Edward Israel Iskowitz (21 September 1892-10 October 1964), better known by his stage name of Eddie Cantor, was a Jewish-American vaudeville performer who was known for his comedy, musical performances, his acting career, and for his radio show. Cantor was nicknamed "Banjo Eyes" for his eye-rolling song-and-dance routines, and he was a very popular performer during the 1920s. Cantor was also involved in the crusade against polio, funding the "March of Dimes" charity.
Biography[]
Edward Israel Iskowitz was born on 21 September 1892 in New York City, New York to a family of Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire. Iskowitz was orphaned at a young age, and he was raised by his grandmother, and his grandmother signed him into school with her surname, "Kantrowitz"; it was shortened to "Kanter", later spelled as "cantor". In 1913, he shortened his first name to Eddie upon beginning his acting career, rising from a saloon singer to become a vaudeville performer. Cantor would rise to become one of the most famous and popular performers of the United States during the 1920s, and he often performed in New York and Atlantic City in front of large and wealthy audiences. Cantor later became a songwriter, radio personality, and philanthropist, and he founded the "March of Dimes" charity to help in funding polio research during the New Deal era of American politics. Cantor died in Beverly Hills, California on 10 October 1964 at the age of 72.