Harold Peary
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Born Name:
Harrold José Pereira de Faria
Born Date: July 25, 1908
Born Place: San Leandro, California
Died Date: March 30, 1985
Died Place: Torrance, California
Occupations: Actor, comedian, singer
Brief Biography: Harold Peary was best remembered as the pompous yet lovable "Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve", he made broadcasting history by starring in The Great Gildersleeve, widely considered American radio’s first successful spin-off.
Early Life and Career:
Musical Beginnings: He started his career as a child boy soprano, performing professionally at age 11. By his late teens, his voice had changed to a rich baritone, and he toured with musical comedy troupes.
Radio Break: He transitioned to radio in the 1920s, landing a popular gig as "The Spanish Serenader" on an NBC program in San Francisco.
The Great Gildersleeve and Stardom:
Fibber McGee and Molly: After relocating to Chicago in 1935, Peary joined the cast of the hit radio show Fibber McGee and Molly. In 1938, he created the character Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve.
First Spin-off: The character proved so popular that in 1941, NBC launched The Great Gildersleeve, the first known radio spin-off. The character’s booming, avuncular laugh became a national pop-culture staple.
Movies: Peary starred as Gildersleeve in four feature films during the 1940s, including The Great Gildersleeve (1942) and Gildersleeve's Ghost (1944).
Later Years and Television:
Honest Harold: Peary left the Great Gildersleeve radio show in 1950 and created a similar radio program called Honest Harold on a rival network.
TV & Voice Acting: Peary easily transitioned into television, appearing in classic 1950s and 60s sitcoms like The Addams Family, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Brady Bunch.
Voice Work: In the 1960s and 70s, he became widely known for his voice acting, playing Big Ben in the animated specials Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976) and Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979).
Born Date: July 25, 1908
Born Place: San Leandro, California
Died Date: March 30, 1985
Died Place: Torrance, California
Occupations: Actor, comedian, singer
Brief Biography: Harold Peary was best remembered as the pompous yet lovable "Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve", he made broadcasting history by starring in The Great Gildersleeve, widely considered American radio’s first successful spin-off.
Early Life and Career:
Musical Beginnings: He started his career as a child boy soprano, performing professionally at age 11. By his late teens, his voice had changed to a rich baritone, and he toured with musical comedy troupes.
Radio Break: He transitioned to radio in the 1920s, landing a popular gig as "The Spanish Serenader" on an NBC program in San Francisco.
The Great Gildersleeve and Stardom:
Fibber McGee and Molly: After relocating to Chicago in 1935, Peary joined the cast of the hit radio show Fibber McGee and Molly. In 1938, he created the character Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve.
First Spin-off: The character proved so popular that in 1941, NBC launched The Great Gildersleeve, the first known radio spin-off. The character’s booming, avuncular laugh became a national pop-culture staple.
Movies: Peary starred as Gildersleeve in four feature films during the 1940s, including The Great Gildersleeve (1942) and Gildersleeve's Ghost (1944).
Later Years and Television:
Honest Harold: Peary left the Great Gildersleeve radio show in 1950 and created a similar radio program called Honest Harold on a rival network.
TV & Voice Acting: Peary easily transitioned into television, appearing in classic 1950s and 60s sitcoms like The Addams Family, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Brady Bunch.
Voice Work: In the 1960s and 70s, he became widely known for his voice acting, playing Big Ben in the animated specials Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976) and Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979).