Jack Mather

Jack Mather
Born John E. Mather
(1907-09-07)September 7, 1907
Illinois, United States
Died August 16, 1966(1966-08-16) (aged 58)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Occupation Actor, voice actor
Years active 1929–1966
Spouse(s) Rosalie Encell Mather
Children 2

John Eugene Mather (September 7, 1907 – August 16, 1966) was an American radio and television actor, best known for playing The Cisco Kid on radio and for being the original voice of Wally Walrus.

Early life and career

Mather was born on a farm outside Chicago, Illinois, to John A. and Ella Mather.[1][2] Having been a cast member of the First Nighter radio show, he moved to Los Angeles when the show also moved to Los Angeles.[1] Throughout his career, he appeared on popular radio shows including The Jack Benny Program, Lux Radio Theatre, Fibber McGee and Molly, and The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show.

In animation, Mather occasionally did voice work for George Pal and UPA.[2][3] In 1943, Walter Lantz cast Mather as Woody Woodpecker's nemesis, Wally Walrus for The Beach Nut (1944).[2] Giving Wally a Swedish accent, Mather maintained the role until Walter Lantz Productions temporarily shut down in 1948. Dallas McKennon and Paul Frees later took over the role following the studio's reopening in 1950.

He also occasionally appeared in films, including The Bravados (1958) and Some Like It Hot (1959).[1]

In 1959, Mather played legendary cattleman Charles Goodnight in the episode, "Old Blue", of the syndicated television anthology series, Death Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews. The episode focuses on Goodnight's lead steer, Old Blue, who is stolen and thereafter adopted as a family pet.[4]

He also appeared on the ABC Warner Brothers series, 77 Sunset Strip, Surfside 6, and Maverick. In his last television role in 1962, he was cast as Frank Lathrop in "The Daniel Clay Story" on the John McIntire western series, Wagon Train.

The Cisco Kid

In 1946, Mather was cast in the title role of Mutual's adaptation of The Cisco Kid, opposite Harry E. Lang as Pancho. The series, which was pre-recorded, ran from 1946 to 1956 and for more than seven hundred episodes.[5] In addition to playing Cisco, Mather also was the announcer for the program in its later years.[1]

Personal life

Mather was married to Rosalie Encell and was the father of two sons.[2]

Death

Mather died in Chicago, Illinois, of a heart attack shortly before his 59th birthday.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 French, Jack; Siegel, David S. Radio Rides the Range: A Reference Guide to Western Drama on the Air. McFarland. ISBN 978-0786471461. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Jack Mather". Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  3. ↑ "Jack Mather at the Internet Animation Database". Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  4. ↑ "Old Blue on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  5. ↑ "The Cisco Kid Volume 4". Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  6. ↑ "The Morning News from Wilmington, Delaware". Retrieved 2018-05-02.
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