Milton Berle Quotes

18 quotes from 17 authors

Milton Berle’s bombastic style still feels fresh, even after half a century of sitcoms. Here 18 snippets from 17 voices—fellow comedians, writers, and fans—recall his razor‑sharp wit and how a gag became a cultural moment. Fans of his slapstick explore vaudeville legends, early TV pioneers, or golden‑age comedy duos.

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We were surrounded by people who saw that in me. Milton Berle's mother told my mother, 'She has talent.'

Leslie Uggams

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The only ones who like Milton Berle are his mother - and the public.

Walter Winchell

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The choreographer for the Milton Berle show wanted me to audition. I walked away from that.

Danny Aiello

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“If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door. Milton Berle.”

Samna Ghani

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There was a time... when people didn't go out of their house on Tuesday night at eight o'clock because Milton Berle was…

Ed McMahon

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I remember tap-dancing and singing in front of the TV when I was a kid, telling my dad to stop watching Ed…

Andie MacDowell

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An insult is mean or unkind. Milton Berle called me the Sultan of Insult, and I was called the King of Insult.…

Don Rickles

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Groucho, Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis it was incredible. It's a thrill to work with people like that, to…

Soupy Sales

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Milton took vaudeville, which, if you look up 'vaudeville' in the dictionary, right alongside of it, it says 'Milton Berle' - and…

Alan King

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I think drag is universal, no matter who does it. I mean, yeah, I am homosexual, but I think everybody likes to…

RuPaul

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Right when I started in show... Milton Berle was my first idol. When I was a kid, I went to see Milton…

Alan King

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There were some television sets back in the '50s, but they were expensive. People would gather at the rich guy's apartment down…

Al Feldstein

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I was always a fan of the old-style comics. I loved vaudeville. I loved Milton Berle, Dick Shawn, Phyllis Diller, Don Rickles,…

Larry the Cable Guy

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I think in my case, I had no choice but to have a good sense of humor. I grew up with my…

Marlo Thomas

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I'd seen all the great entertainers by the time I was 14 or 15. My mother was artistic. My father was a…

Lainie Kazan

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I've been able to dine with presidents, with leaders of corporations, traveled for 14 years with (financier and philanthropist) Michael Milken, who…

Tommy Lasorda

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Milton Berle is an inspiration to every young person that wants to get into show business. Hard work, perseverance, and discipline: all…

Dean Martin

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Don't you understand how dramatic it is to be a comic? To be a fool, to get people to laugh at this…

Jerry Lewis

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