Bert Williams
Bert Williams Born (unnamed baby boy) Williams (1874-11-12)November 12, 1874 Nassau, Bahamas (see Register of Births, St. Matthews Parish, Nassau, Bahamas, 12th November, 1874, entry #24; see also 1920 U.S Federal Census; interview with Bert Williams, Chicago Record-Herald, 25th September, 1910; interview with Bert Williams, New York World, 27th June, 1903 Died March 4, 1922(1922-03-04) (aged 47) New York City, New York, U.S. Other names Egbert Austin Williams Occupation Entertainer/Actor/Comedian Years active 1892 - 1922 Spouse(s) Lottie Williams (nee Thompson) Bert Williams (November 12, 1874 – March 4, 1922) was one of the pre-eminent entertainers of the Vaudeville era and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time. He was by far the best-selling black recording artist before 1920. In 1918, the New York Dramatic Mirror called Williams "one of the great comedians of the world." Williams was a key figure in the development of African-American entertainment. In an age when racial inequality and stereotyping were commonplace, he became the first black American to take a lead role on the Broadway stage, and did much to push back racial barriers during his career. Fellow vaudevillian W.C. Fields, who appeared in productions with Williams, described him as "the funniest man I ever saw – and the saddest man I ever knew."