Jerry Lester (born Lester J. Goldberg; February 16, 1910 – March 23, 1995) was an American comedian, singer and performer on radio, television and the stage, known for playing the father of the main characters, Mike Firpo, in the comedy Odds and Evens and who hosted the first network late night television program as host of Broadway Open House on NBC, a vaudeville-esque combination of comedy and music, whose success demonstrated the potential for late-night television and led to the creation of the Tonight Show.

[2] The program introduced and made stars of Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, all of whom would go on to host the Tonight Show.

[1] It also made a star of cast member Dagmar, who became such a sensation that she overshadowed Lester, leading him to walk off the show in May 1951.

[2] In 1959, he moved to Los Angeles and became host of a local late-night comedy and musical variety show on KTTV.

[1] Afflicted with Alzheimer's disease in 1975, he had trouble memorizing his nightclub monologues, and retired from show business.