Billy Gilbert
(1894 - 1971)The last of our collection of Froggy the Gremlin's 'victims' is Billy Gilbert. His short-tempered, and frenetic demeanor made him the perfect target of Froggy's mischief. He was a tall, portly fellow, with a jowly face, black curly hair, a small, wispy mustache and big bulgy eyes. He is probably best know for his work in Laurel & Hardy films but was extremely versatile. He was born on September 12, 1894 in Louisville, Kentucky in the Hopkins Opera house, the son of Metropolitan Opera singers who were on tour. He grew up in San Francisco and began performing himself at the young age of 12 in a children's singing troupe. After attempts at female impersonation and boxing, he found his niche in performing in vaudeville, stock theatre and eventually Broadway. In vaudeville he developed his famous sneezing routines which would continue throughout his performing career. It was while appearing in a play that he was discovered by a Hal Roach Studios scout, thus beginning a long and successful film and TV career. His 150 plus film credits include: "Dynamite Allen" (1921) a silent and his film debut, as 'Simp' Hallet; "Chinatown After Dark" (1931) as Horatio Dooley; "One Good Turn" (1931) a hilarious Laurel & Hardy short, as Drunk; "The Tabasco Kid" (1932); "Free Eats" (1932) an Our Gang short; "The Music Box" (1932) as Prof. Theodore von Schwarzenhoffen and "The Chimp" (1932) as Landlord, two excellent L&H shorts; "Pack Up Your Troubles" (1932) an L&H feature film, as Mr. Hathaway; "The Merry Widow" (1934) uncredited as Fat Lackey; "Curly Top" (1935) with Shirley Temple; "A Night at the Opera" (1934) with the Marx Brothers as Peasant; "Sutter's Gold" (1936) as Gen. Ramos; "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" (1937) as Charley; "Captains Courageous" (1937) as Soda Steward; Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937) as the voice of Sneezy; "Destry Rides Again" (1939) as Bartender Loupgerou; "His Girl Friday" (1940) with Cary Grant, as Joe Pettibone; "The Great Dictator" (1940) with Charlie Chaplin, as Herring; "Arabian Nights" (1942); "Anchors Aweigh" (1945) as Cafe Manager and "Five Weeks in a Balloon" (1962) as Sultan/Auctioneer, his last film. On TV he was best known as the teacher/professor on "Andy's Gang" (1955-60) and Froggy's victim. He dabbled some in writing and directing films but with no great success. He died of the complications of a stroke on September 23, 1971 in Los Angeles, California at age 77.
From Great Character Actors, Page 4.
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