Richard LeGrand (August 29, 1882 – June 29, 1963) was an American actor who was best known for his comedy characters on radio. His last name is also seen as Le Grand.
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Early years
The son of a merchant, LeGrand was born in
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...
, and attended schools there. Participation in high school plays changed his career interest from engineering to acting.
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Career
LeGrand was backstage working the artificial snow when he made his stage debut to substitute for a missing actor. He continued in theater, doing dramas, musical comedies, tent shows and vaudeville. LeGrand appeared as a variety of dialect characters.[Our Neighbors in Wistful Vista]
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LeGrand worked on radio as early as 1929, portraying Professor Knicklebine on ''School Days'' and announcing for the ''Pacific Vagabonds'' program. He was a comedy favorite as Peavey the Druggist on ''The Great Gildersleeve
''The Great Gildersleeve'' is a radio situation comedy broadcast in the United States from August 31, 1941 to 1958. Initially written by Leonard Lewis Levinson, it was one of broadcast history's earliest spin-off programs. The series was built a ...
''. His signature line to end any conversation was "Well now, I wouldn't say that!" As a member of the men's social group "The Jolly Boys", he would try to get the fellows to start singing "There Is a Tavern in the Town", but was very rarely successful. In 1949, he was a member of the cast of ''Summerfield Bandstand'', a variety program that was the summer replacement for ''The Great Gildersleeve''.Fibber McGee and Molly
''Fibber McGee and Molly'' (1935–1959) was a longtime highly popular husband-and-wife team radio comedy program.
The situation comedy was a staple of the NBC Red Network from 1936 on, after originating on NBC Blue in 1935. One of the most p ...
'' as Ole, the Elk's Club janitor, beginning February 15, 1949 just as that show began its decline, and appeared as Phil Harris' father on the Phil Harris Alice Faye Show (using the Peavey voice) from March 1954 until the end of that series in May of that year.
He also performed roles on ''One Man's Family
''One Man's Family'' is an American radio soap opera, heard for almost three decades, from 1932 to 1959. Created by Carlton E. Morse, it was the longest-running uninterrupted dramatic serial in the history of American radio. Television versions ...
'' and the Hollywood version of '' I Love a Mystery''. LeGrand also portrayed Peavey in three of the ''Great Gildersleeve'' movies. His largest part, almost a co-star role, was in ''Gildersleeve on Broadway
''Gildersleeve on Broadway'' is a 1943 American film starring Harold Peary as his radio character The Great Gildersleeve. It is the third of four Gildersleeve features, others were ''The Great Gildersleeve'' (1942), ''Gildersleeve's Bad Day'' (19 ...
'' in 1943.[
]
Personal life
LeGrand was married to Alice Nixon. They were divorced in 1947.[ ]
References
External links
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1882 births
1963 deaths
American male radio actors
American male stage actors
Male actors from Portland, Oregon
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