Phil Gordon (May 5, 1916 – June 15, 2010) was an American actor and
dialect coach A dialect coach is an acting coach who helps an actor design the voice and speech of a character in the context of an on-camera (film, television or commercial), stage (theatre, musical theatre, opera, etc.), radio or animation voiceover production. ...
, most known for his work in television. Gordon's work included roles on ''
The Beverly Hillbillies
''The Beverly Hillbillies'' is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from 1962 to 1971. It had an ensemble cast featuring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer Jr. as the Clampetts, a poor, backwoods family f ...
'' (playing Jasper "Jazzbo" Depew), '' Green Acres'', and ''
Petticoat Junction
''Petticoat Junction'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 1963 to April 1970. The series takes place at the Shady Rest Hotel, which is run by Kate Bradley; her three daughters Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, and ...
''.
Gordon was born Phil Gulley on May 5, 1916, in Meridian, Mississippi. His parents were Philomen and Lena Alexina Gulley. He enlisted in the United States Navy and the
United Service Organizations
The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...
(USO) during World War II. He worked as a
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
musician following the end of World War II, touring in Chicago and New Orleans during the 1940s and 1950s.
Gordon moved to California in the late 1950s, where he worked as an actor and dialect coach (for ''Green Acres'') in television throughout the 1960s. He departed the television industry and moved to Mobile, Alabama with his wife Jane Dupree Gulley in the late 1970s. He resided in Mobile for the remainder of his life.
Phil Gordon died on June 15, 2010, in Mobile at the age of 94. He was interred at Pine Crest Cemetery in Mobile. His wife of more than 40 years predeceased him.