Sterling Holloway

Had a younger brother named Boothby Holloway 1909-1978.

His father, who was a grocer, was also the mayor of his birthplace, Cedartown, GA, for a time in 1912.

Alumnus of the AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Class of 1923.

His big break came in 1925 when he introduced Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's first hit song, "Manhattan," in the Broadway play "Garrick Gaieties".

Introduced the song standard "Mountain Greenery" along with Bobbie Perkins in "The Garrick Gaities" in 1926.

Died on the 29th anniversary of the John F. Kennedy assassination.

Was associated for a time with the Pasadena Playhouse, and took part in a musical comedy "Hullabaloo" while there in 1931. Somebody saw him in the show and he was cast in Blonde Venus (1932) starring Marlene Dietrich.

Had major roles in two different film adaptations of "Alice in Wonderland." In Paramount's 1933 version (Alice in Wonderland (1933)) he played the Frog. In Disney's 1951 animated version (Alice in Wonderland (1951)) he provided the voice of the Cheshire Cat.

Enlisted in the U.S. Army on 19 July 1942. Height and weight given as 5' 9" and 124 lb.

Popular American character actor of amusing appearance and voice whose long career led from dozens of highly enjoyable onscreen performances to world-wide familiarity as the voice of numerous Walt Disney animated films. Born in the American Deep South to grocer Sterling P. Holloway Sr. and Rebecca Boothby Holloway, he had a younger brother, Boothby. Holloway spent his early years as an actor playing comic juveniles on the stage. His bushy reddish-blond hair and trademark near-falsetto voice made him a natural for sound pictures, and he acted in scores of talkies, although he had made his picture debut in silents. His physical image and voice relegated him almost exclusively to comic roles, but in 1945, director Lewis Milestone cast him more or less against type in the classic war film A Walk in the Sun (1945), where Holloway's portrayal of a reluctant soldier was quite notable.

In 1946 and 1947 he sang and acted in five different Gene Autry westerns (four of them in 1947), twice playing a character named "Droopy". His characters were usually part of the comic relief inherent in Autry's westerns, almost a second sidekick.

He played frequently on television, becoming familiar to baby-boomers in a recurring role as Uncle Oscar on Adventures of Superman (1952), and later in television series of his own. His later work as the voice of numerous characters in Disney cartoons brought him new audiences and many fans, especially for his voicing of beloved Winnie the Pooh.

Holloway was officially named a Disney Legend in 1991.

Although he never married, he did adopt a son named Richard Holloway, who survived him when he died in 1992.