Charles James Correll (February 2, 1890 – September 26, 1972) was an American radio
comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing
Amusement is the state of experiencing humorous and entertaining events or situations while the person or a ...
, actor and writer, known best for his work in the radio series ''
Amos 'n' Andy
''Amos 'n' Andy'' is an American radio sitcom about black characters, initially set in Chicago and later in the Harlem section of New York City. While the show had a brief life on 1950s television with black actors, the 1928 to 1960 radio show ...
'' with
Freeman Gosden
Freeman Fisher "Gozzie" Gosden (May 5, 1899 – December 10, 1982) was an American radio comedian, actor and pioneer in the development of the situation comedy form. He is best known for his work in the radio series ''Amos 'n' Andy''.
Life and ...
. Correll voiced the main character Andy Brown, along with various lesser characters.
Biography
Career
Correll was born in Peoria, Illinois. He worked originally as a stenographer and a bricklayer. He met Gosden in
Durham, North Carolina
Durham ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County, North Carolina, Durham County. Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County, North Carolina, Orange County and Wake County, North Carol ...
while working for the Joe Bren Producing Company.
Both Correll and Freeman vacationed at
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin during the 1930s and would broadcast ''Amos 'n' Andy'' from there.
From 1928 to 1934, the team never had a vacation away from their radio show. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of ''Amos 'n' Andy'', 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.
During 1961–1962, Gosden and Correll provided the voices for the animated series ''
Calvin and the Colonel
''Calvin and the Colonel'' is an American animated sitcom about Colonel Montgomery J. Klaxon, a shrewd fox, and Calvin T. Burnside, a dumb bear. Their lawyer was Oliver Wendell Clutch, who was a weasel (literally). The colonel lived with his wife ...
'' for
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American commercial broadcast television network. It is the flagship property of the ABC Entertainment Group division of The Walt Disney Company. The network is headquartered in Burbank, Cali ...
-TV.
[Terrace, Vincent (2011). ''Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 154.]
Last years
Correll died in 1972 in a Chicago hospital after a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...
. At the time of his death he was retired and living in
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. B ...
, just a few blocks away from his radio partner, Freeman Gosden.
Personal life and family
Correll'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. On September 11, 1937, in Glendale, California, he married Alyce McLaughlin, a former dancer; they had six children, Dorothy, Charles, Barbara, John, and Richard.
On July 5, 1954, John Correll, his seven-year-old son, died of what seemed to be an accidental poisoning. An autopsy determined the young boy died of an acute kidney infection. A baby girl born to the couple in 1939 died when she was less than a day old.
His son,
Charles Correll, Jr. became an actor and a director. Another son,
Richard Correll
Richard Thomas Correll (born May 14, 1948) is an American television actor, director, producer and writer.
Life and career
Born in Los Angeles County, California, Correll is the son of Charles Correll, who starred as Andy Brown on the radio ...
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
''Family Matters'' is an American television sitcom that debuted on ABC on September 22, 1989, and ended on May 9, 1997. However it moved to CBS, where it was shown from September 19, 1997, to July 17, 1998. A spin-off of '' Perfect Strangers ...
''.
Political views
Correll supported
Barry Goldwater in the
1964 United States presidential election
The 1964 United States presidential election was the 45th quadrennial United States presidential election, presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 3, 1964. Incumbent Democratic Party (United States), Democratic President of the Un ...
.
Legacy
The comedy team was named to the Radio Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1969, Correll was memorialized with a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...
for his radio work. In 1977, Correll was inducted in the
National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame
The NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame is a yearly honor from the National Association of Broadcasters. One inductee from radio and one from television are named at the yearly NAB conference.
Radio
For a list of award winners, see footnote
* 1977: J ...
along with Gosden.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Correll, Charles
1890 births
1972 deaths
20th-century American comedians
20th-century American male actors
20th-century American singers
Actors from Peoria, Illinois
American bricklayers
American male comedians
American male radio actors
American male voice actors
Blackface minstrel performers
Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City
Comedians from Illinois