Roy Atwell

John Leroy Atwell (May 2, 1878 – February 6, 1962) was an American actor. He was known for playing characters that mis-deliver their lines or stammer, most notably Doc from Walt Disney's ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs''.

Early life

Atwell, son of Joseph Addison Atwell, was born on May 2, 1878, in Syracuse, New York. He was educated at the Sargent School of Acting.

Atwell was a direct descendant of Joseph Atwell (1754–1834), a Revolutionary War soldier who in 1792 purchased land in the military tract in New York and built a house ("Atwell's Corners") in what is today Pompey Hollow, south of Syracuse, near Cazenovia.

Career

Atwell appeared in 34 films between 1914 and 1947.

As well as his film work, he appeared in several Broadway productions, including ''The Little Missus,'' ''The Mimic World,'' '' Oh, My Dear!,'' '' The Firefly'', '' Apple Blossoms'', and ''How's Your Health?'' He was a member of the Fortune Gallo's San Carlo Opera Company.

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.

Atwell joined ASCAP in 1957. He composed the popular song "Some Little Bug is Going to Find You" and wrote the words to a song called "When a Piece of Toast Climbs Your Bedpost with a Cigar."

Personal life

Atwell was married three times: to Blanche West (1907–?), Dorothy Young (1913–1916), and Ethel Smith (1916–1936).

Filmography

*1922: '' Don't Get Personal'' as Horace Kane
*1922: '' Red Hot Romance'' as Jim Conwell
*1922: ''Grand Larceny'' as Harkness Boyd
*1922: '' The Heart Specialist'' as Winston Gates
*1922: '' South of Suva'' as Marmaduke Grubb
*1923: '' Souls for Sale'' as Arthur Tirrey
*1926: ''The Outsider'' as Jerry Sidon
*1933: ''Crashing the Gate'' (Short)
*1933: ''The Little Broadcast'' as Announcer
*1936: '' The Harvester'' as Jake Eben
*1937: ''Varsity Show'' as Prof. Washburn
*1937: '' Behind the Mike'' as Vale
*1937: ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' as Doc (voice, uncredited)
*1939: ''Honolulu'' as Bearded Man on Ship (uncredited)
*1939: '' Bridal Suite'' as Professor Kockerthaler (uncredited)
*1942: '' The Fleet's In'' as Arthur Sidney
*1946: '' People Are Funny'' as Mr. Pippensiegal
*1946: '' Gentleman Joe Palooka'' as Senator Sam H. Smiley
*1946: ''Abie's Irish Rose'' 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
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Site dedicated to Roy Atwell

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