Rotund comic character actor of American films. Born Andrew Vabre Devine in Flagstaff, Arizona, the later-to-be Rotund comic character actor was raised in nearby Kingman, Arizona, the son of Irish-American hotel operator Thomas Devine and his wife Amy. Devine was an able athlete as a student and actually played semi-pro football under a phony name , in which he gained new fans among the very young. He continued active in films until his death in 1977. He was survived by his wife and two sons.
The main street of Kingman, Arizona, near his birthplace of Flagstaff is named Andy Devine Boulevard.
Was once honorary mayor of Van Nuys, California.
Father of Tad Devine and Denny Devine , who played his sons in Canyon Passage .
Had played Hap Gorman on the first season of the MGM/NBC television series "Flipper" .
Was mentioned in the 1974 song "Pencil Thin Mustache" by Jimmy Buffett.
Was a licensed amateur (ham) radio operator with the call sign WB6RER. The call is now owned by an amateur radio club in Kingman, Arizona, which holds an annual event in memory of their favorite son.
His high-pitched gravelly voice was the result of a childhood accident. While running with a stick (some accounts say a curtain rod) in his mouth, he tripped and fell, ramming the stick through the roof of his mouth. For almost a year, he was unable to speak at all. When he did get his voice back, at length, it had the wheezing, almost duo-toned quality that would ultimately make him a star. Another account of his throat injury says he was sliding down the banister in his fathers hotel and somehow damaged his throat.
John Ford picked him to play Buck, the stagecoach teamster, in Stagecoach because he had actual experience driving a six-horse team.
He was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6366 Hollywood Boulevard; and for Radio at 6258 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
According to an in-depth article by Joe Collura for "Classic Images", Andy was born in Flagstaff, Arizona, but moved with his family west to Kingman in Mohave County. While there his father, Thomas, served as the Mohave County treasurer and owned the Hotel Beale. His father later suffered from stomach cancer and traveled to Los Angeles for treatment, where he died during surgery.
Had played professional football at one point and used the name Jeremiah Schwartz in order to avoid jeopardizing his amateur standing.
Best known for his sidekick role opposite Guy Madison on the Western series "Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok" . As Jingles P. Jones, he rode a horse named Joker. The role was originally offered to but turned down by Burl Ives.
Made his stage debut as Captain Andy Hawks in Guy Lombardo s 1957 production of "Show Boat" at a theatre in Long Island.
Was an avid pilot and owned a flying school that trained flyers for the government during World War II.
John Wayne and James Stewart were among those who attended his funeral.
Also had a childrens television show on one of the local Los Angeles television stations called "Andy and Froggy" where his sidekick was a frog puppet.
Reminisced by Jimmy Buffett in his hit song, "Pencil Thin Mustache", in 1974 (it is song #10 on Buffetts album, "Songs You Know by Heart"). It is a song about the entertainment of Jimmys youth, while growing up in the 1950s. Jimmy pays tribute to Andy in the chorus, "I wish I had a pencil thin mustache, The Boston Blackie kind. A two-toned Ricky Ricardo jacket and an autographed picture of Andy Devine.".
Was in movie, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, in major role as town marshall of Shinbone. Movie also had main characters played by James Stewart, and John Wayne.
Re-Recording mixer for Films@59 Ltd in Bristol UK.
