Oscar Levant (December 27, 1906 â€" August 14, 1972) was an American
concert pianist, composer, music conductor, author, radio game show
panelist, television talk show host, comedian and actor. Though
awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recordings featuring
his piano performances, he was as famous for his mordant character and
witticisms, on the radio and later in movies and television, as for
his music.Levant was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States,
in 1906, to Orthodox Jewish parents from Russia. His father, Max, was
a watchmaker who wanted his four sons to become either dentists or
doctors. His mother Annie was a highly religious woman whose father
was a Rabbi who presided over his daughter's wedding to Max
Levant.Oscar Levant moved to New York in 1922, following the death of
his father. He began studying under Zygmunt Stojowski, a
well-established piano pedagogue. In 1925, aged 18, he appeared with
Ben Bernie in a short film, Ben Bernie and All the Lads, made in New
York City in the De Forest Phonofilm sound-on-film system.
concert pianist, composer, music conductor, author, radio game show
panelist, television talk show host, comedian and actor. Though
awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recordings featuring
his piano performances, he was as famous for his mordant character and
witticisms, on the radio and later in movies and television, as for
his music.Levant was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States,
in 1906, to Orthodox Jewish parents from Russia. His father, Max, was
a watchmaker who wanted his four sons to become either dentists or
doctors. His mother Annie was a highly religious woman whose father
was a Rabbi who presided over his daughter's wedding to Max
Levant.Oscar Levant moved to New York in 1922, following the death of
his father. He began studying under Zygmunt Stojowski, a
well-established piano pedagogue. In 1925, aged 18, he appeared with
Ben Bernie in a short film, Ben Bernie and All the Lads, made in New
York City in the De Forest Phonofilm sound-on-film system.
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