Kovacs, Ernie (1919–1962)

US television comedian. He did much of the writing and producing as well as performing for his three television series, Time for Ernie (National Broadcasting Company, 1951), The Ernie Kovacs Show (CBS, 1953), and Kovacs Unlimited (CBS, 1952–54). He utilized the medium imaginatively through sight gags and apparently improvised madcap behaviour.

Kovacs was born in Trenton, New Jersey. After high school, he studied acting, appearing with Long Island, New York stock companies in the 1930s. He wrote a column for the New Jersey Trentonian (1945–50). He brought his slightly wacky personality to the ten movies he appeared in before he died prematurely in a car crash.