Charles James Correll (February 2, 1890 – September 26, 1972) was an American radio comedian, actor and writer, known best for his work in the radio series Amos 'n' Andy with Freeman Gosden. Correll voiced the main character Andy Brown, along with various lesser characters.
Charles Correll | |
|---|---|
 Correll and his wife, Alyce, 1937 | |
| Born | Charles James Correll February 2, 1890 Peoria, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | September 26, 1972 (aged 82) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[1] |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1921–1962 |
| Known for | Andy of Amos 'n' Andy |
| Spouses | Marie Janes
(m. 1927; div. 1937)Alyce McLaughlin
(m. 1937; died 1972) |
| Children | 6 |
Biography
editLife and career
editCorrell was born in Peoria, Illinois. He worked originally as a stenographer and a bricklayer. He met Gosden in Durham, North Carolina while working for the Joe Bren Producing Company.[2]
In 1926, Gosden and Correll, who were both white, had success with their radio program Sam 'n' Henry in which the two actors portray Black characters in Blackface. The show originated on Chicago radio station WGN.
From 1928 to 1960, Gosden and Correll, broadcast their program Amos 'n' Andy – again portraying Black characters – which quickly became one of the most famous and popular[3] radio series of the 1930s, nationwide. Correll voiced the character "Andy" (Andrew Hogg Brown). To celebrate the show's 30th anniversary, the broadcast of March 19, 1958, was done by Correll and Gosden using their real voices and calling each other by their real names; this had never been done for the program before.[4]
During 1961–1962, Gosden and Correll provided the voices for the animated series Calvin and the Colonel for American Broadcasting Company-TV.[5]
Last years
editCorrell died in 1972 in a Chicago hospital after a heart attack. At the time of his death he was retired and living in Beverly Hills, California, just a few blocks away from his radio partner, Freeman Gosden.[6][7][8]
Personal life and family
editCorrell's first marriage to Marie Janes ended with divorce on May 26, 1937; the couple had been married for ten years and did not have any children.[9][10] On September 11, 1937, in Glendale, California, he married Alyce McLaughlin, a former dancer;[11] they had six children, Dorothy, Charles, Barbara, John, and Richard.[6] On July 5, 1954, John Correll, his seven-year-old son, died of what seemed to be an accidental poisoning.[12] An autopsy determined the young boy died of an acute kidney infection.[13] A baby girl born to the couple in 1939 died when she was less than a day old.[14]
His son, Charles Correll Jr. became an actor and a director. Another son, Richard Correll also became an actor—remembered best as the character Richard Rickover of Leave It to Beaver—and also produced and directed the television situation comedy Family Matters.
Political views
editCorrell supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election.[16]
Legacy
editThe comedy team was named to the Radio Hall of Fame in 1962.[17] In 1969, Correll was memorialized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his radio work.[18] In 1977, Correll was inducted in the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame along with Gosden.[19]
References
edit- ^ Cox, Jim, ed. (2002). Say Goodnight Gracie: The Last Years of Network Radio. McFarland and Company. p. 224. ISBN 0-7864-1168-6. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
- ^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). Oxford University Press, USA. p. 32. ISBN 0-19-507678-8. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
- ^ Hill, Michael E. (1992-06-14). "It Began With 'Amos 'N' Andy'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ "On The Airwave". The Miami News. 16 March 1958. p. 83. Retrieved 16 September 2010 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7. P. 154.
- ^ a b "Correll, Of Amos And Andy Shows, Dies". The Milwaukee Journal. 27 September 1972.
- ^ "Famous 'Andy' Dies At Age 82". Gadsen Times. 27 September 1972. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
- ^ "Charles Correll Dies". The Capital. 27 September 1972. p. 3. Retrieved 8 January 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Too Much Caviar Wrecks Andy's Home". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 27 May 1937. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
- ^ Private Lives. Life. 14 June 1937. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
- ^ "Jokes At Matrimony But Lands At Altar". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 12 September 1937. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
- ^ "Son Of 'Andy' Of Radio Fame". St. Petersburg Times. 6 July 1954. Retrieved 16 September 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Death of Actor's Son Attributed to Infection". Reading Eagle. 5 August 1954. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
- ^ "'Andy's' Daughter Dies". The Pittsburgh Press. 6 January 1939. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
- ^ "Famous Freemasons in History | Freemason Information". 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
- ^ Critchlow, Donald T. (2013-10-21). When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107650282.
- ^ "In Radio Hall Of Fame, 14 Men, Kate Smith". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 9 June 1962. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
- ^ "Charles Correll Star". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on 2011-06-17. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
- ^ "Broadcasting Hall of Fame". National Association of Broadcasters. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
External links
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