Louis Nye (May 1, 1913 â€" October 9, 2005) was an American comedic
actor. He was an entertainer to the troops during World War II and is
best known for his work on countless television, film and radio
programs.He was born Louis Neistat in Hartford, Connecticut, son of
Joseph Neistat and Jennie Sherman. His sister Rose Neistat was born in
1917. Although Nye, who pronounced his given name as Louie, later
claimed he was born in 1922, he is listed as age six in the 1920
Hartford County, Connecticut, Federal Census.Nye's parents were both
Yiddish speaking Jews from the Russian Empire. They emigrated to the
United States in 1906, and became naturalized citizens in 1911. His
father owned a small grocery store, which his wife helped him run.
Louis Nye attended Weaver High School, but he was not a good student.
"My marks were so low," he explained, "that they wouldn't let me in
the drama club. So I went down to WTIC Radio, auditioned, and got on a
show."Nye decided to go to New York City, where he worked in radio,
playing various roles on soap operas. He recalled "I still think of
myself as an actor. In the radio days, I was busy playing rotten
Nazis, rich uncles and emotional juveniles -- the whole span -- and
the only time I tried to be funny was at parties."
actor. He was an entertainer to the troops during World War II and is
best known for his work on countless television, film and radio
programs.He was born Louis Neistat in Hartford, Connecticut, son of
Joseph Neistat and Jennie Sherman. His sister Rose Neistat was born in
1917. Although Nye, who pronounced his given name as Louie, later
claimed he was born in 1922, he is listed as age six in the 1920
Hartford County, Connecticut, Federal Census.Nye's parents were both
Yiddish speaking Jews from the Russian Empire. They emigrated to the
United States in 1906, and became naturalized citizens in 1911. His
father owned a small grocery store, which his wife helped him run.
Louis Nye attended Weaver High School, but he was not a good student.
"My marks were so low," he explained, "that they wouldn't let me in
the drama club. So I went down to WTIC Radio, auditioned, and got on a
show."Nye decided to go to New York City, where he worked in radio,
playing various roles on soap operas. He recalled "I still think of
myself as an actor. In the radio days, I was busy playing rotten
Nazis, rich uncles and emotional juveniles -- the whole span -- and
the only time I tried to be funny was at parties."
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