Billy Gilbert

Billy Gilbert
Born:	September 12th, 1894 Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Died:	September 23rd, 1971 Los Angeles, California, United States
Productions:	Curly Top as The Cook Here Comes the Band as Oswald Carroll Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as Sneezy Rio as Manuelo The Gypsy Baron as Kálmán Zsupán Tin Pan Alley as Sheik The Chocolate Soldier as Colonel Kasimer Popoff Spotlight Scandals Sally The Gypsy Lady as Boris Fun & Fancy Free as Willie the Giant Musical Comedy Time as Don Emilio Buttrio Square as Pappa Mario (original Broadway cast) Fanny as Panisse Producers' Showcase as The Giant/Mr. Poopledoop
Recordings:	Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (film soundtrack)
Vocal Type:	Baritone

Billy Gilbert was an American actor and comedian.

Biography

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Gilbert began working in vaudeville from the age of eleven before being spotted by Stan Laurel whilst in the show Sensations of 1929. Gilbert soon began working as a gag writer and actor, becoming famous for his comic sneeze routine, and appeared in such award winning works as The Music Box, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Gilbert also directed productions of Sally and The Red Mill and played supporting roles in the comic films The Great Dictator and television series Andy's Gang.

Gilbert passed away in 1971.

Singing

Gilbert sang a number of times on both screen and stage, beginning with Curly Top in which he portrayed The Cook, as well as singing a number of songs during his famous voice role as Sneezy in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Gilbert also sang in such stage productions as The Chocolate Soldier (as Colonel Popoff) and Buttrio Square, in which he originated the role of Pappa Mario.

Film

Curly Top (1935)

• When I Grow Up (second reprise)(solo)

Here Comes the Band (1935)

• Lyonel's aria (M'appari, tutt'amor)(solo)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

• Heigh-Ho (contains solo lines)
• Bluddle-Uddle-Dum (The Washing Song)
• The Silly Song
• Heigh-Ho (reprise)

Rio (1939)

• Si, Si, Si (duet)

Tin Pan Alley (1940)

• The Sheik of Araby (contains solo lines)

Spotlight Scandals (1943)

• Auld Lang Syne

Fun & Fancy Free (1947)

• Fee Fi Fo Fum (solo)

Television

Musical Comedy Time (1951)

• Never Marry a Dancer (duet)

Producers' Showcase (1956)

• People Should Listen to Me (solo)

Stage

The Chocolate Soldier (1941)

• Alexius the Heroic (contains solo lines)
• The Tale of a Coat (contains solo lines)
• Finaletto Act II (contains solo lines)

The Gypsy Lady (1946)

• Reality (contains solo lines)

Buttrio Square (1952)(originated the role)

• I'm Gonna Be a Pop (contains solo lines)
• Finale

Fanny (1954)

• Never Too Late for Love (contains solo lines)
• Cold Cream Jar Song (solo)
• Never Too Late for Love (Reprise)(contains solo lines)
• Panisse and Son (solo)
• To My Wife (solo)
• Welcome Home (Reprise)(duet)

Gallery

Sneezy in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Colonel Kasimir Popoff in The Chocolate Soldier.

Willie the Giant in Fun & Fancy Free.