Actor. He began his career in entertainment at fourteen years old, when he worked as a tap dancer in his native Boston. During World War I, he entertained on showboats and found work in stock acting companies. In 1918 he began working in burlesque as a dialect comedian. Ethnic and dialect comedy were to be his specialty during the nearly 70 years he was in show business as an entertainer and character actor. Throughout the 1920s he was a big vaudeville draw, and was signed to do movies with MGM in 1927. He was to go on to have great success in the movies, although initially some of the studio executives thought he looked "too Jewish" to be very popular or to become a star. Rubin received top billing in a few two-reelers, but before long settled down to being a character actor and bit player. He also received prominent screen credit for two Wheeler and Woolsey films, 'High Flyers' and 'On Again' (both 1937), for which he had worked as one of the scenarists. Rubin also worked in radio as one of the most prolific members of Jack Benny's stock company. His radio character was usually that of an annoying information desk attendant. He also continued to work in two-reelers, feature-length comedies, television programs, commercials, and cartoons throughout the Fifties and Sixties. Rubin worked in show business until 1979, passing away from a heart attack seven years later at the age of eighty-seven.
Actor. He began his career in entertainment at fourteen years old, when he worked as a tap dancer in his native Boston. During World War I, he entertained on showboats and found work in stock acting companies. In 1918 he began working in burlesque as a dialect comedian. Ethnic and dialect comedy were to be his specialty during the nearly 70 years he was in show business as an entertainer and character actor. Throughout the 1920s he was a big vaudeville draw, and was signed to do movies with MGM in 1927. He was to go on to have great success in the movies, although initially some of the studio executives thought he looked "too Jewish" to be very popular or to become a star. Rubin received top billing in a few two-reelers, but before long settled down to being a character actor and bit player. He also received prominent screen credit for two Wheeler and Woolsey films, 'High Flyers' and 'On Again' (both 1937), for which he had worked as one of the scenarists. Rubin also worked in radio as one of the most prolific members of Jack Benny's stock company. His radio character was usually that of an annoying information desk attendant. He also continued to work in two-reelers, feature-length comedies, television programs, commercials, and cartoons throughout the Fifties and Sixties. Rubin worked in show business until 1979, passing away from a heart attack seven years later at the age of eighty-seven.
Bio by: Carrie-Anne
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