Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Billy Bletcher

 
Artist: Billy Bletcher
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Performed Songs By:

Ann Ronell, Frank Churchill, Harold Arlen
  • Genres: Soundtrack
  • Instrument: Vocals

Biography

The career of American comic actor Billy Bletcher stretched from the silent era through the late 1960s. He began performing in vaudeville at age 19 and began his screen career at the Vitagraph Studios, Brooklyn in 1913. While there, he sometimes directed John Bunny comedies. He and his wife Arline came to Hollywood in 1917 where he became a stock comic for Mack Sennett's troupe and played in many two-reelers. Bletcher's career didn't really take off until the early 1920s when he teamed up with Billy Gilbert. Together they appeared in a number of Hal Roach two-reelers. Bletcher later appeared as Spanky's father in the "Our Gang" shorts. He also provided voices for Disney cartoon characters and in features such as The Wizard of Oz (as a Munchkin). Bletcher also did voiceovers on television. His last film appearance was in 1969. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Music Guide
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Actor: Billy Bletcher
Top
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Occupation: Actor, Director
  • Active: '30s-'40s
  • Major Genres: Comedy, Western
  • Career Highlights: Branded Men, Daredevil's Reward, The Boiling Point
  • First Major Screen Credit: Dry and Thirsty (1926)

Biography

The career of American comic actor Billy Bletcher stretched from the silent era through the late 1960s. He began performing in vaudeville at age 19 and began his screen career at the Vitagraph Studios, Brooklyn in 1913. While there, he sometimes directed John Bunny comedies. He and his wife Arline came to Hollywood in 1917 where he became a stock comic for Mack Sennett's troupe and played in many two-reelers. Bletcher's career didn't really take off until the early 1920s when he teamed up with Billy Gilbert. Together they appeared in a number of Hal Roach two-reelers. Bletcher later appeared as Spanky's father in the "Our Gang" shorts. He also provided voices for Disney cartoon characters and in features such as The Wizard of Oz (as a Munchkin). Bletcher also did voiceovers on television. His last film appearance was in 1969. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Wikipedia: Billy Bletcher
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Billy Bletcher
Born William Bletcher
September 24, 1894(1894-09-24)
Lancaster, Pennsylvania U.S.
Died January 5, 1979 (aged 84)
Los Angeles, California U.S.
Years active 1914–1971
Spouse(s) Arlyn Roberts

William "Billy" Bletcher (September 24, 1894 – January 5, 1979) was an American actor, comedian, and voice artist, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Career

The diminutive (5 feet 2 inches/1.57 meters) Bletcher appeared on-screen in films and later television from the 1910s to the 1970s, including appearances in several Our Gang and Three Stooges comedies.

Bletcher was also famous as a voice actor. Uncharacteristically for someone of his size, his voice was deep and strong-sounding baritone. He provided the voices of various characters for Disney (Black Pete and the Big Bad Wolf in Three Little Pigs and its spin-offs), MGM (Spike the Bulldog in Tom and Jerry), and Warner Bros. (many characters, most notably the Papa Bear of Chuck Jones' The Three Bears after Mel Blanc had performed the role in the initial entry). He appeared opposite Blanc in Little Red Riding Rabbit, where he played another famous wolf. Bletcher's booming voice can also be heard as "Dom Del Oro" the Yacqi Indian god in the 1939 Republic serial, Zorro's Fight Legion. He also voiced Owl Jolson's disciplinarian violinist father in the 1936 short subject based on the song I Love to Singa and the menacing spider in Bingo Crosbyana. His ashes were scattered. Bletcher also played The Captain in Captain and the Kids with MGM cartoons.

Selected filmography

External links


Stub icon This article about an American film and TV actor or actress is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 
Learn More
The Three Little Pigs (1933 Children's/Family Film)
Arline Bletcher (Actor)
Better Days (1927 Film)

What are nannies and billies? Read answer...
Who is Billy English? Read answer...
WHo is billie bush? Read answer...

Help us answer these
What is the homophone for billied?
What are billy lids'?
Who is Billy Hardwick?

Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Billy Bletcher".  Read more