Henry Corden (January 6, 1920 – May 19, 2005) was a Canadian-born American actor, voice actor and singer, best known for taking over the role of Fred Flintstone after Alan Reed's death in 1977.[1]
Early years
Corden was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada[2] as Henry Cohen to Max and Emma Cohen. His father was a meat curer who had been born in Romania; his mother was originally from Russia. The family moved to the Bronx, New York when Corden was a child and he arrived in Hollywood in the 1940s.
Career
A story in the Los Angeles Times dated January 8, 1963 stated he had been in the entertainment business for 25 years (since 1938), though the 1940 U.S Census lists him without an occupation. He appeared on the stage in Los Angeles and Hollywood, including a 1947 production of The Message. His film career included The System (1952), where he played a near-sighted gangster named Specs. Corden thought it would be the first time in 25 films he could wear his glasses and see while he was acting, but the lenses gave off too much reflection and he had to substitute them for plain glass after one day of shooting.[3]
Corden's obituary in the Tampa Bay Times noted, "With his deep voice, jet-black hair and ethnic looks, Corden was frequently tapped to play heavies in films and on television."[2] He can be seen in such live-action films as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Black Castle, Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion and The Ten Commandments (1956).
He also appeared in dozens of TV shows, including Dragnet, Perry Mason, Peter Gunn,
McHale's Navy (in 5 episodes),
Gunsmoke, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and was a regular on The Jerry Lewis Show.
Corden appeared in Hogan's Heroes (in 5 episodes), McHale's Navy, Gunsmoke, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and was a regular on The Jerry Lewis Show.
Corden also played landlord Henry Babbitt on The Monkees and appeared as Mr. Haskell, the owner of an ice cream parlor, in an episode of The Brady Bunch.
Before Reed's death, Corden had been used as Reed's replacement when Fred Flintsone had to sing because Reed could not sing on pitch.[1] Corden gave his voice to a number of Hanna-Barbera productions besides The Flintstones, including The Jetsons, Josie and the Pussycats, The Atom Ant Show, The New Tom and Jerry Show and Jonny Quest. Corden also gave voice to the wizard Gemini and Ookla the Mokk in Ruby-Spears Productions' Thundarr the Barbarian as well as the Gorilla General Urko in DePatie-Freleng Enterprises' Return to the Planet of the Apes. He voiced Arnie Barkley, the Archie Bunker-inspired patriarch of DePatie-Freleng's The Barkleys, in 1972.
Personal life and death
Corden was married four times. His first wife was Thelma Coden, from 1942 to 1969; together they had two children.[4] He and his second wife Shirley W. Cytron were married from 1970 to 1979. After his divorce from Crytron, he married his third wife Charlotte R. Colton Diamond in 1984; they remained married until her death in 1993. Corden married his fourth and final wife Angelina Corden in 1995, and they remained married until Corden's death in 2005.[4]
On May 19, 2005, Corden died of emphysema at Sherman Oaks Hospital in Sherman Oaks, California. He was 85 years old.[2] Corden's wife of nine years, Angelina, was with him at the time.
His interment was at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.[5]
Filmography
Film
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) as Hendrick
Bride of Vengeance (1949) as Scout
Wild Weed (1949) as Hugo the club manager
The Asphalt Jungle (1950) as Karl Anton Smith
Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950) as Ibrim
Hiawatha (1952) as Ottobang
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953) as Actor in Javanese Costume (uncredited)
Phantom of the Rue Morgue (1954) as Detective Mignaud (uncredited)
King Richard and the Crusaders (1954) as King Philip of France
The Egyptian (1954) as Hittite Officer (uncredited)
Jupiter's Darling (1955) as Carthalo
Jump Into Hell (1955) as Maj. Lamblin (uncredited)
Lust for Life (1956) as Waiter (uncredited)
The Ten Commandments (1956) as Sheik of Sinai
The Shadow on the Window (1957) as Louie (uncredited)
Cry Tough (1959) as Mr. Fuente (uncredited)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960) as Mate (uncredited)
Blueprint for Robbery (1961) as Preacher Doc
When the Clock Strikes (1961) as Cady[6]
Tammy Tell Me True (1961) as Captain Armand
Island of Love (1963) (uncredited)
Strange Bedfellows (1965) as Sheik's Interpreter (uncredited)
The Family Jewels (1965) as Gasoline Truck Driver (uncredited)
McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force (1965) as NKVD deputy
The Man Called Flintstone (1966) as Fred Flintstone (Singing Voice)
Made in Paris (1966) as Bartender (uncredited)
The Singing Nun (1966) as Truck Driver (uncredited)
Frankie and Johnny (1966) as Gypsy (uncredited)
Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title (1966) as Professor Lerowski
Hook, Line and Sinker (1969) as Kenyon Hammercher
Which Way to the Front? (1970) as Gangster (uncredited)
The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie (1972, TV Movie) as Yogi's Ark Lark - Paw Rugg / First Truck Driver
C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979) as Monster (dog)
Modern Problems (1981) as Dubrovnik
Omnisphere (1983) as Neon City: Screen 1 voice (voice)
The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible (1986, Video short, episode - Daniel and the Lion's Den)
The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones (1987, TV Movie) as Fred Flintstone
Beetle Bailey (1989, TV Movie) as Sgt. Snorkel
I Yabba-Dabba Do! (1993, TV Movie) as Fred Flintstone
Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby (1993, TV Movie) as Fred Flintstone
A Flintstones Christmas Carol (1994, TV Movie) as Fred Flintstone
Television
The Life of Riley - 1 episode - Delivery man (1949)
Terry and the Pirates - episode - Loaded Dice Affair - Singdee (1952)
Official Detective - episode - Armored Attack - Reagan - (1957)
Zorro - episode - Agent of the Eagle - León (uncredited) (1958)
Peter Gunn - episode - Let's Kill Timothy - Vladimir (1958)
Gunsmoke - episode - The Gentleman - Butler (1958)
Wagon Train - episode - The Jennifer Churchill Story - Tex Hall (1958)
The Detectives - episode - Song of Songs - Roland Potter (1960)
Have Gun - Will Travel - episode - An International Affair - Prince Alexei Romanov (1960)
Tate (1960) - The Return of Jessica Jackson - Lereaux
Wagon Train - episode - Wagons Ho! - Black Feather (1960)
Wagon Train - episode - The Alexander Portlass Story - Phelan (1960)
Bonanza - episode - The Tax Collector - Bookie (1961)
The Real McCoys - episode - Pepino's Wedding - Mr. Ramirez (1961)
Wagon Train - episode - The Clementine Jones Story - Frank (1961)
The Real McCoys - episode - Pepino's Vacation - Pedro (1962)
Maverick - episode - The Money Machine - Professor Reynard (1962)
The Twilight Zone (1962) - The Gift - Sanchez
Jonny Quest - episode at least 15 episodes, maybe more - Various (1964–65)
The Flintstones - Baron Von Rickenrock/Additional Voices (1964–66)
The Secret Squirrel Show - Additional Voices (1965)
I Dream of Jeannie - episode - My Hero? - Jeannie's Father (1965)
Rawhide - episode - El Hombre Bravo - Gen. Velasquez (1965)
Hogan's Heroes - episode - 'Movies Are Your Best Escape' - General Von Kaplow (1965)
Hogan's Heroes - episode - 'Will the Blue Baron Strike Again?' - Blue Baron (1968)
The Atom Ant Show - 26 episodes - Paw Rugg (1965–66)
Family Affair - episode - Who's Afraid of Nural Shpeni? - Alam (1966)
Bewitched - episode - A Most Unusual Wood Nymph - Muldoon (1966)
Daniel Boone - episode - First in War, First in Peace - Peter Mornay (1966)
The John Forsythe Show - episode - If I Were a Prince - Count Beppo (1966)
The Monkees - episodes -
Monkee See, Monkee Die; Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth;
The Chaperone; Monkee Mother - Babbit (1966–67)
The F.B.I. - episode - Passage into Fear - Organ Grinder (1967)
The Monkees - episode - The Wild Monkees - Blauner (1967)
The Bob Hope Show - 5 episodes (1968 -1971)
Get Smart - episode - Physician Impossible - Big Eddie Little (1969)
Get Smart - episode - Valerie of the Dolls - Mondo (1969)
The Banana Splits Adventures Hour - Bez (1969)
Harlem Globetrotters - Additional Voices (uncredited) (1970)
Ironside - episode - One Hour to Kill - Lecturer (1970)
The Mary Tyler Moore Show - S1/Ep14: 'Christmas and the Hard-Luck Kid II' - Charlie's voice (1970)
Hogan's Heroes - episode: 'The Kamikaze Are Coming' - Dr. von Bornemann (1971)
The Mary Tyler Moore Show - episode - Mary Richards and the Incredible Plant Lady - Harry (1972)
The New Scooby-Doo Movies - Redcoat Ghost/Additional voices (1972–1973)
Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space - Additional Voices (1972)
Yogi's Gang - Paw Rugg/Dr. Bigot (1973)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids - Additional Voices (1973)
The Brady Bunch - episode - Marcia Gets Creamed - Mr. Haskell (1973)
The Streets of San Francisco - episode - Mister Nobody - Weiss (1974)
These Are the Days - Additional Voices (1974)
Return to the Planet of the Apes - Main Title Voice-Over/General Urko/Tallyho the Hunter (1975)
The Tom and Jerry/Grape Ape/Mumbly Show - Additional Voices (1976)
The Tom and Jerry/Mumbly Show - Additional Voices (1976–77)
The Mumbly Cartoon Show - Additional Voices (1977)
The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour - Mr. Hyde/Willie the Weasel/The Prophet (1976)
Energy: A National Issue - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (Singing Voice) (1977)
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels - Additional Voices (1977–80)
CB Bears - Bump (1977)
Fred Flintstone and Friends - Fred Flintstone (1977–78)
Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics - Fred Flintstone (1977)
The Skatebirds - Additional Voices (1977)
A Flintstone Christmas - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1977)
Hanna-Barbera's All-Star Comedy Ice Revue - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1978)
The Three Robonic Stooges - Hercules/Pierre LeSly (1978)
The Flintstones: Little Big League - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1978)
Dynomutt, Dog Wonder - Mr. Hyde/Willie the Weasel/The Prophet (1978)
The New Fantastic Four - Attuma (1978)
Challenge of the Superfriends - Dr. Varga/Brain Creature Leader/Torahna (1978)
Yogi's Space Race - Sheriff Muletrain Pettigrew (1978)
Galaxy Goof-Ups - Additional Voices (1978)
Buford and the Galloping Ghost - Sheriff Muletrain Pettigrew (1979)
The New Fred and Barney Show - Fred Flintstone (1979)
Welcome Back, Kotter - episode - Barbarino's Baby - Sidney Fishbein (1979)
The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1979)
Fred and Barney Meet The Thing - Fred Flintstone (1979)
Fred and Barney Meet the Shmoo - Fred Flintstone (1979–1980)
Mighty Man and Yukk - Goldteeth, Kragg the Conqueror (1979)
Fangface and Fangpuss - episode - The Defiant Casablanca Giant - Abdul the Giant (1979)
Super Friends - Additional Voices (1980)
Thundarr the Barbarian - Ookla the Mok (1980–81)
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang - Additional Voices (1980)
The Flintstone Comedy Show - Fred Flintstone (1980–82)
The Flintstones' New Neighbors - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1980)
The Flintstones: Fred's Final Fling - TV Special - Fred Flintstone/Monkey #2/Turtle #2 (1980)
Spider-Man - 3 episodes - Johann's Father (1981)
Goldie Gold and Action Jack - Additional Voices (1981)
The Kwicky Koala Show - Additional Voices (1981)
No Man's Valley - TV Special - Chief (1981)
The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show - Additional Voices (1981)
The Flintstones: Wind-Up Wilma - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1981)
The Flintstones: Jogging Fever - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1981)
Jokebook - Additional Voices (1982)
Yogi Bear's All Star Comedy Christmas Caper - TV Special - Fred Flintstone/Policeman/Security Guard #1 (1982)
Here Comes Garfield - TV Special - Hubert (1982)
Alvin and the Chipmunks - Additional Voices (1983)
Mister T - Additional Voices (1983)
The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show - Additional Voices (1983)
The Flintstone Funnies - Fred Flintstone (1982–84)
Strong Kids, Safe Kids - Video documentary short - Fred Flintstone (1984)
Challenge of the GoBots - Additional Voices (1984)
Scary Scooby Funnies - Additional Voices (1984–85)
Galtar and the Golden Lance - Additional Voices (1985)
The Berenstain Bears Show Additional Male Voices (1985)
The Jetsons - episode - Elroy in Wonderland (1985)
The Flintstones' 25th Anniversary Celebration - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1986)
The Flintstone Kids - Edna Flintstone/Ed Flintstone (1986– 87)
The Video Adventures of Clifford the Big Red Dog - Various Voices (1988)
The Flintstone Kids' 'Just Say No' Special - TV Special - Ed Flintstone/Edna Flintstone (1988)
Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1989)
The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera - Theme Park - Fred Flintstone (1990)
A Flintstone Family Christmas - TV Special - Fred Flintstone (1993)
The Simpsons - episode - Sideshow Bob Roberts - Fred Flintstone (1994)
Garfield and Friends - Various voices (1994)
The Flintstones: Wacky Inventions - Video short - Fred Flintstone (1994)
What a Cartoon! - episode - Dino: Stay Out! - Fred Flintstone (1995)
The Weird Al Show - episode - Talent Show - Fred Flintstone (1997)
Video games
The Flintstones: Bedrock Bowling - Fred Flintstone (2000)
References
1. Lawson, Tim; Persons, Alisa (2004). The Magic Behind the Voices: A Who's Who of Cartoon Voice Actors. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 289. ISBN 9781578066964.
2. "Henry Corden, 85, voice of Fred Flintstone, dies". Tampa Bay Times. Florida, St. Petersburg. Los Angeles Times. May 21, 2005. p. 20.
3. The Associated Press, quoted in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, Dec. 28, 1952.
4. The Los Angeles Times
5. New York Times
6. Edward L. Cahn, Robert E. Kent Productions (Harvard Film), James Brown II, Merry Anders, Henry Corden, When the Clock Strikes, United Artists (USA), (1961), Film (BW)
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