Unexpectedly in 1953, Bracken left Hollywood and went back to Broadway starring in such classic plays as 'Hello, Dolly!,' 'The Odd Couple,' and 'Sugar Babies.' He stayed out of motion pictures for 30 years, returning to appear as a character actor and eventually taking guest starring roles on television. Two of his most famous and best-loved movies were, 'The Miracle of Morgan's Creek' with Betty Hutton and 'Hail the Conquering Hero.' During this time he also starred in The Eddie Bracken Show on radio as well as appearing as a guest star on many other radio shows.
He made his mark, however, as JoJo Jordan in the musical comedy 'Too Many Girls' in 1939, a role he reprised in the RKO motion picture.īracken continued working in Hollywood in the 1940s.
Bracken's first major role on Broadway was in the play ' So Proudly We Hail' which closed after 14 performances. He made significant contributions to all three beginning at nine-years-old in vaudeville, eventually moving on to Broadway. Eddie Bracken is was a star of stage, screen and radio.
