Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks
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Lieutenant General Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks is a fictional character from the comic strip Little Orphan Annie. His age in the series is around 52.
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[edit] Name
The derivation of Warbucks' name is from his making millions through munition sales in World War I.
"Oliver" is used as his name in the play and movie. It is not used in the comic strip.
"Daddy Warbucks" has entered the language as an exceptionally generous donor and supporter to a person or cause.
[edit] Biography
He was born about 1894, near the small town of Supine. His father, a section boss on the railroad, was killed when he was a month old. His mother was left with only "gumption" and a house in which she was able to keep boarders. His early youth in Supine involved cornering all the marbles in town at age nine, serving as a messenger for the telegraph company, having a girlfriend named Millie, fishing, swimming and raiding melon patches with Spike Spangle and beating up the son of the banker who planned to foreclose on his mother's house. Then on June 7, 1905 when he was only 11, his mother died at age 30, of typhoid. On the night of the funeral he was put on the outbound Limited. Presumably he later spent some time in the city for he and Paddy Cairns were companions together in the old 8th Ward.
[edit] Work
For a few semesters he attended college studying engineering but found no time for football or girls because he had to work seven nights a week and Sundays in the local steel mill to pay off a debt. His family background and lack of prep school education kept him from entering a fraternity. He eventually became foreman in the rolling mill, married Mrs. Warbucks, worked and planned for a family, kids, and house of their own. When "Daddy" began to make big money the marital happiness was lost but he retained his identity with the common people.[1]
[edit] World War I
The derivation of Warbucks' name is from his making millions through munition sales in World War I.
[edit] Post WWI
After the war, Warbucks continued as an industrialist, but became a philanthropist as well—his fortune had built to "ten zillion dollars." His wife instigated the taking in (no adoption ever took place[2]) of Annie while Warbucks was away on a business trip. On his return, he was smitten with Annie and, as her father-figure, offered the girl support as needed. He often intervened in Annie's life during crisis, always returning in time to save the day.[3]
[edit] World War II
During World War II, Warbucks, along with his bodyguards Punjab and Asp, join Allied forces. Warbucks becomes a three-star general—though not of U.S. forces, as he joined up before Pearl Harbor.
[edit] Post WWII
Despite his immense wealth, Warbucks is, now and then, reduced to such poverty as to be forced to raid Annie's piggy bank. He always leaves an I.O.U., and is always restored to his wealth and repays Annie.
He is knighted by the Queen later in life.
[edit] Views
Warbucks was often a platform for cartoonist Harold Gray's political views, which were free market-based. He sometimes expounded on the need for wealthy men to work hard—lest the masses have no employment. While, in the strip, Warbucks would interact with the rich and powerful, the close relationship in the play and movie between Warbucks and Franklin Delano Roosevelt would likely have been anathema to Gray, who opposed the New Deal policies of FDR. In fact, in 1944, Gray briefly killed off Warbucks on the grounds that it was widely thought that capitalists were obsolete. He was resurrected after FDR's death.[4]
He first appeared in the Annie strip on September 27, 1924.
"Daddy Warbucks" has entered the language as an exceptionally generous donor and supporter to a person or cause.
[edit] Quotes
[edit] In comic strip
"Some have called me dirty capitalist, but I've merely used the imagination and common sense and energy that kind Providence gave me."
[edit] In play/movie
"I know he's a Democrat but he's a human being too!" However, in the movie part played by Carol Burnett (Miss Hannigan), she refers to him as being really handsome for a Republican.
[edit] Portrayals in media
Daddy Warbucks was portrayed by Albert Finney in the 1982 film adaptation of Annie. In Disney's 1999 made-for-TV version, Warbucks is portrayed by Victor Garber.
He was named the "richest fictional character" in 2007 by Forbes magazine.[5]
Oliver Warbucks appears in the Drawn Together episode "Nipple Ring-Ring Goes to Foster Care." Annie warns Foxxy that Daddy Warbucks will take out her eyes (a reference to how the characters are depicted without pupils).
Rapper Warbux from North Virginia named himself after Daddy Warbucks.
