American comedian and actor Bob Hope credits O'Donnell as the person who gave him his " big break into show business " in Hope 's autobiography '' Have Tux , Will Travel '' . O'Donnell was also instrumental in beginning the acting career of Audie Murphy . While working as a theater usher at the age of twelve in his hometown of Chicago , O'Donnell survived the infamous Iroquois Theatre fire , the deadliest theater fire and the deadliest single-building fire in United States history ; it killed 605 people
Iroquois Theatre fire
Iroquois Theatre fire
R.J. O'Donnell