Spoiler : Harold Peary was one of the few radio actors who actually looked like his character should look.

Spoiler : Love Gildy...

Spoiler : One of my favorite shows. The Great Gildersleeve.

Spoiler : Harold Peary was one of my all-time favorite performers. When I was growing up in the 70s and 80s, my older brother used to collect LPs and cassettes of OTR. He only had about six episodes of Gildersleeve, but I listened to them over and over. The character just wasn't the same once he left the show.

Spoiler : In 1941, The Great Gildersleeve made its radio debut. One of broadcast history's earliest spin offs, the series was based on a character from Fibber McGee and Molly.

Spoiler : I really liked the Gildersleeve movies with Harold Peary. There was one where "LeRoy" in the radio series got to play a bell boy. I never got to see any of the TV series because I was in the navy and didn't have access to a TV.

Spoiler : Peary, Hal (birth name was Harrold Jose Pereida de Faria) Born in San Leandro, California 7/25/1908; died 3/30/1985 of a heart attack in Torrance, California. Married to actress Gloria Holliday (?-?). After graduating from St Mary's College in California, Peary began his career in tent shows, in silent films, and on stage in musical comedies and vaudeville.

Spoiler : He made his radio debut at station KZM-Oakland in 1923 billed as "The Oakland Tribune's Boy Caruso." He joined NBC-Radio in San Francisco as an announcer in 1929. Member of the cast on radio programs including Kaltenmeyer's Kindergarten for NBC during the early to middle 1930's; Lights Out for NBC (1935-1939). Doctor Haines on the NBC-Radio soap- serial, Welcome Valley (1935-1937?). Sheriff Mike Shaw on The Tom Mix Ralston Straight Shooters for NBC-Radio (1937-38). Herb Woodley the neighbor on Blondie for CBS-Radio (1939-1941).

Spoiler : Peary is remembered for his laugh, and "You're A Ha-rrrrdddd Mannnn McGee!" Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve on The Fibber McGee And Molly Show for NBC-Radio, a part he originated (1937- 1941). The character spun off to The Great Gildersleeve with Peary reprising his role of "Gildy" for NBC-Radio (1941-1950). Creator-writer, and played Honest Harold Hemp on the Honest Harold for CBS-Radio (1950-1951).

Spoiler : Harold Peary was in many movies, but mostly we remember him when he was The Great Gildersleeve in the Fibber McGee And Molly series of three movies Look Who's Laughing (1941); Here We Go Again (1942); Heavenly Days (1944). He played Gildersleeve in movies beginning as Mayor Gildersleeve in Comin' Round the Mountain (1940), then Country Fair (1941). He also played Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve in the four Gildersleeve movies that was produced, The Great Gildersleeve (1942); Gildersleeve's Bad Day (1943); Gildersleeve On Broadway (1943); Gildersleeve's Ghost (1944). Last movie was playing Harold the doorman in Clambake (1967).

Spoiler : Perry Bannister on Willy for CBS-TV (1955). Neighbor Herb Woodley on Blondie for NBC-TV (1957). Mayor La Trivia on Fibber McGee And Molly for NBC-TV (1959-1960). Voice of Herman on the NBC-TV animated cartoon show, Roman Holidays (1972-1973). Last television appearance was providing his voice for the character of Big Ben in Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979).