Jack Oakie

Jack Oakie was a successful comedian in the entertainment industry, known for his comedic talent and impressive performances in stage, radio, and film during the "Golden Age." Despite being "functionally deaf," he achieved great success through lip reading and vibrations. He had a diverse career, from Broadway to Hollywood, and even received an Oscar nomination for his supporting role in Charles Chaplin's political satire film "The Great Dictator." Oakie was born in 1903 in Sedalia, Missouri and began his career on Broadway before transitioning to films during the silent era. He continued to work in the entertainment industry until his death in 1978 at the age of 74. He was married twice, and the Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Charitable Foundation, named after him and his second wife, continues to provide scholarships in his honor.