Who Is Burl Ives? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Burl Ives was born on June 14, 1909, and passed away on April 14, 1995, making him 85 years old at the time of his death. Known for his unique voice and charismatic on-screen presence, Ives left a remarkable legacy in the entertainment industry. His contributions spanned across music and acting, establishing him as a beloved figure in American culture. Ives was often celebrated for his folk songs and his performances in various films and television shows.
| Occupation | Country Singer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 14, 1909 |
| Age | 85 Years |
| Birth Place | Hunt City, Illinois, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 14 April, 1995 |
| Died Place | Anacortes, Washington, U.S. |
Popularity
Burl Ives's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
During his prime, Burl Ives stood at approximately 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall and weighed around 220 pounds (100 kg). He was known for his hearty physical presence, which complemented his roles in film and television. While specific measurements are not widely documented, Ives' robust stature contributed to his authenticity as a folk artist and his commanding performances.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Burl Ives was married twice during his lifetime. His first marriage was to Hazel Ives in 1941, but this union ended in divorce in 1947. Later, in 1971, he married his second wife, Dorothy Koster, and they remained together until his passing. Although his romantic relationships were not heavily publicized, Ives' contributions to the arts overshadowed his personal life.
He had six siblings: Audry, Artie, Clarence, Argola, Lillburn, and Norma. His father was first a farmer and then a contractor for the county and others. One day, Ives was singing in the garden with his mother, and his uncle overheard them. He invited his nephew to sing at the old soldiers' reunion in Hunt City.
The boy performed a rendition of the folk ballad "Barbara Allen" and impressed both his uncle and the audience.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death, Burl Ives had an estimated net worth of about $5 million. His earnings came from various sources, including his successful music career, movie roles, and television appearances. Even decades later, his songs continue to resonate, ensuring a steady stream of royalties that contribute to his lasting legacy.
Ives was identified in the 1950 pamphlet Red Channels and blacklisted as an entertainer with supposed Communist ties. In 1952, he cooperated with the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and agreed to testify, fearful of losing his source of income.
Ives's statement to the HUAC ended his blacklisting, allowing him to continue acting in movies, but it also led to a bitter rift between Ives and many folk singers, including Pete Seeger, who accused Ives of naming names and betraying the cause of cultural and political freedom to save his own career.
Seeger publicly ridiculed Ives for attempting to distance himself from many of the far-left organizations he had supported. In 1993, Ives, by then using a wheelchair, reunited with Seeger during a benefit concert in New York City, having reconciled years earlier. They sang "Blue Tail Fly" together.
Career, Business, and Investments
Burl Ives began his career in the 1930s as a folk singer, performing across the United States and gaining notoriety for his distinctive voice and storytelling style. He made a remarkable transition into acting, appearing in numerous films such as "East of Eden" (1955) and "Rio Bravo" (1959). His role in the holiday classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1964) solidified his status as a cultural icon. In addition to acting and singing, Ives explored various business endeavors, creating a brand around his image as a folk artist.
Ives began his career as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually launching his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, which popularized traditional folk songs. In 1942, he appeared in Irving Berlin's This Is the Army and became a major star of CBS Radio.
In the 1960s, he successfully crossed over into country music, recording hits such as "A Little Bitty Tear" and "Funny Way of Laughin'". Ives was also a popular film actor through the late 1940s and '50s.
His film roles included parts in So Dear to My Heart (1948) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), as well as the role of Rufus Hannassey in The Big Country (1958), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the film noir Day of the Outlaw (1959).
Social Network
While Burl Ives wasn't active on social media during his lifetime, his music and films have gained new audiences through platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and various streaming services. His fan base continues to grow, and many of his performances are shared and discussed in online communities dedicated to classic Americana.
Ives's "A Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Silver and Gold" became Christmas standards after they were first featured in the 1964 NBC-TV presentation of the Rankin/Bass stop-motion animated family special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Johnny Marks had composed the title song (originally an enormous hit for singing cowboy Gene Autry) in 1949, and producers Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass retained him to compose the TV special's soundtrack.
Ives voiced Sam the Snowman, the banjo-playing "host" and narrator of the story, explaining how Rudolph used his "nonconformity", as Sam refers to it, to save Christmas from being cancelled due to an impassable blizzard.
The following year, Ives rerecorded all three of the Johnny Marks hits which he had sung in the TV special, but with a more "pop" feel. He released them all as singles for the 1965 holiday season, capitalizing on their previous success. In 2022, 27 years after his death, "A Holly Jolly Christmas", made the Billboard Year-End chart.
Education
Ives attended the Eastern Illinois State Teachers College, where he honed his musical talents and studied acting. His education played a crucial role in shaping his future as a multifaceted entertainer, allowing him to intersect the worlds of music and performance art effectively.
From 1927 to 1929, Ives attended Eastern Illinois State Teachers College (now Eastern Illinois University) in Charleston, Illinois, where he played football. During his junior year, he was sitting in English class, listening to a lecture on Beowulf, when he suddenly realized he was wasting his time.
As he walked out of the door, the professor made a snide remark and Ives slammed the door behind him, shattering the window in the door. Sixty years later, the school named a building after its most famous dropout. Ives was a member of the Charleston Chapter of The Order of DeMolay and is listed in the DeMolay Hall of Fame.
He was also initiated into Scottish Rite Freemasonry in 1927. He was elevated to the 33rd and highest degree in 1987, and was later elected the Grand Cross.
