Joe E. Ross (born Joseph Roszawikz; March 15, 1914 – August 13, 1982) was an American actor and comedian known for his trademark "Ooh! Ooh!" exclamation, which he used in many of his roles. He starred in such TV sitcoms as The Phil Silvers Show and Car 54, Where Are You?. Aged 16, he dropped out of Seward Park High School to become a singing waiter at the Van Cortlandt Inn in the Bronx. He was spotted by Nat Hiken and Phil Silvers, who were planning You'll Never Get Rich (later known as The Phil Silvers Show and sometimes Sgt. Bilko) and loved Ross's comedy skills. Rossi & Ross played once on Ed Sullivan and disbanded in January 1969.

Ross also was a prominent cartoon voice into the 1970s, playing the stereotypical bumbling sergeant in many cartoons such as Hong Kong Phooey (as Sgt. Flint) and Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! (as Botch). He also voiced Roll on CB Bears segment Shake, Rattle and Roll. His "Ooh! Ooh!" catchphrase was emulated by Frank Welker in the animated series Fangface and Norm Prescott as Theodore H. Bear in The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle and Jeckles Quacula episodes. He was also one of the few white comedians with 1970s label Laff Records, which specialized in African-American comedians and released his album Should Lesbians Be Allowed to Play Pro-Football?.

Personal life

Ross had trouble memorizing his lines and used his catchphrase "Ooh! Ooh!" as a delaying tactic to remember what he was supposed to say. He was often known as a difficult person to work with Who's Who in Comedy: Comedians, Comics, and Clowns from Vaudeville to Today's Stand-Ups described Ross as having a "Runyonesque sweetness and likeability despite his obtuseness (that) kept him performing right up to the end." He was buried in Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills Cemetery. Jay Leno, who met Ross when he first arrived in Hollywood and said Ross was the first movie star to become his friend, delivered the eulogy. Ross' gravestone is inscribed with the double entendre "This man had a ball".

Selected filmography

  • The Sound of Fury (1950) - Nightclub Entertainer (uncredited)
  • This Woman Is Dangerous (1952) - Asst. Manager (uncredited)
  • Models Inc. (1952) - Front Man (uncredited)
  • Teaserama (1955) - Burlesque comic
  • Around the World in Eighty Days (1956) - Extra (uncredited)
  • Hear Me Good (1957) - Max Crane
  • Maracaibo (1958) - Milt Karger
  • Tall Story (1960) - Mike (uncredited)
  • The Bellboy (1960) - Joey, Gangster
  • All Hands on Deck (1961) - Bos'n
  • Tony Rome (1967) - Bartender at Paradise Club (uncredited)
  • The Love Bug (1968) - Detective
  • Judy's Little No-No (1969)
  • Beach Boy Rebels (1969)
  • The Boatniks (1970) - Nutty Sailor
  • The Naked Zoo (1970) - Mr. Barnum
  • The Juggler of Notre Dame (1970)
  • Revenge is My Destiny (1971) - Maxie Marks
  • Frasier, the Sensuous Lion (1973) - Kuback
  • How to Seduce a Woman (1974) - Bartender
  • Alias Big Cherry (1975)
  • Linda Lovelace for President (1975) - Dirty Guy #2
  • The Godmothers (1975) - Gino
  • The World Through the Eyes of Children (1975) - Michael
  • Slumber Party '57 (1976) - Michael
  • The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington (1977) - Night Watchman
  • Gas Pump Girls (1979) - Bruno
  • Skatetown, U.S.A. (1979) - Rent-a-Cop
  • The Woman Inside (1981)

Television

thumb|Ross (right) pictured with [[Fred Gwynne, Car 54, Where Are You?]]

  • The Colgate Comedy Hour - Episode #2.19 (1952)
  • The Phil Silvers Show - 53 episodes - MSgt. Rupert B. Ritzik (1956–1959)
  • Car 54, Where Are You? - 60 episodes - Officer Gunther Toody (1961–1963)
  • It's About Time - 26 episodes - Gronk (1966–1967)
  • Batman - episode - The Funny Feline Felonies - Talent Agent (uncredited) (1967)
  • The Red Skelton Hour - episode - The Pied-Eyed Piper - Clancy the Cop (1968)
  • McMillan & Wife - episode - The Easy Sunday Murder Case - The Doorman (1971)
  • Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! - 16 episodes - Botch (voice) (1971)
  • The Adventures of Robin Hoodnik - television movie - Deputy Oxx (voice) (1972)
  • Love, American Style - episode - Love and the Cryptic Gift / Love and the Family Hour / Love and the Legend / Love and the Sexpert (segment: "Love and the Sexpert") (1973)
  • Hong Kong Phooey - 31 episodes - Sergeant Flint (voice) (1974)
  • Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - episode - Car 54 - Officer Gunther Toody (voice) (1974)
  • The Ghost Busters - episode - Jekyll & Hyde: Together, for the First Time! - Mr. Hyde (1975)
  • The Tom & Jerry Show - episode - See Dr. Jackal and Hide / Planet of the Dogs / The Campout Cutup (segment: "Planet of the Dogs") (1975)
  • CB Bears - Segment - Shake, Rattle, & Roll - 13 episodes - Roll (voice) (1977)
  • The Love Boat - episode - A Selfless Love/The Nubile Nurse/Parents Know Best - Mr. Ross (1978)

References

  • Interview about Joe E. Ross with friend Hank Garrett