George Kirby (June 8, 1923 - September 30, 1995) was an American comedian, singer, and actor from Chicago, Illinois. He was one of the first African-American comedians to begin to appeal to white as well as black audiences during the height of the Civil Rights era, appearing between 1966 and 1972 on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Jackie Gleason Show, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He was an excellent impressionist -- targeting, somewhat scandalously for the time, many white actors such as John Wayne and Walter Brennan rather than solely black stars such as Bill Cosby and Pearl Bailey -- and, for a man of his ample girth, an unexpectedly agile dancer.

In 1970, he was allowed to produce a television special, The George Kirby Show, to gauge whether he could attract an audience for a weekly series. This led to his hosting a sketch comedy and variety show, Half the George Kirby Comedy Hour, which lasted for 22 episodes in 1972; it was also one of the actor-comedian Steve Martin's first credits in front of the camera. The series was in many ways an uneasy compromise between Kirby's natural gifts and what the public would accept of Black actors at the time; a regular feature was a shaggy dog story segment entitled the "Funky Fable". He was also a regular in the British-produced ABC Comedy Hour series "The Kopycats", along side such other impressionists as Rich Little, Charlie Callas, Marilyn Michaels, and Frank Gorshin.

Following the demise of his show, Kirby's career declined, especially as audiences began to look for more cutting-edge comedy. He had been an occasional drug addict; now, to make up for lost income, he took to selling drugs. In 1977 he sold heroin to an undercover cop; he plea bargained to a ten year prison term and was released after 42 months. His career never again reached its former heights, but he did register featured guest appearances on Gimme a Break with Nell Carter, Crazy Like a Fox, and 227. He then took ill with what was later diagnosed as Parkinson's Disease. He was well-loved enough within the comedy community that friends and admirers formed the "Friends of George Kirby," which performed an all-star tribute to him in 1995 to help pay his mounting medical bills, only a few months before he died.

George Kirby (20 December1933 - 24 March 2000) was an English footballer and manager.

Kirby was born in Liverpool. He was a centre forward who played for Everton, Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth Argyle, Southampton, Walsall, Swansea City, Coventry City , New York Generals and Brentford. His career lasted from 1955 to 1969 during which he made 309 Football League appearances and scored 119 goals.

His first post in management was at Halifax Town, initially as coach to Alan Ball Senior and then in 1970 as first team manager. He spent only one full season in charge, giving the club their most successful ever campaign just missing out on promotion to the old second division. He started the 1971-72 season by leading Halifax to a 2-1 Watney Cup victory over a full strength Manchester United side, which included George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton. Just a week later Kirby left Halifax to take charge at Watford where he remained until May 1973. He later moved to Iceland where he managed one of the country's leading clubs, IA Akranes.

In 1978 he left Akranes and returned to Halifax. Kirby inspired the team to another famous victory over Mancunian rivals; this time it was the turn of Malcolm Allison's Manchester City, who fell to a single Paul Hendrie goal in an FA Cup 3rd round tie in January 1980. His second spell with the Yorkshire club ended in June 1981 after a string of poor results saw his team finish second bottom of the old 4th division.

In 1972 he joined top impressionists Frank Gorshin, Rich Little, Charlie Callas, Fred Travalena and Marilyn Michaels on the "Kopycats" segment of "The ABC Comedy Hour". George's sharp talents as a mimic ranged from Humphrey Bogart to Pearl Bailey.

Pleasant African-American comic and song-and-dance man, one of the earlier black performers who found crossover success in the 50s with his light, non-confrontive standup style. Was a favorite on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

Unfortunately he fell on hard times and was arrested by federal authorities during a cocaine bust, for which he received a lengthy prison sentence.

Became to first African-American comedian to open for the Copacabana in New York in 1960. He opened for Bobby Darin, who in fact gotten Kirby to be his opening act.

Was portrayed by Amadeus Martin-Reid in Beyond the Sea (2004).