Oscar Levant

Oscar Levant (1906-1972) was born to a family of Jewish immigrants from Russia. He started studying piano from a young age. At 22, he traveled to Hollywood and befriended George Gershwin, and he would become known as one of the premier Gershwin pianists of all time. His acerbic wit gained him a following as a talk-show guest on various radio and TV shows. He also acted in a number of movies, including An American in Paris and The Band Wagon, often portraying a pianist.