Andy Devine
Devine in 1934
BornAndrew Vabre Devine
(1905-10-07)October 7, 1905
Flagstaff, Territory of Arizona, U.S.
DiedFebruary 18, 1977(1977-02-18) (aged 71)
Orange, California, U.S.
Resting place33°36′34″N 117°51′12″W / 33.60953°N 117.85336°W / 33.60953; -117.85336
Other namesJeremiah Schwartz
EducationSaint Mary's College of California
Northern Arizona University
Santa Clara University
OccupationActor
Years active1932–1977
Political partyRepublican
Spouse Dorothy House ​(m. 1933)​
Children2
FamilyJames H. Ward (great-grandfather)

Andrew Vabre Devine (October 7, 1905 – February 18, 1977)[1] was an American character actor known for his distinctive raspy, crackly voice and roles in Western films, including his role as Cookie, the sidekick of Roy Rogers in 10 feature films. He also appeared alongside John Wayne in films such as Stagecoach (1939), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and How the West Was Won (both 1962). He is also remembered as Jingles on the TV series The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok from 1951 to 1958, as Danny McGuire in A Star Is Born (1937), and as the voice of Friar Tuck in the Disney Animation Studio film Robin Hood (1973).

Early life

Devine attended St. Mary's and St. Benedict's College, Northern Arizona State Teacher's College, and was a football player at Santa Clara University.[2][3] He also played semiprofessional football[3] under the pseudonym Jeremiah Schwartz. His football experience led to his first sizable film role in The Spirit of Notre Dame in 1931.[3]

Career

Devine had an ambition to act, so after college, he went to Hollywood, where he worked as a lifeguard at Venice Beach.[3][4]

His peculiar wheezy voice was first thought likely to prevent him from moving to the talkies, but instead, it became his trademark. Devine claimed that his distinctive voice resulted from a childhood accident in which he fell while running with a curtain rod in his mouth at the Beale Hotel in Kingman, causing the rod to pierce the roof of his mouth. When he was able to speak again, he had a labored, scratchy, duo-tone voice. A biographer, however, indicated that this was one of several stories Devine fabricated about his voice.[5]

Devine appeared in more than 400 films and shared with Walter Brennan, another character actor, the rare ability to move with ease from B-movie Westerns to mainstream feature films. His notable roles included Cookie, Roy Rogers's sidekick, in 10 films; a role in Romeo and Juliet (1936),[6] and Danny in A Star Is Born (1937). He appeared in several films with John Wayne, including Stagecoach (1939), Island in the Sky (1953), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962).

Devine was generally known for his comic roles, but Jack Webb cast him as a police detective in Pete Kelly's Blues (1955).

His film appearances in his later years included roles in Zebra in the Kitchen (1965),[7] The Over-the-Hill Gang (1969), and Myra Breckinridge (1970).

Devine worked extensively in radio, and is well remembered for his role as Jingles, Guy Madison's sidekick in The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok. Devine appeared over 75 times on Jack Benny's radio show between 1936 and 1942, often in Benny's semiregular series of Western sketches, "Buck Benny Rides Again". Benny frequently referred to him as "the mayor of Van Nuys", and Devine served as honorary mayor from 1938 to 1957, when he moved to Newport Beach.[8][9]

Devine also worked in television. He hosted Andy's Gang, a children's TV show,[9] on NBC from 1955 to 1960. During this time, he also made multiple appearances on NBC's The Ford Show. In addition, he was a guest star on many television shows in the 1950s and 1960s, including an episode of The Twilight Zone titled "Hocus-Pocus and Frisby" and appeared in five episodes of the NBC TV series Flipper in 1964. He played the role of Jake Sloan in the 1961 episode "Big Jake" of the acclaimed anthology series The Barbara Stanwyck Show, also on NBC. He also played Honest John Denton in the episode "A Horse of a Different Cutter" of the short-lived series The Rounders.

He made a cameo appearance as Santa Claus in an episode of the 1960s live-action Batman TV series on ABC. The episode, entitled "The Duo Is Slumming", was originally broadcast on December 22, 1966.

Devine made his stage debut in 1957 with his portrayal of Cap'n Andy in Guy Lombardo's production of Show Boat at the Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, New York.[9] In 1973, he went to Monroe, Louisiana, at the request of George C. Brian, an actor and filmmaker who headed the theater department at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, to perform in Show Boat. He also performed voice parts in animated films, including Friar Tuck in Walt Disney's Robin Hood. He provided the voice of Cornelius the Rooster in several TV commercials for Kellogg's Corn Flakes.

Personal life

Devine was a pilot and owned Provo Devine, a flying school that trained flyers for the government during World War II.

Devine was a Republican.[10] Devine supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election.[11]

Death

Devine died of leukemia at age 71 in Irvine, California, on February 18, 1977.[12]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1926 The Collegians Student Short, uncredited
1927 Around the Bases Calford baseball player
The Relay Sophomore
1928 That's My Daddy Sailor Uncredited
Finders Keepers Doughboy and Gate Guard
We Americans Pat O'Dougal
Lonesome Jim's Friend
Noah's Ark Extra Uncredited
Red Lips Professor Fountain/Sophomore
Naughty Baby Joe Cassidy
The Divine Lady Extra Uncredited
1929 Why Be Good? Young Man at Boiler
Hot Stuff Bob
Junior Luck Short, uncredited
His Lucky Day Road House Thug Uncredited
Flying High Student Admirer Short, uncredited
1930 Dames Ahoy! Marine at dance contest Uncredited
Shooting Straight Kibitzer
A Soldier's Plaything Doughboy
1931 The Criminal Code Cluck
Heroes of the Flames Fireman
Danger Island Briney
The Spirit of Notre Dame Truck McCall
1932 Three Wise Girls Jimmy Callahan
Law and Order Johnny Kinsman
The Impatient Maiden Clarence Howe
Destry Rides Again Stagecoach Passenger Scene deleted
Man Wanted Andy Doyle
Radio Patrol Pete Wiley
Fast Companions Information Kid
The Man from Yesterday Steve Hand
Tom Brown of Culver Mac
The All American Andy Moran
1933 The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble
Song of the Eagle Mud
The Big Cage Scoops
Horse Play Andy
Midnight Mary Sam
Doctor Bull Larry Ward
Saturday's Millions Andy Jones
Chance at Heaven Al
1934 The Poor Rich Andy
Upper World Oscar
Stingaree Howie
Let's Talk It Over Gravel
Million Dollar Ransom Careful
Gift of Gab John P. McDougal
Wake Up and Dream Joe Egbert, aka Egghead
The President Vanishes Valentine Orcott
Hell in the Heavens Sgt. "Ham" Davis
1935 Straight from the Heart Edwards
Hold 'Em Yale Liverlips
Chinatown Squad George Mason
The Farmer Takes a Wife Elmer Otway
Way Down East Hi Holler
Fighting Youth Cy Kipp
Coronado Pinky Falls
1936 Small Town Girl George Brannan
Romeo and Juliet Peter
Yellowstone Pay-Day
The Big Game Pop Andrews
Flying Hostess Joe Williams
Mysterious Crossing Carolina
1937 A Star Is Born Danny McGuire
The Road Back Willy
Double or Nothing Half Pint
You're a Sweetheart Daisy Day
In Old Chicago Pickle Bixby
1938 Doctor Rhythm Officer Lawrence O'Roon
Yellow Jack Charlie Spill
Men with Wings Joe Gibbs
Personal Secretary "Snoop" Lewis
Swing That Cheer Doc Saunders
The Storm Swede Hanzen
Strange Faces Hector Hobbs
1939 Stagecoach Buck
The Spirit of Culver Tubby
Never Say Die Henry Munch
Mutiny on the Blackhawk Slim Collins
Tropic Fury Tynan ('Tiny') Andrews
Legion of Lost Flyers "Beef" Brumley
Geronimo Sneezer
Man from Montreal Constable "Bones" Blair
1940 Danger on Wheels "Guppy" Wexel
Little Old New York Commodore
Buck Benny Rides Again Andy
Torrid Zone Wally Davis
Hot Steel Matt Morrison
Black Diamonds Tolliver Higgenbotham
When the Daltons Rode Ozark
Margie
The Leather Pushers Andy Adams
The Devil's Pipeline Andy Jennings
Trail of the Vigilantes Meadows
1941 Lucky Devils Andy Tompkins
Mutiny in the Arctic Andy Adams
The Flame of New Orleans First Sailor
Men of the Timberland Andy Jensen
Raiders of the Desert Andy "Hammer" McCoy
A Dangerous Game Andy McAllister
Badlands of Dakota Spearfish
The Kid from Kansas Andy
South of Tahiti Moose
Road Agent Andy
1942 North to the Klondike Klondike
Unseen Enemy Detective Sam Dillon
Escape from Hong Kong Blimp
Danger in the Pacific Andy Parker
Top Sergeant Andy Jarrett
Timber Arizona
Between Us Girls Mike Kilinsky
Sin Town "Judge" Eustace Vale
Keeping Fit Andy Short
1943 Rhythm of the Islands Eddie Dolan
Frontier Badmen Slim
Corvette K-225 Walsh
Crazy House Andy Devine
1944 Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Abdullah
Follow the Boys Himself Uncredited
Ghost Catchers Horsehead
Babes on Swing Street Joe Costello
Bowery to Broadway Father Kelley
1945 Frisco Sal Bunny
Sudan Nebka
That's the Spirit Martin Wilde Sr.
Frontier Gal Big Ben
1946 Canyon Passage Ben Dance
1947 The Michigan Kid Buster
Bells of San Angelo Sheriff Cookie Bullfincher
The Vigilantes Return Andy
Springtime in the Sierras Cookie Bullfincher
Slave Girl Ben
On the Old Spanish Trail Constable Cookie Bullfincher
The Fabulous Texan Elihu Mills
1948 The Gay Ranchero Cookie Bullfincher
Old Los Angeles Sam Bowie
Under California Stars Cookie Bullfincher and Alf Bullfincher
The Gallant Legion Windy Hornblower
Eyes of Texas Cookie Bullfincher
Night Time in Nevada
Grand Canyon Trail
The Far Frontier Judge Cookie Bullfincher
1949 The Last Bandit Casey Brown
1950 The Traveling Saleswoman Waldo
Never a Dull Moment Orvie
1951 New Mexico Sergeant Garrity
The Red Badge of Courage Cheery Soldier
Slaughter Trail Sgt. Macintosh
1952 Montana Belle Pete Bivins
1953 Island in the Sky Willie Moon
1954 Thunder Pass Injun
1955 Pete Kelly's Blues George Tenell
1956 Around the World in 80 Days First Mate of the 'S.S. Henrietta'
1960 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mr. Carmody
1961 Two Rode Together Sgt. Darius P. Posey
1962 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Link Appleyard
How the West Was Won Cpl. Peterson
1963 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Sheriff of Crockett County
1965 Zebra in the Kitchen Branch Hawksbill
1967 The Ballad of Josie Judge Tatum
1968 The Road Hustlers Sheriff Estep
1970 The Phynx Himself
Myra Breckinridge Coyote Bill
1973 Robin Hood Friar Tuck
1976 Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood Priest
A Whale of a Tale Captain Andy
1977 The Mouse and His Child Frog Posthumous release

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1951-1958 The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok Deputy Marshal Jingles P. Jones 112 episodes
1955-1960 Andy's Gang Host
1959 Wagon Train Jesse MacAbee Episode: "The Jess MacAbee Story"
1960 No Place Like Home TV movie
1962 The Twilight Zone Frisby Episode: "Hocus-Pocus and Frisby"
1964-1965 Flipper Hap Gorman 5 episodes
1966 Batman Santa Claus Episode: "The Duo is Slumming"
1967 Shoestring Safari Colonel Hazeltine TV movie
1967-1972 The Virginian Amos Tyke/Dr. Houseman 2 episodes
1968 Bonanza Roscoe Episode: "A Girl Named George"
1969 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Jim Demmer/Mr. Stone 2 episodes
Gunsmoke Jed Whitlow Episode: "Stryker"
The Over-the-Hill Gang Judge Amos Polk TV movie
1970 Smoke Mr. Stone
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again Amos Polk
1972 Alias Smith and Jones Sheriff Bintell Episode: "The Men That Corrupted Hadleyburg"

See also

References

  1. Andy Devine, Western Character, Dead at 71. Fairbanks Daily News Miner, February 19, 1977. p. A6.
  2. Corneau, Ernest N. (1969). The Hall of Fame of Western Film Stars. Christopher Publishing House. p. 234. ISBN 978-0815801245.
  3. "The Spirit of Culver". Culver-Union Township Public Library. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016.
  4. Lane, Frances. "Prairie Tales". Screen Stars, April 1946, p. 72. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011.
  5. "Froggy the Gremlin". Froggy the Gremlin. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011.
  6. Stanley, John (January 28, 2014). "Arizona Explained: Andy Devine, professional sidekick". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015.
  7. "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com.
  8. "Andy Devine Named 'Mayor'." Los Angeles Times, May 10, 1938.
  9. Collura, Joe. "Big Man, Bigger Talent" Archived January 10, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Classic Images, June 25, 2009.
  10. Kritchlow, Donald T. (October 21, 2013). When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521199186.
  11. Critchlow, Donald T. (October 21, 2013). When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107650282.
  12. Weil, Martin (February 20, 1977). "Andy Devine Dies, TV, Film Comic". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020.

Further reading

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