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Billy Gilbert

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Actor

The Resume

    (September 12, 1894-September 23, 1971)
    Born in Louisville, Kentucky
    Birth name was William Gilbert Barron
    Appeared in many Laurel and Hardy, Three Stooges and Our Gang shorts
    Teamed with Billy Bletcher for a series of ‘Schmaltz Brothers’ shorts
    Appeared in the films ‘Chinatown After Dark’ (1931), ‘The Outcasts of Poker Flat’ (1937), ‘The Broadway Melody of 1938’ (1937), ‘Destry Rides Again’ (1939), ‘His Girl Friday’ (1940), ‘The Great Dictator’ (1940), ‘No, No Nanette’ (1940), ‘Arabian Nights’ (1942), ‘Anchors Aweigh’ (1945), and ‘Five Weeks in a Balloon’ (1962)
    Provided the voice of Sneezy in ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (1937) and Willie the Giant in ‘Mickey and the Beanstalk’ (1947)

Why he might be annoying:

    He dropped out of school at twelve to join a children’s singing troupe.
    He made over a million dollars by the age of 25, then lost it in the 1929 stock market crash.
    His signature bit was a comedic sneezing routine.
    He said, ‘People remember me as the comedian with the funny sneeze. Funny thing is I didn't use it in more than five or six of the films I made, but the way it sticks in people's memories you'd think that was all I ever did.’

Why he might not be annoying:

    His parents were opera singers and he was born in the dressing room of the Hopkins Opera House.
    While onstage, he was spotted by Stan Laurel, who introduced him to Hal Roach, who hired him as a gag writer and actor (1930).
    He and his wife toured in a USO show during World War II.
    He was a frequent and popular guest of honor at meetings of the Laurel and Hardy fan club, the Sons of the Desert.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 17 Votes: 5.88% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying