Comedienne. She was one of the first female stand-up comics to gain renown with the types of routines usually restricted to male comics. Born Celine Zeigman, she was raised in the Bronx, New York City, New York, and started dancing in vaudeville at age 11 to support her family. During the 1930s she met Buddy Howe, with whom she formed a dance and comedy act that they would continued after the couple's 1936 marriage. However, Howe's World War II Army service forced Carroll to go solo. She would go on to break the accepted practice that female comics either had a male partner or a stage persona that was unattractive by accentuating her appearence, wearing gowns, mink, and diamonds, and telling stories about her family. After the War, Howe realized that the act would be far more successful without him, and became a talent agent. Carroll played the nightclub circuit for many years while working from 1945 until 1959 as a writer for the television situation comedy "Our Gal Sunday". She appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show" more than 20 times (as well as with Tony Bennett, Gary Moore, and others), and briefly had her own "The Jean Carroll Show (Take it From Me)" on ABC during the 1953 to 1954 season. She released one comedy album, "Girl in a Hot Steam Bath" in 1960, and was semi-retired during the 1970s. She lived in Hartsdale, New York and was active to the end of her life, performing on occasion, and taking part in the 2007 Off-Broadway "The J.A.P. Show: Jewish American Princesses of Comedy".
Comedienne. She was one of the first female stand-up comics to gain renown with the types of routines usually restricted to male comics. Born Celine Zeigman, she was raised in the Bronx, New York City, New York, and started dancing in vaudeville at age 11 to support her family. During the 1930s she met Buddy Howe, with whom she formed a dance and comedy act that they would continued after the couple's 1936 marriage. However, Howe's World War II Army service forced Carroll to go solo. She would go on to break the accepted practice that female comics either had a male partner or a stage persona that was unattractive by accentuating her appearence, wearing gowns, mink, and diamonds, and telling stories about her family. After the War, Howe realized that the act would be far more successful without him, and became a talent agent. Carroll played the nightclub circuit for many years while working from 1945 until 1959 as a writer for the television situation comedy "Our Gal Sunday". She appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show" more than 20 times (as well as with Tony Bennett, Gary Moore, and others), and briefly had her own "The Jean Carroll Show (Take it From Me)" on ABC during the 1953 to 1954 season. She released one comedy album, "Girl in a Hot Steam Bath" in 1960, and was semi-retired during the 1970s. She lived in Hartsdale, New York and was active to the end of her life, performing on occasion, and taking part in the 2007 Off-Broadway "The J.A.P. Show: Jewish American Princesses of Comedy".
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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