The Resume

(March 30, 1858-September 23, 1935)
Born in New York City, New York
Birth name was William D'Wolf Hopper
Broadway and vaudeville actor, comedian, and singer
Best known for his recitations of 'Casey at the Bat'
Estimated he had recited 'Casey' on stage more than 10,000 times
Father of actor William Hopper

Why he might be annoying:

Although he appeared in over thirty Broadway musicals, he is remembered for his readings of a single poem.
He married and divorced six times, most famously from actress and future gossip columnist Hedda Hopper.
He wore wigs throughout his career, having gone bald as a child due to alopecia.
Late in life, a reaction to medication he took to soothe his throat gave his skin a bluish hue.

Why he might not be annoying:

He organized several charity baseball games among actors to benefit vaudevillians in need.
He popularized the previously little-known 'Casey.'
He performed 'Casey' in an experimental sound film in 1923, four years before the first official 'talkie' in Hollywood history.
A 1906 recording of him reciting 'Casey' was included in the Library of Congress' group of the first 50 entries in the National Recording Registry of 'historically, culturally, or aesthetically important' sound recordings.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Animal Names
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 83]
• I Am Vaudeville [A-L]
• I Died in 1935 (Ranked: 77)
• I Died in the City I Was Born In
• I Have Alopecia
• I Married at Least Five Times [I Do! I Do! I Do! I Do! I Do!]
• I'm Buried at Green-Wood Cemetery [Brooklyn]
• Known By a Middle Name
• Look at me, I'm Busted
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Musical Theater Star
• Profiles 51751-51986 (Ranked: 51891)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying