Who was Gale Gordon? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Charles Thomas Aldrich, Jr.

Died At Age: 89

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Virginia Curley (m. 1937)

father: Charles Aldrich

mother: Gloria Gordon

Born Country: United States

Actors American Men

Height: 5'8" (173 cm), 5'8" Males

Died on: June 30, 1995

place of death: Redwood Terrace, Escondido, California, United States

Cause of Death: Lung Cancer

City: New York City

U.S. State: New Yorkers

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Childhood & Early Life

Gordon was born as Charles Thomas Aldrich Jr. on February 20, 1906, in New York City, to actress Gloria Gordon and Charles Thomas Aldrich.

He started out as a radio artist in the late 1920s and continued for a while before enlisting in the army for World War II service. After returning from the war, Gordon resumed his career.

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Radio Career

Gale Gordon started working for the radio industry as a young man and struggled for a while. However, within a few years, he managed to get his career on track.

He voiced the popular space comic superhero character ‘Flash Gordon’ for the first time in 1935. Gordon became an icon due to this role and it didn’t take much time for him to become a crowd favourite in the mid-1930s.

Playing the role of ‘Mayor La Trivia’ on the radio series ‘Fibber McGee and Molly’ (1935-56) turned his fortune and Gordon established himself as a radio artist. He also played another role in that show. During his time with the show, Gordon was enlisted in the United States Coast Guard as part of the United States Army to serve in World War II.

After returning to his homeland following the war, Gordon resumed his acting career on radio, something he never thought of leaving even during the war.

The next few years saw Gale Gordon featuring in several radio shows, including playing ‘John Granby’ in ‘Granby's Green Acres’, ‘Osgood Conklin’ in ‘Our Miss Brooks’ (he later played the same role in the televised version of the show), and ‘Rudolph Atterbury’ in ‘My Favorite Husband’.

Television Career

After making a name for himself on radio, Gale Gordon received an offer to appear in the comedy series ‘I Love Lucy’, created by Lucille Ball. The show ran between 1951 and 1957, and featured Lucille Ball in the lead role. Desi Arnaz and Vivian Vance played important roles. Gordon appeared in just two episodes as ‘Mr. Alvin Littlefield’.

Gale Gordon appeared in the long-running CBS sitcom ‘Our Miss Brooks’ as ‘Osgood Conklin’. The show ran for four seasons and a total of 130 episodes. Gordon and Eve Arden appeared in the show as the central characters and were praised by the critics as well as the audience. Gordon was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor in a Regular Series at the 1955 Primetime Emmy Awards for his role on the show.

In 1962-63, Gordon appeared in the show ‘Dennis the Menace’ as ‘John Wilson’ for 44 episodes. He also featured in ‘Pete and Gladys’ and ‘The Danny Thomas Show’ in special roles.

Gordon worked many times with Lucille Ball in her productions. The sitcom ‘The Lucy Show’, which ran on CBS between 1962 and 1968, was one of their best works. Gordon appeared in the show as ‘Theodore J. Mooney’, one of the main characters, alongside Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance, Mary Jane Croft, and Candy Moore. Lucille Ball and Gordon were nominated in several award shows for their brilliant work.

After ‘The Lucy Show’ ended, Lucille Ball featured in yet another sitcom, ‘Here's Lucy’, in which her long-term on-screen partner Gale Gordon was also featured. The show ran from 1968 to 1974 on CBS. The duo played the central characters along with Lucie Arnaz who was the only other regular cast member on the show apart from them.

Major Works

Gale Gordon was nominated for two consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards (1967 and 1968) for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy after impressing everyone with his portrayal of ‘Theodore J. Mooney’ in ‘The Lucy Show’. Gordon’s character was a regular one and one of the most important.

His Character of ‘Harrison Otis "Harry" Carter’ in the sitcom ’Here’s Lucy’ is one of Gale Gordon’s best works. He not only won the audience’s hearts but was also praised by the critics. At the 1971 Primetime Emmy Awards, Gordon was nominated in the category of Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy.

Family & Personal Life

Gale Gordon married Virginia Curley in 1937 and remained married to her until her death in 1995.

Besides acting, Gordon also used to write and paint whenever he had free time. He wrote two books, ‘Nursery Rhymes for Hollywood Babies’ and ‘Leaves from the Story Trees,' besides creating many artworks which were displayed in various exhibitions.

One month after his wife died at the Redwood Terrace Health Center in Escondido, California, Gale Gordon also took his last breath at the same place. He was suffering from lung cancer and passed away on June 30, 1995.

Four years after his death, Gordon was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame (posthumously) as well as awarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6340 Hollywood Boulevard for his contributions to the show business.

Gale Gordon Biography