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Eddie Foy,
Seven Little Foys
1854-1928
Vaudeville,
Song & Dance
Eddie Foy was born
as Edward Fitzgerald to a tailor from Dublin, Ireland in New
York's Greenwich Village.
From an early age he danced, sang and performed acrobatics
in saloons to help with the family's finances. In 1870 he
started an act with another Irish American Jack Finnegan called
Edwards and Foy. Eventually Foy ended up in circus and minstrel
shows throughout the west were he was known as a "Western
variety artist." From 1888-1894 he appeared in productions
of fantasies such as Cinderella and Ali Baba
were he was very successful. Still greater fame came in 1901
on Broadway thanks to his mimicry, pantomime clowning, and
eccentric dancing in The Strollers. In 1910 Foy made
his first appearance with his children, the Seven Little Foys.
They performed for about ten years together before they split
up. Eddie Foy Jr. went on to his own success on Broadway and
in film. Eddie Foy was portrayed by Bob Hope in the 1955 film
The Seven Little Foys.
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