Leo De Lyon
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Irving Levin (born April 27, 1926), known professionally by his stage name of Leo De Lyon, is an American actor famous for his role as Spook and Brain in the prime time animated series Top Cat.[1]
Career
De Lyon made his debut as a stand-up comedian on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts in the 1947. He later co-starred with Bob Haymes and Dorothy Loudon in the short-lived DuMont Television Network sitcom It's a Business (March–May 1952). His specialty on this show was singing and whistling two different tunes - notably the Farandole from Bizet's Arlesienne Suite - at the same time.
He appeared at the London Palladium in 1956 with the Platters and Lonnie Donegan.
In 1962, he did a character voice on a recording of a song written by Al Lerner for a young artist named David Lucas for Doris Day and husband Marty Melcher's Arwin Records. The song was performed by Pookie and Hippy of The Soupy Sales Show. Leo did a fabulous "Guttural" hook "Uga Uga Boola, Uga Boola Boola Uga". He also voiced Flunkey the baboon in Disney's Jungle Book (1967). He also recorded a 45 rpm release (date unknown; probably early 1960s) for Musicor (distributed by United Artists), label number 1001, under Leo DeLyon and the Musclemen: "Sick Manny's Gym" (written by Alan Kooper)/ "Plunkin" (written by Alan Kooper and Eric Krackow). The Musclemen included Al Kooper on guitar and Eric Krackow on bass.
In the mid- and late 1970s he performed on stage as pianist and vocal entertainer and was musical director for several artists s.a. Sandler and Young.
During the 1980s he returned to Hanna-Barbera to provide guest voices on shows such as The Smurfs and Paw Paws. He also once again voiced Brain and Spook in the television special Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats.
As of 2011, Leo De Lyon is retired.
References
- ^ Leszczak, Bob (2015). From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, 1950-2000. Lanham, MD: The Rowman Littlefield Publishing Group. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-4422-4273-9. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
External links
- An Interview with Leo DeLyon, September 2012
- Leo De Lyon at IMDb
- Back to Hoagy's Alley - The Making Of Top Cat - hosted by Leo de Lyon
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