After becoming an orphan as a baby - his mother died at the age of 17 - he was raised by his father and aunt, and later a step-mother, he went to New York, where he tried to break into showbiz. He got his first break with 'Gus Edwards joined the team. During the 30s, while they made many comedies in Hollywood, Wheeler married and was divorced twice. After Woolsey's death, he continued as single, mostly on the stage, but sometimes also on the screen. His last years were darkened with financial difficulties and failing health. Furthermore, two weeks before his own death on January 18, 1968 his daughter died of cancer.
Was teamed with Robert Woolsey for the Broadway production "Rio Rita", the teaming was so successful, that they were signed by RKO to repeat their stage roles in a movie version. Wheeler & Woolsey were the first comedy team to emerge as stars from sound pictures with their partnership lasting until Woolseys death in 1938.
In later years he teamed with a new partner, Tommy Dillon, a young chap he worked with in Las Vegas and Manhattans Latin Quarter.
Bert Wheeler had one child with actress Bernice Wheeler. Their daughter, Patricia Anne Wheeler, was born in 1936 and died of cancer in 1968.
Nine of the 21 movies he and Woolsey made together were released in a DVD collection entitled "Wheeler & Woolsey: RKO Comedy Classics Collection" in March 2013 by Warner Archive.
Ziegfeld you had made it. That was the tops. .
