Biography
Harry Einstein was a comic performer whose career flourished on radio from the 1930s through the early '50s and, briefly, in movies during the early '40s. He was best known to the public under the name of his most famous radio character, a comic Greek called Parkyakarkus, which he portrayed on radio in various venues, most notably on
Eddie Cantor's radio show. He later brought the portrayal to movies in the early '40s but his movie career was a short one. Einstein was appearing at a Friar's "roast" on November 24, 1958, and had just finished a comical tribute to the subject when he died of a massive heart attack, collapsing into the arms of
Milton Berle, who was seated next to him. (Berle called out to ask if there was a doctor in the house and those in the room thought he was joking.) Einstein's children by his first marriage included author
Charles Einstein, while his children from his second marriage, to actress
Thelma Leeds, included actor/comic/director
Albert Brooks and comic/writer/actor Bob Einstein (aka "Super Dave Osborne"). ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide