When the aficionados of 1930's movies here ponder great character actors and actresses, Ruth Donnelly, Frank McHugh, Aline McMahon, Hugh Herbert, Marie Dressler, Glenda Farrell, Guy Kibbee, Margaret Dumont, Jobyna Howland, Nat Pendleton, Allen Jenkins and just about everyone caricatured in Frank Tashlin's 1937 Looney Tune Porky's Road Race come to mind.
That said, one who ranks atop our list of all-time favorite 20th century character actors is none other than the great, the sneezy, the hilarious Billy Gilbert (September 12, 1894 - September 23, 1971).
Billy Gilbert is, among his numerous roles on stage, screen, radio and animation, well remembered for his memorable performance in Howard Hawks' His Girl Friday.
Character actors who also excel doing voice work in animated cartoons we love even more!
The Disney Wiki elaborates:
Billy Gilbert was an American radio comedian, famous for his comical sneezing gags. For Disney, he provided the voice of Sneezy in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Willie the Giant in the Fun and Fancy Free segment Mickey and the Beanstalk.
It is believed by historian John Canemaker that Gilbert got the role of Sneezy by walking into Walt’s office for the audition. He sneezed 5 times and Walt said “Billy, you’ve got the job.”
We endorse the following video by Jim Hill Media - nice work, Jim!
At least two years before Walt Disney started production on Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs, Billy sneezes in Million Dollar Legs!
By the time he co-starred with a bunch of comics (including W.C. Fields) and the great Lyda Roberti in Million Dollar Legs, Billy was nailing role after role after role for Hal Roach Studios a.k.a. The Lot Of Fun, as a key supporting player for Laurel & Hardy, Charley Chase and Our Gang.
Arguably, the greatest showcase for Billy Gilbert's talent at Hal Roach Studios, besides his starring musical short subject Apples To You (1934), would be as the salty sea captain in the Our Gang SHIVER MY TIMBERS. His exchanges with pint-sized comedian Matthew "Stymie" Beard are priceless.
He starred in the Roach Studio's TAXI BOYS series in 1932-1933.
My favorite Taxi Boys adventures co-star Australian comedian Clyde Cook.
Mr. Gilbert transitioned seamlessly from Hal Roach Studios to the Columbia Shorts Department.
Billy reprises the wacko he portrayed in the Three Stooges opus Men In Black with panache.
Stan Laurel was in the audience at Gilbert’s stage show Sensations of 1929 and hired Billy as a gag writer, actor and director.
After and during amazing turns in comedy short subjects, Mr. Gilbert played character roles in many feature films, including Seven Sinners, Captain Courageous, and Tin Pan Alley.
Billy is fantastic in Chaplin's The Great Dictator. Unfortunately, none of the clips from that terrific movie on the official Charlie Chaplin channel on YouTube happen to co-star Billy (although there are terrific scenes between Charlie and Jack Oakie).
Would love to have a Billy Gilbert & Charlie Chaplin GREAT DICTATOR clip from Chaplin's estate, but. . . the following will have to do.
In the 1950’s, Gilbert worked frequently in television on numerous shows, including The Red Skelton Hour.
Andy’s Gang
On Broadway, Billy worked in several productions as an actor, writer and director. These included acting roles in Fanny, The Chocolate Soldier, and Gypsy Lady. His offstage work included The Red Mill, Sally and Buttrio Square. So we applaud and extend multiple hat tips to the star of stage screen cartoons and radio, the one, the only Billy Gilbert!
In closing, the Way Too Damn Lazy To Write A Blog crew want to mention that, if you simply can't get enough Hal Roach Studios content - and we can't - check out the following Lot Of Fun playlist. If one gets unlucky, sadly ends up ill, injured and bedridden but in good enough condition to be awake and watch video, there's at least 2600 hours of comedy goodness with healing powers in said playlist! Hail, Billy Gilbert and all the comedy greats!
