John Leroy "Roy" Atwell (May 2, 1878 – February 6, 1962) was an American actor, comedian and composer, known for playing characters that mis-deliver their lines or stammer, most notably Doc from

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

's classic

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is a 19th-century German fairy tale that is today known widely across the Western world. The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection ''Grimms' Fairy Tales'' and numbered as T ...

Biography

Born in 1878, Atwell was educated at the Sargent School of Acting, and appeared in 34 films between 1914 and 1947. He was the voice of Doc in Disney's ''

''. As well as his film work, he appeared in several

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

productions, including ''The Little Missus,'' ''The Mimic World,'' ''

Oh, My Dear! ''Oh, My Dear!'' was a Broadway musical comedy in two acts with book and lyrics by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, and music by Louis A. Hirsch. The play was produced by William Elliott and F. Ray Comstock and opened under the direction of Robert ...

,'' '' The Firefly'', and ''How's Your Health?'' He was a member of the Fortune Gallo's

San Carlo Opera Company The San Carlo Opera Company was the name of two different opera companies active in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century. Henry Russell's San Carlo Opera The first company was founded by impresario Henry Russell, initi ...

, and joined

ASCAP The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadca ...

in 1957. He composed the popular song ''Some Little Bug is Going to Find You.'' He was married three times, to Blanche West (1907-?), Dorothy Young (1913–1916), and Ethel Smith (1916–1936). Roy Atwell, son of Joseph Addison Atwell, is a direct descendant of Joseph Atwell (1754–1834), a revolutionary war soldier who in 1792 purchased land in the military tract in New York State that was then the frontier and built a house ("Atwell's Corners") in what today is known as Pompey Hollow south of Syracuse, New York, near Cazenovia. He wrote the words to a song, "When a Piece of Toast Climbs Your Bedpost with a Cigar." When Atwell began working on Broadway, he had a role, as a serious actor, in which he was to deliver the following line: "It is spring and all the little birds are twittering in the tree tops." Being new and somewhat on edge, what Atwell actually did say was: "Tis ting and the twits are birdering in the tree flops." Atwell fully expected to be dismissed, but the misdelivered line drew a big laugh from the audience and, after the show was over, he was congratulated and asked to repeat it the next night. His unwitting comedic success caused Atwell to make the change from being a dramatic actor to becoming a comedian.

Filmography

*1922: '' Don't Get Personal'' as Horace Kane *1922: ''

Red Hot Romance ''Red Hot Romance'' is a 1922 American silent comedy film directed by Victor Fleming. A fragmentary print survives in the Library of Congress. Plot As described in a film magazine, young American Rowland Stone (Sydney) receives $50 per week fr ...

'' as Jim Conwell *1922: ''

Grand Larceny Larceny is a crime involving the unlawful taking or theft of the personal property of another person or business. It was an offence under the common law of England and became an offence in jurisdictions which incorporated the common law of Engla ...

'' as Harkness Boyd *1922: ''

The Heart Specialist ''The Heart Specialist'' is a 2006 American romantic comedy-drama film written, produced and directed by Dennis Cooper, and starring Wood Harris, Zoe Saldana, Brian J. White and Mýa. Originally released under the title ''Ways of the Flesh'', th ...

'' as Winston Gates *1922: '' South of Suva'' as Marmaduke Grubb *1923: ''

Souls for Sale ''Souls for Sale'' is a 1923 American silent comedy drama film written, directed, and produced by Rupert Hughes, based on the novel of the same name by Hughes. The film stars Eleanor Boardman in her first leading role, having won a contract w ...

'' as Arthur Tirrey *1926: ''The Outsider'' as Jerry Sidon *1933: ''Crashing the Gate'' (Short) *1933: ''The Little Broadcast'' as Announcer *1936: ''

The Harvester ''The Harvester'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Joseph Santley and written by Homer Croy, Robert Lee Johnson, Elizabeth Meehan and Gertrude Orr. It is based on the 1911 novel ''The Harvester'' by Gene Stratton-Porter, which had prev ...

'' as Jake Eben *1937: ''Varsity Show'' as Prof. Washburn *1937: ''

Behind the Mike Behind may refer to: * ''Behind'' (album), a 1992 album by Superior * Behind (Australian rules football), a method of scoring in Australian rules football, awarding one point * "Behind" (song), a 2008 single by Flanders * Behind, a slang term fo ...

'' as Vale *1937: ''

'' as Doc (voice, uncredited) *1939: ''

Honolulu Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island ...

'' as Bearded Man on Ship (uncredited) *1939: ''

Bridal Suite ''Bridal Suite'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Wilhelm Thiele and written by Samuel Hoffenstein. The film stars Annabella, Robert Young, Walter Connolly, Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, and Arthur Treacher. The film was released o ...

'' as Professor Kockerthaler (uncredited) *1942: ''

The Fleet's In ''The Fleet's In'' is a 1942 movie musical produced by Paramount Pictures, directed by Victor Schertzinger, and starring Dorothy Lamour and William Holden. Although sharing the title of the 1928 Paramount film starring Clara Bow and Jack Oakie, ...

'' as Arthur Sidney *1946: ''

People Are Funny ''People Are Funny'' is an American radio and television game show, created by John Guedel that ran from 1942 to 1960 in which contestants were asked to carry out stunts in order to prove that "People Are Funny." Many stunts lasted weeks, month ...

'' as Mr. Pippensiegal *1946: ''

Gentleman Joe Palooka ''Gentleman Joe Palooka'' is a 1946 film directed by Cy Endfield. It was the second of the '' Joe Palooka'' series. Plot The prizefighter Joe Palooka's popularity soars after his manager, Knobby Walsh, explains to reporters how "clean living" i ...

'' as Senator Sam H. Smiley *1946: ''

Abie's Irish Rose ''Abie's Irish Rose'' is a popular comedy by Anne Nichols, which premiered in 1922. Initially a Broadway play, it has become familiar through repeated stage productions, films and radio programs. The basic premise involves an Irish Catholic girl ...

'' as Dick Saunders *1947: '' Where There's Life'' as Salesman (final film role)

References

External links

Some Little Bug Is Going to Find You 1915
on the

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

* *
Site dedicated to Roy Atwell
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atwell, Roy 1878 births 1962 deaths Male actors from New York (state) American male film actors American male comedians American male composers American composers American male voice actors Male actors from Syracuse, New York 20th-century American male actors Comedians from New York (state) 20th-century American comedians