Movie Al Howard
1934
Studio Highlights
Movie Self
1934
Wonder Bar
Movie Al Wonder
1933
Hallelujah, I'm a Bum
Movie Bumper
1930
Big Boy
Movie Gus
1930
Show Girl in Hollywood
Movie Al Jolsen
1930
Mammy
Movie Al Fuller