Biography
Bert Lahr, born Irving Lahrheim on 13 August 1895 in New York City, was an American actor and comedian. He died on 4 December 1967 in New York City. He is best known for his roles as the Cowardly Lion and the Kansas farmworker Zeke in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
Lahr began performing in burlesque and vaudeville around 1910. He made his Broadway debut in Harry Delmar's Revels in 1927 and appeared in musicals including Hold Everything (1928) and Flying High (1930). His film work was limited, though he had appeared in adaptations such as Flying High (1931) before focusing on screen roles.
