Jimmy Durante

Birth Name: James Francis Durante

Date of Birth: February 10, 1893

Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: January 29, 1980

Place of Death: Santa Monica, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: Italian

Jimmy Durante was an American comedian, actor, singer, and pianist. Gaining fame in the 1920s, he was known for his gravelly speech, Lower East Side accent, comic language-butchery, and jazz-style songs. He was nicknamed “The Schnoz” and “The Great Schnozzola,” an Italianization of Yiddish slang word schnoz, meaning “big nose.”

He was the son of Rosa Novellino/Lentino and Bartolomeo Durante, a barber. His parents were Italian, from Salerno, Campania. He was married to Jean “Jeanne” Olson, until her death, and then to Margie Little, until his death. Jimmy and Margie had a daughter, who was adopted, “CeCe,” who was a horse trainer and horseriding instructor.

Jimmy’s paternal grandfather was named Angelo Durante.

Jimmy’s paternal grandmother was named Maria Nola.

Jimmy’s maternal grandfather was named Giuseppe Novellino.

Jimmy’s maternal grandmother was named Ganna Corsete.

Sources: Jimmy Durante on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Jimmy’s parents – https://familysearch.org

ethnic

Curious about ethnicity

4 Responses

  1. follers says:

    Ethnic, is there a picture, please?

  2. bablah says:

    Lentino is possibly his grandmother’s last name from a previous marriage.

    https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6QL-12J

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