Fanny Brice

Fanny Brice (October 29, 1891 – May 29, 1951) was a United States comedian, singer, and entertainer.

Related Topics:
October 29 - 1891 - May 29 - 1951 - United States - Comedian - Singer - Entertainer

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"Fanny Brice" (occasionally spelled "Fannie") was the stage name of Fania Borach, born in New York City, the third child of relatively well-off saloon owners of Hungarian Jewish decent. In 1908, she dropped out of school to work in a burlesque review. She is best known for both her association with Florenz Ziegfeld, headlining his Ziegfield Follies from 1910 into the 1930s, and for her later radio career which lasted a decade and a half.

Related Topics:
Florenz Ziegfeld - Ziegfield Follies

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In the 1921 "Follies," she was featured singing "My Man" which became a big hit and is considered Fanny Brice's "signature" song. She made phonograph records of it for Victor Records and appeared singing it in the 1930 sound film "My Man." The second song most associated with her is the tune "Second Hand Rose". She recorded nearly two dozen record "sides" for Victor, and also cut several for Columbia.

Related Topics:
Phonograph records - Sound film

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Her brother Lew Brice became actress Mae Clarke's first husband in 1928, but they divorced a few years later without any children.

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Trying to leap from stage to screen, Fanny made several films, although a movie career never took off. She appeared in "My Man," "Be Yourself," "Everybody Sing" (with Judy Garland) and "The Great Ziegfeld" (the only original Ziegfeld performer to portray herself in the 1940s film).

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Beginning in the late 1930s, and until she died in 1951, Fanny had her own radio show which featured her as a bratty toddler named "Baby Snooks," a role she first premiered in Follies' skit.

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Best known as a comedienne, Brice was a multitalented performer. She could sing songs humorously or with great emotion; she is considered one of the first "torch"-style singers. She was a master at both verbal and physical comedy. All who knew her said she remained a very down-to-earth character despite her financial and professional success.

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Fanny Brice died in Hollywood, California at the age of 59 of a cerebral hemorrhage.

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