Joseph Kearns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Kearns
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Kearns (far right) with the cast of TV series Dennis the Menace in 1960
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Joseph Sherrard Kearns
February 12, 1907 Salt Lake City, Utah, US
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| Died | February 17, 1962 (aged 55) |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills |
| Alma mater | University of Utah |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1916-1962 |
Joseph Sherrard Kearns (born February 12, 1907 – died February 17, 1962) was an American actor. He is most famous for playing George Wilson, also known as "Mr. Wilson," on the TV show Dennis the Menace. He played this role from 1959 until he passed away in 1962. Joseph Kearns was also a very busy radio actor. You might recognize his voice as the Doorknob in the 1951 Disney animated movie, Alice in Wonderland.
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Early Life and First Acting Roles
Joseph Sherrard Kearns was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the only child of Joseph Albert Kearns and Cordelia Marie Peterson. His mother was a concert pianist, and she helped him love music. When Joseph was 29, his father died. Joseph and his mother then moved to California. His family were devout Mormons, and their ancestors were early Mormon pioneers.
Joseph's first acting experience was in 1916. He joined a group called "The Rising Generation." This was a vaudeville troupe with eleven children. They toured around for 14 months, performing for audiences.
Joseph Kearns' Acting Career
Radio Work
Joseph Kearns started working at a radio station called KSL in Salt Lake City in 1930. He stayed there until 1936, when he moved to Los Angeles. His acting career in radio began in the 1930s. He played the Crazyquilt Dragon in a radio story called The Cinnamon Bear.
He became very active in radio during the 1940s. He appeared on many popular shows. These included The Adventures of Sam Spade, Burns and Allen, and The Whistler. On the show Suspense, he was a regular. He often hosted as "The Man in Black." He also announced many episodes later on. Joseph played many different characters on Suspense, from judges to kind old people. He also appeared on The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. On this show, he played various characters, including Professor Moriarty and even Dr. Watson.
Film Appearances
Joseph Kearns made his first movie appearance in Hard, Fast and Beautiful in 1951. That same year, he was the voice of the Doorknob in Disney's animated movie, Alice in Wonderland. He acted in other films too. His last movie role was as a crime photographer in Anatomy of a Murder in 1959.
Television Roles
On television, Joseph Kearns brought some of his radio characters to life. He appeared on The Jack Benny Program. He also acted with Eve Arden and Richard Crenna in Our Miss Brooks from 1953 to 1955. He played Assistant Superintendent Michaels and later Superintendent Stone, a role he had done on radio.
He was on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show 11 times. He also appeared on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet 16 times. Other TV shows he was in include I Love Lucy, My Little Margie, Perry Mason, and Gunsmoke. In 1959, he played a criminologist named Edward Langley in a Perry Mason episode.
Playing Mr. Wilson on Dennis the Menace
Joseph Kearns' most famous role was George Wilson on the CBS TV show Dennis the Menace. This show was based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham. Mr. Wilson was known as the grumpy neighbor.
After Joseph Kearns passed away, another actor named Gale Gordon took over. Gale Gordon played George Wilson's brother, John. Joseph Kearns and Gale Gordon had worked together before Dennis the Menace. They were both on the old radio show The Cinnamon Bear and in the 1956 movie Our Miss Brooks.
The last episode that aired before Kearns' death was called "Where There's a Will." In this story, Mr. Wilson made a will. He said that Dennis would get his gold watch when he died. The very last episode Joseph Kearns filmed was called "The Man Next Door." It was shown on May 6, 1962, a few months after he passed away. After his death, the show mentioned that George Wilson was "back east."
Personal Life and Hobbies
Joseph Kearns was trained in music by his mother. In the 1930s, he played the pipe organ for a theater in Los Angeles. He bought a Hammond organ and put it in a special studio apartment he designed. Later, he bought an even bigger Wurlitzer organ. This organ was originally made for Warner Brothers in 1929. He then designed and built a soundproof, two-and-a-half-story home around the organ. Joseph Kearns loved to play the organ for his guests.
His Passing
Joseph Kearns became suddenly ill on February 11, 1962. This happened during the third season of Dennis the Menace. He was taken to the hospital and was in a coma. He never woke up and passed away on February 17, 1962. This was just five days after his 55th birthday. His death might have been related to a special diet he was on. He had reportedly lost a lot of weight very quickly. He was buried at the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
