hiː bɪɡˈæn hɪz kɚɹˈɪɹ æz ɐ dˈænsɚ ænd dɪdnˌɑːt tˈɜːn tə kˈɑːmədi ʌntˈɪl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi wɛn hiː dʒˈɔɪnd wɪð ɐ fˈɛloʊ hˈuːfɚɹ ɪnðə "tˈuː zˈɛfɚz" tə ɹᵻplˈeɪs wˈʌn ʌv ɪts mˈɛmbɚz hˌuː hæd pɹˈiːviəsli pˈæst ɐwˈeɪ.
He began his career as a dancer and did not turn to comedy until 1940 when he joined with a fellow hoofer in the "Two Zephyrs" to replace one of its members who had previously passed away.