Born Irving Lahrheim, Bert Lahr (1895-1967) was an American comedian who began his career in the early days of burlesque and vaudeville and later transitioned to movies and Broadway. Lahr's dramatic triumph was his starring role in the 1956 production of "Waiting for Godot", but he is undoubtedly best known for his role as the Cowardly Lion in the 1939 classic film, The Wizard of Oz.