orig. Edgar John Bergren
born Feb. 16, 1903, Chicago, Ill., U.S.
died Sept. 30, 1978, Las Vegas, Nev.
U.S. comedian and ventriloquist.
As a boy he developed the skill in ventriloquism that he later used to earn his tuition at Northwestern University. After stints in vaudeville and nightclubs, he took his act to radio, where the Edgar Bergen–Charlie McCarthy Show (with his caustic and irrepressible dummy Charlie McCarthy) was one of the most popular programs for 20 years (1937–57). His daughter, Candice (b. 1946), was a successful screen and television actress.