Courtesy of the U.S. Army

Danny Kaye 1913-1987

Beloved for his appearances in Hollywood comedies, Broadway hits, and his own television series, Danny Kaye was perhaps best known for the show-stopping number "Tchaikovsky" in the 1941 Broadway comedy Lady in the Dark. In that whimsical number by Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin, the comedian raced through a tongue-twisting list of Russian composers at breakneck speed. Kaye was known for his breadth as a performer, easily performing dance, song, classical music, verse, and improvisation. He starred in 17 movies and won two Academy Awards, an honorary award in 1955 and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1982 for his work with the United Nations Children's Fund.