Henry Calvin
Henry Calvin | |
|---|---|
 Calvin during the Broadway theater season of 1946-1947 | |
| Born | Wimberly Calvin Goodman May 25, 1918 Dallas,Texas, U.S. |
| Died | October 6, 1975(aged 57) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Resting place | Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas |
| Occupation | comic actor |
| Years active | 1949–1971 |
| Known for | Sergeant Garcia on Disney'sZorro |
| Spouse | Edna Frances Goodman (1908–1962) |
Henry Calvin(bornWimberly Calvin Goodman;[citation needed]May 25, 1918 – October 6, 1975) was an American actor known for his role as the Spanish soldierSergeant GarciaonWalt Disney's live-action television seriesZorro(1957–1959).
Early life
[edit]Born inDallas,Texas,[1][2]he sang in thechoirof his localBaptist churchas a child; he was often the featuredsoloist.Calvin attended Winnetka Grade School during his childhood.[3]After graduating fromSunset High Schoolin Dallas, Texas, he attendedSouthern Methodist Universitybefore pursuing a career as an actor and singer.[4]
Career
[edit]Calvin hosted a 1950NBCradio show[2]and appeared on Broadway (most notably inKismetas the Wazir of Police).[1]In 1952, he portrayed Big Ben on the children's TV seriesHowdy Doody.and made his film debut inCrime Against Joeas Red Waller four years later.
His character inZorro,SergeantDemetrio Lopez Garcia,was acomedic foilforZorroand hissecret identity,Don Diego de la Vega(Guy Williams). Sometimes a friend (especially to Diego), sometimes a reluctant foe, Garcia is constantly outwitted by other characters, and is often his own worst enemy due to his weakness for food and wine.[2]
Calvin also sang and released a version of the "Zorro" theme song.[2]Calvin's richbaritonevoice also contributed to a number of musical interludes over the course of the series, singing everything from drinking songs to aserenade,and even a duet withAnnette Funicelloin one episode. After the series ended due to a contract dispute withABC,he reprised the role of Garcia in all fourZorrostories that aired as part ofWalt Disney Presentsin 1960 and 1961.
He appeared in Disney's 1960 filmToby Tyleras gruff circus wagon driver Ben Cotter, Toby's friend and protector. Toby's other mentor in the film, clown and animal trainer Sam Treat, was played byGene Sheldon,who co-starred inZorroas Bernardo. Toby Tyler was played byKevin Corcoran,a prolificchild actorat the studio in that era. All three actors also appeared in another Disney film,Babes in Toyland(1961).[4]
Calvin sang the children's song "Never Smile at a Crocodile"for Disneyland Records, a recording that was later reissued as part of aPeter Pansoundtrack CD. He also sang "We Won't Be Happy Till We Get It" withRay Bolgerand "Slowly He Sank To The Bottom of the Sea" on theBabes in Toylandsoundtrack.
AfterZorroand his Disney contract ended, Calvin guest starred in numerous television series during the 1960s. In his appearance on a 1963 episode ofThe Dick Van Dyke Show,his character performed a comedy sketch asOliver Hardy,oppositeDick Van Dyke's Rob Petrie character asStan Laurel.[5]
He also kept in touch with other members of theZorrocast, even traveling with Guy Williams in 1973 to attend a charity event.[4]He died in Dallas[1]from throat cancer in 1975.[4]
Selected credits
[edit]- Crime Against Joe(1956) as Red Waller
- The Broken Star(1956) as Thornton W. Wills
- The Yeomen of the Guard(Hallmark Hall of Fame) (1957) (TV) as Wilfred Shadbolt
- Zorro(1957–1959) as Sergeant Garcia
- Toby Tyler,or Ten Weeks with a Circus(1960) as Ben Cotter
- Walt Disney Presents(in fourZorroepisodes, 1960–1961) as Sergeant Garcia
- Babes in Toyland(1961) as Gonzorgo
- The Dick Van Dyke Show(in "The Sam Pomerantz Scandals", 1963) as Sam Pomerantz
- Petticoat Junction(in "The Ringer", 1963) as Pixley Fats
- Ship of Fools(1965) as Gregorio (Fat Man)
- The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.(in "The Prisoner of Zalamar Affair", 1966) as Sheikh Ali Hassen
- Run, Buddy, Run(in "Grand Mexican Hotel", 1966) as Jose
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E.(in "The Monks of St. Thomas Affair", 1966) as Brother Peter
- Mannix(in "The Cost of a Vacation", 1967) as Lazaro Figueroa
References
[edit]- ^abcHenry Calvinat theInternet Broadway Database
- ^abcdCotter, Bill (1998–2004)."Zorro - A History of the Series".Walt Disney's Zorro tribute site.Retrieved2008-02-07.
- ^"Mary's Guy Williams Fan Site - Henry Calvin".www.celebhost.net.Retrieved2021-12-07.
- ^abcd"Henry Calvin".Zorro Fanz Central.2007. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-02-03.Retrieved2008-02-08.
- ^Calvin, Henry and Van Dyke, Dick (1963-02-05)."The Sam Pomerantz Scandals", The Dick Van Dyke Show(black and white)(DVD). Image Entertainment.
External links
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