Gale Gordon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gale Gordon
Gordon in 1958
Born	Charles T. Aldrich Jr. (1906-02-20)February 20, 1906 New York City, U.S.
Died	June 30, 1995(1995-06-30) (aged 89) Escondido, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1933–1991
Spouse(s)	Virginia Curley ​ ​ (m. 1937; her death 1995)​

Gale Gordon (born Charles Thomas Aldrich Jr., February 20, 1906 – June 30, 1995) was a famous American actor. He was well-known for playing grumpy characters.

Gordon often worked with the famous actress Lucille Ball. He played the strict bank executive Theodore J. Mooney on The Lucy Show. He also appeared in I Love Lucy and later starred in Ball's shows Here's Lucy and Life with Lucy.

Before TV, Gordon was a popular radio actor. He played Principal Osgood Conklin in Our Miss Brooks. He also played the second Mr. Wilson in the TV show Dennis the Menace.

Gale Gordon's Acting Career

Early Radio Roles

Gale Gordon was born in New York City. His parents were also performers. His first big radio roles were "Mayor La Trivia" and "Foggy Williams" on Fibber McGee and Molly. He then played Rumson Bullard on The Great Gildersleeve.

During World War II, Gordon joined the US Coast Guard. He spent four years serving his country. He was also the first actor to play Flash Gordon in a 1935 radio show.

From 1937 to 1939, he starred as "The Octopus" in Speed Gibson. In 1949, Gordon recorded a pilot for The Halls of Ivy. He was supposed to play the main character, Dr. Todhunter Hall. However, Ronald Colman took over the role for the radio series. Gordon later joined the show as John Merriweather.

Gordon also played Gregory Hood in The Casebook of Gregory Hood. This was a detective show on the Mutual Broadcasting Network. It was similar to the Sherlock Holmes radio series.

In 1950, Gordon played John Granby in Granby's Green Acres. This radio show was later made into the TV series Green Acres. Gordon also created the role of Principal Osgood Conklin on Our Miss Brooks. He continued this role when the show moved to television.

Gordon and Lucille Ball worked together before I Love Lucy. They were on The Wonder Show from 1938 to 1939. They became good friends and often worked together. Gordon also played Mr. Scott on The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show.

Television Appearances

Gordon and Bea Benaderet in the 1950 radio show Granby's Green Acres

Gale Gordon was known for his "slow-burn" temper explosions. This meant his characters would slowly get angry until they exploded. He was the first choice to play Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy. But he was busy with Our Miss Brooks and other radio shows. So, William Frawley got the role instead.

Gordon did appear on I Love Lucy twice. He played Ricky Ricardo's boss, Alvin Littlefield. He also appeared as a judge on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.

In 1958, Gordon was a regular on the NBC sitcom Sally. He played Bascomb Bleacher Sr., a department store owner. He also appeared on The Real McCoys and Pete and Gladys. Gordon guest-starred on Harrigan and Son and Angel. He also appeared in seven episodes of The Danny Thomas Show.

Gordon and Sara Seegar in Dennis the Menace (1963)

In 1962, Lucille Ball created The Lucy Show. She wanted Gordon to play Theodore J. Mooney. This character was Lucy Carmichael's banker and later her boss. At the time, Gordon was playing John Wilson on Dennis the Menace. He took over the role after Joseph Kearns passed away.

When Dennis the Menace ended in 1963, Gordon joined The Lucy Show. He became Mr. Mooney for the 1963–64 season. Gordon was good at physical comedy. He could even do a perfect cartwheel! He showed this skill on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy.

After Lucille Ball sold her studio in 1968, she started a new show. She changed The Lucy Show into Here's Lucy. Gordon returned to play her boss, Harrison Otis 'Uncle Harry' Carter. This was similar to his Mr. Mooney role, but with new names and a new setting.

Gordon mostly retired from acting after Here's Lucy ended in 1974. But Lucille Ball convinced him to join her last show, Life with Lucy, in 1986. Gordon was the only actor to work with Lucille Ball on every one of her weekly radio or TV shows since the 1940s. His last acting role was as Mr. Mooney in Hi Honey, I'm Home! in 1991.

Gordon in 1988

Life Outside Acting

Starting in 1949, Gordon and his wife lived in Borrego Springs, California. He owned a ranch and had several dogs there. He was also the honorary mayor of the town. He traveled about 160 miles to Los Angeles for work each day.

Besides acting, Gordon was a talented writer and painter. He wrote two books in the 1940s. He also wrote two short plays. He built much of his house and art studio himself. He also restored his own furniture. He used his land to grow carob trees.

A book about Gordon, Gale Gordon: From Mayor of Wistful Vista to Borrego Springs, was published in 2016.

Death and Legacy

Gale Gordon passed away from lung cancer on June 30, 1995. He was 89 years old. His wife, Virginia Curley, had passed away just one month earlier. They had been married for almost 60 years and did not have children.

In 1999, Gordon was added to the Radio Hall of Fame. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to radio. You can find it at 6340 Hollywood Boulevard.

Selected Film, TV, and Radio Roles