Arthur Godfrey Net Worth

Robert Thorne
Robert Thorne
• • 8 min read

Is $17 Million Arthur Godfrey Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Arthur Morton Godfrey (August 31, 1903 – March 16, 1983) Was an American Radio and...

Arthur Godfrey Net Worth


Arthur Godfrey net worth is
$17 Million

Must Read

Arthur Godfrey Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family

Arthur Morton Godfrey (August 31, 1903 – March 16, 1983) was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname, The Old Redhead. No TV personality in 1950s America enjoyed more clout or fame than Godfrey until an infamous on-air incident undermined his folksy image and triggered a gradual decline. At the peak of his success, Godfrey helmed two CBS-TV weekly series and a daily 90-minute television mid-morning show, but, by the early 1960s, his presence had been reduced to hosting the occasional TV special.Arguably the most prominent of the medium's early master commercial pitchmen, he was strongly identified with many of his many sponsors, especially Chesterfield cigarettes and Lipton Tea. Having advertised Chesterfield for many years, during which time he came up with the idea and slogan "Buy 'em by the carton", Godfrey severed his relationship with the company on one of his television programs after his doctors had convinced him that his lung cancer was due to smoking. Subsequently, he became a prominent spokesman for anti-smoking education. 
Full NameArthur Godfrey
Net Worth$17 Million
Date Of BirthAugust 31, 1903
DiedMarch 16, 1983, New York City, New York, United States
Place Of BirthNew York City, New York, USA
OccupationBroadcaster and entertainer
ProfessionActor, Aircraft pilot, Entertainer, Sailor, Radio personality, TV Personality, Too Fat Polka, Makin’ Love Ukulele Style, Go to Sleep, Go to Sleep, Go to Sleep
NationalityAmerican
SpouseMary Bourke
ParentsKathryn Morton Godfrey, Arthur Hanbury Godfrey, Too Fat Polka, Makin’ Love Ukulele Style, Go to Sleep, Go to Sleep, Go to Sleep
SiblingsDorothy Gene
NicknamesArthur Godfrey, Godfrey, Arthur
IMDB
AwardsPeabody Award
NominationsPrimetime Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Personality, Primetime Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Kinescoped Personality, Too Fat Polka, Makin’ Love Ukulele Style, Go to Sleep, Go to Sleep, Go to Sleep
MoviesFlatbed Annie and Sweetie Pie: Lady Truckers, The Great Bank Hoax, Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows, The Glass Bottom Boat, 50 Years Before Your Eyes
TV ShowsCandid Camera, Arthur Godfrey and His Friends, Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, Your All American College Show
Star SignVirgo
#Trademark
1Theme song: "Seems Like Old Times"
2Ukulele
#Fact
1In 1960 Arthur Godfrey was announced for the role of Abel Frake in the forthcoming 20th Century-Fox Picture "State Fair", eventually released in March 1962 with Tom Ewell having replaced Godfrey.
2His radio shows were broadcast over the AFRS network. These were played by the local outlets from vinyl recordings.
3Grandfather of DC Housewife, Mary Schmidt Amons.
4He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard; for Recording at 6616 Hollywood Boulevard; and for Television at 1559 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
5He once remarked on his television show that, when told they had booked Tommy Leonetti, he thought that it was a trio called "Tommy, Lee and Eddie.".
6He was a close friend of narrator Peter Thomas.
7Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives." Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 323-325. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.
8Was an avid amateur (ham) radio operator with the call sign K4LIB. This call is now owned by the Arthur Godfrey Fan Club, which runs an annual ham event in honour of his memory.
9Was thought to have been at least the partial inspiration for the character of Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes in Elia Kazan's film A Face in the Crowd (1957). The character of Rhodes was that of a popular TV personality whose folksy image covered up the fact that he was a vicious, manipulative bully privately.
10He was rated as a Naval Aviator in 1950 (his previous attempts to serve during the war were thwarted by a leg injury). He was certified to fly virtually every type of aircraft in existence during his lifetime (rotor, jet, multiple engine, helicopter, holding FAA type ratings from the DC-3 to the Constellation) and was an honorary pilot for Eastern Airlines. He appeared in a 1953 Eastern Airlines film with famed pilot Dick Merrill at the helm of a Constellation. His friend Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker gave him a customized DC-3 in 1947, which he more than returned in kind through plugs for the airline along with his endorsements about flying safety to his millions of flying-wary listeners during the 1940s.
11Steve Allen, Eddy Arnold and Joe E. Brown served as substitute hosts/performers on Talent Scouts (1948) and on Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (1949).
12After years of being a popular radio personality in Washington, DC, Godfrey tried to get the top execs at CBS Radio to air his radio show on the full network. They turned him down, claiming that he was strictly a local host. However, on April 12, 1945, the network needed someone to serve as commentator for the funeral of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Godfrey was assigned to host the sad event. His remarks were so sincere and heartfelt that CBS finally gave him a nationally broadcast talk/variety series.
13He made his radio debut in the mid-'20s on a radio talent show as a banjo player and singer. He later hosted his own musical/variety program, "Red Godfrey The Warbling Banjoist & His Uklelee Club.
14Inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame in 2001.
15He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.
16At his TV peak in 1953, he starred in three different television shows simultaneously -- Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (1949), Talent Scouts (1948), and Arthur Godfrey Time (1952).
17He was known for finding and grooming young, undiscovered talent. But he insisted on loyalty and absolute control over their careers. One of his bigger finds, singer Julius LaRosa, was unceremoniously fired by a very gracious-sounding Godfrey ON THE AIR simply because the up-and-comer found himself an agent. Godfrey's popularity soon declined after the incident -- his "nice guy" public image irreparably damaged.

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Love Boat1979TV SeriesNed Dunkmueller
Flatbed Annie & Sweetiepie: Lady Truckers1979TV MovieUncle Wally
Angels' Brigade1979Arthur Godfrey
Flying High1978TV SeriesRed Greene
The Great Bank Hoax1978Maj. Bryer (Ret.)
Ellery Queen1976TV SeriesClaude Sitwell
The Red Skelton Hour1967-1969TV SeriesShifty Sam / Farmer
Your All-American College Show1968TV SeriesHost
Where Angels Go Trouble Follows!1968The Bishop: The 'In' Group
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre1967TV SeriesSheriff Tinsley
The Glass Bottom Boat1966Axel Nordstrom
Jackie Gleason: American Scene Magazine1964TV SeriesCameo
4 for Texas1963Mr. Godfrey (uncredited)
Fifty Years Before Your Eyes1950DocumentaryNarrator
Arthur Godfrey and His Ukulele1950TV SeriesHost

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Gintberg på kanten2011-2016TV Series documentary music - 13 episodes

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Six Feet Under2004TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Dean Martin Show1967TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Glass Bottom Boat1966performer: "The Glass Bottom Boat", "Whatever Will Be, Will Be Que Sera, Sera" uncredited
Arthur Godfrey and His Friends1958TV Series performer - 1 episode

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
America: The Everglades1971TV Movie documentary
America: The Ocean Frontier1970TV Movie documentary

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Arthur Godfrey Time1952TV SeriesHimself
Premiere1951TV SpecialHimself
It Could Happen to You1947ShortHimself - Narrator and Radio Show Host
Oz: The American Fairyland1997Video documentaryHimself (voice)
The Arthur Godfrey Special1979TV MovieHimself - Guest of Honor
The Alan Hamel Show1979TV SeriesHimself
Everyday1978TV SeriesHimself
CBS: On the Air1978TV Mini-Series documentaryCo-host - part II
Handle with Care1977Himself (voice)
The Hollywood Squares1972-1976TV SeriesHimself
Donny and Marie1976TV SeriesHimself
The Merv Griffin Show1976TV SeriesHimself
Don Rickles: Buy This Tape You Hockey Puck1975Video documentaryHimself
Rickles1975TV MovieHimself
The Vin Scully Show1973TV SeriesHimself
Laugh-In1973TV SeriesHimself
Portable Electric Medicine Show1972TV MovieHimself - Host
America: The Everglades1971TV Movie documentary
The David Frost Show1969-1971TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Guest Host
The Ed Sullivan Show1951-1970TV SeriesHimself / Singer
The Mike Douglas Show1970TV SeriesHimself
America: The Ocean Frontier1970TV Movie documentary
Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus - 99th Edition1969TV MovieHimself - Host
The Jerry Lewis Show1968TV SeriesHimself
The Dean Martin Show1966-1968TV SeriesHimself
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour1968TV SeriesHimself
Our Place1967TV SeriesHimself
The Roger Miller Show1966TV SeriesHimself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1963-1966TV SeriesHimself - Guest Host / Himself - Guest
I've Got a Secret1958-1966TV SeriesHimself - Panelist / Himself - Celebrity Guest / Himself - Guest / ...
What's My Line?1952-1966TV SeriesHimself - Mystery Guest / Himself - Guest Panelist
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show1966TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The Hollywood Palace1964-1966TV SeriesHimself - Host / Singer
Ice Capades of 19661965TV MovieHimself - Host
The Lucy Show1965TV SeriesHimself
Password All-Stars1963-1964TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Panelist
The Jack Paar Program1963-1964TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Guest
The Arthur Godfrey Thanksgiving Special1963TV MovieHimself - Host
The 15th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1963TV SpecialHimself - Host
Arthur Godfrey Loves Animals1963TV MovieHimself - Host
Arthur Godfrey and the Sounds of New York1963TV MovieHimself - Host
Arthur Godfrey in Hollywood1962TV MovieHimself - Host
The Arthur Godfrey Show1961TV MovieHimself - Host
The Red Skelton Hour1959-1961TV SeriesHimself - Guest Host / Himself
Candid Camera1960-1961TV SeriesHimself - Host / Himself - Co-Host / Himself
The 12th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1960TV SpecialHimself
The Arthur Godfrey Show1960TV MovieHimself - Host
Sunday Showcase1959TV SeriesHimself - Host
The Arthur Godfrey Show1959TV MovieHimself - Host
Arthur Godfrey and His Friends1953-1958TV SeriesHimself - Host / Himself / Performer
Talent Scouts1949-1956TV SeriesHimself - Host
The Al Pearce Show1954TV SeriesHerself - Singer
The Jackie Gleason Show1954TV SeriesHimself - Guest Host
Person to Person1953TV Series documentaryHimself
Flying with Arthur Godfrey1953DocumentaryHimself

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1972Personal AwardPeabody Awards
1960Star on the Walk of FameWalk of FameTelevisionOn 8 February 1960. At 1559 Vine Street.
1960Star on the Walk of FameWalk of FameRecordingOn 8 February 1960. At 6616 Hollywood Blvd.
1960Star on the Walk of FameWalk of FameRadioOn 8 February 1960. At 6233 Hollywood Blvd.

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1954Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsMost Outstanding Personality
1953Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsMost Outstanding Personality
1950Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsMost Outstanding Kinescope Personality

Known for movies

Robert Thorne

Robert Thorne

Automotive & Future Transportation Editor
Twitter Linkedin

Robert Thorne covers electric vehicle innovations, autonomous driving systems, global mobility trends, and automotive engineering developments.

Share this article
Twitter Facebook Pinterest