Bud Collyer (born Clayton Johnson Heermance Jr.; June 18, 1908 – September 8, 1969) was an American radio actor, announcer and game show host who became one of the nation's first major television game show stars. He is best remembered for his work as the first host of the TV game shows Beat the Clock and To Tell the Truth, alongside the roles of Clark Kent / Superman on radio and in animated cartoons, initially in theatrical short subjects and later on television.
He also recorded a number of long-playing rpm record albums for children. Some of these featured Bible stories, in keeping with his strong connections with his church and deep spirituality.
Early life and career
Collyer was born in Manhattan to Clayton Johnson Heermance and Caroline Collyer. He originally sought a career in law, attending Williams College, where he was a member of Psi Upsilon fraternity, and Fordham University law school. Although he became a law clerk after his graduation, making as much in a month on radio as he did in a year of clerking convinced him to make broadcasting his career. He changed his surname, and by 1940 he had become a familiar voice on all three major radio networks.
He held starring or major supporting roles in The Man I Married (as Adam Waring); Kate Hopkins, Angel of Mercy (as Tom); Pretty Kitty Kelly (as Michael Conway); Terry and the Pirates (as Pat Ryan); Renfrew of the Mounted (as Renfrew); and Abie's Irish Rose (as Abie Levy). He also was the announcer for a number of radio soap operas, including The Guiding Light and The Goldbergs. Collyer remembered his time on Cavalcade of America.
Superman
Collyer's best-remembered radio starring role began in early 1940 in The Adventures of Superman on the Mutual Broadcasting System, a role he concurrently performed in the animated Superman theatrical short films. Collyer supplied the voices of both Superman and his alter ego Clark Kent, opposite radio actress Joan Alexander as Lois Lane. Every Superman episode and animated short film featured a scene in which Clark Kent changed into his Superman costume, an effect which Collyer conveyed by dropping his voice from a high tenor to a bass register while speaking the phrase "This is (or "This looks like") a job for Superman!". Collyer later commented, "The greatest fun I ever had in radio was playing Superman for 14 years. I could be as hammy as I wanted and nobody objected." In 1947, he married 1930s movie actress Marian Shockley. In January 1957, his son had appeared as a challenger on To Tell the Truth, under the name of "Pat Rizzuto". One of his daughters also appeared on the show on February 5, 1962.
Spirituality and charity
thumb|[[Marian Shockley and Bud Collyer with the three children from his previous marriage, 1953]]
Religion and charitable work were very important to Collyer, and he was always particularly pleased to hear contestants say that they considered donating portions of their winnings to the church, or that they planned to donate to charities. He would often include "God bless you" in his parting words to contestants. He was always particularly happy to have a contestant who was a minister on the show and would ask about his congregation. On Beat The Clock, he often delivered public service messages about such charitable causes as the March of Dimes and other drives for research of diseases.
Collyer taught a Sunday school class at his Presbyterian church in Connecticut for more than thirty-five years and spent some of his off time as a caretaker at his church. According to one story, a parishioner called the church one Sunday during a particularly heavy snowstorm to inquire if the church would have services that day. "Oh yes," Collyer replied, tongue in cheek, "God and I are here." Collyer was known to have contributed to various Christian religious works, including authoring at least one religious book and making a recording of the New Testament of the Good News Bible. He wrote two inspirational books, Thou Shalt Not Fear (1962) and With the Whole Heart (1966).
Death
thumb|225px|Bud Collyer's grave
thumb|225px|His footstone
When producers Mark Goodson and Bill Todman planned to revive To Tell the Truth, this time as a syndicated TV program, they wanted Collyer to once again host it. Collyer declined, citing poor health.