John Byner
Encyclopedia
John Byner is an American actor
, comedian
, and impressionist
who has had a lengthy television and movie career. His voice work includes the cartoon series The Ant and the Aardvark
, in which the title characters are voiced by Byner's impressions of Dean Martin
and Jackie Mason
, respectively.
, the son of Christina, a mental hospital attendant, and Michael Biener, a truck mechanic. He is currently married to his fourth wife, Anne Gaybis, and has at least 4 children from his first marriage.
His first wife was Eleanor Belcher and his third wife was Croatian actress/singer Ksenia Prohaska. His biography fails to give the name of his second wife, but according to IMDb, it is listed as Sally Fisher.
, where he made his first early TV appearances, he mimicked Ed Sullivan
as well as anyone, including the "master" Sullivan impersonator, Will Jordan
(in fact, on his album FM & AM
, comedian George Carlin
used Byner's Sullivan impersonation for his own Sullivan impersonation). His other impressions included John Wayne
and he sings as Dean Martin
and Johnny Mathis
. His ability to mimic "Toastmaster General" George Jessel
came in handy during his appearances on panel programs such as celebrity "roasts" and other tributes.
On a 1967 episode of Get Smart
, Byner played a KAOS agent who made a phone call to the Chief of CONTROL
(played by Edward Platt
), performed a perfect impression of President Lyndon B. Johnson
, and told the Chief he was fired and replaced with agent Maxwell Smart (Don Adams
). Smart, the Chief and Agent 99 (Barbara Feldon) foiled this plot to undermine CONTROL, and Byner's character was arrested.
In 1970, he hosted approximately 25 episodes of a syndicated half-hour musical variety series called Something Else. He then hosted his own show in 1972 called the "John Byner Comedy Hour", where the character Super Dave
was first introduced. Also that year, he had a cameo appearance in Barbra Streisand's blockbuster comedy film What's Up, Doc?
. In the mid-1970s, he guest starred in several episodes of The Odd Couple
one entitled, "The New Car", which originally aired on October 19, 1973. In it, he plays an abrasive parking garage owner who has a hilarious encounter with Felix and Oscar. In the late 1970s, he had a featured role as Detective Donahue on the TV series Soap
. In the 1980s he hosted the Canadian TV comedy series, Bizarre
. That show re-introduced many people to hapless daredevil Super Dave Osborne
, played by Bob Einstein
. He was also a regular celebrity guest on Hollywood Squares
during the Peter Marshall years and later hosted the 1988-89 syndicated game show Relatively Speaking
. Over the years he has done straight acting work and also light characters in otherwise serious dramas, such as the mostly-harmless con artist "Cotton Dunn" in the 1990s cop series Silk Stalkings
and appeared in the PBS 1994 Halloween special "Lamb Chop in the Haunted Studio".
One voice of his own invention is a high-pitched, raspy voice that defies easy description. It is vaguely similar to Donald Duck
, only more intelligible. He has sometimes given that voice a character to go with it, "Felix Fossididdi". It was actually a voice that he and his brother came up with, which they would sometimes use when ordering in restaurants in order to try to spook the waitress. He used the voice for the character Gurgi
in the Disney animated feature film The Black Cauldron
.
In 2007, he appeared on Late Show with David Letterman
's Impressionist Week 2, in a fitting situation similar to his earlier appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
.
In 2008, he starred in RoboDoc
.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, and impressionist
Impressionist (entertainment)
An impressionist or a mimic is a performer whose act consists of imitating the voice and mannerisms of others. The word usually refers to a professional comedian/entertainer who specializes in such performances and has developed a wide repertoire of impressions, including adding to them, often to...
who has had a lengthy television and movie career. His voice work includes the cartoon series The Ant and the Aardvark
The Ant and the Aardvark
The Ant and the Aardvark is a series of 17 theatrical short cartoons produced at DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and released by United Artists from 1969 to 1971.-Production:...
, in which the title characters are voiced by Byner's impressions of Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
and Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason is an American stand-up comedian and movie actor.-Early life:Born Yacov Moshe Maza in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, he grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City....
, respectively.
Personal life
Byner was born John Biener in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the son of Christina, a mental hospital attendant, and Michael Biener, a truck mechanic. He is currently married to his fourth wife, Anne Gaybis, and has at least 4 children from his first marriage.
His first wife was Eleanor Belcher and his third wife was Croatian actress/singer Ksenia Prohaska. His biography fails to give the name of his second wife, but according to IMDb, it is listed as Sally Fisher.
Career
On The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
, where he made his first early TV appearances, he mimicked Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan
Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
as well as anyone, including the "master" Sullivan impersonator, Will Jordan
Will Jordan
Will Jordan is an American character actor who is best known for his resemblance to—and ability to do uncanny impressions of—television host and newspaper columnist Ed Sullivan.-Career:...
(in fact, on his album FM & AM
FM & AM
FM & AM is an album by American comedian George Carlin. This album was originally released in 1972 on the Atlantic Records subsidiary label Little David Records, later reissued on Carlin's Eardrum Records label...
, comedian George Carlin
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
used Byner's Sullivan impersonation for his own Sullivan impersonation). His other impressions included John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
and he sings as Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
and Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
. His ability to mimic "Toastmaster General" George Jessel
George Jessel (actor)
George Albert Jessel was an American illustrated song "model," actor, singer, songwriter, and Academy Award-winning movie producer. He was famous in his lifetime as a multitalented comedic entertainer, achieving a level of recognition that transcended his limited roles in movies...
came in handy during his appearances on panel programs such as celebrity "roasts" and other tributes.
On a 1967 episode of Get Smart
Get Smart
Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
, Byner played a KAOS agent who made a phone call to the Chief of CONTROL
Control
Control is the ability to purposefully direct, or suppress, change.Control can also refer to:-Literature:*Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, "Control" was the head of the Circus, a stand-in for MI-6, in the 1974 British spy novel by John le Carré...
(played by Edward Platt
Edward Platt
Edward Cuthbert Platt was an American actor best known for his portrayal of "The Chief" in the 1965-70 NBC/CBS television series Get Smart...
), performed a perfect impression of President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
, and told the Chief he was fired and replaced with agent Maxwell Smart (Don Adams
Don Adams
Don Adams was an American actor, comedian and director. In his five decades on television, he was best known as Maxwell Smart in the television situation comedy Get Smart , which he also sometimes directed and wrote. Adams won three consecutive Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Smart...
). Smart, the Chief and Agent 99 (Barbara Feldon) foiled this plot to undermine CONTROL, and Byner's character was arrested.
In 1970, he hosted approximately 25 episodes of a syndicated half-hour musical variety series called Something Else. He then hosted his own show in 1972 called the "John Byner Comedy Hour", where the character Super Dave
Super Dave
Super Dave may refer to:*Super Dave Osborne, a fictional stuntman played by Bob Einstein*Super Dave , a variety show starring Osborne*Super Dave: Daredevil for Hire, an animated television series starring Osborne...
was first introduced. Also that year, he had a cameo appearance in Barbra Streisand's blockbuster comedy film What's Up, Doc?
What's Up, Doc? (1972 film)
What's Up, Doc? is a 1972 screwball comedy film released by Warner Bros., directed by Peter Bogdanovich and starring Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, and Madeline Kahn...
. In the mid-1970s, he guest starred in several episodes of The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple (TV series)
The Odd Couple is a television situation comedy broadcast from September 24, 1970 to July 4, 1975 on ABC. It starred Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison. It was based upon the play of the same name, which was written by Neil Simon.Felix and Oscar are two divorced men....
one entitled, "The New Car", which originally aired on October 19, 1973. In it, he plays an abrasive parking garage owner who has a hilarious encounter with Felix and Oscar. In the late 1970s, he had a featured role as Detective Donahue on the TV series Soap
Soap (TV series)
Soap is an American sitcom that originally ran on ABC from 1977 to 1981.The show was created as a parody of daytime soap operas, presented as a weekly half-hour prime time comedy. Similar to a soap opera, the show's story was presented in a serial format and included melodramatic plot elements such...
. In the 1980s he hosted the Canadian TV comedy series, Bizarre
Bizarre (TV series)
Bizarre is a weekly Canadian sketch comedy series, airing from 1980 to 1985. The show was hosted by John Byner, and produced by CTV at the CFTO Glen-Warren Studios in suburban Toronto for first-run airing in Canada on CTV and in the United States on the Showtime premium cable network.-Synopsis:The...
. That show re-introduced many people to hapless daredevil Super Dave Osborne
Super Dave Osborne
Super Dave Osborne is a character created and played by comedian Bob Einstein. He is a naive but optimistic stuntman who is frequently injured when his stunts go wrong.-Appearance history:...
, played by Bob Einstein
Bob Einstein
Stewart Robert "Bob" Einstein is an American actor and comedy writer best known for his portrayal of the fictional stuntman Super Dave Osborne.-Life and career:...
. He was also a regular celebrity guest on Hollywood Squares
Hollywood Squares
Hollywood Squares is an American panel game show in which two contestants play tic-tac-toe to win cash and prizes. The "board" for the game is a 3 × 3 vertical stack of open-faced cubes, each occupied by a celebrity seated at a desk and facing the contestants...
during the Peter Marshall years and later hosted the 1988-89 syndicated game show Relatively Speaking
Relatively Speaking
Relatively Speaking was a game show that aired in syndication from September 5, 1988 to June 23, 1989. The series was hosted by comedian John Byner, with John Harlan announcing....
. Over the years he has done straight acting work and also light characters in otherwise serious dramas, such as the mostly-harmless con artist "Cotton Dunn" in the 1990s cop series Silk Stalkings
Silk Stalkings
Silk Stalkings is a TV crime drama originally shown on CBS in 1991 as part of the network's late-night Crimetime After Primetime programming package, and rebroadcast on the USA Network. After CBS ended the Crimetime experiment in 1993, the series ran exclusively on USA until its finale in the...
and appeared in the PBS 1994 Halloween special "Lamb Chop in the Haunted Studio".
One voice of his own invention is a high-pitched, raspy voice that defies easy description. It is vaguely similar to Donald Duck
Donald Duck
Donald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created in 1934 at Walt Disney Productions and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie. Donald is most...
, only more intelligible. He has sometimes given that voice a character to go with it, "Felix Fossididdi". It was actually a voice that he and his brother came up with, which they would sometimes use when ordering in restaurants in order to try to spook the waitress. He used the voice for the character Gurgi
Gurgi
Gurgi is a fictional character in The Chronicles of Prydain, the series of fantasy novels by Lloyd Alexander. Gurgi is the hero Taran's faithful companion, appearing in all five books.- Profile :...
in the Disney animated feature film The Black Cauldron
The Black Cauldron
The Black Cauldron can refer to:* The Black Cauldron , the second novel in The Chronicles of Prydain series* The Black Cauldron , the Disney animated film based on The Chronicles of Prydain book series...
.
In 2007, he appeared on Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
's Impressionist Week 2, in a fitting situation similar to his earlier appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
.
In 2008, he starred in RoboDoc
RoboDoc
RoboDoc is a 2008 movie that is distributed by National Lampoon. The comedy was written by two medical doctor brothers Doug and Scott Gordon M.D. and directed by Stephen Maddocks and co-produced by Donald Tynes. Sleazy lawyers and heartless insurance companies are spoofed in this medical comedy...
.
Cartoon Series
- The Pink Panther ShowThe Pink Panther ShowThe Pink Panther Show is a showcase of cartoon shorts produced by David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng between 1969 and 1979. The television series was produced by Mirisch Films and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, and was broadcast on two American TV networks:...
(1969–1980) - The Pink PantherThe Pink Panther (1993 TV series)The Pink Panther is a 1993 animated television series. It was credited as a co-production of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation, Mirisch-Geoffrey DePatie-Freleng and United Artists .-Plot:This version stars the legendary hip feline in new adventures...
(1993–1995)