Arthur Quirk Bryan (May 8, 1899 – November 30, 1959) was an American actor and radio personality. He is best remembered for his longtime recurring role as well-spoken, wisecracking Dr. Gamble on the radio comedy Fibber McGee and Molly and for voicing the Warner Bros. cartoon character Elmer Fudd.

Early life

Arthur Q. Bryan was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on May 8, 1899. He sang in a number of churches in the New York City area and had plans to be a professional singer. In 1918, he began working as an insurance clerk at the Mutual Life Insurance Company. He sang tenor with the Seiberling Singers and the Jeddo Highlanders on NBC radio.

Career

Radio

He started as a singer in 1926 on WGBS and he continued as a tenor soloist on WEAF in 1928. In October 1931, he began working as an announcer at WCAU in Philadelphia, By 1934, he was heard on WHN in New York. In 1938–1940, he was a regular on The Grouch Club, which aired on the CBS Pacific network Bryan started voicing Elmer in 1940 in Elmer's Candid Camera and voiced the character all the way until his death. Bryan starred as Major Hoople (from June 22, 1942, to April 26, 1943), appeared in the cast of The Charlotte Greenwood Show, and played Lt. Levinson on radio's Richard Diamond, Private Detective (from September 6, 1950, to June 29, 1951). In the mid-1940s, he had the role of Duke on Forever Ernest.

On May 5th 1949, Bryan appeared as "Clarence, the Guardian Angel" on the Screen Directors Playhouse radio series' rendition of Frank Capra's film It's a Wonderful Life. The episode also starred James Stewart reprising his film role as "George Bailey".

Films

Bryan first became involved with the film industry when he moved to Hollywood in 1936 to become a scenario writer for Paramount Pictures. On September 17, 1956, he became ill with acute gastritis while rehearsing for an episode of Producers' Showcase called "The Lord Don't Play Favorites", three hours before its airtime. Staging director Bretaigne Windust replaced Bryan during production.

Death

Bryan died of a sudden heart attack at age 60 Bryan is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.

Legacy

The DVD specials for some cartoons such as What's Opera, Doc?, in Looney Tunes Golden Collection, include bits of conversation between Bryan and Mel Blanc, affording a rare opportunity to hear them working together and to hear Bryan's natural voice. Bryan's natural voice is also heard as the tired hotel guest in A Pest in the House, in which Bryan "talks to himself"; Elmer Fudd is the hotel manager.

Selected filmography

  • The Great Library Misery (1938, Short) – Mr. F.T Smith
  • Broadway Serenade (1939) – Process Server (uncredited)
  • Dangerous Dan McFoo (1939, Short) – Dan McFoo (voice, uncredited)
  • I Stole a Million (1939) – Cafe Mgr. Forbidding Dancing (uncredited)
  • These Glamour Girls (1939) – Dance Customer (uncredited)
  • Dad for a Day (1939, Short) – Spanky's Father
  • Little Accident (1939) – Customer
  • Elmer's Candid Camera (1940, Short) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited)
  • Road to Singapore (1940) – Bartender (uncredited)
  • Millionaire Playboy (1940) – J.B. Zany
  • Confederate Honey (1940, Short) – Ned Cutler (voice, uncredited)
  • The Hardship of Miles Standish (1940, Short) – John Alden (voice, uncredited)
  • South of the Boudoir (1940, Short) – Thomas Bailey
  • Swing with Bing (1940, Short) – Golf Duffer
  • A Wild Hare (1940, Short) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited)
  • The Devil Bat (1940) – Joe McGinty
  • Elmer's Pet Rabbit (1941, Short) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited)
  • Manpower (1941) – Drunk Texan (uncredited)
  • Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime (1941) – Book Salesman
  • Look Who's Laughing (1941) – Mayor Duncan's Aide (uncredited)
  • Wabbit Twouble (1941, Short) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited)
  • The Wabbit Who Came to Supper (1942, Short) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited)
  • The Wacky Wabbit (1942, Short) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited)
  • Nutty News (1942, Short) – Narrator (voice, uncredited)
  • Fresh Hare (1942, Short) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited)
  • Larceny, Inc. (1942) – Man in Street Socking Jug (uncredited)
  • A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen (1942) – Waymond Wadcwiff (uncredited)
  • Grand Center Murder (1942) – Medical Examiner (uncredited)
  • Johnny Doughboy (1942) – Irish Mayor (uncredited)
  • Swing Out the Blues (1943) – Larry Stringfellow
  • An Itch in Time (1943) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited)
  • National Barn Dance (1944) – Samson (uncredited)
  • I'm from Arkansas (1944) – Commissioner of Agriculture
  • She Wouldn't Say Yes (1945) – Train Passenger in sleeping car (speaking in Elmer Fudd voice)
  • Idea Girl (1946) – Commissioner P.J. Maple
  • The Dark Horse (1946) – Mr. Hodges (uncredited)
  • The Devil Thumbs a Ride (1947) – Santa Ana Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
  • Road to Rio (1947) – Mr. Stanton (uncredited)
  • A Pest in the House (1947) – Elmer Fudd, Hotel Guest (voice, uncredited)
  • Samson and Delilah (1949) – Fat Philistine Merchant Wearing No Robe
  • The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) – Spectator (uncredited)
  • Here Come the Nelsons (1952) – Deputy (uncredited)
  • The Life of Riley (1953–1957, TV Series) – The Country Store Owner / Curtiss
  • Broken Lance (1954) – Bit Part (uncredited)
  • Hell's Outpost (1954) – Harry – Bank Accomplice
  • Hare Brush (1955) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited)
  • Rabbit Rampage (1955) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited, cameo)
  • The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (1956) – Mr. Curtis
  • Wideo Wabbit (1956, Short) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited)
  • The Go-Getter (1956) – The Handyman
  • What's Opera, Doc? (1957) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited)
  • The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1957, TV Series) – Hotel Clerk / Henri
  • A Mutt in a Rut (1959, Short) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited)
  • Person to Bunny (1960) – Elmer Fudd (voice, uncredited, final role) (Posthumous release)
  • Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales (1982) – Elmer Fudd (voice) (Archival recordings)

References