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Dennis Day 05.21.1916 - 06.22.1988 (72 years old)

Dennis Day was an American singer, actor, and comedian, born on May 21, 1916, in New York City, New York, and died on June 22, 1988, in Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his work as a cast member on "The Jack Benny Program" radio and television shows.

Day began his career as a singer, performing in nightclubs and on radio shows. In 1939, he was discovered by Jack Benny, who offered him a spot on his radio show. Day became a regular on the program, playing the role of a naive, boyish tenor who was often the target of Benny's wisecracks.

Day's popularity on "The Jack Benny Program" led to a successful solo career as a singer. He recorded several albums and had hit singles, including "Clancy Lowered the Boom" and "Peg O' My Heart."

In addition to his work in music and comedy, Day also appeared in several films, including "Buck Benny Rides Again" and "Music in Manhattan." He also starred in his own television show, "The Dennis Day Show," which aired from 1952 to 1954.

Day's career declined in the 1960s, and he retired from show business in the 1970s. He lived a quiet life in California until his death in 1988 at the age of 72.

Day's legacy as a talented singer and comedian continues to be celebrated by fans of classic radio and television programming. Click here to read more about Dennis Day

Thanks

This actor appeared in the following radio shows

Series	Episode title	Date
Benny Allen Feud	benny allen feud (3 of 6) benny's boulevard
hawthornes adventures	guest dennis day
heres to veterans	dennis day
personal album	guest dennis day
sealtest variety theater	gene kelly and dennis day
jack benny program	halloween celebration	1941-11-02
command performance	betty grable	1942-05-07
jack benny program	jack rounds up the gang in the maxwell	1942-10-04
over here	jack benny and mary livingston	1942-12-26
command performance	command performance (102) bob hope, joan leslie, dennis day	1944-01-22
everything for the boys	this living book	1944-04-04
command performance	command performance (117) olivia de havilland, bob crosby, dennis day	1944-04-29
Duffy's Tavern	duffy's tavern (128) archie tries to get a girl for dennis day	1944-05-02
command performance	command performance (198) ginny simms. dennis day	1945-11-01
command performance	army nurse corps anniversary show	1946-01-17
Fred Allen The Fred Allen Show	fred allen fred allen show (074) the bowery	1946-06-09
jack benny program	jack is upset because phil and dennis have moved	1946-09-29
day in the life of dennis day, a	masquerade ball	1946-10-03
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis writes a radio script	1946-11-14
day in the life of dennis day, a	sing for the king	1946-12-25
day in the life of dennis day, a	guest speaker at the ladies aid meeting	1947-01-01
Boris Karloff	boris karloff jack benny i stand condemned ep 17	1947-01-19
day in the life of dennis day, a	amnesia	1947-01-22
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis and the other woman	1947-02-12
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis asks for a raise	1947-02-26
day in the life of dennis day, a	mistaken for a bank robber	1947-03-05
day in the life of dennis day, a	the photographer	1947-03-19
day in the life of dennis day, a	the burnside house	1947-03-26
day in the life of dennis day, a	miss courtneys romance	1947-04-09
day in the life of dennis day, a	the marriage counsellor	1947-04-16
day in the life of dennis day, a	true life article	1947-04-23
jack paar show, the	disagreement in the shade	1947-06-01
day in the life of dennis day, a	drama critic	1947-08-27
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis runs for mayor	1947-09-03
Family Theater	family theater (032) strictly amateur	1947-09-18
day in the life of dennis day, a	the railroad property	1947-09-24
Front And Center	front and center (13) last episode	1947-09-28
day in the life of dennis day, a	support for a new jail	1947-10-01
day in the life of dennis day, a	mrs anderson opens a dress shop	1947-10-15
day in the life of dennis day, a	selling insurance	1947-10-22
day in the life of dennis day, a	society editor	1947-12-03
day in the life of dennis day, a	obtaining a bank loan	1947-12-10
day in the life of dennis day, a	president of the ladies club	1947-12-17
day in the life of dennis day, a	stealing a painting	1948-01-14
day in the life of dennis day, a	a job with the post office	1948-01-21
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis does a radio show	1948-01-29
day in the life of dennis day, a	baby picture contest	1948-03-17
day in the life of dennis day, a	the land grab	1948-03-24
day in the life of dennis day, a	keeping the radio station on the air	1948-04-07
day in the life of dennis day, a	misquoted in newspaper	1948-04-21
day in the life of dennis day, a	choose acting career or girlfriend	1948-05-05
command performance	command performance sixth anniversary special	1948-05-29
day in the life of dennis day, a	bill calhoun and old shipmate visits	1948-06-19
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis bets on the horses by mistake	1948-06-23
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis donates for a new gym	1948-06-30
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis and mr anderson go out on the town	1948-09-18
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis gives up his room for a new border	1948-09-25
day in the life of dennis day, a	the runaway	1948-10-02
day in the life of dennis day, a	football plays	1948-10-09
day in the life of dennis day, a	phoney oil deal	1948-10-16
day in the life of dennis day, a	the new boyfriend	1948-10-23
day in the life of dennis day, a	mrs andersons earrings	1948-10-30
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis writes an advice column	1948-11-13
day in the life of dennis day, a	mr andersons love letters	1948-12-04
Kraft Music Hall	kraft music hall dennis day	1948-12-09
day in the life of dennis day, a	city manager job	1949-01-08
day in the life of dennis day, a	canceled invitation	1949-01-15
day in the life of dennis day, a	the black mark	1949-01-29
Kraft Music Hall	kraft music hall first song hello, 'tucky, hello, guest dennis day	1949-02-03
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis and mildred plan to elope	1949-02-12
day in the life of dennis day, a	mistaken for an heir	1949-02-19
Family Theater	family theater (107) all brides are beautiful	1949-03-02
day in the life of dennis day, a	the missing heir	1949-03-19
day in the life of dennis day, a	weaverville art contest	1949-03-26
bing crosby philco radio time	dennis day	1949-03-30
philco radio time	philco radio time(46 49) (099) dennis day	1949-03-30
day in the life of dennis day, a	the scoutmaster	1949-04-09
day in the life of dennis day, a	campaigning for assembly	1949-04-16
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis helps mrs anderson get a part in a play	1949-04-23
Kraft Music Hall	kraft music hall first song california, here i come, guest dennis day	1949-05-05
day in the life of dennis day, a	crook shakes down gikoby	1949-06-25
day in the life of dennis day, a	dennis and mildred have a falling out	1949-08-27
Family Theater	family theater (153) william the terrified	1950-01-18
suspense	christmas for carole	1950-12-21
guest star	guest dennis day	1951-02-25
jack benny program	captain horatio hornblower	1951-09-23
jack benny program	palm springs murder mystery	1951-12-09
Lux Radio Theater	lux radio theater (782) top o' the morning	1952-03-17
jack benny program	jack goes trick or treating with the beavers	1952-11-02
jack benny program	snows of kilimanjaro	1952-11-23
guest star	guest dennis day	1953-03-22
Greatest Story Ever Told	greatest story (269) no room at the inn	1953-12-20
guest star	first song christmas in killarney	1953-12-20
Family Theater	family theater (350) ruth	1953-12-23
jack benny program	the don wilson story	1954-01-10
suspense	like man somebody dig me	1959-08-16
command performance	35th anniversary special part 1	1977-05-29
command performance	35th anniversary special part 2	1977-05-29

Comments
Photos

I like this actor/singer better and better now that I have been listening to his earlier work on radio.And his voice is spectacular!

Tania

Love Love radio spirits

Penny

I loved when he would get jack steamed

Larry

I've always enjoyed him on the Jack Benny show.

Jean

I love this guy!!

Andy

Dennis Day! He won our hearts as the naïve young tenor on The Jack Benny Program, and played a similar character on A Day In The Life of Dennis Day.

Mike

Dennis Day! He won our hearts as the naïve young tenor on The Jack Benny Program, and played a similar character on A Day In The Life of Dennis Day.

Mike

Dennis day is a talented singer and comedian.

Gene

He also spent a little time on television:

Sirius

I bet Dennis got tired of being on Jack Benny for awhile and wanted his own show for a change on this day! I've always liked his singing on the show!! My favorite song is "An Irishman Will Steal Your Heart Away".

Nikki

(birth name was Owen Patrick Eugene Denis McNulty) Born in Bronx, New York 5/21/1917; died 6/22/1988 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Bel Air, California. Tenor on Variety for CBS-Radio (1939), then became the perpetual young singer (Dennis McNulty) on The Jack Benny Program for NBC-Radio and CBS-Radio (1939-1955); CBS-TV (1950-1959). Day was on the Benny program weekly except for a brief lapse while he was serving in the Navy during WWII. Screen debut in Buck Benny Rides Again (1940). Star of A Day In The Life Of Dennis Day on NBC-Radio (1946-1951).

Jack

Regular performer on The RCA Victor Show for NBC-TV (1952-1954). Guest star on television programs including Hour Glass for NBC (1947); All-Star Revue for NBC (1952-1953); Max Liebman Presents for NBC (1954-1956); Alfred Hitchock Presents Presents on CBS (1960-1965).

Jack

Always bright and beaming from ear to ear, Irish singer Dennis Day's name and career remains synonymous with that of Jack Benny's, working with the star comedian on radio and TV for the entire duration. It was Jack who gave him his break in 1939 and Jack who kept him employed as a singer and naive comic sidekick (his "Gee, Mr. Benny!" became a well-known catchphrase on the show). Dennis in fact would play second-banana to the comedian until Benny's death in 1974.

Michael

Dennis was christened Owen Patrick McNulty on May 21, 1917 in Bronx, New York, the son of an Ireland-born stationary engineer. The strength and promise of his lilting tenor was first discovered while performing with his glee club at St. Patrick's Cathedral High School. Graduating from Manhattan College, he first had designs on a law career and starting singing in order to earn money for tuition. By himself, he recorded "I Never Knew Heaven Could Speak" and distributed the song out to various radio producers, one of whom presented it to Mary Livingston, Benny's wife. She was so taken that she insisted he be considered for her husband's popular radio show "The Jack Benny Show". When the show's then-tenor Kenny Baker objected to being a featherbrained foil to Benny on the show and gave notice, Dennis auditioned and won a regular spot, and the idea of law school became a thing of the past. Making his debut on the Benny show on October 8, 1939, Dennis' innocent-eyed teenager (he was actually 21 at the time) often drew more laughs than Benny himself in their rapport together. His career was interrupted by World War II when he served with the Navy. He was discharged in 1946.

Michael

His cherry-cheeked, wide-eyed charm delighted scores of radio fans and the fame Dennis received from the show drew invitations to other radio programs, and eventually his own radio show "A Day in the Life of Dennis Day" in 1946. Here he played (naturally) a naive soda jerk. But he never left Benny, staying true-blue to the comedian when The Jack Benny Program (1950) transferred to TV and became an institution for a decade and a half. Dennis also showed great flair as a mimic, impersonating a number of illustrious stars such as Ronald Colman, Jimmy Durante and James Stewart on the Benny program. Dubbed "America's Favorite Irish Tenor", The Dennis Day Show (1952) took life just two years after the Benny program went on the air. It enjoyed two seasons on TV before it was canceled.

Michael

Dennis also appeared in support of Benny on film. Buck Benny Rides Again (1940), marked Dennis' movie debut and in it he sang "My Kind of Country." Other sporadic filming emphasizing his vocal prowess were for the most part "B"-level musical entertainment. He co-starred with Judy Canova in the cornball comedy Sleepy Lagoon(1943); Anne Shirley in the romantic Music in Manhattan (1944); June Haver and Gloria DeHaven in I'll Get By (1950), in which he sang "McNamara's Band" and "There Will Never Be Another You", and; the Civil War-themed Golden Girl (1951) headlining Mitzi Gaynor as entertainer Lotta Crabtree in which Dennis crooned "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" and "California Moon." Despite these agreeable outings, he never came close to becoming a musical film star perhaps because he was too identified with his cheery, naive image on radio and TV. Once he finished The Girl Next Door (1953) which again starred Ms. Haver, Dennis was nowhere to be seen on celluloid for at least another two decades. Walt Disney also welcomed Dennis' sunny tenor in his animated features The Legend of Johnny Appleseed (1948), in which Dennis sang the title song, and Melody Time (1948).

Michael

Best known for his recording of Irish tunes, including such novelty songs as "Clancy Lowered the Boom", Dennis won over the ladies with his romantic covers of such ballads as "Mam'selle," "Dear Hearts and Gentle People" and "Mona Lisa." Occasionally he was given dramatic work on TV but nothing really came of it, coming off much better as a guest in musical variety shows.

Michael

Dennis legally adopted his professional name in 1944 against his family's wishes. The strict Irish-Catholic married Peggy Almquist in 1948 and the couple had ten children (six daughters, four sons). Dennis and his family settled in Los Angeles where he became an honorary mayor of Mandeville Canyon. He and his wife also owned an antique shop in Santa Monica for a time. He continued to perform at conventions and fairs throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and was seen only occasionally in film and TV parts as he refused any work he deemed objectionable. He died at age 72 in Los Angeles from Lou Gehrig's disease.

Michael

Dennis D had a great voice!

James

I’m so happy when I get those episodes that have the song edited out. He was a great impersonator and comedian though. Manage

Kurt

He was also smart-playing innocent kid in your 50's is tough. But he made it work.

Kim

Would you believe that there were people naive enough to believe that Dennis Day was paid $35 a week and had to mow Benny's lawn as part of his contract....Or that Rochester was really a servant in the Benny household and had to be chief cook and bottle washer....or that Ronald and Benita Coleman actually lived next door to Jack Benny. The characters were so clearly defined that the audience couldnt separate fact from fantasy.

Mike

he had talent for singing and also comedy

Steven

During the run of the show, Dennis was always belittled as a “dope,” but he and Don were the only major cast members with college degrees. Dennis had planned on going to law school, but an appendectomy wiped out his college money, so he started singing to save for school.

Scott

Dennis Day 05.21.1916 - 06.22.1988 (72 years old)

This actor appeared in the following radio shows

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