Allen Kearns (14 August 1894 – 20 April 1956) was a

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

-born singer and actor. He was born in

Brockville, Ontario Brockville is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in the Thousand Islands region. Although it is the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, it is politically Independent city, independent of the county. It is included with Leeds and ...

, Canada and died in Albany,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

. He played the romantic lead role in several

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

musicals and is especially remembered for introducing two hit songs by

George George may refer to: Names * George (given name) * George (surname) People * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Papagheorghe, also known as Jorge / GEØRGE * George, stage name of Gior ...

and

Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the ...

: "

'S Wonderful "S Wonderful" is a 1927 popular song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics written by Ira Gershwin. It was introduced in the Broadway musical ''Funny Face'' (1927) by Adele Astaire and Allen Kearns. The song is considered a standard and has ...

" (from ''

Funny Face ''Funny Face'' is a 1957 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Stanley Donen and written by Leonard Gershe, containing assorted songs by George and Ira Gershwin. Although having the same title as the 1927 Broadway musical ''Funny ...

'', 1927) and "

Embraceable You "Embraceable You" is a jazz standard song with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The song was written in 1928 for an unpublished operetta named ''East Is West''. It was published in 1930 and included in that year's Broadway mu ...

" (from ''

Girl Crazy ''Girl Crazy'' is a 1930 musical by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and book by Guy Bolton and John McGowan. Co-leads Ginger Rogers and Ethel Merman made their stage debuts in the first production and Rogers became an overnight sta ...

'', 1930).

Appearances

On stage

* ''The Red Petticoat'' (1913) * ''Miss Daisy'' (1914) * ''Come Along'' (1919) * ''

Tickle Me ''Tickle Me'' is a 1965 American musical comedy Western (genre), western film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Elvis Presley as a champion rodeo bull rider and bronco buster. Presley won a 1966 Golden Laurel Award as best male actor in ...

'' (1921) * ''

Tangerine The tangerine is a type of citrus fruit that is orange in colour, that is considered either a variety of the mandarin orange (''Citrus reticulata''), or a closely related species, under the name ''Citrus tangerina'', or yet as a hybrid (''Citr ...

'' (1921) * ''Lady Butterfly'' (1923) * '' Little Jessie James'' (1923) (*with

Miriam Hopkins Ellen Miriam Hopkins (October 18, 1902 – October 9, 1972) was an American actress known for her versatility. She signed with Paramount Pictures in 1930. She portrayed a pickpocket in Ernst Lubitsch's romantic comedy '' Trouble in Paradise'', ...

) * ''Mercenary Mary'' (1925) * '' Tip-Toes'' (1925) * ''Betsy'' (1926) * ''

'' (1927) * ''Here's Howe'' (1928) * ''Hello, Daddy'' (1928) * ''

'' (1930) * ''A Divine Moment'' (1934) * ''The American Way'' (1939) * ''The Odds on Mrs. Oakley'' (1944)

On film

* '' The Very Idea'' (1929) - Gilbert Goodhue * '' Tanned Legs'' (1929) - Roger Fleming * '' Lovin' the Ladies'' (1930) - Jimmy Farnsworth

Notes

1894 births 1956 deaths People from Brockville Canadian male musical theatre actors 20th-century Canadian male singers Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States {{Canada-film-actor-stub