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.
200150 Years of NBC Late NightMovieas Self (archive footage)1980Smokey and the Bandit IIMovieas Warehouse Guard1980Hardly WorkingMovieas Slats1978Odds and EvensMovieas Mike Firpo1973The GodmothersMovieas Ricky Mastrasso1966The MonkeesTV showas Kramm · 1 episodes1961The Mike Douglas ShowTV showas Self - Co-Host · as Self · 6 episodes1959The RookieMovieas Jerry Mann1942Sleepytime GalMovieas Downbeat1933Arizona to BroadwayMovieas Jimmy Dante1933Mickey's Gala PremiereMovieas Maurice Chevalier / Ed Wynne / Jimmy Durante (voice)1928Mickey Mouse CartoonsTV showas Maurice Chevalier/Ed Wynne/Jimmy Durante/Eddie Cantor (voice) · 1 episodes