Al Jolson

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Russian singer and actor most noted for being in the first full-length talking picture, "The Jazz Singer." Moving to America in his childhood, he sang in a synagogue where his father was a cantor. His interest in show business started with a circus. He then became a black-faced cafe and vaudeville entertainer. He rose to stardom in the New York stage and became America's most popular recording artist. Some considered him the greatest entertaining talent of all time. His first introduction into film was in 1923 in the movie "Mammy's Boy," but the film was never completed. He went on to appear in over 13 films and did voice-over's in three movies. Jolson's life story was made into film in 1947, "The Jolson Story" in which he sang his own songs. Jolson regained some popularity when singing for the troops in WW II, finding a new generation of admirers. The commercial success of his life story movie led to a sequel. Jolson was married four times, his third wife was Ruby Keeler. On October 23, 1950, in San Francisco, he died of a heart attack shortly after returning from entertaining troops in Korea . Link to Wikipedia biography