>Harmon was born to Jewish parents in Toledo, Ohio, and raised in Cleveland. During World War II, he served as a private in the Army. On returning, he wanted to become a medical doctor, until he met entertainer Al Jolson. According to Harmon's autobiography The Man Behind the Nose, Jolson told him, "Being a doctor of medicine is honorable, but you'll touch so many more lives as a doctor of laughter!"

I dunno. During that time, there was a whole lot of polio patients who could have really used a doctor.