Peter Donald
Encyclopedia
Peter Donald was a British-born actor who worked in American radio and television.
's radio show, the Irishman who continually complained that he was "not long for this world."
In addition to his long run on "Allen's Alley," Donald was also the host during the 1940s on radio's joke-telling panel program, Can You Top This?
(1951) and Masquerade Party
(1954-1956), and he made numerous TV guest appearances as a comedian (The Colgate Comedy Hour
, The NBC Comedy Hour) and panelist (Pantomime Quiz, What's My Line?
, To Tell the Truth
). His TV appearances as an actor included Prize Performance (1950) and ABC Showcase (1950). He appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
in 1962, and one of his last TV appearances was on the daytime panel show Get the Message in 1964.
In the early 1950s, he lived in Manhattan on the south side of 58th Street between 7th Avenue and Broadway.
His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located at 6665 Hollywood Boulevard.
Radio
He was famed as the character of Ajax Cassidy on Fred AllenFred Allen
Fred Allen was an American comedian whose absurdist, topically pointed radio show made him one of the most popular and forward-looking humorists in the so-called classic era of American radio.His best-remembered gag was his long-running mock feud with friend and fellow comedian Jack Benny, but it...
's radio show, the Irishman who continually complained that he was "not long for this world."
In addition to his long run on "Allen's Alley," Donald was also the host during the 1940s on radio's joke-telling panel program, Can You Top This?
Can You Top This?
Can You Top This? was a popular radio panel show in which comedians told jokes. The unrehearsed program, sponsored at one point by Colgate-Palmolive, was created by veteran vaudevillian "Senator" Edward Ford, who claimed he was taking part in a joke session at a New York theatrical club when he...
Television
Donald was the host of two early television series, The Ad-LibbersThe Ad-Libbers
The Ad-Libbers is a CBS comedy sketch game show that aired in 1951. A summer replacement for Mama, five live shows were broadcast before the series ended.-Format:...
(1951) and Masquerade Party
Masquerade Party
A syndicated revival was produced by Stefan Hatos and Monty Hall in 1974, hosted by Richard Dawson and announced by Jay Stewart. The basic premise was the same as the original show. Bill Bixby, Lee Meriweather, and Nipsey Russell were regular panelists. Col. Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried...
(1954-1956), and he made numerous TV guest appearances as a comedian (The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC network from 1950 to 1955. The show stars many notable comedians and entertainers of the era, including Eddie Cantor, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Fred Allen, Donald O'Connor, Bud Abbott and Lou...
, The NBC Comedy Hour) and panelist (Pantomime Quiz, What's My Line?
What's My Line?
What's My Line? is a panel game show which originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, with several international versions and subsequent U.S. revivals. The game tasked celebrity panelists with questioning contestants in order to determine their occupations....
, To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
). His TV appearances as an actor included Prize Performance (1950) and ABC Showcase (1950). He appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
in 1962, and one of his last TV appearances was on the daytime panel show Get the Message in 1964.
In the early 1950s, he lived in Manhattan on the south side of 58th Street between 7th Avenue and Broadway.
His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located at 6665 Hollywood Boulevard.