Edward Vincent "Eddie" Bracken (February 7, 1915 - November 14, 2002) was an American actor.

Life and career

Bracken was born in Astoria, Queens, New York, the son of Catherine and Joseph L. Bracken. Bracken performed in vaudeville at the age of nine and gained fame with the Broadway musical Too Many Girls in a role he reprised for the 1940 film adaptation. He had performed in a short film series called The Kiddie Troupers (one of many Our Gang-like series) prior to that, but that film was his big break. In 1936, Bracken enjoyed success on Broadway with his starring run in the Joseph Viertel play So Proudly We Hail. The military drama, co-starring Richard Cromwell, opened to much fanfare but closed after 14 performances at the 46th Street Theater.

In the 1940s, director Preston Sturges cast Bracken in two of his best-loved films, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, opposite Betty Hutton, and Hail the Conquering Hero. Due to the popularity of these films, Eddie Bracken was a household name during World War II. He made numerous radio broadcasts during this era, notably on The Eddie Bracken Show.

In 1953, Bracken left Hollywood. He appeared on Broadway in Shinbone Alley, Hello, Dolly!, The Odd Couple and Sugar Babies. His last appearance on Broadway was in the musical Dreamtime, directed by David Niles at the Ed Sullivan Theater at the age of 77.

Bracken's extensive television roles between 1952 and 2000 include an episode of The Golden Girls as Rose Nylund's ex-childhood boyfriend from St. Olaf, as well as an episode of Tales from the Darkside playing a stubborn old man who refuses to believe that he has died. After nearly 30 years out of feature films, he returned to perform character roles, including the sympathetic Walley World theme park founder Roy Walley in National Lampoon's Vacation, and Duncan's Toy Chest toy store owner Mr. Duncan in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Bracken also had a long career with Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey, starring in dozens of productions in the 1980s-early 2000s. One high point was their production of Show Boat in which he played Cap'n Andy Hawkes. This production was broadcast on PBS in 1990. He also played a cameo in Patrick Read Johnson's 1994 film, Baby's Day Out, as one of the veterans in the old soldier's home.

Death

On November 14, 2002, Bracken died in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, of complications from an undisclosed surgery at the age of 87. His wife of 63 years, Connie, a former actress, died in August 2002, just three months before his death. Connie was his leading lady in the Broadway production of What a Life in 1938. Together Eddie and Connie had five children: two sons (Michael and David) and three daughters (Judy, Carolyn and Susan).

Hollywood Walk of Fame

For his contribution to radio, Eddie Bracken has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1651 Vine Street and a second star at 6751 Hollywood Blvd. for his contribution to the television industry.

Filmography

• Pacific Liner (1939)
• Too Many Girls (1940)
• Life with Henry (1941)
• Reaching for the Sun (1941)
• Caught in the Draft (1941)
• Safeguarding Military Information (1942) (short subject for military training)
• The Fleet's In (1942)
• Sweater Girl (1942)
• Star Spangled Rhythm (1942)
• Happy Go Lucky (1943)
• Young and Willing (1943)
• The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944)
• Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)
• Rainbow Island (1945)
• Bring on the Girls (1945)
• Out of this World (1945)
• Duffy's Tavern (1945)
• Hold That Blonde (1945)
• Ladies' Man (1947)
• Fun on a Weekend (1947)
• The Girl from Jones Beach (1949)
• Summer Stock (1950)
• Two Tickets to Broadway (1951)
• About Face (1952)
• The Gulf Playhouse (Television series, 1952)
• We're Not Married! (1952)
• A Slight Case of Larceny (1953)
• Lux Video Theatre (Television series, 1953)
• Schlitz Playhouse (Television series, 1953 and 1956)
• Playhouse 90 (Television series, 1957)
• The Roaring 20s (Television series, 1961)
• Going My Way (Television series, 1962)
• Rawhide (Television series, 1963-1964)
• Burke's Law (Television series, 1964-1965)
• Shinbone Alley (1970, "Archie" voice)
• The New Dick Van Dyke Show (Television series, 1973)
• Busting Loose (Television series, 1977)
• National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
• Murder, She Wrote (Television series, 1985)
• The Golden Girls (Television series, 1990)
• Oscar (1991)
• Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
• Rookie of the Year (1993)
• Baby's Day Out (1994)
• The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue (1997) (voice) (direct-to-video)

Stage credits

• Carousel (2001)
• The Student Prince (2000)
• Follies (1998)
• No, No, Nanette (1997)
• These Golden Years (1996)
• It Runs in the Family (1993-1994)
• Dreamtime (1992)
• The Wizard of Oz (1992)
• Babes in Toyland (1991)
• Show Boat (1988-1989)
• Sugar Babies (1986-1987)
• Show Boat (1985)
• Kismet (1984)
• Damn Yankees (1981)
• Sugar Babies (1981-1982)
• Show Boat (1979-1980)
• Hello Dolly! (1977-1980)
• Hot Line to Heaven (1975)
• The Sunshine Boys (1975)
• Born Yesterday (1974)
• Never Too Late (1973)
• The Girl in the Freudian Slip (1972)
• You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running (1967-1968)
• The Odd Couple (1965)
• Hot September (1965) (closed on the road)
• Beg, Borrow or Steal (1960)
• Mister Roberts (1960)
• Finian's Rainbow (1960)
• The Golden Fleecing (1960)
• Say Darling (1959)
• Visit to a Small Planet (1958)
• Where's Charley? (1958)
• The Tunnel of Love (1958)
• Three Men on a Horse (1957)
• Shinbone Alley (1957)
• The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956)
• Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1956)
• The Tender Trap (1953-1956)
• The Seven Year Itch (1953-1959)
• What A Life (1938-1939)
• Brother Rat (1937)
• Iron Men (1936)
• So Proudly We Hail (1936)
• Life's Too Short (1935)
• The Drunkard (1934)
• The Lady Refuses (1933)
• The Man in Stilts (1931)
• Lottery (1930)

Radio appearances

[ Source: Wikipedia ]