Bert Lahr
A rubber-faced vaudeville clown whose mournful roar as the Cowardly Lion gave a Hollywood classic its tender, trembling heart.
1895–1967 (age 72)·American actor·Birthday: August 13·The Lost Generation
Biography
Bert Lahr's career was built on a foundation of greasepaint and grit, honed in the rough-and-tumble world of burlesque and vaudeville long before he ever set foot in Oz. His comic persona—a blustery, put-upon, deeply vulnerable man—was perfected on Broadway in shows like 'Hold Everything!' and 'Flying High,' where his signature catchphrase "gnong, gnong, gnong" brought down the house. Hollywood never quite knew what to do with his broad, physical style, but in 1939, his unique blend of pathos and pomposity found its perfect home. As the Cowardly Lion, Lahr transformed a supporting role into an unforgettable portrait of anxiety and courage, his expressive face and quivering voice delivering a performance that balanced pure comedy with genuine feeling. He returned triumphantly to the stage later in life, earning a Tony Award for his role in 'Waiting for Godot,' proving his artistry extended far beyond the Yellow Brick Road.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Bert was born in 1895, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1895
Bert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1895Born
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1900Started school
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1908Became a teenager
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Could drive
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1913Could vote
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1916Turned 21
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Turned 30
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1935Turned 40
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 50
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 60
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 70
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1967Died at 72
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
Key Achievements
- Won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role as Estragon in the 1956 U.S. premiere of 'Waiting for Godot.'
- Created the iconic role of the Cowardly Lion in the 1939 film classic 'The Wizard of Oz.'
- Starred in the successful Broadway musicals 'Hold Everything!' and 'Flying High,' introducing his famous "gnong" catchphrase.
- Had a long-running career in vaudeville and burlesque, known for his energetic physical comedy and musical numbers.
Did You Know?
His son, John Lahr, became the senior drama critic for The New Yorker magazine.
He performed his burlesque sketch 'The Song of the Woodman' in the 1939 Broadway revue 'Du Barry Was a Lady.'
He was considered for the role of the Wicked Witch of the West in 'The Wizard of Oz' during early development.
His performance in 'Waiting for Godot' was praised by playwright Samuel Beckett.
“I'd be a lion, and a good one too, but I'm afraid there's no courage in a packet of nerves.”
