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Eddie Bracken

{{Short description|American actor (1915–2002)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Eddie Bracken

| image = Eddie Bracken.JPG

| imagesize =

| caption =

| birth_name = Edward Vincent Bracken

| birth_date = {{Birth date |1915|2|7}}

| birth_place = Astoria, Queens, New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2002|11|14|1915|2|7|mf=y}}

| death_place = Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.

| other_names =

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|comedian|singer}}

| years_active = 1930–2002

| spouse = {{Marriage|Connie Nickerson|1939|2002|end=died}}

| children = 5

| website =

}}

Edward Vincent Bracken (February 7, 1915 – November 14, 2002) was an American actor. Bracken came to Hollywood prominence for his comedic lead performances in the films Hail the Conquering Hero and The Miracle of Morgan's Creek both from 1944, both of which have been preserved by the National Film Registry. During this era, he also had success on Broadway, with performances in plays like Too Many Girls (1940).

Bracken's later movie roles include National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Oscar (1991), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Rookie of the Year (1993), and Baby's Day Out (1994).

Life and career

File:Howard Freeman and Eddie Bracken 1954.JPG and Eddie Bracken 1954]]

Edward Vincent Bracken was born in Astoria, Queens, New York on February 7, 1915, the son of Joseph L. and Catherine Bracken.{{cite news| last1=Severo| first1=Richard| title=Eddie Bracken Dies at 87; Acted in Sturges Comedies| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/16/arts/eddie-bracken-dies-at-87-acted-in-sturges-comedies.html| access-date=16 November 2015| work=The New York Times| date=November 16, 2002}} Bracken performed in vaudeville at the age of nine and gained fame with the Broadway musical Too Many Girls in a role he reprised for the 1940 film adaptation. He had performed in a short film series called The Kiddie Troupers (one of many Our Gang-like series) prior to that, but that film was his big break. In 1936, Bracken enjoyed success on Broadway with his starring run in the Joseph Viertel play So Proudly We Hail. The military drama, co-starring Richard Cromwell, opened to much fanfare but closed after 14 performances at the 46th Street Theatre.{{Citation needed |date=August 2023}}

In the 1940s, director Preston Sturges cast Bracken in two of his films, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, opposite Betty Hutton, and Hail the Conquering Hero. Due to the popularity of these films, Eddie Bracken was a household name during World War II.{{Citation needed |date=August 2023}} He made numerous radio broadcasts and had his own program, The Eddie Bracken Show.

In 1953, Bracken left Hollywood. He appeared on Broadway in Shinbone Alley; Hello, Dolly!; The Odd Couple; and Sugar Babies. His last appearance on Broadway was in the musical Dreamtime, directed by David Niles at the Ed Sullivan Theater, at the age of 77.

Bracken's television roles between 1952 and 2000 include an episode of The Golden Girls as Rose Nylund's ex-childhood boyfriend from St. Olaf, as well as an episode of Tales from the Darkside playing a stubborn old man who refuses to believe that he has died. After nearly 30 years out of feature films, he returned to perform character roles, including the sympathetic Walley World theme park founder Mr. Roy Walley in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) and Duncan's Toy Chest toy store owner Mr. Duncan in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). Bracken also had a long career with Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, starring in dozens of productions in the 1980s–early 2000s. One high point was their production of Show Boat in which he played Captain Andy Hawkes. This production was broadcast on PBS in 1990. He also played a cameo in Patrick Read Johnson's 1994 film, Baby's Day Out, as one of the veterans in the old soldier's home.

Bracken acted in films with two actors who later became U.S. Presidents: Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. He co-starred in The Girl from Jones Beach with Reagan in 1949, and Trump played a minor part in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York in 1992.{{cite web |date=November 17, 2002 |title=Eddie Bracken, 87, actor, comedian |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1466084.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105063008/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1466084.html |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=May 24, 2010 |work=Chicago Sun-Times}}

Bracken campaigned for Republican Thomas E. Dewey during the 1944 U.S. presidential election campaign.{{Cite news |last=Palmer |first=Kyle |date=1944-09-23 |title=Dewey Coliseum Address Cheered |pages=1–2 |work=Los Angeles Times}}

=Death=

On November 14, 2002, Bracken died in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, of complications from surgery for a crushed disk in his neck{{Cite news |last=Bernstein |first=Adam |date=2002-11-19 |title=Eddie Bracken |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/11/19/eddie-bracken/fef16049-79d3-4153-8ae8-845d9824ce13/ |access-date=2022-12-11 |issn=0190-8286}} at the age of 87. His wife of 63 years, Connie Nickerson, a former actress, died in August 2002, just three months before his death. He met Connie when they performed together in a road company of the Broadway play What a Life in 1938. Together Eddie and Connie had five children: two sons (Michael and David) and three daughters (Judy, Carolyn and Susan).{{Citation needed |date=August 2023}}

=Hollywood Walk of Fame=

For his contributions to radio and television, Bracken has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1651 Vine Street and 6751 Hollywood Boulevard respectively.

Filmography

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Stage credits

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Radio appearances

class="wikitable"
YearProgramEpisode/source
1944Suspense Mystery Radio PlayThe VisitorBlackstone Audio 'Suspense' Vol.2, issued 2015
1947Suspense Mystery Radio PlayElwood[http://www.escape-suspense.com/2009/08/suspense-elwood.html "Suspense - Elwood"] Escape and Suspense. Elwood starring Eddie Bracken, Joseph Kearns, aired on March 6, 1947.
1953Broadway PlayhouseHail the Conquering Hero{{cite news| last1=Kirby| first1=Walter| title=Better Radio Programs for the Week| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2729064/the_decatur_daily_review/| newspaper=The Decatur Daily Review| date=June 21, 1953| page=44| via=Newspapers.com| access-date=July 1, 2015}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{IMDb name|102787}}
  • {{IBDB name|14242}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bracken, Eddie}}

Category:1915 births

Category:2002 deaths

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male voice actors

Category:American male radio actors

Category:American male stage actors

Category:American male musical theatre actors

Category:People from Astoria, Queens

Category:Actors from Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Category:American vaudeville performers

Category:20th-century American male actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:American male comedians

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:Male actors from Queens, New York

Category:Comedians from Queens, New York

Category:20th-century American comedians

Category:21st-century American comedians

Category:20th-century American singers

Category:20th-century American male singers

Category:Comedians from Essex County, New Jersey