Ives, Burl (1909-1995), was an American folk singer and actor. As a singer, he became best known for performing such folk ballads as “Blue Tail Fly.” Ives made his professional stage debut in 1938 and achieved his greatest Broadway success in 1955 as Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by the American playwright Tennessee Williams. Ives won the Academy Award as best supporting actor in 1958 for his performance in The Big Country.
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was born on June 14, 1909, in Hunt City, Illinois. He began his singing career in the early 1930’s. Ives appeared on the stage from the mid-1930’s through the mid-1960’s. He made his motion-picture debut in Smoky in 1946. Ives also performed on radio and television. He wrote an autobiography, The Wayfaring Stranger (1948), and compiled several books of folk songs. Ives died on April 14, 1995.
