GEORGE O’HANLON

November 23, 1912

George Samuel O’Hanlon was best known for his role as Joe McDoakes in the Warner Brothers live-action Joe McDoakes short subjects (1942-1956) and as the voice of George Jetson in Hanna-Barbera’s 1962 prime-time animated television series “The Jetsons” and its 1985 revival. He started working at 16 with his own stage show, but was fired after a few weeks due to a fight over wages.  His cousin, Virginia O’Hanlon, is the subject of the famous editorial, “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”. 

The 63 Joe McDoakes ten-minute shorts are also known as the Behind the Eight Ball series (for the large eight ball Joe appeared behind in the opening credits) or the So You Want… series (as most of the film titles began with this phrase). “Behind the eight ball” is an expression that signifies the inability to get ahead of something. The character’s name comes from “Joe Doakes,” which was then a popular slang term for the ‘average man’ akin to ‘John Doe’. The series was often co-written by O’Hanlon, who was generally uncredited as writer. 

From 1947 to 1949, the series earned three consecutive Academy Award nominations for Short Subject.  Actors from the series who also worked with Lucille Ball on television and radio include: Frank Nelson (above with O’Hanlon), Iron Eyes Cody, Arthur Q. Bryan (who voiced Elmer Fudd), Bobby Jellison, Fritz Feld, Jesslyn Fax, Phil Arnold, Joi Lansing, and Herb Vigran. 

O’Hanlon was originally hired to voice Fred Flintstone for “The Flintstones” (1960) but one of the sponsors didn’t think he was right for the part and he was replaced by Alan Reed. Two years later, they created “The Jetsons” for him, even using his first name for the character. He did, however, later do various voice on “The Flintstone Kids” (1986-88). 

He made his big screen debut as a background actor in 1932′s The Death Kiss starring Bela Lugosi. 

His first time on television was a 1953 episode of “My Little Margie”. 

His only appearance with Lucille Ball was in “Lucy and Superman” (ILL S6;E13) in 1957. The episode was filmed on November 15, 1956. O’Hanlon played Charley Appleby, Caroline’s husband and little Stevie’s father, a role originated by Hy Averback in “Baby Pictures” (ILL S3;E5). Both Charleys were very proud of their son!  

In addition to O’Hanlon, “The Jetsons” also featured Lucy alumni Janet Waldo who played Peggy in “The Young Fans” (ILL S1;E20) in 1952 and Lucy’s sister Marge on a 1963 episode of “The Lucy Show.”  Waldo voiced Judy Jetson, George’s teenage daughter. Jean Vander Pyl, who voiced the Jetson’s maid Rosie the Robot and was perhaps best known as the voice of Wilma Flintstone, did several episodes of “My Favorite Husband”, Lucille Ball’s popular radio series. Other “Lucy” actors who could be heard on “The Jetsons” include Hal Smith, Shepard Menken, Paul Winchell, Bea Benadaret, and Frank Nelson, to name a few.  

From 1954 to 1958, O’Hanlon played the recurring role of Calvin on NBC’s “The Life of Riley.” While the show was not related to “Lucy” or Desilu, it did feature many of the same performers. 

In 1959, he worked for Desilu again in “Martin’s Folly,” an episode of the “Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse”. It also starred Bart Braverman, Phil Ober, Tony Randall, and Jay North, all of who had (or would) work with Lucy.  As with all episodes of the anthology series, the story was introduced by Desi Arnaz. 

From 1958 to 1961, O’Hanlon did three episodes of Desilu’s “The Ann Sothern Show,” two as Jerry Doolittle. He co-wrote several episodes, including one that  he appeared on. Lucille Ball guest-starred on the series as Lucy Ricardo in 1959.

During the same period (1955 to 1961), O’Hanlon did three episode of “The Danny Thomas Show” as various characters. It was filmed at Desilu Studios. In 1958, the series switched from ABC to CBS and did reciprocal crossover episodes with “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.”  This would be his final time at Desilu. 

His final role was voicing his most famous character, George Jetson, in an animated feature film reboot Jetsons in 1990. During a recording session, he suffered a second stroke. He was rushed to the hospital where he died. The film was dedicated to him.

His first wife was Inez Yvonne Witt. They were married in February 1932 and divorced in May 1948. The following year he wed Martha Stewart (not relation to the current lifestyle icon) but they divorced in 1952. In 1953 he married Nancy Owens with whom he had two children. The marriage last until his death.