Dennis Day
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dennis Day (May 21, 1916 - June 22, 1988), born Owen Patrick Eugene McNulty, was an Irish American singer and radio and television personality.
Day appeared for the first time on Jack Benny's radio show on October 8, 1939, taking the place of another famed tenor, Kenny Baker. He remained associated with Benny's radio and television programs until the latter's death in 1974.
Besides singing, Dennis Day was an excellent mimic. He did many imitations on the Benny program of various noted celebrities of the era, such as Ronald Colman, Jimmy Durante, and Jimmy Stewart. From 1944 through 1946, he served in the US Navy as a Lieutenant. On his return to civilian life, he continued to work with Benny while also hosting his own show, A Day in the Life of Dennis Day (1946-1952). Benny became the frequent butt of jokes on his own show that Day had two programs compared to Benny's one. His TV series, The Dennis Day Show (aka The RCA Victor Show) was telecast from 1952 to 1954. Between 1952 and 1978, he made numerous TV appearances as a singer, actor and voice for animation.
In 1948, Day married Peggy McNulty, a marriage that lasted until his death. The couple had ten children. One of his sisters-in-law was actress/singer, Ann Blyth. He died at age 72 in Los Angeles, California from Lou Gehrig's disease. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6646 Hollywood Boulevard.
