Trivia

At the end of the '30s, several of his business ventures collapsed, including a radio chain, and he suffered a severe nervous breakdown.

The voice and character design of King Candy from Wreck-It Ralph (2012) was based on him.

Interred along with son Keenan Wynn at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, CA, in the Great Mausoleum, Holly entrance, Daffodil Corridor. The epitaph on his niche reads: "Dear God, Thank You.".

Received the Disney award "The Mouscar" during the wrap party of Babes in Toyland (1961).

Was originally offered the title role in The Wizard of Oz (1939) but turned the part down, believing it was "way too small".

Eventually he took his middle name of Edwin and adapted it into his stage moniker, "Ed Wynn," in order to save his European immigrant parents the embarrassment of having a low-style burlesque comedian as a relative. Running away from home at age 15, he first worked as a utility boy and eventual actor for a traveling stage company. The adventure was short-lived and he returned home to sell women's hats at his father's retail store until leaving again in five months.

Some of his more famous on-stage props: an 11-foot pole for people he wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole; a windshield wiper to be served with grapefruit; a typewriter carriage for eating corn on the cob; a cash drawer that closed before you could open it; a non-wrinkling nightgown; and a cuckoo-clock fiddle.

Ed teamed up with son Keenan Wynn for a second time--the first was in The Absent Minded Professor (1961)--in Son of Flubber (1962).

Provided both the physical likeness and the off-screen voice of the Mad Hatter in Disney's animated Alice in Wonderland (1951).

Suffered from Parkinson's Disease in his later years.

Worked as an on-stage assistant to W.C. Fields as a youth. The story has it that Fields caught Wynn "mugging" for the audience during his "Pool Room" routine and knocked him unconscious with his pool cue. In later years he and Fields, both Ziegfeld stars at the time, sparked a well-publicized feud but eventually made up.

Wynn reluctantly began a career as a dramatic actor in television and movies, prompted by son Keenan instead of retiring. The two appeared in the classic broadcast of Rod Serling's play Requiem for a Heavyweight (1956). Ed was initially terrified of "straight" acting and kept flubbing his lines in rehearsal and was nearly fired. His quick ad-libs saved his performance, which is now considered one of his best dramatic roles ever.

Organized an actors' strike in 1919, and was boycotted by the Shuberts as a result. He got around the boycott by writing and producing his own musical shows, which were both critical and popular successes.

Once part of a two-year vaudeville duo with Jack Lewis, calling themselves "Win and Lose.".

He was awarded three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame--for Motion Pictures at 1541 Vine Street, for Radio at 6333 Hollywood Boulevard, and for Television at 6426 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

The epitaph on his grave stone at Forest Lawn, Glendale, California reads: "Dear God, Thank You".

Directed many plays and musicals before becoming an actor.

Attended Central High in Philadelphia before running away from home to join the Thurber-Nasher Repertoire Company.

Opened the opening night of the Palace in 1913.

The voice of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Wally Gator is probably the nearest to an exact impersonation of Wynn's "Perfect Fool" character.

Book: Interviewed in "The Great Comedians Talk About Comedy" by Larry Wilde. (1968)

Grandfather of Ned Wynn and Tracy Keenan Wynn

Long-time star comedian in vaudeville who, at the urging of his actor son, Keenan Wynn, would late in life take up acting, both light and serious. He is especially remembered for his role in the Playhouse 90 (1956) television drama "Requiem for a Heavyweight" and in the film Mary Poppins (1964).

Though famous for being in Disney films he never had a leading role in any of the ones he was in.

The second opening show (#2.2 -B&W) telecast on 26 September 1964, for the ABC Television network variety-music series "The Hollywood Palace," Nick Vanoff and Bill Harbach scheduled Ed Wynn as the show's host. The variety show guest lineup included the following acts: comedian Jack Carter, singer Eydie Gormé, singing group Les Revue Parisienne, singer and dancer Zizi Jeanmaire, choreographed by Roland Petit, the French tight rope aerialist "Lenon," Austrailian comic juggler Rob Murray, the tap dance team known as The Nicholas Brothers - Fayard and Harold, and the Rolling Stones. As the show's concluding act, Ed Wynn performed, on his bicycle driven baby upright piano, one of Wynn's most famous vaudeville routines. The Nicholas Brothers had been featured in the MGM classic Judy Garland and Gene Kelly musical feature film "The Pirate." Upon completion of the film's release, the Nicholas Brothers had moved to Europe. Their appearance on this episode was the first television appearance of Fayard and Harold upon returning to the States.

Great-uncle of Bill, Mark and Brett Hudson, via son Keenan Wynn's marriage to their aunt, Sharley Hudson. Great-great-uncle to actors Oliver and Kate Hudson (Bill's children with Goldie Hawn) and singer Sarah Hudson (Mark's daughter).