Al Jolson
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 26, 1886, Sredniki, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire [now Seredžius, Lithuania]
- Died
- October 23, 1950
- Movies
- 44
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Al Jolson (born Asa Yoelson; May 26, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-born American singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer". He was born in the Russian Empire (the part of which is now in Lithuania) and emigrated to America at the age of five with his Jewish parents.
His performing style was brash and extroverted, and he popularized a large number of songs that benefited from his "shamelessly sentimental, melodramatic approach". Numerous well-known singers were influenced by his music, including Bing Crosby Judy Garland, rock and country entertainer Jerry Lee Lewis, and Bob Dylan, who once referred to him as "somebody whose life I can feel". Broadway critic Gilbert Seldes compared him to "the Great God Pan," claiming that Jolson represented "the concentration of our national health and gaiety."
Best-Known Movies
Filmography
| 2026 | O Filme que Fala | Jakie Rabinowitz (archive footage) |
| 2025 | Gene Kelly: An American in Hollywood | Self (archive footage) |
| 2022 | Sunshine State | Self (archive footage) |
| 2021 | The Real Charlie Chaplin | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 2020 | Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty | archive footage |
| 2011 | Vito | Self (archive footage) |
| 2007 | The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk | Self (archive footage) |
| 1997 | Vaudeville | Self (archive footage) |
| 1990 | Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To | (archive footage) |
| 1984 | Going Hollywood: The '30s | (archive footage) |
| 1982 | Showbiz Goes to War | (archive footage) |
| 1976 | Salsa | (archive footage) |
| 1975 | Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? | Self (archive footage) |
| 1961 | The Legend of Rudolph Valentino | Self (archive footage) |
| 1952 | Screen Snapshots: Memorial to Al Jolson | Self (archive footage) |
| 1951 | Purple Heart Diary | Al Jolson (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 1950 | The Golden Twenties | Self (archive footage) |
| 1949 | Jolson Sings Again | Himself (singing voice) (uncredited) |
| 1946 | The Jolson Story | Singing Voice / Al Jolson (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Okay for Sound | |
| 1945 | Rhapsody in Blue | Al Jolson |
| 1944 | Take It or Leave It | (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 1943 | The Voice That Thrilled the World | Self (segment 'The Jazz Singer') (archive footage) |
| 1943 | Show-Business at War | Self |
| 1939 | Swanee River | Edwin P. Christy |
| 1939 | Hollywood Cavalcade | Al Jolson |
| 1939 | Rose of Washington Square | Ted Cotter |
| 1939 | Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8 | Al Jolson |
| 1938 | Hollywood Handicap | Himself |
| 1937 | Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 12 | Self (uncredited) |
| 1937 | A Day at Santa Anita | Al Jolson (uncredited) |
| 1936 | The Singing Kid | Al Jackson |
| 1935 | Go Into Your Dance | Al Howard |
| 1934 | Studio Highlights | Self |
| 1934 | Wonder Bar | Al Wonder |
| 1933 | Hallelujah, I'm a Bum | Bumper |
| 1930 | Big Boy | Gus |
| 1930 | Show Girl in Hollywood | Al Jolsen |
| 1930 | Mammy | Al Fuller |
| 1929 | New York Nights | Al Jolson |
| 1929 | Say It with Songs | Joe Lane |
| 1928 | The Singing Fool | Al Stone |
| 1927 | The Jazz Singer | Jakie Rabinowitz |
| 1926 | A Plantation Act | Self |
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