- Performed eulogies for many of his Hollywood celebrity contemporaries.
- Having starred in several silent films for Warner Brothers during the 1920s, Jessel was offered the lead in the studio's history-making first talkie, The Jazz Singer (1927) (he had played the part on Broadway). However, he and the studio could not agree on his salary, and the role ultimately went to Al Jolson. Jessel would refer to this, time and again, as the biggest professional mistake he ever made.
- Is one of the inspirations for Billy West's voice for "Dr. Zoidberg" on the TV show Futurama (1999).
- Because of his frequent role as master of ceremonies at various entertainment and political gatherings, his sobriquet was "Toastmaster General of the United States."
- Hosted the Academy Awards in 1937.
- Daughter Charris Carla Jessel born December 27, 1961 to Joan Tyler Ruffo.
- His theme song, "My Mother's Eyes" (music by L. Wolfe Gilbert, lyrics by Abel Baer), was introduced in his first sound film, Lucky Boy (1929)).
- Daughter with wife Lois Andrews: Jerilyn Jessel.
- Ex-brother-in-law of Natalie Talmadge and Constance Talmadge.
- Ex-son-in-law of Margaret Talmadge.
- In 1968 he was interviewed in "The Great Comedians Talk About Comedy" by Larry Wilde.
- Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 227-228. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
- Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 428-429. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.
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