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Carl Ballantine >> Biography

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Carl Ballantine
Carl Ballantine
Career: Actor
Height: 188
Born: 27 September 1917
Died: 03 November 2009

Carl Ballantine Biography

Part of the motley crew commandeered by Ernest Borgnine on the popular 1960s TV series "McHale's Navy" (1962), tall, gangly, beady-eyed, bulb-nosed comic actor Carl Ballantine was better known in other ports as the ultimate "magician". Billed as "The Amazing Ballantine," "The Great Ballantine" and "Ballantine: The World's Greatest Magician" during his long career, Carl made a comedy career out of being inept -- the magician who could never finish a trick or get the trick right in the first place. So successful was he, in fact, that in 2007 actor/magician Steve Martin presented Carl with the Lifetime Achievement Fellowship from the Magic Castle in Hollywood.The Chicago native was born Meyer Kessler in Chicago on September 27, 1917, and became fascinated by the magic tricks his barber use to show him at a young age. He immediately began studying the art. Deciding to legit as a magician, he gradually realized that his potential as a comic was much better than as a magician so he decided to spoof his magic act -- pulling up laughs instead of rabbits out of a hat. Changing his name to the more agreeable marquee moniker ("Ballantine") in the early 1940s, it took Carl some time to refine his act as a "bad" magician but eventually he found a successful formula. He later went on to perform at such top establishments as the Palace Theatre in New York, as well as a number of Las Vegas niteries (the first "magician" to do so). The act also made its way to the small screen, becoming a popular time-filler on the TV variety circuit during the 1950s and 1960s.Carl began showing up as an actor in the early 1960s, appearing on such comedy shows as "Car 54, Where Are You?" (recurring role) before hitting the big time with "McHale's Navy" (1962), which was similarly styled to Phil Silvers' service comedy "Sergeant Bilko". He played crewmen Lester Gruber for four seasons. Carl also was featured in such film comedies as The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968) with Don Knotts, The World's Greatest Lover (1977) with Gene Wilder, Just You and Me, Kid (1979) with George Burns and Mr. Saturday Night (1992) with Billy Crystal. His last film was a bit part in Aimee Semple McPherson (2006) (aka "Sister Aimee"). Carl also was part of the regular cast on the sitcoms "The Queen and I" (1969) and "One in a Million" (1980). Every now and then his magician alter ego would reappear on such shows as "Fantasy Island," "Night Court" and "The Cosby Show".In later years Carl made a strong dent in the cartoon voice-over field and lent his voice to hundreds of regular commercials, including one for the California Raisins. Long married to actress Ceil Cabot, their 45 year marriage ended with her passing on January 27, 2000. They had two daughters, Molly, and actress/voice artist Sara Ballantine. Working practically to the very end, Carl succumbed to age-related problems on November 3, 2009, at age 92.

Carl Ballantine Trade Mark

  • Supposed tricks of magic, which always flop.
  • Supposed tricks of magic, which always flop

Carl Ballantine Spouse

  • Supposed tricks of magic, which always flop.
  • Supposed tricks of magic, which always flop
  • Ceil Cabot (1955 - 24 January 2000) (her death) 2 children

Carl Ballantine Quotes

    Trivia about Carl Ballantine

    • In addition to being an actor, Ballantine is an accomplished magician.
    • Father of Sara Ballantine.
    • Performed as Lycus, the slave merchant, on Broadway in the 1972 revival of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" starring Phil Silvers.
    • Acting-wise, he is still best remembered for his co-starring role of navy man Lester Gruber on the TV series "McHale's Navy" (1962) starring Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway.
    • Inveterate smoker of Cuban stogies.
    • Changed his name to Ballantine early in his career after he happened to spot a bottle of Ballantine Whiskey in an advertisement and decided that the name of his magic act would be "Ballantine, the World's Greatest Magician".
    • One-of-a-kind, he was billed as the incomparable Carl "The Amazing" Ballantine, the only magician who NEVER did a trick. Actually, in his early career, he did a manipulation act, but gave up real magic when he realized he could not be as good as some of his peers. However, he did become the first magician to headline in Las Vegas.
    • His fans included Steve Martin and David Copperfield.
    • Received a Lifetime Achievement Fellowship, from the Magic Castle in Hollywood in 2007. The honor was presented by Steve Martin.
    • Once worked as a printer.
    • Loved to play the horses at Santa Anita racetrack.
    • Performed his magic act for the last time at the "It's Magic" show at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood during the fall of 2008, broaching age 91.
    • Exempt from military service during World War II because of back trouble, he entertained troops in England.
    • His last feature film was a picture directed by his friend Richard Rossi entitled "Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story." Rossi said, "Our friendship was the source of great times together at the Magic Castle and Hollywood jazz clubs and smoking Cuban cigars.".