Jonathan Joseph “Candy” Candido (December 25, 1913 – May 19, 1999) was an American radio performer and voice actor. He was best remembered for his famous line "I'm feeling mighty low".

Early and personal life

Born on Christmas Day in 1913 in

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

, Louisiana, Candido, who later used the legal name John B. Candido, was a bassist and vocalist in

Ted Fio Rito Theodore Salvatore Fiorito (December 20, 1900 – July 22, 1971),DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 95. known professionally a ...

's big band, and they can be seen in a

Soundie Soundies are three-minute American musical films, and each short displays a performance. The shorts were produced between 1940 and 1946 and have been referred to as "precursors to music videos" by UCLA. Soundies exhibited a variety of musical ge ...

, " Ma, He's Making Eyes at Me". In 1933, he married Anita Bivona.

Career

Radio

Candido's distinctive, four-octave speaking voice became familiar to radio listeners and moviegoers. Speaking his lines in his normal tenor, he would suddenly adopt a high, squeaky soprano and just as suddenly plunge into a gruff bass. His weekly repetition of "I'm feeling mighty low" on Jimmy Durante's radio show made it a national

catchphrase A catchphrase (alternatively spelled catch phrase) is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through word of mouth and a variety of mass ...

. The running gag became so familiar that he recorded a song of the same title with Durante. The line can be heard in the 1950

Bugs Bunny Bugs Bunny is an animated cartoon character created in the late 1930s by Warner Bros. Cartoons, Leon Schlesinger Productions (later Warner Bros. Cartoons) and Voice acting, voiced originally by Mel Blanc. Bugs is best known for his starring role ...

cartoon '' Homeless Hare'', although it was not spoken there by Candido.

Voices

Candido provided the voice of an angry apple tree in '' The Wizard of Oz'' (1939), and provided the voice of a skeleton in ''

Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion ''Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion'' is a black and white 1950 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. It is set in the French Sahara with the heroes having joined the Frenc ...

'', and he later teamed with

Bud Abbott William Alexander "Bud" Abbott (October 2, 1897 – April 24, 1974) was an American comedian, actor and producer. He was best known as the straight man half of the comedy duo Abbott and Costello. Early life Abbott was born in Asbury Park, New J ...

during Abbott's attempted comeback in 1960. He was the voice of the bear in the ''

Gentle Ben Gentle Ben is a bear character created by author Walt Morey and first introduced in a 1965 children's novel, ''Gentle Ben''. The original novel told the story of the friendship between a large male bear named Ben and a boy named Mark. The story pr ...

'' TV series, and he worked as a voice actor on animated films, notably for

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 ...

, where he portrayed the voice of the Indian Chief in ''

Peter Pan Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythi ...

'' (1953), one of Maleficent's goons in ''

Sleeping Beauty ''Sleeping Beauty'' (french: La belle au bois dormant, or ''The Beauty in the Sleeping Forest''; german: Dornröschen, or ''Little Briar Rose''), also titled in English as ''The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods'', is a fairy tale about a princess cu ...

'' (1959), the Captain of the Guard the crocodile in ''

Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is dep ...

'' (1973), and the deep voiced prisoner in

the Haunted Mansion The Haunted Mansion is a dark ride attraction located at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo Disneyland. The haunted house attraction features a ride-through tour in Omnimover vehicles called "Doom Buggies", and a walk-through show is display ...

attraction.The New York Times
/ref> Other animated films with Candido voices include Chuck Jones' adaptation of ''

The Phantom Tollbooth ''The Phantom Tollbooth'' is a Juvenile fantasy, children's fantasy adventure novel written by Norton Juster, with illustrations by Jules Feiffer, first published in 1961 in literature, 1961. The story follows a bored young boy named Milo who ...

'' (1970), and the

Ralph Bakshi Ralph Bakshi (born October 29, 1938) is an American animator and filmmaker. In the 1970s, he established an alternative to mainstream animation through independent and adult-oriented productions. Between 1972 and 1992, he directed nine theatric ...

movies '' Hey Good Lookin''' and ''

Heavy Traffic ''Heavy Traffic'' is a 1973 American live-action/animated drama film written and directed by Ralph Bakshi. The film, which begins, ends, and occasionally combines with live-action, explores the often surreal fantasies of a young New York City ...

''. His final and personal favorite role was as Fidget the peg-legged bat in ''

The Great Mouse Detective ''The Great Mouse Detective'' (also known as ''The Adventures of the Great Mouse Detective'' for its 1992 theatrical re-release and ''Basil the Great Mouse Detective'' in some countries) is a 1986 American animated mystery adventure film produc ...

'' (1986).

Films

His various credited and uncredited roles as an actor, bassist and vocalist in live-action films include ''

Sadie McKee ''Sadie McKee'' is a 1934 American pre-Code, romantic-drama film directed by Clarence Brown, starring Joan Crawford, and featuring Gene Raymond, Franchot Tone, Edward Arnold, and Esther Ralston. The film is based on the 1933 short story "Pretty ...

'' (1934), ''

Roberta ''Roberta'' is a musical from 1933 with music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics and book by Otto Harbach. The musical is based on the novel ''Gowns by Roberta'' by Alice Duer Miller. It features the songs " Yesterdays", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "Let ...

'' (1935), ''

Only Angels Have Wings ''Only Angels Have Wings'' is a 1939 American adventure drama film directed by Howard Hawks, starring Cary Grant and Jean Arthur, and is based on a story written by Hawks. Its plot follows the manager of an air freight company in a remote South ...

'' (1939), '' The Wizard of Oz'' (1939), '' Rhythm Parade'' (1942), '' Campus Rhythm'' (1943), ''

Sarge Goes to College ''Sarge Goes to College'' is a 1947 American musical comedy film directed by Will Jason and starring Freddie Stewart, June Preisser and Frankie Darro. It was produced and distributed by Monogram Pictures as part of The Teen Agers series. Plo ...

'' (1947), ''

Smart Politics ''Smart Politics'' is a 1948 American film directed by Will Jason and starring Freddie Stewart and June Preisser. It is part of The Teen Agers series made by Monogram Pictures.Munter, Pam (November 4, 2005"Freddie Stewart and the Teen Agers"''Cl ...

'' (1948), and ''

The Great Rupert ''The Great Rupert'' is a 1950 comedy family film starring Jimmy Durante, Tom Drake and Terry Moore, produced by George Pal and directed by Irving Pichel. It is based on a story written by Ted Allan that has also been published as a children's ...

'' (1950).

Recording

Candido recorded a few children's 78 RPM records for Capitol Records: * CAS-3105 - Side One "I'm

Popeye Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar.

Death

Candido died from natural causes in his sleep at the age of 85 on May 19, 1999, in his home in Burbank, California. He was survived by his wife Anita, four children, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. He was interred in

San Fernando Mission Cemetery The San Fernando Mission Cemetery is a Catholic cemetery located in the Mission Hills community of the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. The property adjoins the San Fernando Mission and Bishop Alemany Catholic High School. ThSan Fernando Mi ...

Filmography

* ''

'' (1934) – Candy of 'Coco and Candy' – Bass Player * ''

'' (1935) – Candy – Trick-voiced Wabash Indianian (uncredited) * ''

Broadway Gondolier ''Broadway Gondolier '' ( 1935) is a musical film directed by Lloyd Bacon. The film was released by Warner Bros., and featured Dick Powell, Joan Blondell and Adolphe Menjou. Plot Richard "Dick" Purcell ( Dick Powell), a taxi driver, aspires to ...

'' (1935) – Candy (uncredited) * ''

Mama Steps Out ''Mama Steps Out'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by George B. Seitz and written by Anita Loos. The film stars Guy Kibbee, Alice Brady, Betty Furness, Dennis Morgan, Gene Lockhart and Edward Norris. The film was released on February 5, ...

'' (1937) – Bosco (uncredited) * '' Something to Sing About'' (1937) – Candy (bassist in the band) * ''

Cowboy from Brooklyn ''Cowboy from Brooklyn'' is a 1938 American Western musical romantic comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and written by Earl Baldwin. It stars Dick Powell, Pat O'Brien and Priscilla Lane. The film was based on the 1937 Broadway play ''Howdy S ...

'' (1938) – Spec * ''Charlie Cuckoo'' (1939) – Charlie Cuckoo (voice, uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) – Bass Player (uncredited) * '' The Wizard of Oz'' (1939) – Angry Apple Tree (voice, uncredited) * ''A Haunting We Will Go'' (1939) – Papa Ghost (voice, uncredited) * '' Heart of the Rio Grande'' (1942) – Basso dubbing for Frog and Tadpole (uncredited) * '' Rhythm Parade'' (1942) – Candy * '' Campus Rhythm'' (1943) – Harold * ''

'' (1947) – Bass and Vocals, The Jam Session * ''

'' (1948) – Alvin, Peabody's Nephew * ''

'' (1950) – Molineri – Florist * '' Riding High'' (1950) – Musician (uncredited) * ''

'' (1950) – Skeleton (voice, uncredited) * ''

'' (1953) – Indian Chief (voice) * ''

King Creole ''King Creole'' is a 1958 American musical drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and based on the 1952 novel '' A Stone for Danny Fisher'' by Harold Robbins. Produced by Hal B. Wallis, the film stars Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau, ...

'' (1958) – King Creole Doorman (uncredited) * ''

Plunderers of Painted Flats ''Plunderers of Painted Flats'' is a 1959 American Western film shot in Naturama was directed by Albert C. Gannaway and written by John Greene and Phil Shuken. The film stars Corinne Calvet, John Carroll, Skip Homeier, George Macready, Edmun ...

'' (1959) – Bartender * ''

'' (1959) – Maleficent's Goon / Diablo (voice, uncredited) * ''

'' (1970) – Awful DYNN (voice) * ''

'' (1973) – The Mafia Messenger (voice) * ''

'' (1973) – Captain of the Guards (voice, uncredited) * ''

Herbie Rides Again ''Herbie Rides Again'' is a 1974 American comedy film and the second installment of ''The Love Bug'' film series made by Walt Disney Productions starring an anthropomorphic (and quite autonomous) 1963 Volkswagen racing Beetle named Herbie. The ...

'' (1974) – (voice) * '' Hey Good Lookin''' (1982) – Sal (voice) * ''

'' (1986) – Fidget / Bar Patron (voice) * '' Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures'' (1987) – (voice)

References

External links

*
Behind The Voice Actors
{{DEFAULTSORT:Candido, Candy 1913 births 1999 deaths 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American musicians American jazz musicians American male radio actors American male voice actors American people of Italian descent Burials at San Fernando Mission Cemetery Animal impersonators Disney people Jazz musicians from New Orleans