Paul Garner
Encyclopedia
Paul "Mousie" Garner earned his nickname by assuming the role of a shy, simpering jokester. Garner was one of the last actors still doing schtick from vaudeville
, and has been referred to as "The Grand Old Man Of Vaudeville."
's stooge act with his cousin, Jack Wolf (father of Warner Wolf
) and Richard Hakins between 1922 and 1936. Although he was never a member of the act at the same time as Larry Fine
, Moe Howard
, Curly Howard
or Shemp Howard, he did cross paths with the Three Stooges
on several occasions and would later join the New Three Stooges in the 1970s (with official Stooge Joe DeRita). He also worked with Spike Jones
and His City Slickers. In the early 1960s, he was a character actor on 77 Sunset Strip
, Surfside Six and The Monkees
.
. In 1994, he was then appeared in the film Radioland Murders
as an homage to his work in vaudeville. His autobiography, entitled Mousie Garner: Autobiography of a Vaudeville Stooge, was published in 1999. His nephew, Stephen Garner, a professional magician from Maryland, supplied most of the pictures for the book. Mousie also played a zany cameraman in David Lee Roth
's "Just a Gigolo" music video.
More recently, he acted as Uncle Smackers, a character in The Onion Movie
, a feature film produced by David Zucker, renowned for Airplane!
and the Naked Gun series.
problems, Garner passed away quietly on August 8, 2004 at age 95. He was the last major celebrity associated with Ted Healy and Three Stooges
to die.
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
, and has been referred to as "The Grand Old Man Of Vaudeville."
Career
Garner was one of over 20 comedians who worked as part of Ted HealyTed Healy
Ted Healy was an American vaudeville performer, comedian, and actor. He is chiefly remembered today as the original creator of the Three Stooges, but had a successful stage and film career of his own.- Early life :...
's stooge act with his cousin, Jack Wolf (father of Warner Wolf
Warner Wolf
Warner William Wolf is an American television and radio sports broadcaster, perhaps best known as a local news sports anchor in Washington, D.C., New York City and his catchphrase "Let's go to the videotape!"....
) and Richard Hakins between 1922 and 1936. Although he was never a member of the act at the same time as Larry Fine
Larry Fine
Louis Feinberg , known professionally as Larry Fine, was an American comedian and actor, who is best known as a member of the comedy act The Three Stooges.-Early life:...
, Moe Howard
Moe Howard
Moses Harry Horwitz , known professionally as Moe Howard, was an American actor and comedian best known as the leader of The Three Stooges, the farce comedy team who starred in motion pictures and television for four decades...
, Curly Howard
Curly Howard
Jerome Lester "Jerry" Horwitz , better known by his stage name Curly Howard, was an American comedian and vaudevillian. He is best known as a member of the American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges, along with his older brothers Moe Howard and Shemp Howard, and actor Larry Fine...
or Shemp Howard, he did cross paths with the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
on several occasions and would later join the New Three Stooges in the 1970s (with official Stooge Joe DeRita). He also worked with Spike Jones
Spike Jones
Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and other Warner Brothers cartoon characters, performed a drunken, hiccuping verse for 1942's "Clink! Clink! Another Drink"...
and His City Slickers. In the early 1960s, he was a character actor on 77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip is an hour-length American television private detective series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Roger Smith, and Edd Byrnes....
, Surfside Six and The Monkees
The Monkees (TV series)
The Monkees is an American situation comedy that aired on NBC from September 1966 to March 1968. The series follows the adventures of four young men trying to make a name for themselves as rock 'n roll singers. The show introduced a number of innovative new-wave film techniques to series...
.
Later years
In 1985, Garner was given a bit part in, appropriately, the film StoogemaniaStoogemania
Stoogemania is a 1986 film about a fan of the Three Stooges. It was directed by Chuck Workman, and starred Josh Mostel. The film experienced an extremely small theatrical release and was poorly received by critics. It has been out of print since the 1980s, and has been released on VHS and Beta...
. In 1994, he was then appeared in the film Radioland Murders
Radioland Murders
Radioland Murders is a 1994 black comedy mystery film directed by Mel Smith and co-written/produced by George Lucas. Radioland Murders is set in the 1939 atmosphere of old-time radio and pays homage to the screwball comedy films of the 1930s...
as an homage to his work in vaudeville. His autobiography, entitled Mousie Garner: Autobiography of a Vaudeville Stooge, was published in 1999. His nephew, Stephen Garner, a professional magician from Maryland, supplied most of the pictures for the book. Mousie also played a zany cameraman in David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
's "Just a Gigolo" music video.
More recently, he acted as Uncle Smackers, a character in The Onion Movie
The Onion Movie
The Onion Movie is a comedy film written by The Onion writers Robert D. Siegel and Todd Hanson along with the Chicago-based writing staff of the paper...
, a feature film produced by David Zucker, renowned for Airplane!
Airplane!
Airplane! is a 1980 American satirical comedy film directed and written by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker and released by Paramount Pictures...
and the Naked Gun series.
Death
After suffering from kidneyKidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
problems, Garner passed away quietly on August 8, 2004 at age 95. He was the last major celebrity associated with Ted Healy and Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
to die.