Edgar Bergen is best known as a ventriloquist and the radio show he starred in with his ventriloquist figure Charlie McCarthy, but he was also a successful actor and comic strip creator. He is the only recipient of a wooden Oscar statue. It was awarded to him in 1938 for his creation Charlie McCarthy.
Edgar Bergen (Edgar John Berggren) was born on February 16, 1903 in Chicago Illinois. He married Francis Westerman in 1945 and stayed together until his death in 1978. They had two children - actress Candice Bergen and Kris Bergen.
While at elementary school he taught himself ventriloquism from a booklet he sent away for. He quickly mastered the skills and drove his family crazy with his voice throwing antics.
While at high school he had Charlie McCarthy carved by Theo Mack based on a likeness of a cheeky red-headed newspaper boy that caught his attention. A legend was born. Over time Charlie McCarthy evolved from a newspaper boy to a monocled, top hat and tails wearing sophisticated boy.
Edgar was a successful vaudeville ventriloquist but his big success was in radio. The show was an overnight success. Edgar and Charlie’s show ran from 1937 to 1956. It seems strange that a ventriloquist show would be a success on a radio as you can’t see the act. It was down the wit and genius of Edgar. Other character’s were introduced - Mortimer Snerd and Effie Klinker.
Edgar and Charlie made 8 film appearances from 1938 - 1948 including “The Goldwyn Follies” and “You Can’t Cheat An Honest Man” with W.C. Fields.
Edgar on his own starred in 4 movies. The last movie he starred in was as Grandpa Walton in Homecoming - A Christmas Story.
Through the 1950s and 60s made many regular appearances on TV. He hosted “Do You Trust Your Wife” in 1956-57. He appeared on What’s My Line? as a mystery guest 4 times In the 1956 show ventriloquist Paul Winchell with Jerry Mahoney was a guest panelist.
In 1978 Edgar Bergen died 3 days into his 2 weeks of farewell shows at Caesar’s Palace. He may be gone but his influence lives on as master of modern ventriloquism.
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