George S. Irving
A beloved Broadway character actor with a booming voice who found eternal holiday fame as the fiery Heat Miser.
1922–2016 (age 94)·American actor·Birthday: November 1·The Greatest Generation
Biography
With a career spanning eight decades, George S. Irving was a fixture of the American stage, a utility player who could steal a scene with a well-timed glare or a sonorous delivery. He made his Broadway debut in the original 1943 production of 'Oklahoma!' and never really left, becoming one of the most reliable and recognizable faces in the ensemble. Irving possessed a unique, slightly pompous vocal quality that directors loved for comic villains or eccentric gentlemen. While he earned a Tony Award for a raucous turn in 'Irene,' his most enduring role came from a voiceover booth. As the voice of Heat Miser in 'The Year Without a Santa Claus,' he created a cartoon icon—a whiny, hot-tempered foil to his brother Snow Miser. That single performance cemented him in the childhood memories of generations, a fate he reportedly found delightful for an actor who dedicated his life to the ephemeral magic of live theater.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
George was born in 1922, placing them squarely in The Greatest 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 George Was Born
The biggest hits of 1922
#1 Movie
Robin Hood
George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1922Born
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1927Started school
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1935Became a teenager
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
1938Could drive
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1940Could vote
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1943Turned 21
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1952Turned 30
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 40
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 50
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 60
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 70
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 80
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2016Died at 94
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
Key Achievements
- Won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role in the 1973 revival of 'Irene.'
- Voiced the classic character Heat Miser in the perennial holiday special 'The Year Without a Santa Claus.'
- Performed in over a dozen Broadway productions across a seven-decade career, from 'Oklahoma!' to 'Me and My Girl.'
- Was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2013 for his lifetime contribution to the stage.
Did You Know?
He served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II as a radio operator on a B-17 bomber.
His middle initial 'S' did not stand for a name; he added it professionally to distinguish himself from another actor named George Irving.
He reprised the role of Heat Miser 34 years later in the 2008 sequel special 'A Miser Brothers' Christmas.'
He made his final Broadway appearance at the age of 88 in the 2010 play 'The Importance of Being Earnest.'
“The stage is a world of its own, and I'm just a resident.”
