Victor Borge (January 3, 1909 – December 23, 2000) was born in Copenhagen, Denmark as Børge Rosenbaum and died in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA. Affectionately known as the Clown Prince of Denmark and the Great Dane, he was a humorist, entertainer and world-class pianist.

Borge first studied piano with his father and gave his first piano recital when he was 8 years old, then he went on to study in Berlin with Frederic Lamond and Egon Petri. Performing in musical revues introduced him to musical comedy, and he satirized Adolf Hitler. When Denmark was occupied by the Nazis during World War II, he escaped to the United States by way of Sweden. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1948. Borge appeared on Kraft Music Hall presented by Bing Crosby, and later in his own show. He went on to become one of the most popular entertainers of his time in the United States. His act, Comedy in Music, is the longest standing one-man show ever.

Borge received Kennedy Center Honors in 1999.

External link

• A Tribute to Victor Borge