Sonny Tufts
Encyclopedia
Sonny Tufts was a United States
film actor.
Tufts was born into a prominent banking family, whose patriarch
had supposedly sailed to America from England
in 1683. He broke with the family banking tradition by studying opera
at Yale
, where he was a member of Skull and Bones
. After graduating from college in 1935, he auditioned with the Metropolitan Opera
in New York
but eventually worked on the Broadway stage. In 1942, Tufts went to Hollywood. He attained some fame during World War II
, principally because, due to an old college football
injury, he was one of the few handsome male actors not serving overseas in the war. He was married to Spanish dancer
Barbara Dare from 1938 to 1953, and a relative of Charles Tufts
, for whom Tufts University
is named.
Tufts was a brother of the Delta Kappa Epsilon
fraternity (Phi chapter).
In a non sequitur on the cartoon show Rocky and His Friends, in the Jet Fuel Formula
story arc, Bullwinkle J. Moose
becomes very upset when Boris Badenov
steals his autographed picture of Sonny Tufts. Also, Tufts is mentioned in the last sentence of the third sketch of the 48th show of the second season of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show (also featuring Wailing Whale episodes 5 & 6), which was first aired on May 13, 1961.
In an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show
, Rob sees a flying saucer that makes a noise "Uhny Uftz", which Rob mis-hears as "Sonny Tufts"
In an episode of My Mother the Car
titled "And Leave The Drive-In To Us," Mother wants to go to a drive-in
to see Sonny Tufts for her birthday. Tufts himself makes an appearance at the very end of the episode, much to Mother's appreciation, and causing her radiator cap to pop!
Tufts is the subject of an urban legend
. The legend holds that he had been selected to host a well-known radio show as a last-minute replacement for a better known celebrity. The week before Tufts's episode was scheduled, the previous host introduced him with a combination of surprise and outrage, shocked that a relatively unknown actor would succeed him as host. There is no evidence, however, that such an incident occurred. Tufts himself parodied this legend in frequent appearances on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
: seated in a director's chair with his name printed on it, he would turn around to face the camera and utter a word or phrase relevant to the previous bit, in mock contempt.
Tufts died of pneumonia
at age 58 in Santa Monica, California, on June 4, 1970.
Years after Tuft's passing, during the 1980s, he became known as one of the semi-random people and places that TV host Johnny Carson
used in his jokes on The Tonight Show
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film actor.
Tufts was born into a prominent banking family, whose patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
had supposedly sailed to America from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1683. He broke with the family banking tradition by studying opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
at Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
, where he was a member of Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
. After graduating from college in 1935, he auditioned with the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
but eventually worked on the Broadway stage. In 1942, Tufts went to Hollywood. He attained some fame 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...
, principally because, due to an old college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
injury, he was one of the few handsome male actors not serving overseas in the war. He was married to Spanish dancer
Spanish dancer
The Spanish dancer, scientific name Hexabranchus sanguineus , is a dorid nudibranch, a very large and colorful sea slug, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Hexabranchidae.http://www.seaslugforum.net/hexasang.htm Seaslug forum-Description:This species of very large, strong-swimming nudibranch...
Barbara Dare from 1938 to 1953, and a relative of Charles Tufts
Charles Tufts
Charles Tufts was an American businessman. Born in Medford, Massachusetts to Daniel and Abigail Tufts, he was a descendant of Peter Tufts, an early colonist who came to America from England in 1638. He made his fortune through his brickmaking factory...
, for whom Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
is named.
Tufts was a brother of the Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
fraternity (Phi chapter).
In a non sequitur on the cartoon show Rocky and His Friends, in the Jet Fuel Formula
Jet Fuel Formula
Jet Fuel Formula is the first and the longest Rocky and Bullwinkle story arc. It is also noteworthy in that it established most of the characters, themes, running gags, and other elements that would be employed in later stories and that would become so closely identified with the...
story arc, Bullwinkle J. Moose
Bullwinkle J. Moose
Bullwinkle J. Moose is a fictional character in the 1959–1964 animated television series Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, often collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle, produced by Jay Ward and Bill Scott...
becomes very upset when Boris Badenov
Boris Badenov
Boris Badenov is a fictional character in the 1960s animated cartoons Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show, collectively referred to as Rocky and Bullwinkle for short. He is voiced by Paul Frees....
steals his autographed picture of Sonny Tufts. Also, Tufts is mentioned in the last sentence of the third sketch of the 48th show of the second season of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show (also featuring Wailing Whale episodes 5 & 6), which was first aired on May 13, 1961.
In 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....
, Rob sees a flying saucer that makes a noise "Uhny Uftz", which Rob mis-hears as "Sonny Tufts"
In an episode of My Mother the Car
My Mother the Car
My Mother the Car is an American fantasy sitcom which aired for a single season on NBC between September 14, 1965 and September 6, 1966. A total of thirty episodes were produced by United Artists Television....
titled "And Leave The Drive-In To Us," Mother wants to go to a drive-in
Drive-in
A drive-in is a facility such as a bank, restaurant, or movie theater where one can literally drive in with an automobile for service. It is usually distinguished from a drive-through. At a drive-in restaurant, for example, customers park their vehicles and are usually served by staff who walk out...
to see Sonny Tufts for her birthday. Tufts himself makes an appearance at the very end of the episode, much to Mother's appreciation, and causing her radiator cap to pop!
Tufts is the subject of an urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
. The legend holds that he had been selected to host a well-known radio show as a last-minute replacement for a better known celebrity. The week before Tufts's episode was scheduled, the previous host introduced him with a combination of surprise and outrage, shocked that a relatively unknown actor would succeed him as host. There is no evidence, however, that such an incident occurred. Tufts himself parodied this legend in frequent appearances on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In is an American sketch comedy television program which ran for 140 episodes from January 22, 1968, to May 14, 1973. It was hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin and was broadcast over NBC...
: seated in a director's chair with his name printed on it, he would turn around to face the camera and utter a word or phrase relevant to the previous bit, in mock contempt.
Tufts died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at age 58 in Santa Monica, California, on June 4, 1970.
Years after Tuft's passing, during the 1980s, he became known as one of the semi-random people and places that TV host Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
used in his jokes on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
.