|
category
|
m copy-edit: close parentheses and correct spelling errors
|
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
Haley starred in [[vaudeville]] as a song-and-dance comedian. One of his closest friends was fellow vaudeville alumnus [[Fred Allen]], who would frequently mention "Mr. Jacob Haley of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts" on the air. |
Haley starred in [[vaudeville]] as a song-and-dance comedian. One of his closest friends was fellow vaudeville alumnus [[Fred Allen]], who would frequently mention "Mr. Jacob Haley of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts" on the air. |
||
In the early 1930s Haley starred in comedy shorts for [[Vitaphone]] in [[Brooklyn]], New York. His wide-eyed, good-natured expression landed him parts in musical features (like the [[Shirley Temple]] vehicle ''[[Poor Little Rich Girl]]'' and the [[Irving Berlin]] musical ''[[Alexander's Ragtime Band]]''. |
In the early 1930s Haley starred in comedy shorts for [[Vitaphone]] in [[Brooklyn]], New York. His wide-eyed, good-natured expression landed him parts in musical features (like the [[Shirley Temple]] vehicle ''[[Poor Little Rich Girl]]'' and the [[Irving Berlin]] musical ''[[Alexander's Ragtime Band]]''). |
||
[[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] hired Haley for ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 movie)|The Wizard of Oz]]''. |
[[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] hired Haley for ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 movie)|The Wizard of Oz]]''. |
||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
Haley's natural voice (which he used for the "Hickory" character) was moderately gruff. For the Tin Man, he spoke more softly, a la "[[Mr. Rogers]]", which he later said was the tone of voice he used when reading stories to his children. |
Haley's natural voice (which he used for the "Hickory" character) was moderately gruff. For the Tin Man, he spoke more softly, a la "[[Mr. Rogers]]", which he later said was the tone of voice he used when reading stories to his children. |
||
Haley returned to musical comedies in the 1940s. Most of his '40s work was for [[RKO Radio Pictures]]; he |
Haley returned to musical comedies in the 1940s. Most of his '40s work was for [[RKO Radio Pictures]]; he surrendered the job in 1947 when he refused to appear in a remake of RKO's old story property "Seven Keys to Baldpate" (Phillip Terry took the role). |
||
He married Florence McFadden on [[February 25]], [[1921]], and they remained married until his death. Flo Haley opened a successful beauty shop and counted many show people among her customers. (The establishment became known informally as "Flo Haley's House of Correction.") |
He married Florence McFadden on [[February 25]], [[1921]], and they remained married until his death. Flo Haley opened a successful beauty shop and counted many show people among her customers. (The establishment became known informally as "Flo Haley's House of Correction.") |
||
Jack Haley (August 10, 1898 – June 6, 1979)--born John Joseph Haley, Jr.--was an American film actor best known for his portrayal of "The Tin Man" (and farmworker "Hickory") in The Wizard of Oz.
Haley starred in vaudeville as a song-and-dance comedian. One of his closest friends was fellow vaudeville alumnus Fred Allen, who would frequently mention "Mr. Jacob Haley of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts" on the air.
In the early 1930s Haley starred in comedy shorts for VitaphoneinBrooklyn, New York. His wide-eyed, good-natured expression landed him parts in musical features (like the Shirley Temple vehicle Poor Little Rich Girl and the Irving Berlin musical Alexander's Ragtime Band).
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer hired Haley for The Wizard of Oz. He won the "Tin Man" role because another song-and-dance comic, Buddy Ebsen, had a near-fatal reaction from inhaling the aluminum dust makeup. The makeup was switched to a paste, to avoid risking the same reaction by Haley. (The new makeup did cause an eye infection which caused Haley to miss four days of filming, but he received treatment in time to prevent permanent damage. Incidentally, Buddy Ebsen, 10 years younger than Haley, outlived him by 24 years.[1])
Haley's natural voice (which he used for the "Hickory" character) was moderately gruff. For the Tin Man, he spoke more softly, a la "Mr. Rogers", which he later said was the tone of voice he used when reading stories to his children.
Haley returned to musical comedies in the 1940s. Most of his '40s work was for RKO Radio Pictures; he surrendered the job in 1947 when he refused to appear in a remake of RKO's old story property "Seven Keys to Baldpate" (Phillip Terry took the role).
He married Florence McFadden on February 25, 1921, and they remained married until his death. Flo Haley opened a successful beauty shop and counted many show people among her customers. (The establishment became known informally as "Flo Haley's House of Correction.")
The couple had one son, Jack Haley Jr. (later a successful film producer) and one daughter, Gloria.[2] Jack Jr. married Liza Minnelli, daughter of his father's Oz co-star Judy Garland, briefly in the 1970s.
In 1972, Haley made his daughter, Gloria, the sole owner of his written memoirs. In 1978, she published them in the form of the hardcover book Heart of the Tin Man.
Haley died of a heart attackonJune 6, 1979inLos Angeles, California at the age of 80. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California.[3]
Features:
Short Subjects:
