George Ali

George Ali (born George Bolingbroke in 1866)was an actor who specialized in the ‘skin game’, playing aniamls now known as an animal impersonator. Ali performed in a number of stage plays working as lions, tigers & bears, but it was as the canine nursemaid Nana and the Crocodile in Peter Pan for which he is best remembered.

In December 1924, the Paramount studios released a high budget version of Sir James Matthew Barries' famous stage play. Directed by Herbert Brenon, the literal adaptation enjoyed critical acclaim but not the box office success hoped for by the studio. George Ali's performance as Nana was highly acclaimed.

JM Barrie was quoted as saying that the combination role of Nana was best suited for a ‘young boy’, however Ali played the charcter at the age of 58. Barrie himself was personally involved in the production, and although Paramount did not adhere his script outline, this remains probably the most faithful film realization of the enduring children’s classic.

In the performance of Nana, of particular note is the puppeteering of Nana’s mouth and eyes. Ali manipulates the head features from within, picking up towels & carry spoons- quite a feat whilst walking on all fours!. In more modernversions of the play, Nana frequently lays on wheeled platform or walks on her knees. It’s considerably more a physical challenge to walk like a quadruped as Ali did nearly a century ago.

He was a skilled puppeteer and gymnast, it’s unknown if Ali also had a hand in creating his special costumes. In the the early days of film & television, it was not uncommon for makeup artists and stuntmen to create & perform their own special effects characters. It is said that he also played the part of the Crocodile aswell. Ali died in 1947.

Filmography

• Peter Pan (as Nana/Crocodile)

Theatre Productions

• Parade (as The Jackass)
• Chee-Chee (as San Toy)
• White Wings(as Joseph)
• Buster Brown (as Performer)
• The Jersey Lily (as Pretty Polly)
• George W. Lederer's Mid-Summer Night Fancies (as Mr. Black Bear)
• The Wild Rose (as Baby)
• Hoity Toity (as Baron Barbon)
• Depleurisy (as Antoine)
• A Man From Mars (as A Trolley Victim)
• Fiddle-dee-dee (as Leo)
• Quo Vass Iss? (as Sparrus Copus)
• Arizona (as Ham Song)
• Exhibit II (as Tipit)
• Whirl-i-gig (as Peformer)
• Dick Whittington and His Cat (Mouser the Cat)
• Tom, Tom, the Piper's son (as Performer)

References

• George Ali on an External Wiki
• George Ali] at the Internet Movie Database