Bert Lahr was an American actor best known for his role as the Cowardly Lion in the 1939 film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. He was born Irving Lahrheim in New York City in 1895 and began his career as a comedian in vaudeville. He went on to appear in numerous Broadway shows and films, including Animal Crackers, Flying High, and Du Barry Was a Lady. He won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in the musical Two on the Aisle. Lahr died in 1967 at the age of 72.