Willard Waterman: Difference between revisions
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|1962|| ''[[Walk on the Wild Side (film)|Walk on the Wild Side]]'' || Man Listening to Speech || Uncredited |
|1962|| ''[[Walk on the Wild Side (film)|Walk on the Wild Side]]'' || Man Listening to Speech || Uncredited |
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|1963|| ''[[My Favorite Martian'' |
|1963|| ''[[My Favorite Martian]]'' || Mr. Trimble|| Episode- There is No Cure for the Common Martian||1 episode |
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|1964|| ''[[Get Yourself a College Girl]]'' || Senator Hubert Morrison || |
|1964|| ''[[Get Yourself a College Girl]]'' || Senator Hubert Morrison || |
Revision as of 22:52, 30 August 2018
Willard Waterman | |
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File:Wwaterman.jpg An undated publicity photo | |
Born | Willard Lewis Waterman August 29, 1914 Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Died | February 2, 1995 Burlingame, California, U.S. | (aged 80)
Resting place | Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, California |
Years active | 1949–1973 |
Spouse(s) | Mary Anna Theleen (1937-1995; his death); 2 children |
Willard Lewis Waterman (August 29, 1914, Madison, Wisconsin – February 2, 1995,[1] Burlingame, California) was a character actor in films, TV and on radio, remembered best for succeeding Harold Peary as the title character of The Great Gildersleeve at the height of that show's popularity.
Early years
Waterman attended the University of Wisconsin in the mid-1930s, where he joined Theta Chi, acted in student plays, and was a friend of Uta Hagen. His growing interest in theater put an end to his original plan to be an engineer, and he gained experience in radio at the university's station, WHA.[2]
Radio
Waterman replaced Harold Peary, on "The Great Gildersleeve," radio program after Peary was unable to convince sponsor and show owner Kraft Cheese to allow him an ownership stake in the show. Impressed with better capital-gains deals CBS was willing to offer performers in the high-tax late 1940s, he decided to move from NBC to CBS during the latter's famous talent raids. Kraft, however, refused to move the show to CBS and hired Waterman to replace Peary as the stentorian Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve.
He also began his radio career at WIBA in Madison, singing in a quartet that performed "musical interludes between programs."[2] and came to NBC in Chicago in early 1936.[3]
There he met and replaced Peary on The Tom Mix Ralston Straight Shooters. Not only did the two men become longtime friends, but Waterman – who actually looked as though he could have been Peary's sibling, and whose voice was a near-match for Peary's — refused to appropriate the half-leering, half-embarrassed laugh Peary had made a Gildersleeve trademark. He stayed with The Great Gildersleeve from 1950-57, on radio and in an ill-fated television version syndicated in 1955.[4]
During World War II, Waterman worked in war production [clarification needed] in the Nash-Kelvinator plant in Kenosha, Wisconsin.[citation needed]
At the same time he was heard as Gildersleeve, Waterman had a recurring role as Mr. Merriweather in the short-lived but respected radio comedy vehicle for Ronald Colman and his wife Benita Hume, The Halls of Ivy. Waterman's pre-Gildersleeve radio career, in addition to Tom Mix, had included at least one starring vehicle, a short-lived situation comedy, Those Websters,[5] that premiered in 1945.
He had radio roles between the mid-1930s and 1950 on such shows as Chicago Theater of the Air (variety) and Harold Teen (comedy), plus four soap operas: Girl Alone,[6] The Guiding Light, Lonely Women,[7] The Road of Life and Kay Fairchild, Stepmother.
Film
Waterman is remembered for his role as Claude Upson in the 1958 film Auntie Mame.[8] He was also seen in Riding High, Three Coins in the Fountain, and The Apartment.[9][4]
Stage
Waterman was in two Broadway productions of the musical Mame (the 1966 original and the 1983 revival) and the 1973 Broadway revival of The Pajama Game. He also toured in the national companies of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.[9]
Television
Waterman's later career included a variety of film and TV supporting roles on such shows as a short-lived television adaptation of The Great Gildersleeve, Vacation Playhouse, Lawman, My Favorite Martian, The Eve Arden Show (four episodes from 1957-1958 as Carl Foster), 77 Sunset Strip, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Guestward Ho!, F Troop, and Dennis the Menace, in which he played the lovable grocer, Mr. Quigley. Between 1957-59, he appeared five times as Mac Maginnis in the ABC sitcom, The Real McCoys, starring Walter Brennan.[4]
Waterman was all but retired from acting after 1973, although in 1980 he appeared in the "Boss and Peterson" radio commercial for Sony, for which he received a Clio Award.[10]
Labor activities
In 1937, Waterman was a founding member of the radio union now known as the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. One obituary noted, "He was believed to be the only person to have served as a member of the union's board of directors in four different locales: Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York."[11]
Death
Waterman died of bone marrow disease February 2, 1995, at his home in Burlingame, California,[9] and is interred at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, California. He was survived by his wife, Mary Anna (née Theleen), two daughters, three granddaughters, and a great-granddaughter.[9]
Recognition
Waterman has a star in the Radio section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[12]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1949 | Flaming Fury | Dutch | Uncredited | |
1949 | Flame of Youth | Steve Miller | ||
1949 | Free for All | Commander H.C. Christie | ||
1950 | No Man of Her Own | Jack Olsen | Uncredited | |
1950 | Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town | J.J. Schumacher | Uncredited | |
1950 | Riding High | Arthur Winslow | ||
1950 | Father of the Bride | Vincent Dixon - Engagement Party Guest | Uncredited | |
1950 | Louisa | Dick Stewart | ||
1950 | The Lawless | Pawling | Uncredited | |
1950 | Mystery Street | A Mortician | ||
1950 | Three Secrets | Max | Uncredited | |
1950 | Hit Parade of 1951 | Oilman | Uncredited | |
1950 | Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone | Mr. Ogle | ||
1950 | Watch the Birdie | Mayor | Uncredited | |
1951 | Fourteen Hours | Mr. Harris | Uncredited | |
1951 | Francis Goes to the Races | Exerciser | Uncredited | |
1951 | Darling, How Could You! | Theatre Manager | ||
1951 | Rhubarb | Orlando Dill | ||
1951 | Sunny Side of the Street | John 'J.R.' Stevens | ||
1952 | Has Anybody Seen My Gal? | Dr. Wallace | Uncredited | |
1953 | It Happens Every Thursday | Myron Trout | ||
1953 | Half a Hero | Charles McEstway | ||
1954 | Three Coins in the Fountain | Mr. Hoyt | Uncredited | |
1955 | Three for the Show | TV Show Moderator | Uncredited | |
1955 | How to Be Very, Very Popular | Speaker | ||
1956 | Hollywood or Bust | Manager Neville | Uncredited | |
1958 | Auntie Mame | Claude Upson | ||
1960 | The Apartment | Mr. Vanderhoff | ||
1962 | The Joey Bishop Show | Johnathan Flint. | 1 episode | |
1962 | Walk on the Wild Side | Man Listening to Speech | Uncredited | |
1963 | My Favorite Martian | Mr. Trimble | Episode- There is No Cure for the Common Martian | 1 episode |
1964 | Get Yourself a College Girl | Senator Hubert Morrison | ||
1972 | Hail | Vice President | (final film role) |
Radio appearances
Year | Program | Episode/source |
---|---|---|
1948 | Screen Guild Players | Up in Central Park[13] |
1949 | Escape | Red Wine[14] |
References
- ^ Cox, Jim (2008). This Day in Network Radio: A Daily Calendar of Births, Debuts, Cancellations and Other Events in Broadcasting History. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-3848-8.
- ^ a b Leadabrand, Russ (September 22, 1963). "A Pro in Evoking Stitches". Independent Star-News. p. 58. Retrieved June 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Press release on Willard Waterman from NBC Chicago, dated November 9, 1936.
- ^ a b c Willard Waterman at IMDb
- ^ "(photo caption)". Pampa Daily News. March 8, 1946. p. 7. Retrieved June 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Fairfax, Arthur (December 28, 1940). "Mr. Fairfax Replies" (PDF). Movie Radio Guide. 10 (12): 43. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- ^ Buxton, Frank and Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920-1950. The Viking Press; ISBN 670-16240-x (pp. 144-45).
- ^ "(photo caption)". The Zanesville Signal. May 31, 1959. p. 10. Retrieved June 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Willard Waterman, An Actor on Radio And TV, Dies at 80". New York Times. February 8, 1995. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
- ^ Clio Award website, clioawards.com; retrieved on July 15, 2007.
- ^ Folkart, Burt A. (February 4, 1995). "Willard Waterman; Actor on Radio, Screen and Stage". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
- ^ Folkart, Burt A. (February 4, 1995). "Willard Waterman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
- ^ "Those Were The Days". Nostalgia Digest. 40 (1): 32–39. Winter 2014.
- ^ "Those Were the Days". Nostalgia Digest. 39 (1): 32–41. Winter 2013.