Henry Corden

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Henry Corden
Henry c.jpg
BornHenry Cohen
(1920-01-06)January 6, 1920
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DiedMay 19, 2005(2005-05-19) (aged 85)
Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
Cause of deathEmphysema
OccupationActor, voice artist
Years active1947–2005
Spouse(s)Thelma Corden (m. ?–1969; divorced)
Shirley W. Cytron (m. 1970; div. 1979)
Charlotte R. Colton Diamond (m. 1984; her death 1993)
Angelina Corden (m. 1995; his death 2005)
Children2

Henry Corden (January 6, 1920 – May 19, 2005) was a Canadian-born American actor and voice artist best known for taking over the role of Fred Flintstone after Alan Reed died in 1977. His official debut as Fred's new voice was on the 1977 syndicated weekday series Fred Flintstone and Friends for which he provided voice-overs on brief bumper clips shown in-between segments, although he had previously provided the singing voice for Reed in both the 1966 theatrical film, The Man Called Flintstone and the 1966 Hanna-Barbera special The New Alice in Wonderland (or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?).

Life and career[edit]

Corden was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada as Henry Cohen to Max and Emma Cohen. His father was a meat curer who had been born in Romania; his mother was originally from Russia. The family moved to the Bronx, New York when Corden was a child and he arrived in Hollywood in the 1940s. A story in the Los Angeles Times dated January 8, 1963 stated he had been in the entertainment business for 25 years (since 1938), though the 1940 U.S Census lists him without an occupation. He appeared on the stage in Los Angeles and Hollywood, including a 1947 production of The Message. His film career included The System (1952), where he played a near-sighted gangster named Specs. Corden thought it would be the first time in 25 films he could wear his glasses and see while he was acting, but the lenses gave off too much reflection and he had to substitute them for plain glass after one day of shooting.[1]

With his deep voice, jet-black hair and ethnic looks, Corden was frequently tapped to play heavies in films and on television. He can be seen in such live-action films as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Black Castle, Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion and The Ten Commandments (1956). He also appeared in dozens of TV shows, including Dragnet, Perry Mason, Hogan's Heroes, McHale's Navy, Gunsmoke, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and was a usual regular on The Jerry Lewis Show. Corden also played landlord Henry Babbitt on The Monkees and appeared as Mr. Haskell, the owner of an ice cream parlor, in an episode of The Brady Bunch.

Corden gave his voice to a number of Hanna-Barbera productions besides The Flintstones, including The Jetsons, Josie and the Pussycats, The Atom Ant Show, The New Tom & Jerry Show and Jonny Quest. Corden also gave voice to the wizard Gemini and Ookla the Mokk in Ruby-Spears Productions' Thundarr the Barbarian as well as the Gorilla General Urko in DePatie-Freleng Enterprises' Return to the Planet of the Apes. He voiced Arnie Barkley, the Archie Bunker-inspired patriarch of DePatie-Freleng's The Barkleys, in 1972.

Corden had one enduring role for which he was never credited. He was called upon to vocally impersonate Jackie Gleason for the "television edit" of Smokey and the Bandit[2] The repeated broadcasts of this version, the liberal use of the nonsense phrase "scum bum" to replace profanity, and the fact that it obviously was not Gleason speaking have given the performance a sort of cult status.

Death[edit]

Corden died of emphysema at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Sherman Oaks, California. Corden's wife of nine years, Angelina, was with him at the time. Besides his wife, Corden is survived by his two children, Dawna Wade and Robin Smith, three stepchildren Erik Faraldo, Derek Faraldo and Monica Faraldo, two granddaughters, and three stepgrandsons. His interment was at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Partial filmography[edit]

  • Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950) as Ibrim
  • Hiawatha (1952) as Ottobang
  • Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953) as Actor in Javanese Costume (uncredited)
  • Phantom of the Rue Morgue (1954) as Detective Mignaud (uncredited)
  • King Richard and the Crusaders (1954) as King Philip II of France
  • The Egyptian (1954) as Hittite Officer (uncredited)
  • Jupiter's Darling (1955) as Carthalo
  • Jump Into Hell (1955) as Maj. Lamblin (uncredited)
  • Lust for Life (1956) as Waiter (uncredited)
  • The Ten Commandments (1956) as Sheik of Sinai
  • The Shadow on the Window (1957) as Louie (uncredited)
  • Cry Tough (1959) as Mr. Fuente (uncredited)
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960) as Mate (uncredited)
  • Blueprint for Robbery (1961) as Preacher Doc
  • When the Clock Strikes (1961) as Cady [3]
  • Tammy Tell Me True (1961) as Captain Armand
  • Island of Love (1963) (uncredited)
  • Strange Bedfellows (1965) as Sheik's Interpreter (uncredited)
  • The Family Jewels (1965) as Gasoline Truck Driver (uncredited)
  • McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force (1965) as NKVD deputy
  • The Man Called Flintstone (1966) as Fred Flintstone (Singing Voice)
  • Made in Paris (1966) as Bartender (uncredited)
  • The Singing Nun (1966) as Truck Driver (uncredited)
  • Frankie and Johnny (1966) as Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title (1966) as Professor Lerowski
  • Hook, Line & Sinker (1969) as Kenyon Hammercher
  • Which Way to the Front? (1970) as Gangster (uncredited)
  • The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie (1972, TV Movie) as Yogi's Ark Lark - Paw Rugg / First Truck Driver
  • C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979) as Monster (dog)
  • Modern Problems (1981) as Dubrovnik
  • Omnisphere (1983) as Neon City: Screen 1 voice (voice)
  • The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible (1986, Video short, episode - Daniel and the Lion's Den)
  • The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones (1987, TV Movie) as Fred Flintstone
  • Beetle Bailey (1989, TV Movie) as Sgt. Snorkel
  • I Yabba-Dabba Do! (1993, TV Movie) as Fred Flintstone
  • Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby (1993, TV Movie) as Fred Flintstone
  • The 10th Annual Television Academy Hall of Fame (1994, TV Movie documentary) as Himself
  • A Flintstones Christmas Carol (1994, TV Movie) as Fred Flintstone

Television[edit]

  • Terry and the Pirates - episode - Loaded Dice Affair - Singdee (1952)
  • Official Detective (TV series) - episode - Armored Attack - Reagan - (1957)
  • Zorro - episode - Agent of the Eagle - León (uncredited) (1958)
  • Peter Gunn - episode - Let's Kill Timothy - Vladimir (1958)
  • Gunsmoke - episode - The Gentleman - Butler (1958)
  • Wagon Train - episode - The Jennifer Churchill Story - Tex Hall (1958)
  • The Detectives - episode - Song of Songs - Roland Potter (1960)
  • Have Gun - Will Travel - episode - An International Affair - Prince Alexei Romanov (1960)
  • Wagon Train- episode - Wagons Ho! - Black Feather (1960)
  • Wagon Train - episode - The Alexander Portlass Story - Phelan (1960)
  • Bonanza - episode - The Tax Collector - Bookie (1961)
  • The Real McCoys - episode - Pepino's Wedding - Mr. Ramirez (1961)
  • Wagon Train - episode - The Clementine Jones Story - Frank (1961)
  • The Real McCoys - episode - Pepino's Vacation - Pedro (1962)
  • Maverick - episode - The Money Machine - Professor Reynard (1962)
  • Jonny Quest - episode at least 15 episodes, maybe more - Various (1964–1965)
  • The Flintstones - Baron Von Rickenrock/Additional Voices (1964–1966)
  • The Secret Squirrel Show - Additional Voices (1965)
  • I Dream of Jeannie - episode - My Hero? - Jeannie's Father (1965)
  • Rawhide - episode - El Hombre Bravo - Gen. Velasquez (1965)
  • Hogan's Heroes - episode - 'Movies Are Your Best Escape' - General Von Kaplow (1965)
  • Hogan's Heroes - episode - 'Will the Blue Baron Strike Again?' - Blue Baron (1968)
  • The Atom Ant Show - 26 episodes - Paw Rugg (1965–1966)
  • Family Affair - episode - Who's Afraid of Nural Shpeni? - Alam (1966)
  • Bewitched - episode - A Most Unusual Wood Nymph - Muldoon (1966)
  • Daniel Boone - episode - First in War, First in Peace - Peter Mornay (1966)
  • The John Forsythe Show - episode - If I Were a Prince - Count Beppo (1966)
  • The Monkees - episodes - Monkee See, Monkee Die, Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth, The Chaperone, & Monkee Mother - Babbit (1966–1967)
  • Fantastic Four - 3 episodes (uncredited) - Attuma (Danger in the Depths), Molecule Man (The Mysterious Molecule Man, The Terrible Tribunal) (1967)
  • The F.B.I. - episode - Passage into Fear - Organ Grinder (1967)
  • The Monkees - episode - The Wild Monkees - Blauner (1967)
  • It Takes a Thief - episode - Birds of a Feather - Director (1968)
  • The Bob Hope Show - 5 episodes (1968 -1971)
  • Get Smart - episode - Physician Impossible - Big Eddie Little (1969)
  • Get Smart - episode - Valerie of the Dolls - Mondo (1969)
  • The Banana Splits Adventures Hour - Bez (1969)
  • Harlem Globetrotters - Additional Voices (uncredited) (1970)
  • Ironside - episode - One Hour to Kill - Lecturer (1970)
  • Hogan's Heroes - episode: 'The Kamikaze Are Coming' - Dr. von Bornemann (1971)
  • The New Scooby-Doo Movies - Redcoat Ghost/Additional voices (1972–1973)
  • Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space - Additional Voices (1972)
  • Yogi's Gang - Paw Rugg/Dr. Bigot (1973)
  • Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids - Additional Voices (1973)
  • The Streets of San Francisco - episode - Mister Nobody - Weiss (1974)
  • These Are the Days - Additional Voices (1974)
  • Return to the Planet of the Apes - Main Title Voice-Over/General Urko/Tallyho the Hunter (1975)
  • The Tom and Jerry/Grape Ape/Mumbly Show - Additional Voices (1976)
  • The Tom and Jerry/Mumbly Show - Additional Voices (1976–1977)
  • The Mumbly Cartoon Show - Additional Voices (1977)
  • The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour - Mr. Hyde/Willie the Weasel/The Prophet (1976)
  • Energy: A National Issue - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (Singing Voice) (1977)
  • Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels - Additional Voices (1977–1980)
  • CB Bears - Bump (1977)
  • Fred Flintstone and Friends - Fred Flintstone (1977–1978)
  • Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics - Fred Flintstone (1977)
  • The Skatebirds - Additional Voices (1977)
  • A Flintstone Christmas - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1977)
  • Hanna-Barbera's All-Star Comedy Ice Revue - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1978)
  • The Three Robonic Stooges - Hercules/Pierre LeSly (1978)
  • The Flintstones: Little Big League - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1978)
  • Dynomutt, Dog Wonder - Mr. Hyde/Willie the Weasel/The Prophet (1978)
  • The New Fantastic Four - Attuma (1978)
  • Challenge of the Superfriends - Dr. Varga/Brain Creature Leader/Torahna (1978)
  • Yogi's Space Race - Sheriff Muletrain Pettigrew (1978)
  • Galaxy Goof-Ups - Additional Voices (1978)
  • Buford and the Galloping Ghost - Sheriff Muletrain Pettigrew (1979)
  • The New Fred and Barney Show - Fred Flintstone (1979)
  • Welcome Back, Kotter - episode - Barbarino's Baby - Sidney Fishbein (1979)
  • Hollywood Squares - episode - 8-20-1979 - Guest Appearance (1979)
  • The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1979)
  • Fred and Barney Meet The Thing - Fred Flintstone (1979)
  • Fred and Barney Meet the Shmoo - Fred Flintstone (1979–1980)
  • Mighty Man and Yukk - Goldteeth, Kragg the Conqueror (1979)
  • Fangface and Fangpuss - episode - The Defiant Casablanca Giant - Abdul the Giant (1979)
  • Super Friends - Additional Voices (1980)
  • Thundarr the Barbarian - Ookla the Mok (1980–1981)
  • The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang - Additional Voices (1980)
  • The Flintstone Comedy Show - Fred Flintstone (1980–1982)
  • The Flintstones' New Neighbors - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1980)
  • The Flintstones: Fred's Final Fling - TV Special - Fred Flintstone/Monkey #2/Turtle #2 (1980)
  • Spider-Man - 3 episodes - Johann's Father (1981)
  • Goldie Gold and Action Jack - Additional Voices (1981)
  • The Kwicky Koala Show - Additional Voices (1981)
  • No Man's Valley - TV Special - Chief (1981)
  • The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show - Additional Voices (1981)
  • The Flintstones: Wind-Up Wilma - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1981)
  • The Flintstones: Jogging Fever - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1981)
  • Jokebook - Additional Voices (1982)
  • Yogi Bear's All Star Comedy Christmas Caper - TV Special - Fred Flintstone/Policeman/Security Guard #1 (1982)
  • Here Comes Garfield - TV Special - Hubert (1982)
  • Alvin and the Chipmunks - Additional Voices (1983)
  • Mister T - Additional Voices (1983)
  • The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show - Additional Voices (1983)
  • The Flintstone Funnies - Fred Flintstone (1982–1984)
  • Strong Kids, Safe Kids - Video documentary short - Fred Flintstone (1984)
  • Challenge of the GoBots - Additional Voices (1984)
  • Scary Scooby Funnies - Additional Voices (1984–1985)
  • Galtar and the Golden Lance - Additional Voices (1985)
  • The Jetsons - episode - Elroy in Wonderland (1985)
  • The Flintstones' 25th Anniversary Celebration - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1986)
  • The Flintstone Kids - Edna Flintstone/Ed Flintstone (1986–1987)
  • The Flintstone Kids' "Just Say No" Special - TV Special - Ed Flintstone/Edna Flintstone (1988)
  • Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1989)
  • The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera - Theme Park - Fred Flintstone (1990)
  • A Flintstone Family Christmas - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1993)
  • The Simpsons - episode - Sideshow Bob Roberts - Fred Flintstone (1994)
  • Garfield and Friends - Various voices (1994)
  • The Flintstones: Wacky Inventions - Video short - Fred Flintstone (1994)
  • What a Cartoon! - episode - Dino: Stay Out! - Fred Flintstone (1995)
  • The Weird Al Show - episode - Talent Show - Fred Flintstone (1997)
  • The Flintstones: Bedrock Bowling - Video Game - Fred Flintstone (2000)

References[edit]

  1. The Associated Press, quoted in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, Dec. 28, 1952.
  2. McLellan, Dennis (May 21, 2005). "Henry Corden, 85; Played Film and TV Heavies, Was Voice of Fred Flintstone". LA Times. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  3. Edward L. Cahn, Robert E. Kent Productions (Harvard Film), James Brown II, Merry Anders, Henry Corden, When the Clock Strikes, United Artists (USA), (1961), Film (BW)

Episode(s)[edit]

External links[edit]