Jack Benny February 14 1894 December 26 1974 was an American comedian vaudevillian and actor for radio television and film Widely recognized as one of the leading American entertainers of the 20th century Benny played the role of the comic pennypinching miser insisting on remaining 39 years old on stage despite his actual age and often playing the violin badly Benny was known for his comic timing and his ability to get laughs with either a pregnant pause or a single expression such as his signature exasperated Well His radio and television programs tremendously popular from the 1930s to the 1960s were a foundational influence on the situation comedy genre Dean Martin on the celebrity roast for Johnny Carson in November 1973 introduced Benny as the Satchel Paige of the world of comedy Description above from the Wikipedia article Jack Benny licensed under CCBYSAfull list of contributors on Wikipedia