Cliff Norton
Encyclopedia
Clifford Charles "Cliff" Norton (March 21, 1918 – January 25, 2003) was an American
character actor
and radio
announcer who had appeared in various movies and television
series over a career that spanned over 40 years. He was probably best known as the announcer for Dave Garroway's
radio program. He appeared on an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show
in which he appeared as a member of the U.S. Forest Service, on episodes of Bewitched
as a client, and was a regular panelist and presenter on the 1954 ABC
game show
What's Going On?
.
In 1952 he appeared as himself on the short-lived NBC
comedy series The Public Life of Cliff Norton. He was also star and announcer for the 1960s syndicated program The Funny Manns
, which involved silent film footage used for broad comedic effect.
One of Norton's film roles was Charlie, the Bailiff in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
starring Don Knotts
.
He appeared in the short-lived weather spot Your Weather and Mine, airing locally in the Los Angeles
area in 1963. The spot was sponsored by P.I.P.E.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
character actor
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
announcer who had appeared in various movies and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series over a career that spanned over 40 years. He was probably best known as the announcer for Dave Garroway's
Dave Garroway
David Cunningham "Dave" Garroway was the founding host of NBC's Today from 1952 to 1961. His easygoing, relaxed, and relaxing style belied a battle with depression that may have contributed to the end of his days as a leading television personality—and, eventually, his life...
radio program. He appeared on an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Dick Van Dyke Show is an American television sitcom that initially aired on the Columbia Broadcasting System from October 3, 1961, until June 1, 1966. The show was created by Carl Reiner and starred Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. It was produced by Reiner with Bill Persky and Sam Denoff....
in which he appeared as a member of the U.S. Forest Service, on episodes of Bewitched
Bewitched
Bewitched is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972, starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York and Dick Sargent , Agnes Moorehead, and David White. The show is about a witch who marries a mortal and tries to lead the life of a typical suburban...
as a client, and was a regular panelist and presenter on the 1954 ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
What's Going On?
What's Going On?
What's Going On? was a short-lived television game show that aired for five weeks beginning on November 28, 1954. The show aired on ABC and was a Mark Goodson-Bill Todman production. It was sponsored by Revlon, and originated live from New York City....
.
In 1952 he appeared as himself on the short-lived NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
comedy series The Public Life of Cliff Norton. He was also star and announcer for the 1960s syndicated program The Funny Manns
The Funny Manns
The Funny Manns was an American syndicated television program that first appeared in 1961. It was hosted by Cliff Norton and featured re-edited public domain silent movies, much as Jay Ward's show Fractured Flickers did. The show was co-produced by Nick Nicholson, who sometimes performed on the...
, which involved silent film footage used for broad comedic effect.
One of Norton's film roles was Charlie, the Bailiff in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a 1966 American Universal Pictures feature film starring Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a newspaper typesetter who spends a night in a haunted house, which is located in the fictitious community of Rachel, Kansas...
starring Don Knotts
Don Knotts
Jesse Donald "Don" Knotts was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards...
.
He appeared in the short-lived weather spot Your Weather and Mine, airing locally in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area in 1963. The spot was sponsored by P.I.P.E.