Phil Gordon (actor)
Encyclopedia
Phil Gordon was an American
character actor
and dialect coach
, most known for his work in television
. Gordon's work included roles on The Beverly Hillbillies
, Green Acres
, Petticoat Junction
.
Gordon was born Phil Gulley on May 5, 1916, in Meridian, Mississippi
. His parents were Philomen and Zena Alexina Gulley. He enlisted in the United States Navy
and the United Service Organizations
(USO) during World War II
. He worked as a jazz
musician following the end of World War II, touring in Chicago
and New Orleans during the 1940s and 1950s.
Gordon moved to California
in the late 1950s, where he worked as an actor and dialect coach
(for Green Acres
) in television throughout the 1960s. He departed the television industry and moved to Mobile, Alabama
, with his wife, Jane Dupree Gulley, in the late 1970s. He resided in Mobile for the remainder of his life.
Phil Gordon died on June 15, 2010, in Mobile at the age of 94. He was interred at Pine Crest Cemetery in Mobile. His wife of more than 40 years had died prior.
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 dialect coach
Dialect coach
A dialect coach assists an actor in assuming a certain regional or foreign accent to perform convincingly in radio, theatrical or film productions. Dialect coaches are skilled in pronunciation and phonetics , and do not necessarily have to have the accent that they are teaching, though it may be...
, most known for his work in television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. Gordon's work included roles on The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for nine seasons on CBS from 1962 to 1971, starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr....
, Green Acres
Green Acres
Green Acres is an American television series starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a couple who move from New York City to a country farm...
, Petticoat Junction
Petticoat Junction
Petticoat Junction is an American situation comedy produced by Filmways which originally aired on CBS from 1963 to 1970. The series is one of three interrelated shows about rural characters created by Paul Henning; the others are The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres.The setting for the series...
.
Gordon was born Phil Gulley on May 5, 1916, in Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
. His parents were Philomen and Zena Alexina Gulley. He enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and the United Service Organizations
United Service Organizations
The United Service Organizations Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization that provides morale and recreational services to members of the U.S. military, with programs in 160 centers worldwide. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of Defense , and has provided support and...
(USO) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He worked as a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician following the end of World War II, touring in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and New Orleans during the 1940s and 1950s.
Gordon moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the late 1950s, where he worked as an actor and dialect coach
Dialect coach
A dialect coach assists an actor in assuming a certain regional or foreign accent to perform convincingly in radio, theatrical or film productions. Dialect coaches are skilled in pronunciation and phonetics , and do not necessarily have to have the accent that they are teaching, though it may be...
(for Green Acres
Green Acres
Green Acres is an American television series starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a couple who move from New York City to a country farm...
) in television throughout the 1960s. He departed the television industry and moved to Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, with his wife, Jane Dupree Gulley, in the late 1970s. He resided in Mobile for the remainder of his life.
Phil Gordon died on June 15, 2010, in Mobile at the age of 94. He was interred at Pine Crest Cemetery in Mobile. His wife of more than 40 years had died prior.