Irving Berlin

Writing

Born: 1888-05-11
Died: 1989-09-29
From: Mogilev, Belarus, Russian Empire
Gender: Male
Popularity: 0.2

Also Known As

Israel Isidor Baline

Biography

Irving Berlin was born Israel Isidor Baline on May 11, 1888 in Mogilev, Belarus, Russian Empire. Towering composer, songwriter, ("God Bless America", "Always", "Blue Skies", "White Christmas") author and publisher, he came to the United States at age 5 and was educated in New York's public schools. His earliest musical education was from his father, a cantor. He earned Honorary degrees from Bucknell University and Temple University. Beginning his career as a song-plugger for publisher Harry von Tilzer, Berlin worked as a singing waiter in Chinatown. In 1909, he was hired as a staff lyricist by the Ted Snyder Company, and became a partner to that firm four years later. In 1910, he began doing vaudeville appearances in the United States and abroad, and also appeared with Snyder in the Broadway musical "Up and Down Broadway", that ran for 72 performances. He joined ASCAP as a charter member in 1914, and served on its first board of directors between 1914-1918. Berlin enlisted the United States Army infantry in World War I, and was a sergeant at Camp Upton, New York. After the war, he established his own public-relations firm, and in 1921, he built the 1025-seat Music Box Theatre (at 239 W. 45th Street, New York) with Sam H. Harris. After Harris' death in 1941, Berlin assumed full ownership and the theatre remains a Broadway institution to this day. Among his many awards was the Medal for Merit for his 1942 all-soldier show "This Is the Army", which toured the United States, Europe and South Pacific battle zones; all proceeds were assigned to Army Emergency Relief and other service agencies. Berlin was also a member of the French Legion of Honor and held the Congressional Medal of Honor for "God Bless America", the proceeds from which went to the God Bless America Fund. His songs were sung by Fred Astaire, Al Jolson, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Dick Powell, Alice Faye and many others. Irving Berlin died at the age of 101 of natural causes on September 22, 1989 in New York City.

Awards & Nominations7 won · 8 nominated

🏆 Won

Presidential Medal of Freedom

1977
🏆 Won

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

1968
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Original Song

Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)

1955
🏆 Won

Tony Award for Best Original Score

Call Me Madam

1951
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Original Song

You Keep Coming Back Like a Song

1947
🏆 Won

Academy Award for Best Original Song

White Christmas

1943
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Story

Holiday Inn

1943
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Original Song

I Poured My Heart Into a Song

1940
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Original Song

Change Partners

1939
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Original Song

Now It Can Be Told

1939
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Story

Alexander's Ragtime Band

1939
Nominated

Academy Award for Best Original Song

Cheek to Cheek

1936
🏆 Won

star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

🏆 Won

Congressional Gold Medal

🏆 Won

Medal of Liberty

Acting8 titles

Writing21 titles

Sound30 titles

Editing2 titles

Crew1 title