Vance Colvig
Encyclopedia
Vance DeBar Colvig, Jr. (March 9, 1918 – March 3, 1991) was an American
character actor
. He was the son of Pinto Colvig
(Vance Colvig, Sr.), who was the original Bozo the Clown
, the voice of famous Disney character Goofy
and the voice of Grumpy and Sleepy in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
. Colvig,Jr. was later known chiefly as a popular character actor in numerous performances spanning the 1980s. His best known cartoon voice was that of "Chopper", Yakky Doodle
's friend and protector on Yogi Bear
.
On January 5, 1959, Colvig became the first performer to portray Bozo the Clown
on a live TV program. In the role his father, Pinto Colvig
, originated Colvig,Jr. portrayed Bozo on KTLA-TV
in Los Angeles from 1959 to 1964. This was the first franchise Bozo program licensed by Larry Harmon
.
Colvig can be seen opposite "Weird Al" Yankovic
(as a bum who appears in several humorous scenes) in the 1989 film, UHF
. This was one of his last film roles. Vance also appeared on a 1990 episode of the TV series Night Court
playing a bum
.
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...
. He was the son of Pinto Colvig
Pinto Colvig
Vance DeBar "Pinto" Colvig was an American vaudeville actor, radio actor, newspaper cartoonist, prolific movie voice actor, and circus performer whose schtick was playing clarinet off-key while mugging....
(Vance Colvig, Sr.), who was the original Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown is a clown character very popular in the United States, peaking in the 1960s as a result of widespread franchising in early television.Originally created by Alan W...
, the voice of famous Disney character Goofy
Goofy
Goofy is a cartoon character created in 1932 at Walt Disney Productions. Goofy is a tall, anthropomorphic dog, and typically wears a turtle neck and vest, with pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall hat originally designed as a rumpled fedora. Goofy is a close friend of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck...
and the voice of Grumpy and Sleepy in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film based on Snow White, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history, as well as the first animated feature film produced in America, the first produced in full...
. Colvig,Jr. was later known chiefly as a popular character actor in numerous performances spanning the 1980s. His best known cartoon voice was that of "Chopper", Yakky Doodle
Yakky Doodle
Yakky Doodle is a fictional character created by Hanna-Barbera Productions. Yakky's name is an obvious takeoff of Yankee Doodle.-History:...
's friend and protector on Yogi Bear
Yogi Bear
Yogi Bear is a fictional bear who appears in animated cartoons created by Hanna-Barbera Productions. He made his debut in 1958 as a supporting character in The Huckleberry Hound Show. Yogi Bear was the first breakout character created by Hanna-Barbera, and was eventually more popular than...
.
On January 5, 1959, Colvig became the first performer to portray Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown is a clown character very popular in the United States, peaking in the 1960s as a result of widespread franchising in early television.Originally created by Alan W...
on a live TV program. In the role his father, Pinto Colvig
Pinto Colvig
Vance DeBar "Pinto" Colvig was an American vaudeville actor, radio actor, newspaper cartoonist, prolific movie voice actor, and circus performer whose schtick was playing clarinet off-key while mugging....
, originated Colvig,Jr. portrayed Bozo on KTLA-TV
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
in Los Angeles from 1959 to 1964. This was the first franchise Bozo program licensed by Larry Harmon
Larry Harmon
Lawrence Weiss , better known by the stage name Larry Harmon and as his alter-ego Bozo the Clown, was a Jewish American entertainer.-Biography:...
.
Colvig can be seen opposite "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
(as a bum who appears in several humorous scenes) in the 1989 film, UHF
UHF (film)
UHF is a 1989 American comedy film starring "Weird Al" Yankovic, David Bowe, Fran Drescher, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Richards, Gedde Watanabe, Billy Barty, Anthony Geary, Emo Philips and Trinidad Silva, in whose memory the film is dedicated.The title refers to Ultra High Frequency...
. This was one of his last film roles. Vance also appeared on a 1990 episode of the TV series Night Court
Night Court
Night Court is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984, to May 20, 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan court, presided over by the young, unorthodox Judge Harold T. "Harry" Stone...
playing a bum
Hobo
A hobo is a term which is often applied to a migratory worker or homeless vagabond, often penniless. The term originated in the Western—probably Northwestern—United States during the last decade of the 19th century. Unlike 'tramps', who work only when they are forced to, and 'bums', who do not...
.