Biography
George Kirby (June 8, 1923 – September 30, 1995) was an American comedian, singer, and actor hailing from Chicago, Illinois.
Kirby began his entertainment career in the 1940s at the Club DeLisa, a South Side venue known for its variety-show format and emphasis on local singers, dancers, and comedians. His debut recording was as a stand-up blues singer, performing "Ice Man Blues" during a 1947 Tom Archia session for Aristocrat Records.
As one of the first African-American comedians to attract both white and black audiences during the Civil Rights era, Kirby appeared from 1966 to 1972 on shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Jackie Gleason Show, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He was a talented impressionist, notably mimicking many white actors like John Wayne and Walter Brennan—an unusual choice at the time—in addition to black stars such as Bill Cosby and Pearl Bailey. Despite his large frame, he was surprisingly nimble on the dance floor and also performed vocal impressions of singers like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.
In 1970, Kirby produced a television special, The George Kirby Show, to test his potential for a weekly series. This led to the 1972 sketch comedy and variety show Half the George Kirby Comedy Hour, which ran for 22 episodes and marked one of Steve Martin's earliest on-camera roles. The show balanced Kirby's unique talents with the era's expectations for black performers, featuring segments like the "Funky Fable," a shaggy dog story. Kirby was also a regular on the British-produced ABC Comedy Hour series The Kopycats, alongside impressionists such as Rich Little, Charlie Callas, Marilyn Michaels, and Frank Gorshin.
After his show's cancellation, Kirby's career waned as audiences sought more avant-garde comedy. Having struggled with occasional drug addiction, he turned to selling drugs to supplement his income. In 1977, he sold heroin to an undercover officer, resulting in a plea bargain for a ten-year prison sentence, of which he served 42 months. Though his career never regained its previous momentum, he made notable guest appearances on shows like Gimme a Break with Nell Carter, Crazy Like a Fox, and 227. Later, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Deeply respected within the comedy community, friends and admirers formed the "Friends of George Kirby," organizing an all-star tribute in 1995 to assist with his medical expenses, just months before his passing.
