HOLLOWAY, Sterling

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Birth/Death

Birth: 4 January, 1905
Death: 22 November, 1992

Occupation/Title

Character voice actor

Bio Summary

Early Life/Family

Born in Cedartown, Georgia to grocer Sterling P. Holloway Sr, and Rebecca Boothby Holloway. He had a younger brother named Boothby.

Education/Training

Born in Cedartown, Georgia to grocer Sterling P. Holloway Sr, and Rebecca Boothby Holloway. He had a younger brother named Boothby.

Career Outline

Spent early years as an actor playing comic juveniles on the stage, although he had made his picture debut in silents. His bushy reddish-blond hair and trademark near-falsetto voice made him a natural for sound pictures, and he acted in scores of talkies, although he had made his picture debut in silents. His physical image and voice relegated him almost exclusively to comic roles, but in 1945, director Lewis Milestone cast him more or less against type in the classic war film A Walk in the Sun (1945), where Holloway's portrayal of a reluctant soldier was quite notable. He played frequently on television, becoming familiar to baby-boomers in a recurring role as Uncle Oscar on "Adventures of Superman" (1952), and later in television series of his own. His later work as the voice of numerous characters in Disney cartoons brought him new audiences and many fans, especially for his voicing of beloved Winnie the Pooh.

Comments On Style

"the only real 'mad' thing in the whole picture (Disney’s Alice in Wonderland) ...turned out to be the Cheshire Cat! Why? Because compared to the constant all-out, wild gyrations of the other characters, he played it real cool. His quiet, underplayed subtleties consequently stole the show!" –Animator, Ward Kimball

Influences

Personality


 “(Disney animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas) also give Holloway much of the credit for making Kaa in The Jungle Book (1967) an unusual and affecting villain. At first, the python was to have been a much more conventional villain. As he had often done before (and did on the same project with the casting of Phil Harris as Baloo), Walt Disney changed the very core of the character with the choice of a voice. "Walt was such a stickler for voices," Holloway noted years later. "He came to me and said, 'When you've finished what you're doing today on Winnie the Pooh, see what you can do with the snake. I can't find the right voice.'" In fact, eight different voices had been tested and rejected.
But Holloway not only delivered the lines with a mixture of menace and misplaced self-confidence but also ad-libbed dialogue that sparked the imaginations of the artists. Disney liked the newly defined character so much, he brought Kaa back later in the film for a classic confrontation with Shere Khan. The Sherman brothers dipped into their trunk for an exotic hypnotic melody composed for but not used in Mary Poppins (1964) and wrote "Trust In Me" for the deceitful snake, inspired by Holloway's ‘sandpaper voice’.”


Anecdotes

Holloway was officially named a Disney Legend in 1991.
He was an avid art collector.
Had major roles in two different film adaptations of "Alice in Wonderland." In Paramount's 1933 version, he played the Frog. In Disney's 1950 animated version, he provided the voice of the Cheshire Cat.
His big break came in 1925 when he introduced Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's first hit song, "Manhattan," in the Broadway play "Garrick Gaieties."
Enlisted in the U.S. Army on 19 July 1942. Height and weight given as 5' 9" and 124 lb.
Holloway grew up at 301 S. College Street in Cedartown, Georgia. The street which formed the corner on which Holloway's house was located is now known as Sterling Holloway Place.

Miscellaneous

Filmography

1. "Moonlighting" 
 - Atomic Shakespeare (1986) TV Episode (voice) .... Narrator

2. Tukiki and His Search for a Merry Christmas (1979) (voice) .... The North Wind
3. Christmas at Walt Disney World (1978) (TV) (voice) .... Sleeping Beauty Narrator
4. Thunder and Lightning (1977) .... Hobe Carpenter
... aka Thunder On the Highway
5. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) (voice) .... Winnie the Pooh
6. Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) .... Old man on bus
7. Super Seal (1976) .... Cap'n Zach
8. Cries (1975) .... Narrator
9. Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too! (1974) (voice) .... Winnie the Pooh
10. "Love, American Style" 
 - Love and the Face Bow/Love and the Impossible Gift/Love and the Love Kit (1973) TV Episode .... (segment "Love and the Face Bow")
11. Man, Monsters and Mysteries (1973) .... Nessie
12. The Aristocats (1970) (voice) .... Roquefort the Mouse

13. "It Takes a Thief" 
 - Rock-Bye, Bye, Baby (1969) TV Episode
14. Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968) (voice) .... Winnie the Pooh
15. Live a Little, Love a Little (1968) .... Milkman
16. The Jungle Book (1967) (voice) .... Kaa
17. "Gilligan's Island" 
 - The Pigeon (1967) TV Episode .... Burt
18. "Family Affair" 
 - Fancy Free (1967) TV Episode .... Frack
19. "F Troop" 
 - Wilton, the Kid (1966) TV Episode .... Sheriff Lawton
20. "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" 
 - My Son, the Genius (1966) TV Episode .... Corey
21. Batman (1966/I) (scenes deleted) .... Col. Terry
... aka Batman: The Movie (USA: video box title)
22. Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966) (voice) .... Winnie the Pooh
23. "Disneyland" 
... aka Disney's Wonderful World (USA: new title) 
... aka The Disney Sunday Movie (USA: new title) 
... aka The Magical World of Disney (USA: new title) 
... aka The Wonderful World of Disney (USA: new title) 
... aka Walt Disney (USA: new title) 
... aka Walt Disney Presents (USA: new title) 
... aka Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (USA: new title) 
 - Ben and Me/Peter and the Wolf (1964) TV Episode .... Amos Mouse
 - Adventures Is Fantasyland (1957) TV Episode (voice) .... Narrator
24. "Linus the Lionhearted" (1964) TV Series (voice) .... Sugar Bear/Lovable Yours Truly
25. "The Baileys of Balboa" (1964) TV Series .... Buck Singleton
26. "Burke's Law" 
... aka Amos Burke, Secret Agent (USA: new title) 
 - Who Killed Annie Foran? (1964) TV Episode .... Fisk
27. "The Twilight Zone" 
 - What's in the Box? (1964) TV Episode .... Repair Man
28. "Hazel" 
 - The Retiring Milkman (1963) TV Episode
29. It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) .... Fire Chief
... aka It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (USA: promotional title)
30. My Six Loves (1963) (uncredited) .... Oliver Dodds
31. "The Andy Griffith Show" 
... aka Andy of Mayberry (USA: rerun title) 
 - The Merchant of Mayberry (1962) TV Episode .... Bert Miller
32. "Margie" 
 - False Alarm (1962) TV Episode .... Bettenhouse
33. "Miami Undercover" 
 - Room 9 (1961) TV Episode .... Henry
34. "Zane Grey Theater" 
... aka Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater (USA: complete title) 
... aka The Westerners (USA: rerun title) 
 - Blood Red (1961) TV Episode .... Luther
35. "Shirley Temple's Storybook" 
... aka The Shirley Temple Show (new title) 
 - The Land of Oz (1960) TV Episode .... Jack Pumpkinhead
36. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960) .... Barber
... aka Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' (USA: complete title)
37. "Peter Gunn" 
 - The Best Laid Plans (1960) TV Episode .... Felony
38. "The Untouchables" 
 - The Unhired Assassin: Part 2 (1960) TV Episode .... Horace Debilbe
 - The Unhired Assassin: Part 1 (1960) TV Episode .... Horace Debilbe
39. Goliath II (1960) (voice) .... Narrator
40. Saiyu-ki (1960) .... Narrator
... aka Alakazam the Great (USA) 
... aka The Enchanted Monkey (International: English title: literal title) 
... aka The Magic Land of Alakazam (USA) 

41. "Five Fingers" 
 - The Temple of the Swinging Doll (1959) TV Episode .... Hayden
42. "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" 
 - Sorrowful Joe's Policy (1958) TV Episode .... Sorrowful Joe
 - Sorrowful Joe Returns (1957) TV Episode .... Sorrowful Joe
 - Sorrowful Joe (1956) TV Episode .... Sorrowful Joe
43. "Circus Boy" 
 - The Magic Lantern (1957) TV Episode .... Elmer Purdy
 - Elmer, Rainmaker (1957) TV Episode .... Elmer Purdy
 - Elmer the Aeronaut (1957) TV Episode .... Elmer Purdy
44. Hemo the Magnificent (1957) (TV) (uncredited) .... Lab assistant
45. "Climax!" 
... aka Climax Mystery Theater (USA) 
 - Night of a Rebel (1957) TV Episode .... Tobias
46. Shake, Rattle & Rock! (1956) .... Albert 'Axe' McAllister
47. Our Mr. Sun (1956) (TV) (voice) .... Chloro Phyll
48. Kentucky Rifle (1956) .... Lon Setter
49. "Willy" (1954) TV Series .... Harvey Evelyn (1955)
50. "Adventures of Superman" 
 - Through the Time Barrier (1955) TV Episode .... Prof. Twiddle
 - The Whistling Bird (1954) TV Episode .... Prof. Oscar Quinn
 - The Machine That Could Plot Crimes (1953) TV Episode .... Prof. Oscar Quinn
51. Ben and Me (1953) (voice) .... Amos Mouse
52. "The Life of Riley" (1953) TV Series .... Waldo Binney
53. Susie the Little Blue Coupe (1952) (voice) .... Narrator
54. Alice in Wonderland (1951) (voice) .... Cheshire Cat
55. "The Fred Waring Show" 
 - Episode dated 18 March 1951 (1951) TV Episode .... Cheshire Cat
56. Lambert the Sheepish Lion (1951) (voice) .... Narrator/Mr. Stork

57. The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949) .... Basserman Boy
58. "Your Show Time" 
 - A Capture (1949) TV Episode
59. Flat Feat (1948)
60. Man or Mouse (1948)
61. Speaking of Animals No. Y7-1: Dog Crazy (1947) .... Dog Owner
62. Mickey and the Beanstalk (1947) (voice) .... Narrator
63. Hectic Honeymoon (1947)
64. Robin Hood of Texas (1947) .... Droopy Haynes
65. Saddle Pals (1947) .... Waldo T. Brooks Jr.
66. Twilight on the Rio Grande (1947) .... Pokie
67. Scooper Dooper (1947)
68. Trail to San Antone (1947) .... Droopy Stearns
69. Addio Mimí! (1947) .... Aristide
... aka Her Wonderful Lie (USA)
70. Moron Than Off (1946)
71. Sioux City Sue (1946) .... Nelson 'Nellie' Bly
72. Death Valley (1946) .... Slim
73. Peter and the Wolf (1946) (voice) .... Narrator
74. Mr. Wright Goes Wrong (1946)
75. Make Mine Music (1946) (voice) .... Narrator (segment "Peter and the Wolf")
76. A Walk in the Sun (1945) .... McWilliams
... aka Salerno Beachhead (USA: reissue title)
77. Wildfire (1945) .... 'Alkali' Jones
... aka Wildfire: The Story of a Horse (UK)
78. The Cold-Blooded Penguin (1945) (voice) .... Narrator
79. The Three Caballeros (1944) .... Narrator for 'The Cold-Blooded Penguin'/Professor Holloway
80. Here We Go Again (1942) (uncredited) .... Tommy, Western Union Messenger
81. Iceland (1942) .... Sverdrup Svenssen
... aka Katina (UK)
82. Bambi (1942) (voice) (uncredited) .... Adult Flower
83. The Lady Is Willing (1942) .... Arthur Miggle
84. Don't Get Personal (1942) .... Lucky
85. Look Who's Laughing (1941) (uncredited) .... Rusty, Soda Jerk
86. Dumbo (1941) (voice) (uncredited) .... Mr. Stork
87. Top Sergeant Mulligan (1941) .... Snark
88. New Wine (1941) .... Otto, the bookkeeper
... aka The Great Awakening (UK) 
... aka The Melody Master (USA: reissue title)
89. Meet John Doe (1941) .... Dan (counterman at diner)
... aka Frank Capra's 'Meet John Doe' (USA: complete title) 
... aka John Doe, Dynamite (UK)
90. Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941) .... Chris Jensen, Midwestern's Janitor
91. Little Men (1940) .... Reporter
92. Street of Memories (1940) .... Student Barber
93. Hit Parade of 1941 (1940) .... Soda Clerk
... aka Romance and Rhythm (USA: reissue title)
94. The Blue Bird (1940) .... Wild Plum
95. Remember the Night (1940) .... Willie

96. Nick Carter, Master Detective (1939) .... Hector, the bee-handler
97. St. Louis Blues (1939) (uncredited) .... Boatman
... aka Best of the Blues
98. Spring Madness (1938) .... Buck, a Yale Man
99. Professor Beware (1938) .... Rupert (the groom)
100. Held for Ransom (1938) (uncredited) .... RFD mailman
101. Dr. Rhythm (1938) .... Luke (ice-cream man)
... aka Doctor Rhythm
102. Of Human Hearts (1938) .... Chauncey Ames
103. Behind the Mike (1937) .... Tommy Astor
104. Varsity Show (1937) .... Trout
105. The Woman I Love (1937) .... Duprez
... aka The Woman Between (UK)
106. When Love Is Young (1937) .... Orville Kane
107. Maid of Salem (1937) .... Miles Corbin
108. Join the Marines (1937) .... Steward
109. Career Woman (1936) .... George Rogers
110. Palm Springs (1936) .... Oscar
... aka Palm Springs Affair (UK)
111. Rendezvous (1935) (uncredited) .... Taxi Driver
112. 1,000 Dollars a Minute (1935) .... Pete
... aka $1,000 a Minute 
... aka One Thousand Dollars a Minute (USA)
113. I Live My Life (1935) .... Max
114. Doubting Thomas (1935) .... Mr. Spindler
115. Bring 'Em Back a Lie (1935)
116. Life Begins at Forty (1935) .... Chris
... aka Life Begins at 40
117. Tomorrow's Youth (1935)
118. The Lottery Lover (1935) .... Cadet Harold Stump
119. Father Knows Best (1935) .... Bashful Boy
120. A Wicked Woman (1934) .... Peter Wells, aka Peter McNogg
121. Girl o' My Dreams (1934) .... Spec Early
... aka Love Race
122. Sterling's Rival Romeo (1934) 
... aka Rival Romeos (USA)
123. The Merry Widow (1934) .... Mischka
... aka The Lady Dances (USA: reissue title (TV title))
124. Gift of Gab (1934) .... Sound Effects Man
125. Down to Their Last Yacht (1934) .... Freddy Finn
... aka Hawaiian Nights (UK)
126. Picnic Perils (1934)
127. Murder in the Private Car (1934) (uncredited) .... Office Boy
... aka Murder on the Runaway Train (UK)
128. Pleasing Grandpa (1934)
129. Operator 13 (1934) (uncredited) .... Wounded Union soldier
... aka Spy 13
130. Strictly Dynamite (1934) .... Elmer Fleming
131. Born April First (1934)
132. The Cat and the Fiddle (1934) (uncredited) .... Flower Messenger
133. Tomorrow's Children (1934) .... Dr. Dorsey
... aka The Unborn (UK)
134. The Back Page (1934) .... Bill Giddings
135. Going Hollywood (1933) (uncredited) .... Radio Remote Technician
... aka Cinderella's Fella (Australia)
136. Alice in Wonderland (1933) .... The Frog
137. Meeting Mazie (1933)
138. Advice to the Lovelorn (1933) .... Benny
139. Dancing Lady (1933) .... Pinky (the author)
140. Not the Marrying Kind (1933)
141. Female (1933) (scenes deleted) .... Drunk Boy
142. Wild Boys of the Road (1933) .... Ollie
... aka Dangerous Days (UK)
143. When Ladies Meet (1933) (uncredited) .... Jerome, the Caddy
... aka Strange Skirts (USA: TV title) 
... aka Truth Is Stranger (USA: TV title)
144. Professional Sweetheart (1933) .... Stu
... aka Imaginary Sweetheart
145. International House (1933) .... Coffee Mug
146. Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) (uncredited) .... Messenger boy
147. One Track Minds (1933)
148. Adorable (1933) (uncredited) .... Undetermined Role
149. Picture Snatcher (1933) (uncredited) .... Journalism Student
150. Elmer, the Great (1933) .... Nick Kane
151. Hell Below (1933) .... Seaman Jenks
152. Fast Workers (1933) .... Pinky Magoo
153. Blondie Johnson (1933) .... Red
154. Hard to Handle (1933) (uncredited) .... Andy Heaney
155. Lawyer Man (1933) (uncredited) .... Olga's Dining Friend
156. Rockabye (1932) (uncredited) .... Speakeasy Piano Player
157. Faithless (1932) (uncredited) .... Photographer
158. Blonde Venus (1932) (uncredited) .... Joe, Hiker
159. American Madness (1932) .... Oscar

160. The Girl from Nowhere (1928)
161. The Girl from Everywhere (1927) 
... aka Hold That Pose (USA: alternative title)
162. Casey at the Bat (1927) .... Putnam
163. The Battling Kangaroo (1926) .... Napolean French


Himself - filmography

"Disneyland" 
... aka Disney's Wonderful World (USA: new title) 
... aka The Disney Sunday Movie (USA: new title) 
... aka The Magical World of Disney (USA: new title) 
... aka The Wonderful World of Disney (USA: new title) 
... aka Walt Disney (USA: new title) 
... aka Walt Disney Presents (USA: new title) 
... aka Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (USA: new title) 
 - Mickey's 50 (1978) TV Episode .... Himself
"The Mike Douglas Show" 
 - Episode dated 9 February 1976 (1976) TV Episode .... Himself

"The Celebrity Game" 
 - Episode dated 13 September 1964 (1964) TV Episode .... Himself
The Restless Sea (1964) (TV) .... Host

Unusual Occupations L-5-2 (1945) .... Himself
Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) .... Himself - Sweater, Sarong & Peekaboo Bang Number


Archive Footage
Walt Disney's 'The Jungle Book': The Making of a Musical Masterpiece (1997) (V) .... Himself
"Disneyland" 
 - Ben and Me/Peter and the Wolf (1964) TV Episode (voice) .... Narrator: Peter and the Wolf 
 - Dumbo (1955) TV Episode (voice) .... Mr. Stork 
 - Alice in Wonderland (1954) TV Episode (voice) .... The Cheshire Cat
The Gun of Zangara (1960) (uncredited) .... Horace Devilbus, Hotel Clerk
Superman and the Jungle Devil (1954) .... Uncle Oscar
Superman in Exile (1954) .... Uncle Oscar Quinn

Honors

Annie Award: Winsor McCay Award 1985


Related Links

Bibliographic References


Internet Movie Database- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001359/
Persistence of Vision- http://www.disneypov.com/issue06-7/characters.htmls

BIO-AAA-450

Contributors To This Listing

Jacob Cementina


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