Tony Bennett

Biography

Anthony Dominick Benedetto (August 3, 1926 - July 21, 2023), known professionally as Tony Bennett, was an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz. Raised in New York City, Bennett began singing at an early age. He fought in the final stages of World War II as an infantryman with the U.S. Army in the European Theatre. Afterwards, he developed his singing technique, signed with Columbia Records, and had his first number one popular song with "Because of You" in 1951. Several top hits such as "Rags to Riches" followed in the early 1950s. Bennett then further refined his approach to encompass jazz singing. He reached an artistic peak in the late 1950s with albums such as The Beat of My Heart and Basie Swings, Bennett Sings. In 1962, Bennett recorded his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". His career and his personal life then suffered an extended downturn during the height of the rock music era. Bennett staged a remarkable comeback in the late 1980s and 1990s, putting out gold record albums again and expanding his audience to the MTV Generation while keeping his musical style intact. He remains a popular and critically praised recording artist and concert performer in the 2000s. Bennett has won fifteen Grammy Awards, two Emmy Awards, been named an NEA Jazz Master and a Kennedy Center Honoree. He has sold over 50 million records worldwide. Bennett is also a serious and accomplished painter, creating works under the name Benedetto that are on permanent public display in several institutions. He is also the founder of Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens.

Known For

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Daily Show

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Blue Bloods

Saturday Night Live

All Movies (90)

• The Lady and The Legend2026 · as Self
• I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story2024 · as Self
• Tony Bennett: Forget Me Not2022 · as Self
• George Michael: Freedom Uncut2022 · as Self
• Rat Pack2022 · as Self (archive footage)
• Lady Gaga at the BBC2021 · as Self
• One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga2021 · as Self
• Reclaiming Amy2021 · as Self (archive footage)
• Billie2020 · as self
• Lady Gaga - Encore2020 · as Self
• Amy Winehouse: The Price of Fame2020 · as Self (archive footage)
• Tony Bennett & Frank Sinatra2019 · as Self (archive footage)
• CMA Country Christmas 20182018 · as Self
• Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists2018 · as Self
• Quincy2018 · as Self
• George Michael: Freedom2017 · as Self
• Gaga: Five Foot Two2017 · as Self
• Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World2017 · as Self
• If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast2017 · as Self
• Tony Bennett Celebrates 902016 · as Self
• Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert2015 · as Self
• Bill Evans Time Remembered2015 · as Self
• Amy2015 · as Self
• Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute2015 · as Self
• Bing Crosby: Rediscovered2014 · as Self
• Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek Live2014 · as Self
• Tony Bennett: iTunes Festival 20142014 · as Self - vocals
• Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark2014 · as Self
• The Outrageous Sophie Tucker2014 · as Self
• Muppets Most Wanted2014 · as Tony Bennett
• The Zen of Bennett2012 · as Self
• Tony Bennett: Duets II - The Great Performances2012 · as Self
• A Very Gaga Thanksgiving2011 · as Self
• Andrea Bocelli: Concerto - One Night In Central Park2011 · as self
• Billy Joel - Live at Shea Stadium2011 · as Self - Musical Guest
• A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand2011 · as Self - Performer
• The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear2010 · as Self
• Les Paul - Live in New York2010 · as Self
• Billy Joel - The Last Play at Shea2010 · as Self
• Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me2009 · as Self - Performer
• Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel2009 · as Self
• Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas2008 · as Self
• The Making Of A Swingin' Christmas & Live In Concert2008 · as Self
• Tony Bennett: BBC Sessions2008 · as self
• Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends2007 · as Self
• Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic2007 · as Self
• Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven2007 · as Self
• Tony Bennett: An American Classic About the Songs2007 · as Self
• Legends of Jazz con Ramsey Lewis Volume 32006 · as Self - Cantante
• Tony Bennett: An American Classic2006 · as Self
• Paul McCartney: The Space Within Us2006 · as Self
• Judy Garland Duets2005 · as Self (archive footage)
• Tony Bennett The Sound of Velvet2005
• Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues2004 · as Self (archive footage)
• AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies2004 · as Self
• The World of Nat King Cole2004 · as Self
• Bruce Almighty2003 · as Tony Bennett
• Tony Bennet - Hits and More2003
• Tony Bennett - Wonderful World: Live In San Francisco2002 · as Self
• Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace2002 · as Self - Performer
• Swing With Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Tony Bennett2001
• Tony Bennett: The Legendary Tony Bennett In Concert2001 · as Self
• The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 12001 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 22001 · as Self (archive footage)
• Elizabeth Taylor: A Musical Celebration2000 · as Self
• Ella Fitzgerald: Something to Live For2000 · as Narrator (voice)
• Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepytime Tales1999 · as Self
• Amy Grant - A Christmas to Remember1999 · as Self - Guest
• Analyze This1999 · as Tony Bennett
• Intimate Portrait: Natalie Cole1999 · as Self
• Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!1998 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Tony Bennett's New York1996 · as Self
• The Phil Collins Big Band - Live at Montreux 19961996 · as Self
• Sinatra: 80 Years My Way1995 · as Self - Performer
• The Scout1994 · as Tony Bennett
• Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged1994 · as Self
• Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong1992 · as Self
• Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration1988 · as Self
• Father Guido Sarducci's Vatican Inquirer: The Pope's Tour1986 · as Self - Special Guest Star
• Let's Go Mets1986 · as Self
• Night of 100 Stars1982 · as Self
• Count Basie At Carnegie Hall1981 · as Self
• Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years1979 · as Self
• Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration1979 · as Self
• Sinatra and Friends1977 · as Self - Singer
• Bob Hope's World of Comedy1976 · as Self (archive footage)
• King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis1970 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Dean Martin Christmas Show1968 · as Self (uncredited)
• Bob Hope Comedy Special1967
• The Oscar1966 · as Hymie Kelly

All TV Shows (82)

• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self - Guest/Musical Guest
• Blue Bloods2010 · as Tony Bennett
• The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien2009 · as Self - Musical Guest
• Skavlan2009 · as Self - Guest
• 30 Rock2006 · as Tony Bennett
• The Colbert Report2005 · as Self - Guest
• The Tony Danza Show2004 · as Self - Guest
• The X Factor2004 · as Self - Special Guest
• Entourage2004 · as Tony Bennett
• The Casino2004 · as Self
• The Celebrity Apprentice2004 · as Self
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show2003 · as Self
• Canadian Idol2003 · as Self - Mentor
• Canadian Idol2003 · as Self - Guest
• Las Lunas del Auditorio2002 · as Self
• American Idol2002 · as Self
• American Idol2002 · as Self - Guest Star
• The Early Show1999 · as Self
• Rove1999 · as Self
• Parkinson1998 · as Self
• The View1997 · as Self
• Suddenly Susan1996 · as Tony Bennett
• Cosby1996 · as Tony Bennett
• The Daily Show1996 · as Self
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show1996 · as Self - Guest
• Mundo VIP1996 · as Self
• Muppets Tonight1996 · as Self
• Die Harald Schmidt Show1995 · as Self - Guest
• Cybill1995 · as Tony Bennett (uncredited)
• Space Ghost Coast to Coast1994 · as Self
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Musical Guest
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Guest
• Late Show with David Letterman1993 · as Self - Guest
• Parabéns1992 · as Self
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992 · as Self - Guest
• Bruce's Guest Night1992
• Evening Shade1990 · as Tony Lombardi
• The Simpsons1989 · as Tony Bennett (voice)
• The Simpsons1989 · as Capital City Singer (voice)
• MTV Unplugged1989 · as Self
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self - Guest
• Le monde est à vous1987 · as Self
• Wedden, dat..?1986 · as Self
• Doris Day's Best Friends1985
• Larry King Live1985 · as Self
• Remington Steele1982 · as Tony Bennett (voice) (uncredited)
• Late Night with David Letterman1982 · as Self - Guest
• NDR Talk Show1979 · as Self
• CBS News Sunday Morning1979 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Kennedy Center Honors1978 · as Self
• King1978 · as Tony Bennett
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Musical Guest
• Dinah!1974 · as Self
• Great Performances1971 · as Self
• The Pearl Bailey Show1971 · as Self
• The Barbara McNair Show1969 · as Self
• The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour1969 · as Self
• Playboy After Dark1969 · as Self - Singer
• The Doris Day Show1968 · as Tony Bennett
• 60 Minutes1968 · as Self
• Shindig!1964 · as Self - Singer
• The Hollywood Palace1964 · as Self
• The Judy Garland Show1963 · as Self
• The Danny Kaye Show1963 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self - Guest
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self - Co-Host
• Treffpunkt New York1961 · as Self
• The Grammys1959 · as Self
• 77 Sunset Strip1958 · as Maximillian
• The Dick Clark Show1958 · as Self
• The Twentieth Century1957 · as Self
• Tonight Starring Jack Paar1957 · as Self
• The Dinah Shore Chevy Show1956 · as Self
• The Tony Bennett Show1956 · as Self - Host
• The Steve Allen Show1956 · as Self
• Today1952 · as Self
• The Colgate Comedy Hour1950 · as Self
• The Bob Hope Show1950 · as Self
• What's My Line?1950 · as Self - Mystery Guest
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self