Phil Silvers
1911 – 1985

Phil Silvers

American entertainer, comedic actor, songwriter (1911-1985)

film actortelevision actorstage actormusical theatre actorsongwriter
Born
1911-05-11, Brooklyn
Died
1985-11-01
Birthplace state
New York

Biography

Phil Silvers was an American entertainer and comedic actor, known as "The King of Chutzpah". His career as a professional entertainer spanned nearly 60 years. He achieved major popularity when he starred in The Phil Silvers Show, a 1950s sitcom set on a U.S. Army post in which he played Master Sergeant Ernest (Ernie) Bilko. He also starred in the films It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966). He was a winner of two Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on The Phil Silvers Show and two Tony Awards for his performances in Top Banana and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He also wrote the original lyrics to the jazz standard "Nancy ".

Occupation

Phil Silvers is recorded as a film actor, a television actor, a stage actor, a musical theatre actor, a songwriter, a comedian and a actor, born in New York (1911–1985).

Connections to New York

Phil Silvers was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1911. Explore other notable figures from New York, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from New YorkNew Yorkhistory ›Historic sites in New York
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Brooklyn

Phil Silvers came from Brooklyn. A full Aubrey report on Brooklyn pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Brooklyn report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from New York

Other historical figures born in New York, ranked by historical prominence.

Donald Trump
Donald Trump
American businessman and politician (born 1946), President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
president of the United States from 1933 to 1945 (1882–1945)
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909 (1858–1919)
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
American filmmaker (1928–1999)
Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
American poet, essayist and journalist (1819–1892)
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
American diplomat and activist, First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 (1884–1962)
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
president of the United States from 1837 to 1841

Frequently asked about Phil Silvers

Who was Phil Silvers?
Phil Silvers was American entertainer, comedic actor, songwriter (1911-1985), born in New York (1911 – 1985).
When and where was Phil Silvers born?
Phil Silvers was born on 1911-05-11 in Brooklyn.
When did Phil Silvers die?
Phil died on 1985-11-01.
What was Phil Silvers known for?
Phil Silvers is recorded as a film actor, a television actor, a stage actor, a musical theatre actor, a songwriter, a comedian and a actor.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report