Ed Sullivan holds a unique place in the hearts of many Americans but much
of the public is unaware of the man behind his Persona join us as facts
first presents he died 50 years ago now Ed Sullivan's daughter reveals the truth
Ed's early life Edward Vincent Sullivan was born September 28 1901 in Harlem New York
City to Peter Arthur Sullivan and Elizabeth Frazier he was the youngest of three siblings
his father was a customs house employee and his mother was a homemaker growing up in a
Roman Catholic household Sullivan attended St Patrick's Cathedral School and Dewitt Clinton
High School where he displayed a keen interest in sports journalism in 1918 he began working
as a sports reporter for the Port Chester Daily Item he later joined the Hartford Post and the
New York evening mail by the mid-20s Sullivan had become a respected Sports journalist and
columnist writing for the New York daily news while there he started to cover Broadway and
nightclubs which helped him develop Connections in the entertainment industry he was eventually
offered a job as the Master of Ceremonies for the Harvest Moon ball an annual dance
Championship held at Madison Square Garden Sullivan's successful hosting caught the
attention of radio producers leading him to host the variety show summer silver theater in 1937.
how the Ed Sullivan Show came to be Sullivan transitioned to television in 1948 when he was
asked to host Toast of the town later renamed the Ed Sullivan Show it was a weekly variety program
on CBS that aired from June 20th 1948 to June 6 1971 making it one of the longest running variety
shows in American history the show featured a wide range of talented performers including
singers comedians actors and circus acts the show's format was designed to appeal to a broad
audience with Sullivan's affable personality and knack for discovering Talent being the driving
force behind its success he had an uncanny ability to identify future stars and provide them with a
platform to Showcase their abilities the show's impact on pop culture was immense it provided
a launching pad for numerous iconic artists like Elvis Presley The Beatles The Supremes
and the Rolling Stones Sullivan's willingness to promote African-American performers like Nat King
and Sammy Davis Jr also broke racial barriers and contributed to the broader Civil Rights Movement
Sullivan's decision to feature Elvis Presley in 1956 marked a turning point in the history
of rock and roll Presley's performance drew a record 60 million viewers propelling him to super
stardom and solidifying the show's reputation as a cultural Touchstone that success was replicated
when the Beatles made their first U.S television appearance on the show in 1964 attracting over
73 million viewers and initiating the British Invasion Ed Sullivan's influences also felt in
comedy as it provided early exposure to comedians Like Richard Pryor George Carlin and Joan Rivers
Ed Sullivan's later life as the entertainment landscape evolved the Ed Sullivan shows popularity
waned in the late 1960s the Advent of color TV changing musical tastes and an increasingly
fragmented audience contributed to its decline despite these challenges Sullivan continued to
host the show until its cancellation in 1971. after that he made a few guest appearances
on other TV programs but struggled to find a new project that matched his previous success
on September 13 1974 he passed away from esophageal cancer at New York's Lenox Hill
Hospital he was 72. his death marked the end of an era in American television as his show
had played an instrumental role in shaping the country's popular culture for over two decades
Ed's personal life Ed Sullivan's personal life was anchored by his marriage to Sylvia
Weinstein on April 28 1930. the couple met at a newspaper event and their marriage lasted until
Ed's death in 1974. Sullivan was known to be a devoted husband and father and the couple's
relationship was marked by their strong bond and mutual support they had one child Elizabeth Betty
Sullivan born in 1932. Betty Sullivan grew up immersed in the world of entertainment
due to her father's successful career despite her exposure to fame and the Limelight she maintained
a relatively private life she attended the professional Children's School in Manhattan and
later pursued higher education at University of Miami she married composer and pianist Bob precht
in 1952 with whom she had three children Robert Edward Rob prech Margot Elizabeth and Carla Marie
Ed's secret temper in spite of the progressive person he appeared to be on the surface accounts
from those close to the man including his aforementioned daughter and his grandson Rob
have cast him as a much more shadowy figure Betty Sullivan has recounted stories of her
father's notorious temper in various interviews according to her Ed was prone to fits of Rage
often sparked by minor inconveniences or perceived slights although he never
exhibited physical aggression his anger could be intense and intimidating Ed's volatile temper was
perhaps best exemplified by an incident at home when he discovered a broken window believing the
neighborhood children to be responsible he stormed outside and confronted them only to learn that a
stray ball had caused the damage from his own daughter's play time this incident highlights
not only Ed's quick temper but also his tendency to jump to conclusions before Gathering all the
facts Betty Sullivan has revealed in interviews that her father's paranoia extended to her own
romantic relationships when she began dating a young man Ed was convinced her boyfriend was
a communist sympathizer his suspicions led him to investigate the young man's background even
going so far as to hire a private investigator to gather information ultimately his fears
were unfounded but the incident strained their father-daughter relationship and left a lasting
impression on Betty Ed Sullivan's suspicion of Communism was a product of the era the fear of
Communism was rampant in the U.S during the 50s and early 60s with many people scrutinized for
political beliefs despite his success and popularity on TV Ed was known to be quite
asocial off camera his daughter Betty has opened up about his preference for Solitude
often choosing to spend time alone in his study rather than engaging with others this introverted
nature was one of the defining characteristics of his personality which often surprised those
who knew him only as a charismatic television host adds a social behavior was isn't limited
to his home life it extended to his professional life as well many of his colleagues have shared
stories of his aloofness and disinterest in socializing although he maintained a professional
demeanor with co-workers he rarely engaged in friendly conversation or displayed warmth
Rob prek's perspective Ed's grandson Rob Pratt has also spoken about his grandfather's complex
personality in interviews according to Rob Ed struggled with emotional vulnerability and
often masked his feelings with a stoic exterior he believes his grandfather's temper and asocial
behavior were a result of this emotional guardedness which made it difficult for him
to connect with others on a deeper level Rob acknowledges his grandfather's public Persona
was quite different from the man he knew in private Ed was a devoted family man who cared
deeply for his wife and children but his emotional struggles made it difficult for him to express his
love openly despite his flaws Rob remembers his grandfather as a loving and supportive figure in
his life now it's time to hear from you did you know Ed Sullivan preferred being alone
and that he thought his daughter's boyfriend was a communist let us know in the comments