# List of vaudeville performers: L–Z

This is a partial list of vaudeville performers. Inclusion on this list indicates that the subject appeared at least once on the North American vaudeville stage during its heyday between 1881 and 1932. The source in the citation included with each entry confirms their appearance and cites information in the performance notes section.
Vaudeville was a style of variety entertainment predominant in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Developing from many sources, including saloon shows, minstrel shows, freak shows, dime museums, British pantomimes, and other popular forms of entertainment, vaudeville became one of the most popular types of entertainment in America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Vaudeville took the form of a series of separate, unrelated acts each featuring different types of performance, including classical and popular musical acts, dance performances, comedy, animal acts, magic and illusions, female and male impersonators, acrobatic and athletic feats, one-act plays or scenes from plays, lectures, minstrels, or even short films. A vaudeville performer is sometimes known as a "vaudevillian".
* A–K (previous page)
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X
* Y
* Z
* Sources
* Notes

## L

| Name | Birth | Death | Nationality | Performance notes | Reference |
| Wilton Lackaye | September 30, 1862 | August 22, 1932 | American | Actor. | |
| Bert Lahr | August 13, 1895 | December 4, 1967 | American | Part of the comic act Lahr & Mercedes, a comic act. Later gained fame as an actor in films, most notably as the Cowardly Lion in the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz. | |
| Leona LaMar | October 26, 1883 | April 22, 1941 | American | Mentalist | |
| Bessie Lamb | c. 1878 | October 30, 1907 | American | Singer and mimic. Credited with bringing ragtime to vaudeville. | |
| Professor Lamberti | January 9, 1892 | March 13, 1950 | American | Born Basil Garwood Lambert. A skilled xylophone player who entered vaudeville as a serious musician, but he soon added comic effects to his act. | |
| Dorothy Lamour | December 10, 1914 | September 22, 1996 | American | Actress in a Fanchon & Marco revue. | |
| Burt Lancaster | November 2, 1913 | October 20, 1994 | American | Oscar-winning actor, who started out in his teens an acrobat with Nick Cravat, Lang & Cravat. | |
| Harry Langdon | June 15, 1884 | December 22, 1944 | American | Comedian who formed an act called "Johnny's New Car" with Rose Francis in 1903 and toured the Orpheum Circuit until finding greater success in silent films. | |
| Lillie Langtry | October 13, 1853 | February 12, 1929 | British | Actress, widely known as the mistress of Edward VII. | |
| Grace La Rue | June 14, 1895 | July 17, 1971 | American | Dancer and singer. | |
| Jesse L. Lasky | September 13, 1880 | January 13, 1958 | American | Actor who later co-founded Paramount Pictures with Adolph Zukor. | |
| Alfred Latell | January 19, 1887 | April 4, 1951 | American | Animal impersonator. | |
| The Lassiter Brothers | 1904 | 1988 | American | Warren and Francis Lassiter performed acrobatics, dance and comedy in the Publix and Taka Chance vaudeville troupes. | |
| Elsie Newlin Lassiter | 1904 | 1985 | American | Chorus girl Taka Chance Vaudeville Troupe. | |
| Sir Harry Lauder | August 4, 1870 | February 26, 1950 | Scottish | Singer and comedian from the British Music Hall who made 22 tours of the US. | |
| Hazel Bess Laugenour | 1899 | 1960 | American | Toured vaudeville with a swim tank act, promoting her swimming films. | |
| Stan Laurel | June 16, 1890 | February 23, 1965 | British | Music Hall comedian who toured America with the Karno Troupe and stayed behind, along with Charlie Chaplin to enter films. Later teamed with Oliver Hardy (January 18, 1892 – August 7, 1957) to form Laurel and Hardy. | |
| Joe Laurie Jr. | 1892 | April 29, 1954 | American | Monologist and comedian. | |
| Al Lee | | | American | Comedian and "straight man" for Eddie Cantor. | |
| Gypsy Rose Lee | February 9, 1911 | April 26, 1970 | American | Dancer and actress. | |
| Jane and Kathryn Lee | | | Scottish | Sister act with Jane (1912 – April 20, 1957) and Kathryn (b. 1909). | |
| Lila Lee | July 25, 1901 | November 13, 1973 | American | Actress. | |
| Richard LeGrand | August 29, 1882 | June 29, 1963 | American | Actor. | |
| Lillian Leitzel | 1891? | February 15, 1931 | Hungarian | | |
| Charles Le Maire | 1897 | 1985 | American | A former vaudeville performer, Le Maire began working on costumes for Broadway shows in 1921. While in New York, he designed costumes for the Ziegfeld Follies, George White's Scandals and Earl Carroll's Vanities. By the mid-1940s he was a costume exec and wardrobe director with Twentieth Century Fox where he was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won 3. | |
| Dan Leno | December 20, 1860 | October 31, 1904 | British | Considered one of the greatest British Music Hall comedians who first toured the US in 1897. | |
| Eddie Leonard | October 18, 1883 | July 29, 1941 | American | Blackface minstrel. | |
| Ruggero Leoncavallo | April 23, 1857 | August 9, 1919 | Italian | Composer and conductor. Toured with an Italian symphony orchestra. | |
| Mervyn LeRoy | October 15, 1900 | September 13, 1987 | American | Singer. Later a Hollywood director and producer. | |
| Stella LeSaint | December 17, 1881 | September 21, 1948 | American | Actress with her own vaudeville troupe, Stella Razeto and Company. | |
| Joan Leslie | January 26, 1925 | October 12, 2015 | American | Singer, began performing at the age of nine with her sisters in an act called, "The Three Brodels." She worked briefly as a model and by 1936 was in Hollywood as a child star billed as Joan Brodel. In 1940, she signed with Warner Bros. as an ingenue. | |
| Lew Leslie | 1886 | 1963 | American | Singer; and did a "patter act." | |
| The Great Lester | 1878 | 1956 | American | Singer, pianist, comedian and actor. | |
| Ethel Levey | November 22, 1880 | February 27, 1955 | American | Actress and singer. Wife of George M. Cohan from 1900-1906. | |
| Ted Lewis | June 6, 1890 | August 25, 1971 | American | Bandleader, clarinetist and singer known for using the phrase, "Is everybody happy?" He appeared in small-time vaudeville before 1917. He appeared in a singing duo ("Giesler & Lewis") and later toured with his dance band, appearing at the Palace in 1919, billed as "The Jazz King." He appeared at the Palace again in the late 1920s. | |
| Tom Lewis | | | American | Comedian. | |
| J. Aldrich Libbey | February 29, 1864 | April 29, 1925 | American | Actor, singer, launched "After the Ball" | |
| Winnie Lightner | September 17, 1900 | March 5, 1971 | American | Singer known as "The Song-a-Minute Girl." | |
| Beatrice Lillie | May 29, 1894 | January 20, 1989 | Canadian | Comedian, known for her absurd double entendres. | |
| John Lind | 1877 | 1940 | American | Female impersonator, often billed as "Lind?." | |
| Jack Little | May 28, 1900 | April 9, 1956 | British | Bandleader, singer and songwriter. | |
| Little Tich | July 21, 1867 | February 10, 1928 | British | Comedian, patter-singer and dancer. | |
| Mary Livingstone | June 23, 1905 | June 30, 1983 | American | Comedian and wife of Jack Benny. | |
| Alice Lloyd | October 20, 1873 | November 16, 1949 | British | Singer and sister of Marie Lloyd. | |
| Marie Lloyd | February 12, 1870 | October 7, 1922 | British | Singer. | |
| Cecilia Loftus | October 22, 1876 | July 12, 1943 | British | Actress, mimic and singer. | |
| Marie Loftus | 24 November 1857 | 1940 | British | actress and singer | . |
| Ella Lola | 2 September 1883 | | American | Dancer who also appearance in some Kinetoscope productions. | |
| Guy Lombardo | June 19, 1902 | November 5, 1977 | Canadian | Bandleader, best known for his "Auld Lang Syne" every New Year's Eve. | |
| Long Tack Sam | 1885 | | Chinese | Magician and acrobat. | |
| Vincent Lopez | December 30, 1895 | September 20, 1975 | American | Pianist and bandleader. | |
| James Loster | January 1, 1894 | April 20, 1948 | American | Acrobat and part of James and Vernie Loster vaudeville act. Married to Vernie Loster. Real name was James Fitzpatrick. | |
| Montagu Love | March 15, 1877 | May 17, 1943 | British | Actor. | |
| Edmund Lowe | March 3, 1890 | April 21, 1971 | American | Actor. He later married vaudevillian, Lilyan Tashman. | |
| Ed Lowry | February 1, 1898 | August 17, 1983 | American | Comedian and saxophonist. | |
| Scooter Lowry | December 19, 1919 | May 1, 1989 | American | Actor, singer, dancer, and celebrity impersonator | |
| Edna Luby | October 12, 1884 | October 1, 1928 | American | Celebrity Impersonator | |
| Nick Lucas | August 22, 1897 | July 28, 1982 | American | Singer and guitarist. | |
| Sam Lucas | 1850 | January 5, 1916 | American | Minstrel, actor, singer and comedian. He and his wife were among the first African-Americans to play vaudeville. | |

## M

| Name | Birth | Death | Nationality | Performance notes | Reference |
| Moms Mabley | March 19, 1894 | May 23, 1975 | American | Comedian billed as "The Funniest Woman in the World." | |
| Adelaide Macarte | 1879 | 1908 | British | Part of the trapeze and strongwoman act the Macarte Sisters | |
| Cecilia Macarte | 1880 | | British | Part of the trapeze and strongwoman act the Macarte Sisters | |
| Julia Macarte | 1878 | 1958 | British | Part of the trapeze and strongwoman act the Macarte Sisters | |
| June MacCloy | June 2, 1909 | May 5, 2005 | American | Actress and singer who appeared in the Earl Carroll Vanities and the George White Scandals. Later she appeared in vaudeville. | |
| Jeanette MacDonald | June 18, 1903 | January 14, 1965 | American | Singer and actress. | |
| Machinson Sisters | | | British | British take on the Barrison Sisters. | |
| Willard Mack | September 18, 1873 | November 18, 1934 | Canadian | Actor. | |
| Violet MacMillan | March 4, 1887 | December 29, 1953 | American | Actress. | |
| Fred MacMurray | August 30, 1908 | November 5, 1991 | American | Actor, got his start by touring with the California Collegiates as a saxophonist. | |
| Uncle Dave Macon | October 7, 1870 | March 22, 1952 | American | Banjo player, singer, songwriter and comedian. In 1916, a talent scout for the Loew's circuit heard him play in Birmingham, Alabama and booked him to tour the circuit in the South. | |
| Joe Madden | August 30, 1908 | November 5, 1991 | American | Juggling Comedian, clown, and character actor. | [62] [63] |
| Will Mahoney | February 5, 1894 | February 8, 1967 | American | Comedian and xylophonist. | |
| Marjorie Main | February 24, 1890 | April 10, 1975 | American | Actress and comedian. Later a character actress in many films. | |
| Boots Mallory | October 22, 1913 | December 1, 1958 | American | Dancer and later a Ziegfeld girl. Mallory debuted in vaudeville as the banjo player for a girls' band at the age of 12. By the age of 16, she was working as a dancer and she made her screen debut in 1932. | |
| Edna Malone | February 1, 1899 | | Canadian | Dancer. | |
| Leon Mandrake | 1911 | 1993 | Canadian | Magician. | |
| George Mann | December 2, 1905 | November 22, 1977 | American | Taller half of the comedic and acrobatic dance act, Barto and Mann. | |
| Martha Mansfield | July 14, 1899 | November 30, 1923 | American | Actress. | |
| Rabbit Maranville | November 11, 1891 | January 5, 1954 | American | Baseball player who appeared in vaudeville in an act with Eddy McHugh. | |
| Fay Marbe | February 4, 1899 | June 2, 1986 | American | Singer and dancer. | |
| Marceline and Sea Lion | | | British | An act with a sea lion and its trainer. The act appeared in the mid-1920s. | |
| Baby Rose Marie | August 15, 1923 | December 28, 2017 | American | At the age of three, Rosie Marie Mazzetta started performing as a singer and dancer in vaudeville under the name "Baby Rose Marie." At five, she left vaudeville to become a radio star on NBC and after that made a series of films. Later, as Rose Marie, she appeared in both films and television series. | |
| Pauline Markham | May, 1847 | March 20, 1919 | British-American | Singer, dancer and actress | |
| Pigmeat Markham | April 18, 1904 | December 31, 1981 | American | Comedian, singer, dancer and actor. | |
| Rube Marquard | October 9, 1886 | June 1, 1980 | American | Baseball player who appeared in vaudeville in 1911 with Annie Kent. He appeared twice with Blossom Seeley and later with Billy Dooley. | |
| Sara Martin | June 18, 1884 | May 24, 1955 | American | Blues singer. Martin toured vaudeville in the Chicago area around 1915 and then New York in 1922. | |
| Marx Brothers | | | American | Comic team of five brothers: Chico Marx (March 22, 1887 – October 11, 1961), Harpo Marx (November 23, 1888 – September 28, 1964), Groucho Marx (October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977), Gummo Marx (October 23, 1893 – April 21, 1977) and Zeppo Marx (February 25, 1901 – November 29, 1979). | |
| Will Maston | 1903 | 1975 | American | Dancer and singer. Toured with Sammy Davis, Sr., father of Sammy Davis, Jr. | |
| Christy Mathewson | August 12, 1880 | October 7, 1925 | American | Baseball player who appeared in vaudeville with catcher Chief Meyers in an act with May Tulley called Curves. | |
| Virginia Mayo | November 30, 1920 | January 17, 2005 | American | Actress. Appeared in an act with Andy Mayo. Best known for her roles in Warner Bros. film noirs such as White Heat. | |
| Winsor McCay | September 26, 1867(?) | July 26, 1934 | American | Cartoonist and animator who toured vaudeville with his creation, Gertie the Dinosaur. | |
| Bessie McCoy | 1888 | August 16, 1931 | American | Singer and dancer known as "The Yama-Yama Girl." | |
| Paul McCullough | 1883 | March 25, 1936 | American | Comedian who teamed up with Bobby Clark. | |
| Owen McGiveney | May 4, 1884 | July 31, 1967 | British | Quick-change artist. | |
| Terry McGovern | March 9, 1880 | February 22, 1918 | American | Boxer who held world bantamweight and featherweight titles. | |
| Tex McGuire | February 29, 1909 | August 2, 1992 | American | Guitar, banjo and dobro player. | |
| McIntyre and Heath | | | American | Minstrel duo composed of James McIntyre (1857–1937) and Thomas Heath (1852–1938). | |
| Victor McLaglen | December 10, 1886 | November 7, 1959 | British-American | Academy Award-winning actor, appeared also as a boxer and acrobat. Later became famous in films working as a character actor mostly under John Ford's direction. | |
| Aimee Semple McPherson | October 9, 1890 | September 27, 1944 | American | Evangelist. | |
| Raquel Meller | March 10, 1888 | July 26, 1962 | Spanish | Chanteuse. | |
| Rose Melville | January 30, 1867 | October 8, 1946 | American | Singing-comedian. | |
| Adolphe Menjou | February 18, 1890 | October 29, 1963 | American | Actor and comedian, later known as a character actor in films such as the original A Star Is Born. | |
| Ethel Merman | January 16, 1909 | February 15, 1984 | American | Singer and actress, possibly the most pre-eminent star in Broadway musicals. | |
| Chief Meyers | July 29, 1880 | July 25, 1971 | American | Baseball player who appeared in vaudeville with catcher Chief Meyers in an act with May Tulley called Curves. | |
| Vera Michelena | June 16, 1885 | August 28, 1961 | American | Musical actress and dancer. | |
| Charles B. Middleton | October 3, 1874 | April 22, 1949 | American | Character actor who often played commanding or villainous characters in films in the 1920s. | |
| Lizzie Miles | March 31, 1895 | March 17, 1963 | American | Blues singer. Toured the south in theatres and circuses. She also toured with minstrel shows. | |
| Miller and Lyles | | | American | Comic duo and well known comic writers. Duo was composed of Flourney E. Miller (April 14, 1887 – June 6, 1971) and Aubrey L. Lyles (1884 - July 28, 1932). | |
| Emmett Miller | February 2, 1900 | 1962 | American | Minstrel and singer noted for his yodel-like falsetto voice. | |
| Marilyn Miller | September 1, 1898 | April 7, 1936 | American | Dancer, starred in several Ziegfeld shows such as Sally, Sunny, and Rosalie where she played the all-American girl to full extent. Also appeared in numerous editions of the Ziegfeld Follies. | |
| Mills Brothers | | | American | Vocal quartet with John Jr. (1911–1936) basso and guitarist, Herbert (Apr. 1912 - April 12, 1989) tenor, Harry (August 19, 1913 – June 20, 1982) baritone, and Donald (April 29, 1915 – November 13, 1999) lead tenor. The famed vocal group began in small-time vaudeville and worked their way up to the big-time, appearing at the Palace the week of January 23, 1931. | |
| Florence Mills | January 25, 1896 | November 1, 1927 | American | Comedian, singer and dancer. | |
| Borrah Minnevitch and His Harmonica Rascals | | | Russian | Borrah Minnevitch put together this act with midgets playing harmonicas. This act is credited with popularizing the harmonica in America. | |
| Rhea Mitchell | December 10, 1890 | September 16, 1957 | American | Actress. | |
| Tom Mix | January 6, 1880 | October 12, 1940 | American | Sharpshooter who joined the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show in 1909. He appeared in Western films starting in 1910 and when he appeared at the Hippodrome in New York, 1928, he broke all attendance records. | |
| Marshall Montgomery | 1886 | September 30, 1942 | American | Comic musician and ventriloquist. | |
| Montrose and Allen | | | American | Comic duo consisting of Billy Allen and his wife, Belle Montrose (April 23, 1886 – October 26, 1963). | |
| Florence Moore | 1886 | March 23, 1935 | American | Singer-comedian. First female emcee at the Palace. | |
| Tim Moore | December 9, 1887 | December 13, 1958 | American | Comedian and actor. Child act on the Keith Circuit, "The Gold Dust Twins" with Romeo Washburn, 1897 to 1899. Husband and wife team: Tim and Hester Moore, 1908 to 1915 (Southern Consolidated Circuit); and Tim and Gertie Moore, 1915 to 1927 (Dudley Circuit, Orpheum Circuit, Fuller Circuit, New Zealand, and T.O.B.A. circuit. Music hall tours of Great Britain on the Empire circuit; tours of New Zealand on the Fuller Circuit (1917-1919). "Tim Moore's Chicago Follies' tours on the T.O.B.A. circuit, 1921 to 1925. "Rarin' to Go," on the Columbia Burlesque Wheel, 1925 to 1927. | |
| Victor Moore | February 24, 1876 | July 23, 1962 | American | Comedian, later became famous as a character actor on both stage and screen. | |
| Polly Moran | June 28, 1883 | January 25, 1952 | American | Actress and comedian, best known for her films opposite Marie Dressler. | |
| Mantan Moreland | September 3, 1902 | September 28, 1973 | American | Actor and comedian, performed on the "Chitlin Circuit" for many years. | |
| Helen Morgan | August 2, 1900 | August 8, 1941 | American | Singer and actress, known for reinvigorating the torch song with her performance in Show Boat and for leading a somewhat tragic life. | |
| Clara Morris | March 17, 1849 | November 20, 1925 | Canadian | Actress. | |
| Johnnie Morris | June 15, 1887 | October 7, 1969 | American | Comedian and actor. | |
| Lily Morris | 1884 | October 3, 1952 | British | Singing-comedian. | |
| Ernie Morrison | December 20, 1912 | July 24, 1989 | American | Dancer. | |
| Lee Morse | 1904 | December 16, 1954 | American | Blues singer known for her trademark yodeling. | |
| Charles Morton | January 28, 1907 | October 26, 1966 | American | Actor. | |
| James J. Morton | December 25, 1861 | April 10, 1938 | American | Comedian known as "The Boy Comic." | |
| Jelly Roll Morton | September 20, 1885 | July 10, 1941 | American | Pianist, bandleader and composer, one of the founders of modern-day jazz. | |
| Mosconi Brothers | | | American | Dance duo consisting of brothers Louis (1895-1969) and Charles Mosconi (1892-1975). | |
| Bennie Moten | November 13, 1894 | April 2, 1935 | American | Jazz pianist and bandleader of Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra. Count Basie was recruited to play piano with the band in 1929. Moten toured on the T.O.B.A. circuits. | |
| George W. Munroe | 1857 | January 29, 1932 | American | Actor known for female impersonations of Irish women. | |
| Ona Munson | June 16, 1903 | February 11, 1955 | American | Singer and actress. | |
| Billy Murray | May 25, 1877 | August 17, 1954 | American | Singer. | |
| J. Harold Murray | February 17, 1891 | December 11, 1940 | American | Singer. | |
| Jan Murray | October 4, 1916 | July 2, 2006 | American | Comedian, later known for his appearances on The Hollywood Squares and many TV variety shows. | |
| Ken Murray | July 14, 1903 | October 12, 1988 | American | Actor and singer. Served as the emcee at the Palace. | |

## N–O

| Name | Birth | Death | Nationality | Performance notes |
| Alfred Næss | April 26, 1877 | July 6, 1955 | Norwegian | Speedskater who toured with Austrian skater, Frieda Meyer (c. 1890 – 1976). |
| Conrad Nagel | March 16, 1897 | February 24, 1970 | American | Actor, began as an acrobat in vaudeville but switched professions. Later became a matinee idol once signed to MGM. |
| John Nash | March 7, 1828 | October 13, 1901 | British | British Music Hall performer, first to tour the US. |
| Mary Nash | August 15, 1884 | December 3, 1976 | American | Actress. |
| Carrie Nation | November 25, 1846 | June 9, 1911 | American | Leader in the Temperance movement. |
| Alla Nazimova | May 22, 1879 | July 14, 1945 | Russian | Actress, known for her flamboyant acting style and offscreen life. |
| Harriet Nelson | July 18, 1909 | October 2, 1994 | American | Singer and actress. Wife of Ozzie Nelson and mother of Ricky Nelson. |
| Ozzie Nelson | March 20, 1906 | June 3, 1975 | American | Bandleader for the Ozzie Nelson band. Husband of Harriet Nelson (the band's singer) and father of Ricky Nelson. |
| Evelyn Nesbit | December 25, 1884 | January 17, 1967 | American | Dancer. Nesbit was the focal point of a love triangle between her lover, architect Stanford White and her husband, millionaire Harry K. Thaw. Following White's shooting death at the hands of Thaw, Nesbit became a popular attraction onstage. |
| Alfred Newman | March 17, 1900 | February 17, 1970 | American | Pianist. Later a film composer, conductor and music director. |
| Fred Niblo | January 6, 1874 | November 11, 1948 | American | Minstrel and blackface monologuist. Niblo began touring with George M. Cohan's troupe and appeared in some of his Broadway shows. After marrying Cohan's sister, Josephine, Niblo moved to Hollywood where he worked with Thomas Ince as an actor and moved on to directing. His wife, Josephine died in 1916 under odd circumstances creating a feud between Cohan and Niblo. | |
| Nicholas Brothers | | | American | Tap dancers, brothers Fayard (October 20, 1914 – January 24, 2006) and Harold (March 27, 1921 – July 3, 2000). Found greater fame appearing in such movies as Stormy Weather and Sun Valley Serenade. |
| Alice Nielsen | 1872 | 1943 | American | Operatic singer. |
| Marian Nixon | October 20, 1904 | February 13, 1983 | American | Former vaudeville chorus girl who entered films in 1922. |
| Karyl Norman | June 13, 1897 | July 23, 1947 | American | Female impersonator billed as "The Creole Fashion Plate." |
| Bobby North | February 2, 1884 | August 13, 1976 | American | Singer, dancer, actor and Jewish comedian. |
| Ruby Norton | | | American | Singer accompanied by Clarence Senna. |
| Red Norvo | March 31, 1908 | April 6, 1999 | American | Xylophonist with Paul Whiteman. |
| Jack Norworth | January 5, 1879 | September 1, 1959 | American | Singer and actor. Husband of Nora Bayes. |
| Annie Oakley | August 13, 1860 | November 3, 1926 | American | Famed sharpshooter, later the subject of the Broadway musical and film Annie Get Your Gun. |
| Buck O'Brien | May 9, 1882 | July 25, 1959 | American | Baseball player who appeared with the Boston Red Sox Quartette in 1912. The quartet included Hugh Bradley, Marty Hale and Bill Lyons. |
| Donald O'Connor | August 28, 1925 | September 27, 2003 | American | Actor, dancer, and member of The O’Connor Family—Royal Family of Vaudeville. |
| Pasty O'Connor | January 23, 1930 | July 4, 2017 | American | Singer, dancer, and member of "The O’Connor Family—Royal Family of Vaudeville. |
| Geoffrey O'Hara | February 2, 1882 | January 31, 1967 | Canadian | Singer and songwriter. |
| Walter O'Keefe | August 18, 1900 | June 26, 1983 | American | Singer and songwriter. |
| Chauncey Olcott | July 21, 1858 | March 18, 1932 | American | Actor, minstrel, and monologist. |
| Charley O'Leary | October 15, 1882 | January 6, 1941 | American | Former baseball player who had an act with Germany Schaefer. |
| Olsen and Johnson | | | American | Comic duo with Ole Olsen (November 6, 1892 – January 26, 1963) and Chic Johnson (March 15, 1891 – February 28, 1962). Biggest success came with the revue Hellzapoppin'. |
| Patrick H. O'Malley Jr. | September 3, 1890 | May 21, 1966 | American | Actor. |
| Nance O'Neill | 1874 | 1965 | American | Actress. |
| Original Creole Orchestra | | | American | Early jazz band also known as the Original Creole Band and the Original Creole Jass Band. The 11 member band included the founder, Bill Johnson (August 10, 1872 – December 3, 1972), on mandolin and cornetist Freddie Keppard (February 27, 1890 – July 15, 1933). In 1916, Victor offered to record the orchestra, which would have made them the first jazz band to record, but they refused. |
| Michael O'Shea | March 17, 1906 | December 4, 1973 | American | Toured with Jack Johnson's vaudeville show in 1923 and worked on the legit stage. O'Shea worked as a leading man in films in the 1940s and 1950s. |
| Jack Osterman | April 8, 1902 | June 8, 1939 | American | Comedian known as the "Bad Boy of Broadway" In the 1920s Osterman was earning $1750 a week as a headliner and revue star. He played the Palace in March 1924 and April 1932. He also appeared in a number of musical comedies. |
| Jack Owens, The Cruising Crooner | October 17, 1912 | January 26, 1982 | American | Singer. |

## P–Q

| Name | Birth | Death | Nationality | Performance notes |
| Earl Palmer | October 25, 1924 | September 19, 2008 | American | Singer and dancer who toured in vaudeville with Ida Cox. In 1947, Palmer took up the drums and became a noted drummer. |
| Harry Palmer | July 12, 1889 | October 5, 1972 | American | Actor and comedian in a comic duo with Jo Hayden, Palmer and Hayden. |
| Eddie Parkes | 1893 | July 24, 1985 | American | Song and dance man. |
| James Parrott | August 2, 1898 | May 10, 1939 | American | Singer and comedian. |
| Tony Pastor | May 28, 1837 | August 26, 1908 | American | Singer and actor. Credited as one of the founders of vaudeville. |
| Signe Paterson | 1890 | Aug 15, 1963 | Swedish-American | Dancer; popularized the Hula and Shimmy on American stages. Sometimes billed as Signe Patterson or Signe Petterson. |
| Isabella Patricola | 1886 | May 23, 1965 | American | Singer; at height of her fame billed simply as "Patricola" or as "Miss Patricola". Full name Isabel or Isabella Patricola. |
| Hank Patterson | October 9, 1888 | August 23, 1975 | American | Pianist and actor. |
| Pauline? | 1874 | November 11, 1942 | American | Stage hypnotist who was billed simply as Pauline? (with a question mark). |
| Edna Payne | December 5, 1891 | January 31, 1953 | American | Actress. |
| John Payne | May 23, 1912 | December 6, 1989 | American | Singer, later became one of Fox Studio's frequent leading men in their movie musicals. |
| Eddie Peabody | February 19, 1902 | November 7, 1970 | American | Banjo player. |
| Jack Pearl | October 29, 1894 | December 25, 1984 | American | Comedian once teamed with Ben Bard. |
| Peerless Quartet | | | American | All-male vocal quartet. |
| Peerless Trio | 1917 | 1921 | American | Composed of Tom Rosa (Thomas Savage), Mazie Berto (Bertha Mae DeCroteau), Anna Vincet (Suzette Carsell). Suzette Carsell became known as the "Mother of the Accordian [sic]" |
| Joe Penner | January 5, 1879 | September 1, 1959 | Hungarian-American | Comedian, known for his catchphrase "Wanna buy a duck?". |
| Ann Pennington | December 23, 1892 | November 7, 1971 | American | Dancer known as "The Girl With the Dimpled Knees." |
| Jack Pepper | June 14, 1902 | April 1, 1979 | American | A juvenile comedian, Pepper appeared in vaudeville in the mid-1920s with his sisters, Helen and Winnie Mae and Frank Salt in an act called "Salt and Pepper." In 1929, Pepper made his film debut in an MGM short film. |
| Olga Petrova | May 10, 1884 | November 30, 1977 | British | Known for her undefinable act which might include acting, recitations or singing. |
| Molly Picon | June 1, 1898 | April 5, 1992 | American | Actress, known for her Yiddish songs and skits and close ties to the Jewish community. |
| Polaire | May 13, 1879 | October 14, 1939 | French | Singer and actress. |
| Daphne Pollard | 1892 | 1978 | Australian | Comedian and actress. |
| The Ponce Sisters | | | American | Popular singing duo in the mid-1920s and early 1930s. |
| Rosa Ponselle | January 22, 1897 | May 25, 1981 | American | Operatic soprano. She toured with her sister, mezzo-soprano Carmella, as "Those Tailored Italian Girls." |
| Beulah Poynter | June 6, 1883 | August 13, 1960 | American | Actress, 1913 skit Dear Doctor |
| Eleanor Powell | November 21, 1912 | February 11, 1982 | American | Tap dancer and actress who started with Gus Edwards. Later found greater fame after signing with MGM. |
| Evelyn Preer | July 16, 1896 | November 27, 1932 | American | Singer and actress. |
| George E. Price | January 5, 1900 | May 10, 1964 | American | Song and dance man. |
| Kate Price | February 13, 1872 | January 4, 1943 | Irish | Actress who toured vaudeville with her husband, Joseph Price Ludwig. |
| Primrose and West | | | American | Blackface song and dance team composed of George H. Primrose (November 12, 1852 – July 23, 1919) and Billy West. |
| F. F. Proctor | March 17, 1851 | September 4, 1929 | American | Juggler. Later Proctor would be a major vaudeville impresario. |
| Eva Puck | November 27, 1892 | October 25, 1979 | American | Singer-comedian and dancer. |
| Mae Questel | September 13, 1908 | January 4, 1998 | American | Actress and comedian, best known as the voices of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl. |
| Eddie Quillan | March 31, 1907 | January 19, 1990 | American | Actor with family act the age 7. |

## R

| Name | Birth | Death | Nationality | Performance notes | Reference |
| Jackie Rae | May 14, 1922 | October 5, 2006 | Canadian | Singer and songwriter, began performing with his brother, Saul (December 31, 1914 – January 9, 1999) and sister, Grace, at the age of three. The three performed as The Three Little Raes of Sunshine. | |
| George Raft | September 26, 1901 | November 24, 1980 | American | Actor, began as a dancer in the Orpheum and Keith circuits and in Texas Guinan's nightclub. | |
| Ma Rainey | September 1882 | December 22, 1939 | American | Billed as the "Mother of the Blues." | |
| Esther Ralston | September 17, 1902 | January 14, 1994 | American | Actress and comedian who made her appearance in her parents' act at the age of 2. At 14, she made her screen debut and following a few small roles eventually became one of America's highest paid stars of the era. Appeared at the Palace the week of June 14, 1930. | |
| Marjorie Rambeau | July 15, 1889 | July 6, 1970 | American | Actress. | |
| Sally Rand | January 2, 1904 | August 31, 1979 | American | Dancer known for her famous fan dance which had Rand arrested several times, most notably at the 1933 World's Fair. Rand also danced with a bubble and dressed as Lady Godiva, horse and all. | |
| Amanda Randolph | February 2, 1896 | August 24, 1967 | American | Singer and comedian best known for her television work. In Shuffle Along (1924) and one of the "Three Dixie Songbirds". | |
| Isabel Randolph | December 4, 1889 | January 11, 1973 | American | Stage, radio, film and television actress who began in vaudeville as a child, performing with her parents. | |
| Doris Rankin | 1880 | 1946 | American | Actress who appeared in a tab sketch of How Do You Know? in 1925. She was the daughter of McKee Rankin and wife of Lionel Barrymore. | |
| Joey Rardin | 1915 | 1972 | American | One Man Band, James Cagney Impersonator. Vocalist and Emcee. known as the Mighty man of mirth. Toured with Ben Bernie and a few other big bands. | [337} |
| Albertina Rasch | | October 2, 1967 | Austrian | Dancer who headed a ballet troupe. | |
| Enrico Rastelli | December 19, 1896 | December 13, 1931 | Italian | Juggler and acrobat. | |
| Zelma Rawlston | | October 30, 1915 | German-American | Singer and comedian, specializing in male impersonation. | |
| Don Raye | March 16, 1909 | January 29, 1985 | American | Song and dance man and songwriter. | |
| Martha Raye | August 27, 1916 | October 19, 1994 | American | Comedian and actress born in Butte, Montana where her vaudevillian parents had been stranded. Raye debuted with her parents at the age of 3 and by 13 was touring as a singer in a band. Raye first began working in film in 1935. | |
| Ada Reeve | March 3, 1874 | September 25, 1966 | British | Light comedian and singer. | |
| Al Reeves | May 30, 1865 | February 26, 1940 | American | Singer and banjo player. | |
| Wallace Reid | April 15, 1891 | January 18, 1923 | American | Toured in a sketch called The Girl and the Ranger. | |
| Francis Renault | c. 1893 | May 29, 1955 | American | Female impersonator billed as "The Original Slave of Fashion." | |
| The Revelers | | | American | All-male close harmony group. | |
| The Rhythm Boys | May 2, 1901 | October 14, 1977 | American | Male singing trio consisting of Bing Crosby (May 2, 1901– October 14, 1977), Al Rinker (December 20, 1907- June 11, 1982) and Harry Barris (November 24, 1905– December 13, 1962). The group began as a duo between Crosby and Rinker who called themselves "Two Boys and a Piano." The group began singing with Paul Whiteman and his orchestra in 1926, nearly a year after the two young men joined forces. The duo became a trio in 1927 when pianist, singer and songwriter Barris joined them. The group disbanded when Crosby left to start a solo career in 1931. | |
| Lieutenant Gitz Rice | March 5, 1891 | October 16, 1947 | Canadian | Singer and songwriter. | |
| Buddy Rich | September 30, 1917 | April 2, 1987 | American | Drummer and bandleader who appeared in his parents vaudeville act before the age of 2. | |
| Frank "Cannonball" Richards | February 20, 1887 | February 7, 1969 | American | Performer whose act involved taking heavy blows to his belly. | |
| Harry Richman | August 10, 1895 | November 3, 1972 | American | Song and dance man and songwriter. | |
| Rin Tin Tin | c. September 10, 1918 | August 10, 1932 | | German shepherd dog which had become famous in silent films and later in radio. Rin Tin Tin appeared at the Palace in May 1930. | |
| Blanche Ring | April 24, 1876 | January 13, 1961 | American | Singer, actress, and vaudeville favorite. Sister of Julie and Frances Ring. | |
| Julie Ring | July 4, 1880 | January 15, 1951 | American | Singer and actress. Sister of Blanche and Frances Ring, who were known as the Ring Sisters even though they normally performed separately. Wife of Theater Agent, Albert H. Sutherland (died 1911) and Vaudevillian James "Jack" Norva l. | |
| Adele Ritchie | December 21, 1874 | April 24, 1930 | American | Singer. | |
| Thelma Ritter | February 14, 1905 | February 5, 1969 | American | Actress. | |
| Ritz Brothers | | | American | Trio of brothers who danced and performed slapstick and acrobatic comedy. Their birth name was Joachim. The trio was composed of Al (August 27, 1901 – December 22, 1965), Harry ((October 4, 1904 – November 17, 1985) and Jimmy Ritz ((May 22, 1907 – March 29, 1986). They were managed by their brother, George. The brothers debuted at the Albee Theatre in Brooklyn in 1925. They were one of the top attractions of the era and appeared in Earl Carroll's Vanities. | |
| Edith Roberts | September 17, 1899 | August 20, 1935 | American | Actress. | |
| Joe Roberts | February 2, 1871 | October 28, 1923 | American | Actor who toured with his wife, Lillian Stuart Roberts, as part of a rowdy act called Roberts, Hays and Roberts. | |
| George Robey | September 20, 1869 | November 29, 1954 | British | British music hall actor and comedian. | |
| A. Robins | c. 1886 | December 17, 1950 | American | Clown novelty act. Robins later performed under the name Banana Man. | |
| Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson | May 25, 1878 | November 25, 1949 | American | Tap dancer, who heavily influenced Fred Astaire and later appeared in many movie musicals for Fox, most notably opposite Shirley Temple. | |
| Rock and White | | | American | Comic duo composed of William Rock (1875 - June 27, 1922) and Frances White (1898-24 February 1969). | |
| Blossom Rock | August 21, 1895 | January 14, 1978 | American | Singer and actress, sister of Jeanette MacDonald and who toured initially (as Marie MacDonald) with Eve Sully. Later known for her role as Grandmama Addams on TV's The Addams Family. | |
| William Rock | August 5, 1872 | June 27, 1922 | American | Comedian and dancer who was later a part of two double acts. | |
| George L. "Doc" Rockwell | 1890 | March 2, 1978 | American | Comedian billed as "Dr. Rockwell, Quack, Quack, Quack." | |
| "Klondike Kate" Rockwell | 1873 | 1957 | American | Dancer. | |
| Ginger Rogers | July 16, 1911 | April 25, 1995 | American | Dancer, singer and actress first appearing with Eddie Foy's troupe in Fort Worth, Texas in 1925. Working as a dancer, she toured alone and later with husband, Jack Pepper, as "Ginger and Pepper" in 1928. She sang with the Eddie Lowry Band in Chicago and the Paul Asch Orchestra in New York City. Rogers's first film appearance was in a 1930 film short for Paramount Pictures. | |
| Will Rogers | November 4, 1879 | August 15, 1935 | American | Actor, singer, comedian and social commentator. Appeared in numerous editions of the Ziegfeld Follies and was considered the highlight by many. | |
| Ruth Roland | August 26, 1872 | September 22, 1937 | American | Actress and singer. Appeared at the Palace in March, 1930 in a playlet, "Wanted." | |
| B. A. Rolfe | October 24, 1879 | April 23, 1956 | American | Cornetist and bandleader. | |
| Mickey Rooney | September 23, 1920 | April 6, 2014 | American | Debuted in his parents vaudeville act as a midget at the age of 2 years as "Sonny Yule." Hired by an MGM talent scout n New York, the producers insisted that his mother dye his hair black and change his name to "Mickey Looney". Both of his parents disagreed and settled on Rooney. | |
| Pat Rooney Sr. | 1848 | 28 March 1892 | English born Irish-American | Patriarch of the Rooney acting family. Began career in British music halls. Debut in America was either in New York City in 1870 at the Bowery Theatre or Fox's Theatre in Philadelphia in 1871. Famous for his Irish brogue and skills as a comedian and clog dancer. He wrote his own songs. | |
| Pat Rooney Jr. | 4 July 1880 | 9 September 1962 | Irish-American | Son of Pat Rooney Sr. He began his career performing with his father as a child in vaudeville. Like his father, he carried his Irish persona closely within his stage deportment and was a well known clog dancer and comedian. He invented the waltz-clog step used in tap dance and clog dancing. In addition to touring in vaudeville, he had seven decade long career in Broadway musicals which began with In Atlantic City in 1898 and concluded with the role of Arvide Abernathy in the original production of Guys and Dolls in 1952-1953. He also starred in two dozen silent films. When his son Pat Rooney III began performing, he took on his father's name Pat Rooney Sr. on the stage, and Pat Rooney III was often credited as Pat Rooney Jr; causing some confusion in sources between members of the family. | |
| Pat Rooney III | 1909 | November 5, 1975 | American | Like his grandfather, Pat Rooney Sr., and his father, Pat Rooney Jr, Pat Rooney III was a comedian and dancer. | |
| The Rooneys | | | American | Irish comic duo consisting of Pat Rooney Jr. (July 4, 1880– September 9, 1962) and his wife, Marion Bent (December 23, 1879– July 28, 1940). | |
| Fred Rose | August 24, 1897 | December 1, 1954 | American | Pianist, singer and songwriter of mostly country songs. Worked with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra. | |
| Harry Rose | December 2, 1893 | December 10, 1962 | British | Comedian. | |
| Joe Rose | September 10, 1891 | February 26, 1942 | American | Jewish comedian, actor, producer of vaudeville shows, owner of Lyric Theatre, was there the night they raided Minsky's. Best known character was Red Hymie. | |
| Julian Rose | September 6, 1868 | September 13, 1935 | American | Jewish comedian. | |
| Baby Rose Marie | August 15, 1923 | December 28, 2017 | American | Child star and singer, later found fame on TV's The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Hollywood Squares | |
| Edward Roseman | May 14, 1875 | September 16, 1957 | American | Actor. | |
| Lillian Roth | December 13, 1910 | May 2, 1980 | American | Toured with her sister, Ann as Lillian Roth & Co. or The Roth Kids from the age of 6. Roth starred in the Ziegfeld Midnight Frolics and Earl Carroll's Vanities, in the late 20s and 30s. Her 1954 autobiography I'll Cry Tomorrow later became a feature film of the same name. | |
| Adele Rowland | July 10, 1883 | August 8, 1971 | American | Singer. | |
| Ruth Royce | February 6, 1893 | May 7, 1971 | American | Actress. | |
| Ruth Roye | January 9, 1896 | June 12, 1960 | American | Ragtime singer. | |
| Benny Rubin | February 2, 1899 | July 15, 1986 | American | Jewish dialect comedian. | |
| David Rubinoff | 1897 | October 6, 1986 | Russian-American | Violinist. | |
| Harry Ruby | October 29, 1895 | February 23, 1974 | American | Pianist and songwriter. | |
| Yvette Rugel | 1890s | September 20, 1975 | American | Singer. | |
| Fred Russell | September 29, 1862 | October 14, 1957 | British | Ventriloquist. Credited as "The Father of Modern Ventriloquism" as the first to use a dummy on his knee. His dummy was named "Coster Joe." | |
| Lillian Russell | December 4, 1861 | June 6, 1922 | American | Actress and singer. | |
| The Russell Brothers | | | American | Performed as "The Irish Servant Girls" in vaudeville for thirty years. They were John Russell (1854 – 1925) and James Russell (1859 – 1914). | |
| Babe Ruth | February 6, 1895 | August 16, 1948 | American | Baseball Hall of Famer who appeared in vaudeville with Wellington Cross of Cross & Josephine in 1921. | |
| Peggy Ryan | August 28, 1924 | October 30, 2004 | American | Child performer on the vaudeville stage and onscreen beginning at age 13. Ryan later appeared in movie musicals for Universal Studios opposite Donald O'Connor. | |

## S

| Name | Birth | Death | Nationality | Performance notes |
| Marin Sais | January 20, 1879 | December 31, 1971 | American | Actress. |
| Charles "Chic" Sale | August 25, 1885 | November 7, 1936 | American | Actor, monologist and writer. |
| Rae Samuels | May 3, 1887 | October 24, 1979 | American | Comic singer. |
| Fred Sanborn | November 23, 1899 | March 9, 1961 | American | Drummer, xylophonist and stooge. |
| Elvera Sanchez | September 1, 1905 | September 2, 2000 | American | Dancer. |
| Eugen Sandow | April 2, 1867 | October 14, 1925 | German | Strong man, who was managed by Florenz Ziegfeld and appeared at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. |
| Gilbert Sarony | | December 15, 1910 | American | Female impersonator who played an "old maid" character, also sand, danced, and performed minstrel shows. |
| O. K. Sato | ??? | March 23, 1921 | American | Juggler |
| Thomas Francis Savage | 1885 | 1921 | American | Toured from 1910-1912 as Savage & De Croteau with wife Bertha Mae DeCroteau and 1916-1921 with the Peerless Trio as Tom Rosa with Bertha Mae DeCroteau (Mazie Berto) and Suzette Carsell (Anna Vincent), The Mother of the Accordion |
| Jimmy Savo | 1895 | September 6, 1960 | American | Pantomimist. |
| Bert Savoy | c. 1888 | June 26, 1923 | American | Female impersonator with "straight man" Jay Brennan. His lines and mannerisms may have influenced Mae West. |
| Germany Schaefer | February 4, 1877 | May 16, 1919 | American | Former baseball player who had an act with Charley O'Leary. |
| Fritzi Scheff | August 30, 1879 | April 8, 1954 | Austrian | Actress and singer. |
| Ernestine Schumann-Heink | June 15, 1861 | November 17, 1936 | German | Operatic contralto. |
| Malcolm Scott | March 7, 1872 | September 7, 1929 | British | Female impersonator billed as "The Woman Who Knows." |
| Fred F. Sears | 1913 | 1957 | American | Dancer on the Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) circuit. Later, Sears would become a film director for Columbia Pictures. |
| Rolfe Sedan | January 20, 1896 | September 16, 1982 | American | Actor. |
| Blossom Seeley | July 16, 1891 | April 17, 1974 | American | Singer. |
| William Selig | March 14, 1864 | July 15, 1948 | American | Actor. |
| Larry Semon | July 16, 1889 | October 8, 1928 | American | One of the highest-paid film comedians of the 1920s, Semon also directed many of the films he starred in. After problems with the Vitagraph studio in 1922, he began working as a comedian on the vaudeville stage. |
| Ted Shapiro | October 31, 1899 | March 26, 1980 | American | Pianist and songwriter. |
| Truly Shattuck | July 27, 1875 | December 6, 1954 | American | Singer, actress and dancer |
| Wini Shaw | February 25, 1910 | May 2, 1982 | American | Actress in her parents' vaudeville act. |
| Ella Shields | September 26, 1879 | August 5, 1952 | American-British | Male impersonator and singer. |
| Ethel Shutta | December 1, 1896 | February 5, 1976 | American | Actress and later Ziegfeld Girl who toured with her mother, Augusta, and her brother, Jack, as The Three Shuttas. |
| Martinus Sieveking | March 24, 1867 | November 26, 1950 | Dutch | Pianist and composer who toured with Eugen Sandow. |
| William Silbor | c. 1864 | January 4, 1917 | Russian | Had a Vaudeville Booking Agency at 1402 Broadway, New York. Starred in an act called The Famous Silbor Four with his wife Blanche and daughters Blanche and Mabel. He was also part of the team of Silbor and Emerson. They were singers, dancers and petite entertainers. |
| Phil Silvers | May 11, 1911 | November 1, 1985 | American | Originally a singer in vaudeville at the age of 13, Silvers appeared in some early movie musicals. After appearing in burlesque at Minsky's in 1934, he made in feature film debut in 1940. He appeared in Broadway and on TV in the 1950s where he won and Emmy Award. | |
| Howard Simms | January 24, 1918 | May 20, 2003 | American | Tap dancer. |
| Penny Singleton | September 15, 1908 | November 12, 2003 | American | Actress and comedian, later found fame playing Blondie in a series of films and voicing Jane Jetson. |
| Singer's Midgets | | | mostly Austrian and Hungarian | A troupe of midgets under the management of Leo Singer (d. March 5, 1951). Best known for playing some of the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz. |
| Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake | | | American | Musical act with Sissle (July 10, 1889 – December 17, 1975) and Blake (February 7, 1887 – February 12, 1983). Blake and Sissle joined forces shortly after World War I, forming the "Dixie Duo", a musical act. The pair went on to create the groundbreaking musical, Shuffle Along. | |
| Red Skelton | July 18, 1913 | September 17, 1997 | American | Comedian, who later found fame on both the big and small screen. |
| Tod Sloan | August 10, 1874 | December 21, 1933 | American | Former thoroughbred racing jockey who briefly starred in a one-man vaudeville show with a monologue written by George M. Cohan. Legend has it that Cohan's musical, Little Johnny Jones is based on Sloan's life story. Tod's brother was Cassius Sloan, sister Mary L. Sloan (Blanche Sloan, aerialist), and his brother was Fremont Sloan. His father was Civil War veteran, Samuel Sloan. |
| Phillips Smalley | August 7, 1875 | May 2, 1939 | American | Actor. |
| Roy Smeck | February 6, 1900 | April 5, 1994 | American | Guitar, banjo, ukulele and Hawaiian guitar virtuoso. |
| Smith and Dale | | | American | Comic duo of Charles Marks (September 6, 1881 – November 16, 1971) and Joseph Sultzer (February 16, 1884 – February 22, 1981). |
| Ada "Bricktop" Smith | August 14, 1894 | February 1, 1984 | American | Singer and dancer. |
| Bessie Smith | April 15, 1894 | September 26, 1937 | American | Legendary blues singer. Smith was ranked as the top performer on the T.O.B.A. circuit in the 1920s. |
| Chris Smith | October 12, 1879 | October 4, 1949 | American | Musician. Songwriter of "Ballin' the Jack." |
| Clara Smith | c. 1894 | February 2, 1935 | American | Blues singer. Smith began working in vaudeville around 1910 and by 1918 was one of the biggest names on the T.O.B.A. circuit. |
| "Whispering" Jack Smith | May 31, 1898 | May 13, 1950 | American | Singer known for his "whispering" style of singing. |
| Kate Smith | May 1, 1907 | June 17, 1986 | American | Singer, known for her renditions of "God Bless America" and "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain" and for her "Hello, everybody!". |
| Mamie Smith | May 26, 1883 | September 16, 1946 | American | Blues singer. Smith toured nationally as "Mamie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds", in the 1920s. |
| Pinetop Smith | June 11, 1904 | March 15, 1929 | American | Jazz pianist. |
| Trixie Smith | 1895 | September 21, 1943 | American | Blues singer. Toured the T.O.B.A. circuits from 1918. |
| Willie "The Lion" Smith | November 25, 1897 | April 18, 1973 | American | Jazz pianist. |
| John Philip Sousa | November 6, 1854 | March 6, 1932 | American | Composer and band conductor. |
| Eddie South | November 27, 1904 | April 25, 1962 | American | Jazz violinist. |
| Elsie Southgate | January 23, 1880 | May 5, 1946 | British | Violinist, billed as "The Royal Violinist." |
| Leora Spellman | July 13, 1890 | September 4, 1945 | American | Singer and actress. |
| Victoria Spivey | October 5, 1906 | 1976 | American | Blues singer. |
| Ruth St. Denis | April 16, 1889 | July 21, 1968 | American | Dancer. |
| George Stallings | November 17, 1867 | May 13, 1929 | American | Baseball player who appeared in vaudeville as a monologist. |
| Aileen Stanley | 1897 | March 24, 1982 | American | Singer. Had an act with her brother, Stanley & Aileen. |
| Paul Stanley (Sonnenburg) | abt. 1847 | March 15, 1907 | American | Comedian and Composer, who some credit with writing the music for the ditty Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay. |
| Orville Stamm | June 29, 1893 | May 8, 1963 | American | Strongman |
| John Steel | 1895 | 1971 | American | Singer. |
| Julius Steger | March 4, 1870 | February 25, 1959 | American | Actor in a playlet he wrote himself, The Fifth Commandment. |
| Harry Steppe | March 1888 | November 22, 1943 | Russian-American | Actor, Jewish dialect comedian and hobo clown. |
| Cal Stewart | 1856 | 1919 | American | Comic monologist. |
| Dorothy Stickney | June 21, 1896 | June 2, 1998 | American | Singer and dancer. |
| Frank Stokes | December 1887 or January 1888 | September 12, 1955 | American | Singer, blues musician and blackface minstrel. |
| Fred Stone | August 19, 1873 | March 6, 1959 | American | Acrobat, tightrope walker, minstrel, and actor. |
| Charley Straight | January 16, 1891 | September 22, 1940 | American | Pianist, bandleader and composer. |
| Gabby Street | September 30, 1882 | February 6, 1951 | American | Baseball player who appeared in vaudeville. |
| Dana Suesse | December 3, 1909 | October 16, 1987 | American | Dancer, songwriter, lyricist and pianist. |
| Anne Sullivan | April 14, 1866 | October 20, 1926 | American | Teacher to Helen Keller who appeared with her when she lectured. |
| Gus Sun | October 7, 1868 | October 1, 1959 | American | Juggler and minstrel. Later, the owner of the Gus Sun Circuit. |
| Valeska Suratt | June 22, 1882 | July 2, 1962 | American | Actress. |
| Mack Swain | February 16, 1876 | August 25, 1935 | American | Comedian who later appeared in Mack Sennett's Keystone comedies. |
| Blanche Sweet | June 18, 1896 | September 6, 1986 | American | Actress, Appeared with her parents' vaudeville act at the age of 18 months. She was billed as "Baby Blanche" or "Sweet Little Blanche." |

## T–V

| Name | Birth | Death | Nationality | Performance notes |
| Chief Tahachee | March 4, 1904 | June 9, 1978 | American | Actor. |
| Edith Taliaferro | December 21, 1893 | March 2, 1958 | American | performed with her sister, Mabel Taliaferro |
| Mabel Taliaferro | May 21, 1887 | January 24, 1979 | American | performed with her sister, Edith Taliaferro |
| Eva Tanguay | August 1, 1878 | January 11, 1947 | Canadian | Singer. |
| Julius Tannen | May 16, 1880 | January 3, 1965 | American | Monologist. |
| Daisy Tapley | 1882 | 1925 | American | Contralto. Travelled to Britain and played in production of In Dahomey. |
| Lilyan Tashman | October 23, 1899 | March 21, 1934 | American | Actor, singer and dancer. Started out as a principle actress for Gus Edwards and ended up as a Ziegfeld girl. |
| Dub Taylor | February 26, 1907 | October 3, 1994 | American | Actor. |
| Eva Taylor | January 22, 1895 | October 31, 1977 | American | Singer and dancer. Was a "pickaninny" or "pick" for Phina and Her Picks (later Josephine Gassman and Her Pickaninnies). |
| Tell Taylor | October 14, 1876 | November 24, 1937 | American | Singer and songwriter. |
| Lou Tellegen | November 26, 1881 | October 29, 1934 | Dutch | Actor who appeared in a sketch from his play, Blind Youth. |
| Fay Templeton | December 25, 1865 | October 3, 1939 | American | Actress and singer. |
| Dame Ellen Terry | February 27, 1847 | July 21, 1928 | British | Actress who also appeared with her sister, Kate Terry. |
| Denman Thompson | October 15, 1833 | April 11, 1911 | American | Actor. |
| Lydia Thompson | February 19, 1836 | November 17, 1908 | American | Actress. |
| Bonnie Thornton | c. 1871 | March 13, 1920 | American | Singer known as "The Original Tutti-Frutti Girl." |
| Richard Thorpe | 24 February 1896 | January 13, 1961 | American | Singer and actor. Later in Hollywood films. |
| Howard Thurston | July 20, 1869 | April 13, 1936 | American | Magician. |
| Dox Thrash | 1893 | 1965 | American | Actor. |
| Three Meyakos | | | Japanese-American | Song and dance act consisting of siblings Esther Kudara, Florence Kudara, and George Kudara. |
| Three Mizunos | | | Japanese | Jugglers, Acrobats, Equilibrists. Sometimes known as the Mizuno Troupe. Five Japanese Performers from Mikado Mitsuhito's Imperial Theatre. |
| Three Stooges | | | American | A comic trio consisting of brothers Moe (June 19, 1897 – May 4, 1975) and Shemp Howard (March 4, 1895 – November 22, 1955), and friend Larry Fine (October 5, 1902 – January 24, 1975). |
| Three X Sisters | | | American | Harmony singing trio consisting of Pearl Santos, Violet Hamilton, and Jessie Fordyce. |
| "Big Bill" Tilden | February 10, 1893 | June 5, 1953 | American | Tennis player and monologist. |
| Vesta Tilley | May 13, 1864 | September 16, 1962 | British | Male impersonator. |
| Tim and Irene | | | American | Comic duo composed of Tim Ryan (July 5, 1889 – October 22, 1956) and his wife, Irene Ryan (October 17, 1902 – April 26, 1973). |
| Herman Timberg | 1892 | April 16, 1952 | American | Comedy monologist who would often exit the stage on all fours and perform trick violin playing. |
| Joe Tinker | July 27, 1880 | July 27, 1948 | American | Baseball player who appeared in vaudeville around 1911. |
| Frank Tinney | March 29, 1878 | November 28, 1940 | American | Blackface comic who would perform trick violin playing. |
| Lydia Yeamans Titus | 1866 | December 30, 1929 | American | Character actress and singer. |
| Eddie Tolan | September 29, 1908 | July 30 or 31, 1967 | American | Sprinter who appeared briefly with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. |
| Rudy Toombs | 1914 | November 28, 1962 | American | Song and dance man. |
| Raquel Torres | 1908 | 1987 | Mexican | Actress. |
| Toto | 1888 | December 15, 1938 | Swiss | Clown who performed with his dog, Whisky. |
| Patsy Touhey | 1865 | 1923 | Irish-American | Player of the uilleann pipes. |
| Arthur Tracy | June 25, 1899 | October 5, 1997 | Russian-American | Singer (baritone) of sentimental songs. |
| Doris Eaton Travis | March 14, 1904 | May 11, 2010 | American | Singer, dancer and Ziegfeld girl. |
| Al Treloar | May 11, 1873 | February 28, 1960 | American | Strong man and weightlifter. Assistant to Eugen Sandow, 1893-1894. Performed with wife Edna Tempest, 1903-1907. |
| Andrew Tribble | 1879 | October 15, 1935 | American | African-American comedian and female impersonator. |
| Sophie Tucker | January 13, 1884 | February 9, 1966 | American | Singer, known as "The Last of the Red Hot Mamas." |
| Ben Turpin | September 19, 1869 | July 1, 1940 | American | Comedian. |
| Lurene Tuttle | August 29, 1906 | May 28, 1986 | American | Actress. |
| Two Black Crows | | | American | Blackface comedy duo that starred Charles Mack (1888–1934) and others including John Swor, Bert Swor and George Moran (1881–1949). The duo name changed with each new partner, so Mack began using the name Moran & Mack (The Two Black Crows). |
| Grace Tyson | February 6, 1881 | October 20, 1941 | American | Actress and singer |
| Isabelle Urquhart | December 9, 1865 | February 7, 1907 | American | Contralto and actress |
| Myrtle Vail | January 7, 1888 | September 18, 1978 | American | Tap dancer. |
| Rudolph Valentino | May 6, 1895 | August 23, 1926 | Italian | Ballroom dancer with Bonnie Glass, former dance partner of Clifton Webb's. Later became a major "matinee idol" in silent films. |
| Rudy Vallee | July 28, 1901 | July 3, 1986 | American | Singer, actor and bandleader |
| Egbert Van Alstyne | March 4, 1978 | July 9, 1951 | American | Pianist and songwriter. One of his most well-known songs is "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree." |
| Van and Schenck | August 12, 1886 | March 12, 1968 | American | Comic and musical duo composed of Gus Van (August 12, 1886 – March 12, 1968) and Joe Schenck (c. 1891 - June 28, 1930). |
| Woody Van Dyke | March 21, 1889 | February 5, 1943 | American | Child actor, later became renowned for directing such films as Trader Horn, Tarzan the Ape Man and The Thin Man. |
| Frank Van Hoven | 1887 | December 1929 | American | Magician. |
| Billy B. Van | August 3, 1871 | November 16, 1950 | American | Comedian. |
| Clarice Vance | March 14, 1871 | August 24, 1961 | American | Singer. |
| Gertrude Vanderbilt | 1880 | December 18, 1960 | American | Singer and dancer. |
| Vasco | 1871 | May 9, 1925 | British | Magician. |
| Dai Vernon | June 11, 1894 | 1992 | Canadian | Magician known for his card tricks. |
| Jules Vernon | April 2, 1867 | May 17, 1937 | British | Ventriloquist. |
| Vesta Victoria | November 26, 1873 | April 7, 1951 | British | Singer. |
| Nedra Volz | June 18, 1908 | January 20, 2003 | American | Actress who appeared as Baby Nedra. |
| Harry Von Tilzer | July 8, 1872 | January 10, 1946 | American | Pianist and songwriter. Among some of his most well-known sonsg are "Wait 'til the Sun Shines Nellie" and "Bird in a Gilded Cage." |

## W–Z

| Name | Birth | Death | Nationality | Performance notes |
| Ted Waldman | February 12, 1899 | February 1, 1987 | American | Harmonica player. |
| Fats Waller | May 21, 1904 | December 15, 1943 | American | Pianist and songwriter. Waller toured in vaudeville as an accompanist beginning around 1919. Among his many songs are "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Honeysuckle Rose." |
| Dorothy Walters | 1877 | April 17, 1934 | American | Actress. |
| Henry B. Walthall | March 16, 1878 | June 17, 1936 | American | Actor. |
| Florence Walton | 1890 | January 7, 1981 | American | Dancer. |
| Fannie Ward | June 22, 1872 | January 27, 1952 | American | Actress. |
| Hap Ward | July 1868 | January 3, 1944 | American | Comedian, dancer, and actor who was one half of the comedy duo Ward and Vokes. |
| Frederick Warde | February 23, 1851 | February 17, 1935 | British | Shakespearean actor, monologist and actor in playlets. |
| David Warfield | 1866 | 1951 | American | Actor. |
| Fred Waring | June 9, 1900 | July 29, 1984 | American | Bandleader of the band Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians |
| Jethro Warner | July 26, 1874 | April 13, 1931 | American | Performed with his wife as Floyd and Warner. |
| Warren Lloyd Warrener | Dec 23, 1889 | Dec 4, 1961 | American | Actor, Singer |
| George Dewey Washington | May 1, 1898 | | American | Singer. |
| Ethel Waters | October 31, 1896 | September 1, 1977 | American | Singer and actress. Waters made a very easy transition from vaudeville to nightclubs. Waters is credited with making the song, "Stormy Weather (song)" popular. |
| Donald "Monk" Watson | | | American | Actor. |
| Kitty Watson & Fanny Watson | | | American | Comic sister act with Kitty (March 14, 1886 - March 3, 1967) and Fanny Watson (1885 - May 17, 1970). |
| Castor Watt | March 7, 1858 | August 6, 1932 | German | Internationally known quick-change-artist, actor, mimic, humorist. Official name Paul Burwig. Engagements throughout Europe and America (New York City, Olympia Theatre, 1896). |
| Hinda Wausau | 1906 | 1980 | American | Chorus girl who became a star of striptease and burlesque. |
| Ned Wayburn | March 30, 1874 | September 2, 1942 | American | Singer and dancer. |
| Guy Weadick | 1885 | 1953 | American | Wild West performer and, with his wife (Weadick and LaDue), creator of the "Stampede Act." |
| Clifton Webb | November 19, 1889 | October 13, 1966 | American | Actor and dancer partnered in the 1920s with Mary Hay. The Webb and Hay played the Palace in January 1929. |
| Weber and Fields | | | German-American | Comic duo composed of Lew Fields (January 1, 1867 – July 20, 1941) and Joe Weber (August 11, 1867 – May 10, 1942). |
| Ben Welch | | September 2, 1926 | American | Jewish comic. |
| Niles Welch | July 29, 1888 | November 21, 1976 | American | Actor. |
| Señor Wences | April 17, 1896 | April 20, 1999 | Spanish-American | Ventriloquist, best known for his appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. |
| Mae West | August 17, 1893 | November 22, 1980 | American | Actress and comedian, known for breaking the mold with her taboo performances on both stage and screen. |
| Roland West | February 20, 1885 | May 31, 1952 | American | Actor. |
| Wheeler and Woolsey | | | American | Comic duo with Bert Wheeler (April 7, 1895 – January 18, 1968) and Robert Woolsey (August 14, 1888 – October 31, 1938). |
| Albert Whelan | May 5, 1875 | February 19, 1961 | Australian | Eccentric dancer. |
| Dan White | March 25, 1908 | July 7, 1980 | American | Actor. |
| George White | 1890 | October 10, 1968 | Canadian-American | Dancer. |
| Sammy White | 1894 | 1960 | American | Song and dance comedian. |
| Thelma White | December 4, 1910 | January 11, 2005 | American | Dancer with The White Sisters and later as a Ziegfeld girl. |
| Paul Whiteman | March 28, 1890 | December 29, 1967 | American | Bandleader. |
| Annabelle Whitford | 1878 | November 30, 1961 | American | Modern dancer. |
| Whiting and Burt | | | American | Song and dance duo consisting of George Whiting (August 6, 1884 – December 18, 1943) and Sadie Burt (? - December 6, 1966). |
| Marshall P. Wilder | September 19, 1859 | January 10, 1915 | American | Hunchbacked dwarf monologist. |
| Jess Willard | December 29, 1881 | December 15, 1968 | Spanish-American | Boxer and actor. |
| Bert Williams | November 12, 1874 | March 4, 1922 | British West Indian | Actor, pantomimist and singer. |
| Bransby Williams | 1870 | 1961 | British | Actor, comedian and monologist. |
| Clarence Williams | October 8, 1898 | November 6, 1965 | American | Minstrel, singer and pianist. |
| Herb Williams | 1884 | October 1, 1936 | American | Comedian. |
| Jay Williams | May 31, 1914 | July 12, 1978 | American | Comedian. |
| Willie, West and McGinty | | | British | Comedy troupe |
| Nat M. Wills | July 11, 1873 | December 9, 1917 | American | "The Happy Tramp" monologist. |
| Edith Wilson | 1906 | March 30, 1981 | American | Blues singer. |
| Francis Wilson | February 7, 1854 | October 7, 1935 | American | Minstrel and comedian. |
| Walter Winchell | April 7, 1897 | February 20, 1972 | American | Actor and singer. |
| Charles Winninger | May 26, 1884 | January 27, 1969 | American | Trapeze artist and actor with his family's act, the Winninger Family Concert Co. |
| Basil Wolverton | July 9, 1909 | December 31, 1978 | American | Actor. |
| Daisy Wood | September 15, 1877 | October 19, 1961 | British | Singer and sister to Marie Lloyd. |
| Wee Georgie Wood | December 17, 1895 | February 19, 1979 | British | Midget comedian who played children. |
| Bessie Wynn | 1876 | July 8, 1968 | American | "The Lady Dainty of Vaudeville" singer. |
| Ed Wynn | November 9, 1886 | June 19, 1966 | American | Comedian and actor. Known as "The Perfect Fool." |
| Gus Yorke | February 14, 1861 | December 27, 1939 | American | With Nick Adams in "Yorke and Adams". Command performance of "Potash and Perlmutter" at the Queens Theatre, 14th April 1914. |
| Clara Kimball Young | September 6, 1890 | October 15, 1960 | American | Actress who appeared in a sketch called "The Adorable Wife." Headlined at the Palace, April, 1925. |
| Lester Young | August 27, 1909 | March 15, 1959 | American | Clarinetist and saxophonist. |
| Margaret Young | 1900 | May 3, 1969 | American | Singer. |
| Henny Youngman | March 16, 1906 | February 24, 1998 | British-American | Comedian, bandleader and violinist. |
| Joe Yule | April 30, 1894 | March 30, 1950 | Scottish | Comedian and father to Mickey Rooney. |
| George Zucco | January 11, 1886 | May 28, 1960 | British | Character actor who toured with his wife, Frances in a satirical sketch about suffragettes. |
| Yetta Zwerling | December 25, 1889 | January 17, 1982 | Austrian | Actress, performed primarily in Yiddish vaudeville and on the British Music Hall stage. Once she perfected her stage Yiddish, Zwerling worked in Yiddish theatre and in the 1930s in Yiddish film. |