Hans Conried American comedian, character actor and voice actor Date of Birth: 15.04.1917 Country: USA

Biography of Hans Conried

Hans George Conried Jr., an American comedian, character actor, and voice actor, is best known for his role as Captain Hook in Disney's animated film 'Peter Pan' and his early works, including his role as Uncle Tonoose in the sitcom 'Make Room for Daddy' starring Danny Thomas.

Early Life:
Hans George Conried Jr. was born on April 15, 1917, in Baltimore. He was the son of Edith Beryl and Hans George Conried Sr. His mother was a Connecticut native and a descendant of the early colonists, while his father was a Jewish immigrant from Vienna, Austria. Conried grew up in Baltimore and New York City. He studied acting at Columbia University and performed numerous classical roles on stage.

Career:
Before making his breakthrough in the film industry in 1939, Conried worked in radio. He was also a member of Orson Welles' independent theater company, the Mercury Theatre Company. In September 1944, Conried enlisted in the United States Army during World War II. He appeared in various radio shows in the 1940s and 1950s, including Orson Welles' 'Ceiling Unlimited,' for which he even wrote an episode titled 'War Workers' in 1942.

Conried's most significant year in his career was 1953 when he made his Broadway debut in the musical 'Can-Can' and landed roles in six films, including the fantasy comedy 'Twonky' and the fantasy musical 'The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.' On Broadway, Conried also performed in '70, Girls, 70' and 'Irene.'

His unique grumbling voice and impeccable diction made Conried the perfect candidate for specific roles, such as the skeptical Dr. Kropotkin in the radio show 'My Friend Irma.' He also excelled at portraying comedic villains or other sinister characters with his eccentricities, whether it was Captain Hook in Disney's 'Peter Pan' or the Grinch/narrator in Gerard Baldwin's animated film 'Halloween Is Grinch Night.' Conried voiced the character Snidely Whiplash in 'The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.'

One of Conried's most memorable roles was his portrayal of Uncle Tonoose in the sitcom 'Make Room for Daddy' for nearly thirteen years. He was also a regular guest on Jack Paar's talk show from 1959 to 1962. Conried frequently appeared on the CBS game show 'Stump the Stars' and occasionally as a guest on 'Take A Good Look.' He appeared in various television series, including 'Davy Crockett,' 'Meet McGraw,' 'Hey, Jeannie!,' 'The Donna Reed Show,' 'The Monkees,' 'I Love Lucy,' and more.

Later Life and Death:
Conried remained active until his sudden death on January 5, 1982, from cardiovascular disease. He was married to Margaret Grant from January 29, 1942, until his death, just three weeks shy of their 40th wedding anniversary. The couple had four children. In the commentary for the episode 'The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings' of the cult animated series 'Futurama,' Dan Castellaneta mentions that his voice for the character Robot Devil was inspired by a 'bad impression of Hans Conried.'