In 1942 Robert and 12 members of his immediate family were deported by the Nazis. Only Robert survived. When he returned to Paris, he was overjoyed to discover that some of his siblings had not been deported and had survived.
He went back to singing and was discovered by Harry Bluestone while entertaining in a dance hall in 1947. This led to recording songs that became hits in America the following year for such labels as King ("Put Your Shoes On Lucy"/"Johnny Get Your Girl") and Tempo ("Hollywood Bowl").
He came to the United States in October of 1949 and recorded several more singles for the Capitol label. His meeting with Merv Griffin led to an introduction to Eddie Cantor's daughter Natalie (whom he married some time later).
After a tour and many night club appearances, Eddie Cantor gave him national exposure on his Colgate Comedy Hour television show and helped him get booked into New York's La Vie En Rose night club.
It was here that composer Arthur Siegel discovered him and brought him to the attention of Leonard Sillman. Sillman was not interested after watching his night club act, but later changed his mind when Robert auditioned for him (with some of the same songs!)
It landed him a role in a new Broadway musical entitled "New Faces of 1952." His show-stopping performances of such songs as "Lucky Pierre" and "I'm In Love With Miss Logan" made him a household name. He has since performed in numerous other musicals such as "Seventh Heaven," "La Plume De Ma Tante," the musical version of "Around the World in 80 Days," "Irma La Douce," "Cabaret" and "Sugar."
He also appeared in the films "Ten Tall Men," "Thief of Damascus," "New Faces," "A New Kind of Love" (with Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward) and "The Hindenburg" with George C. Scott. Perhaps his best known role was his character of Lebeau in the hit television series "Hogan's Heroes."
After "Hogan's Heroes," he went on to several soap operas including "The Young & the Restless," "Days of Our Lives" and "The Bold & the Beautiful."
In 1980 Robert felt the need to talk about his experience during the war; he began speaking publicly through the Simon Wiesenthal Center's nationally acclaimed outreach program. "For 36 years I kept these experiences during the war locked up inside myself. But those who are attempting to deny the Holocaust, my suffering and the suffering of millions of others have forced me to speak out."
He appeared in the 1982 NBC television movie, "Remembrance of Love" with Kirk Douglas about the World Gathering of the Jewish Survivors of the Holocaust in Jerusalem. A documentary for PBS followed entitled "Robert Clary A-5714, A Memoir of Liberation."
He went on to host his own cable television show, which attracted major name guest stars such as Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks.
Amanda Abel - Moderator, Eddie Cantor's grand daughter and great niece of Robert Clary
Amanda Abel (nee Gari) was drawn to the theatre at the tender age of four, where she was captivated by Ethel Merman in "Gypsy" - her very first exposure to Broadway. (And still her favorite show!) As a teenager, she sang in Greenwich Village clubs as a duo with her brother Brian. (New York's answer to The Carpenters!) By college, she was totally bitten by the bug, doing shows and singing wherever they'd allow! While in Boston, she starred as "Evie" in "Stop the World, I Want to Get Off!" picking up The Boston Globe's "Best Actress" Award along the way.
This landed her in many of the comedy clubs in New York as their "musical interlude," then on to solo gigs in such nightspots as "Don't Tell Momma," "Eighty Eights" and "The Duplex." This led to roles Off-Broadway, on Broadway and Television. Although the work was exciting, alas, the weather was not. Having had enough of the winters back East, she made the move to Los Angeles, where she has continued her voiceover work, and gathered a "following" in the cabaret circuit. Amanda is always thrilled to have audiences share their memories of her grandfather, Eddie Cantor.
In addition to singing her "own" voice, audiences are delighted by her impressions as well. You'll be sure to find a tribute to the great Judy Garland amongst many others. It's Amanda's nod to her father, artist Roberto Gari, who painted the portrait of Judy that hung in the Palace Theatre for decades.
When not performing, she is happily ensconced in Sherman Oaks, with husband Bert, a commercial real estate broker and lovely daughter Allison. In her spare time, she devotes herself to animal rescue volunteer work with The Pet Orphans of Southern California.
