George Burns, born Naftaly Birnbaum, was an American comedian, actor, and writer.
He was one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, film, radio, and television. His arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation became familiar trademarks for over three quarters of a century. Beginning at the age of 79, Burns' career was resurrected as an amiable, beloved and unusually active old comedian, in the film "The Sunshine Boys" for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, in 1975. He continued to work until shortly before his death, in 1996, at the age of 100.