George Michael Cohan (1878-1942) was a multifaceted American entertainer known for his work as an actor, playwright, singer, dancer, and songwriter. He began his career performing in vaudeville with his family. Cohan's breakthrough came with the 1904 Broadway musical "Little Johnny Jones," which marked the start of his prolific career in creating Broadway shows. Unlike many of his contemporaries who followed European operetta models, Cohan distinguished himself by incorporating vernacular language and working-class characters, thereby crafting the first distinctively American musical shows. Some of his most popular songs include "Over There," "Yankee Doodle Boy," "Give My Regards to Broadway," and "You're a Grand Old Flag." His contributions to American musical theater were significant, and his life story was later depicted in various forms.