Victor Borge

Danish comedian and pianist (1909-2000) · United States · Musicians · Died at 91

Victor Borge is read about 684 times a day, in 32 languages.

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A pianist who treated concert halls like comedy clubs - timing a pratfall to land between Chopin phrases, narrating punctuation marks aloud, turning the earnest ritual of recital into vaudeville without cheapening the music.

Musicians Singer / Musician Classical Movies Music United States Americas 20th Century

A life in dates

2000Died23 December 2000“What is the difference between a Nazi and a dog? The Nazi lifts his arm.”In their words24 December 2000Comic routine in pre-invasion Denmark, quoted in Victor Borge, 91, Comic Piano Virtuoso, Dies" in The New York Times (24 December 2000)Read the whole statement

1977Honorary craftsmanAward1972Knight First Class of the Order of St. OlavAward1954

Comedy in MusicAlbumMore about this1939“(Shortly after Germany forced Denmark to sign a non-aggression pact in 1939) How nice. Now the Germans can sleep in peace, knowing that they will not be invaded by us.”In their wordsFrom the obit in The Independent.Read the whole statement

1909Born3 January 1909

Also in Deutsch

Photos 6

Borge performing before an audience in 1957

Victor Borge, Sergio Franchi, Leonid Hambro at Carnegie Hall, 1963

Borge in 1990

The footstone of Victor Borge

Borge with Kennedy Center Honors in 1999

In their own words 9

Victor Borge

9 statements, newest first

What is the difference between a Nazi and a dog? The Nazi lifts his arm.
Dec 24, 2000, Comic routine in pre-invasion Denmark, quoted in Victor Borge, 91, Comic Piano Virtuoso, Dies" in The New York Times (24 December 2000), Own words
(Shortly after Germany forced Denmark to sign a non-aggression pact in 1939) How nice. Now the Germans can sleep in peace, knowing that they will not be invaded by us.
1939, From the obit in The Independent., Own words
I only know two pieces, one is 'Clair de Lune', the other one isn't.
From the obit in The Independent., Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Albums 2

PPPhonetically Speaking - And Don't Forget the Piano!2001

CMComedy in Music1954

Awards

Honorary craftsman1977

Knight First Class of the Order of St. Olav1972

Kennedy Center Honors

Royal Order of Vasa

Order of the White Rose of Finland

Order of the Falcon

Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog

Family

Father Bernhard Rosenbaum

Victor Borge

Partners

Spouse Sarabel Sanna Scraper

Child Vebe Borge

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About this person

Børge Rosenbaum was born in Denmark on January 3, 1909, and trained as a classical pianist before discovering he could get bigger laughs than applause. He fled Europe as the war closed in and rebuilt his career in America, where radio and television loved a man who could play Liszt and then trip over the bench. His act - equal parts virtuoso chops and sight gags, delivered in an accent that never quite left - made him "The Clown Prince of Denmark" on two continents. He kept performing into old age, the routines polished to a gloss, and died on December 23, 2000.

Country

United States