Will Jordan

Will Jordan
Born	July 27, 1927 (1927-07-27) Bronx, New York

Will Jordan (born July 27, 1927) is an American character actor who is best known for his resemblance to—and ability to do uncanny impressions of—television host and newspaper columnist Ed Sullivan.

Career

Sullivan often tended to appear ill-at-ease on stage, with stiff-armed, jerky mannerisms, which made him easy to impersonate. Jordan's early appearances mimicking Ed came on The Ed Sullivan Show itself. In his act, Jordan came up with the catch-phrase, "Welcome to our Toast of the Town 'Shoooo'", which became a stereotypical joke for nearly every Sullivan imitator after that, usually as the more generic "Really Big 'Shoooo'" (or "shoe").

In virtually all of his film appearances since the 1970s, Jordan has portrayed Sullivan in films that feature characters appearing on Sullivan's famous variety series. Sullivan himself died in 1974. In 1983, Jordan appeared as Sullivan in the elaborately produced 60s-TV-style video for Tell Her About It, the Billy Joel hit single.

Jordan impersonated Sullivan in the 2003 film Down with Love. Currently, Jordan appears as Sullivan in the Broadway revival of the musical Bye Bye Birdie (as he did in the original Broadway production in 1960-1961).

Jordan's other impressions -- less celebrated but still uncanny -- include Bing Crosby, Groucho Marx and Jack Benny. (Jordan's Benny, unlike the more familiar Rich Little impression, was enhanced by a natural facial resemblance.)