What was Milton Berle's Net Worth?
Milton Berle was an American comedian and actor who had a net worth of $2 million at the time of his death. His career spanned over 80 years, beginning in silent films and expanding to television and movies. Berle was a major American television personality, known by nicknames including "Mr. Television" and "Uncle Miltie." He hosted the NBC television series Texaco Star Theater from 1948 to 1955.
Berle passed away on March 27, 2002, at 93 years old, from colon cancer. Despite his long career, he wasn't as wealthy as many of his contemporaries, largely due to a lifelong habit of gambling. Additionally, Berle was married four times, which also impacted his financial stability.
Early Life
Berle was born on July 12, 1908, in New York City to a Jewish family in Harlem. Named Mendel Berlinger by his parents Moses and Sarah, his father was a paint and varnish salesman. Milton had three older brothers – Phil, Frank, and Jack. Frank and Jack later worked on his television show, while Phil became a programming executive at NBC.
At five, Berle won a children's Charlie Chaplin contest in 1913 and began working as a child model and actor in silent films. He attended the Professional Children's School and started performing in vaudeville at 16. By 1932, he was on Broadway in "Carrol's Vanities," eventually adopting Milton Berle as his professional stage name.
Career
Berle starred in the 1933 theatrical featurette "Poppin' the Cork," produced by Jack White, showcasing his interest in songwriting. He wrote "Leave the Dishes in the Sink, Ma" for Spike Jones and the title song for "Li'l Abner" in 1940.
From 1934 to 1936, he appeared on "The Rudy Vallee Hour," and later hosted "Stop Me If You've Heard This One" in 1939. He continued his radio career with shows like "Three Ring Time" and "Let Yourself Go." In 1947, Berle hosted "The Milton Berle Show," which ran until 1948.
In 1948, Berle transitioned to television, reviving parts of his vaudeville act for Texaco Star Theater. Initially not the permanent host, he became the regular host by fall, leading the show to massive success and earning several Emmy Awards. This success earned him the nickname "Mr. Television" and endeared him to audiences as "Uncle Miltie."
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In 1951, NBC signed Berle to an exclusive 30-year television contract. However, when Texaco pulled out as the show's sponsor in 1953, leading to a drop in ratings with new sponsor Buick, the show ended in 1956 as Milton Berle Show.
Post-television, Berle performed frequently in Las Vegas and made numerous film appearances. Acclaimed for his dramatic roles, he received an Emmy nomination for "The Dick Powell Show" and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. He continued to appear on various shows, including "Saturday Night Live," until his induction into the Television Hall of Fame in 1984.
Milton Berle's Famous "Asset"
According to legend, Milton Berle had a notably large penis. Comedy writer Alan Zweibel once encountered Berle backstage at "Saturday Night Live" and mentioned having written jokes about it. In response, Berle offered to show him, and Zweibel later described it as an "anaconda… it was enormous, like a pepperoni."
Personal Life
Berle married showgirl Joyce Mathews in 1941. They divorced in 1947, remarried in 1949, but divorced again in 1950. He then married publicist Ruth Cosgrove in 1953, remaining together until her death in 1989.
In 1992, Berle married fashion designer Lorna Adams. He had three children: an adopted daughter with Mathews, an adopted son with Cosgrove, and a biological son with showgirl Junior Standish. He also had two stepdaughters with Adams.
In his autobiography, Berle mentioned various extramarital relationships, including claims of being close with Marilyn Monroe and Betty Hutton, though these claims were contested.
Diagnosed with a malignant tumor on his colon in 2001, Berle opted against surgery. Expecting the tumor to grow slowly, he died in March 2002 of colon cancer and was interred at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City.
