Eddie Bracken - Definition and Overview

Eddie Bracken (February 7, 1915 - November 14, 2002) was an American comic actor. Born in Astoria, New York, he performed in vaudeville at the age of nine, and gained fame at an early age on Broadway in the musical Too Many Girls, which he reprised in the film version in 1940. He had performed in a short film seires called The Kiddie Troupers (one of many Our Gang-like series) prior to that, but this film was his big break.

Director Preston Sturges cast him in two of his films, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek and Hail the Conquering Hero, but in 1953 he virtually left Hollywood until returning in the 1980s to perform character roles in such films as National Lampoon's Vacation.

Bracken has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6751 Hollywood Blvd.