Acting
Jerry Lester
Born 1910-02-16
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Department: Acting
Biography
Jerry Lester (February 16, 1910 – March 23, 1995) was an American comedian, singer and performer on radio, television and the stage, who hosted the first network late night television program as host of Broadway Open House on NBC, a vaudeville-esque combination of comedy and music, whose success demonstrated the potential for late-night television and led to the creation of the Tonight Show.
Known For
Prominent works featuring Jerry Lester
TV
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The Mike Douglas Show
1961
TMDB2.9
Movie
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Odds and Evens
1978
TMDB3.5
Movie
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Smokey and the Bandit II
1980
TMDB2.8
TV
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The Monkees
1966
TMDB3.3
Movie
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Mickey's Gala Premiere
1933
TMDB3.1
Movie
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Hardly Working
1980
TMDB2.3
Movie
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The Godmothers
1973
TMDB2.8
Movie
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50 Years of NBC Late Night
2001
TMDB2.5
Movie
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The Rookie
1959
TMDB5.0
Movie
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Sleepytime Gal
1942
TMDB4.5
Filmography & Credits
Complete career catalog (13 titles)
| Poster | Title | Character / Role | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 50 Years of NBC Late Night | Self (archive footage) | Movie | 2001 |
 | Smokey and the Bandit II | Warehouse Guard | Movie | 1980 |
 | Hardly Working | Slats | Movie | 1980 |
 | Odds and Evens | Mike Firpo | Movie | 1978 |
 | The Godmothers | Ricky Mastrasso | Movie | 1973 |
 | The Monkees | Kramm | TV Series | 1966 |
 | The Mike Douglas Show | Self - Co-Host | TV Series | 1961 |
| The Mike Douglas Show | Self | TV Series | 1961 |
 | The Rookie | Jerry Mann | Movie | 1959 |
| The Name's the Same | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1951 | |
 | Sleepytime Gal | Downbeat | Movie | 1942 |
 | Arizona to Broadway | Jimmy Dante | Movie | 1933 |
 | Mickey's Gala Premiere | Maurice Chevalier / Ed Wynne / Jimmy Durante (voice) | Movie | 1933 |