Paul Garner

This article is about the American vaudeville actor. For British comedy writer and performer, see Paul Garner (comedian). For the English footballer, see Paul Garner (footballer).
Paul "Mousie" Garner
Born July 31, 1909
Washington, D.C., USA[1]
Died August 8, 2004 (aged 95)[2]
Glendale, California, USA

Paul "Mousie" Garner (July 31, 1909 – August 8, 2004) was an American actor.[3] Garner earned his nickname by assuming the role of a shy, simpering jokester.[2] Garner was one of the last actors still doing schtick from vaudeville,[2] and has been referred to as "The Grand Old Man Of Vaudeville."[2]

Biography

He was born on July 31, 1909 in Washington, D.C.

Garner was one of over 20 comedians who worked as part of Ted Healy's stooge act with his cousin, Jack Wolf (father of Warner Wolf) and Richard Hakins between 1922 and 1936.[1] Although he was never a member of the act at the same time as Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Curly Howard or Shemp Howard, he did cross paths with the Three Stooges on several occasions and would later join the New Three Stooges in the 1970s (with official Stooge Joe DeRita).

He also worked with Spike Jones and His City Slickers.[1] In the early 1960s, he was a character actor on 77 Sunset Strip, I Dream of Jeannie, Surfside Six and The Monkees. Also appeared in episode of "One Step Beyoned".

In 1985, Garner was given a bit part in, appropriately, the film Stoogemania. In 1994, he then appeared in the film Radioland Murders as an homage to his work in vaudeville. His autobiography, entitled Mousie Garner: Autobiography of a Vaudeville Stooge, was published in 1999. His nephew, Stephen Garner, a professional magician from Maryland, supplied most of the pictures for the book. Mousie also played a zany cameraman in David Lee Roth's "Just a Gigolo" music video.

He acted as Uncle Smackers, a character in The Onion Movie, a feature film produced by David Zucker, renowned for Airplane! and the Naked Gun series.

After suffering from kidney problems, Garner died on August 8, 2004 at Verdugo Hills Hospital at age 95.[3] He was the last major celebrity associated with Ted Healy and Three Stooges to die.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kissane, Sharon F. Mrotek; Garner, Paul H. (1999). Mousie Garner: autobiography of a vaudeville stooge. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co. ISBN 0-7864-0581-3.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 AP (August 16, 2004). "Paul Garner (obit)". Toledo Blade.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Associated Press (August 16, 2004). "Paul Garner, a Vaudeville Actor, Dies at 95". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-12-26. Paul Garner, a diminutive comic actor who appeared on the vaudeville stage, in films, on television and sometimes with some of the Three Stooges, died here on Sunday. He was 95. His death, at Verdugo Hills Hospital, was confirmed by that institution's spokeswoman, Ellen Borja.

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