Due to the unfavorable publicity surrounding the affair and divorce, NBC canceled Fisher's television series in March 1959. Fisher's affair, divorce from Reynolds, and subsequent marriage to Taylor, Todd's widow, caused a show business scandal. His best friend was showman and producer Mike Todd, who died in a plane crash in 1958. He played a dramatic role in the 1960 drama Butterfield 8 with second wife Elizabeth Taylor. In 1956, Fisher costarred with then-wife Debbie Reynolds in the musical comedy Bundle of Joy. In 1957 he signed a then record $1 million deal with the newly opened Tropicana Las Vegas to appear there a minimum of 4 weeks a year for 5 years. He had 17 songs in the Top 10 on the music charts between 19 and 35 in the Top 40. Fisher also appeared on The Perry Como Show, Club Oasis, The Martha Raye Show, The Gisele MacKenzie Show, The Chesterfield Supper Club and The George Gobel Show, and starred in another series, The Eddie Fisher Show ( NBC) (1957–1959, alternating with Gobel's series).įisher's good looks and strong, melodious tenor voice made him a teen idol and one of the most popular singers of the early 1950s. After his discharge, he began to sing in top nightclubs and had a variety television series, Coke Time with Eddie Fisher on NBC (1953–1957). During his active duty period, he also made occasional guest television appearances, in uniform, introduced as "PFC Eddie Fisher". From 1952 to 1953, he was the official vocal soloist for the United States Army Band (Pershing's Own) and a tenor section member in the United States Army Band Chorus (an element of Pershing's Own) assigned at Fort Myer in the Washington, D.C. Army in 1951, sent to Fort Hood, Texas, for basic training, and served a year in Korea. He then signed a recording contract with RCA Victor.įisher was drafted into the U.S. After performing on Cantor's radio show he was an instant hit and gained nationwide exposure. Cantor's so-called discovery of Fisher was later described as a totally contrived, "manipulated' arrangement by Milton Blackstone, Grossinger's publicity director. He was heard in 1949 by Eddie Cantor at Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel in the Borscht Belt. Career īy 1946, Fisher was crooning with the bands of Buddy Morrow and Charlie Ventura. Because he became a local star, Fisher dropped out of high school in the middle of his senior year to pursue his career. He also performed on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, a popular radio show that later moved to television. He made his radio debut on WFIL, a local Philadelphia radio station. It was known at an early age that he had talent as a vocalist, and he started singing in numerous amateur contests, which he usually won. Kate and Joseph divorced when Fisher was an adult, after 33 years of marriage, and Kate married Max Stup.įisher attended Thomas Junior High School, South Philadelphia High School, and Simon Gratz High School. His siblings were Sidney, Nettie, Miriam, Janet, Alvin, and Eileen. To his family, Fisher was always called "Sonny Boy", a nickname derived from the song of the same name in Al Jolson's film The Singing Fool (1928). His father's surname was originally Tisch, but was changed to Fisher by the time of the 1940 census. 1991) and Joseph Fisher (né Tisch 1900–1972), both Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire. Fisher is the father of Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher, whose mother is Reynolds, and the father of Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher, whose mother is Stevens.įisher was born in Philadelphia on August 10, 1928, the fourth of seven children born to Gitte Kathrine "Kate" Tisch (née Minicker, later Stup b. Approximately five years later, he and Taylor divorced and he later married Connie Stevens. The scandalous affair that Fisher and Taylor had been having while each was already married was widely reported and brought unfavorable publicity to both Fisher and Taylor. After Taylor's third husband, Mike Todd, was killed in a plane crash, Fisher divorced Reynolds and he and Taylor married that same year. Actress Elizabeth Taylor was best friends with Fisher's first wife, actress Debbie Reynolds. He was one of the most popular artists during the 1950s, selling millions of records and hosting his own TV show, The Eddie Fisher Show. Edwin Jack Fisher (Aug– September 22, 2010) was an American singer and actor.
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