Charles Correll Explained

Charles Correll
Birth Date:2 February 1890
Birth Place:Peoria, Illinois, U.S.
Birth Name:Charles James Correll
Death Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[1]
Known For:Andy of Amos 'n' Andy
Years Active:1921–1962
Spouse:
    Children:6

    Charles James Correll (February 2, 1890 – September 26, 1972) was an American radio comedian, actor and writer, known best for his work in the radio series Amos 'n' Andy with Freeman Gosden. Correll voiced the main character Andy Brown, along with various lesser characters.

    Biography

    Life and career

    Correll was born in Peoria, Illinois. He worked originally as a stenographer and a bricklayer. He met Gosden in Durham, North Carolina while working for the Joe Bren Producing Company.[2]

    In 1926, Gosden and Correll, who were both white, had success with their radio program Sam 'n' Henry in which the two actors portray Black characters in Blackface. The show originated on Chicago radio station WGN.

    From 1928 to 1960, Gosden and Correll, broadcast their program Amos 'n' Andy – again portraying Black characters – which quickly became one of the most famous and popular[3] radio series of the 1930s, nationwide. Correll voiced the character "Andy" (Andrew Hogg Brown). To celebrate the show's 30th anniversary, the broadcast of March 19, 1958, was done by Correll and Gosden using their real voices and calling each other by their real names; this had never been done for the program before.[4]

    During 1961–1962, Gosden and Correll provided the voices for the animated series Calvin and the Colonel for American Broadcasting Company-TV.[5]

    Last years

    Correll died in 1972 in a Chicago hospital after a heart attack. At the time of his death he was retired and living in Beverly Hills, California, just a few blocks away from his radio partner, Freeman Gosden.[6] [7]

    Personal life and family

    Correll's first marriage to Marie Janes ended with divorce on May 26, 1937; the couple had been married for ten years and did not have any children.[8] [9] On September 11, 1937, in Glendale, California, he married Alyce McLaughlin, a former dancer;[10] they had six children, Dorothy, Charles, Barbara, John, and Richard.[11] On July 5, 1954, John Correll, his seven-year-old son, died of what seemed to be an accidental poisoning.[12] An autopsy determined the young boy died of an acute kidney infection.[13] A baby girl born to the couple in 1939 died when she was less than a day old.[14]

    His son, Charles Correll Jr. became an actor and a director. Another son, Richard Correll also became an actor—remembered best as the character Richard Rickover of Leave It to Beaver—and also produced and directed the television situation comedy Family Matters.

    Correll was a Freemason.[15]

    Political views

    Correll supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election.[16]

    Legacy

    The comedy team was named to the Radio Hall of Fame in 1962.[17] In 1969, Correll was memorialized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his radio work.[18] In 1977, Correll was inducted in the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame along with Gosden.[19]

    Notes and References

    1. Book: Say Goodnight Gracie: The Last Years of Network Radio. Cox. Jim. 224. McFarland and Company. 2002. 0-7864-1168-6. 16 September 2010.
    2. Book: Dunning, John. John Dunning (detective fiction author)

      . John Dunning (detective fiction author). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio . 1998. Revised . 32. Oxford University Press, USA. 0-19-507678-8. 10 June 2010.

    3. News: Hill . Michael E. . It Began With 'Amos 'N' Andy' . The Washington Post . 1992-06-14 . 2022-06-11.
    4. News: On The Airwave. 83. 16 March 1958. The Miami News. 16 September 2010. Newspapers.com.
    5. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 154.
    6. News: Famous 'Andy' Dies At Age 82. 27 September 1972. Gadsen Times. 16 September 2010.
    7. News: Charles Correll Dies. 27 September 1972. 3. The Capital. 8 January 2017. Newspapers.com.
    8. News: Too Much Caviar Wrecks Andy's Home. 27 May 1937. Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 16 September 2010.
    9. Book: Private Lives. 14 June 1937. Life. 8 March 2011.
    10. News: Jokes At Matrimony But Lands At Altar. 12 September 1937. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 16 September 2010.
    11. News: Correll, Of Amos And Andy Shows, Dies. 27 September 1972. The Milwaukee Journal.
    12. News: Son Of 'Andy' Of Radio Fame. 6 July 1954. St. Petersburg Times. 16 September 2010.
    13. News: Death of Actor's Son Attributed to Infection. 5 August 1954. Reading Eagle. 16 September 2010.
    14. News: 'Andy's' Daughter Dies. 6 January 1939. The Pittsburgh Press. 11 October 2010.
    15. Web site: 2009-02-20 . Famous Freemasons in History Freemason Information . 2023-03-14 . en-US.
    16. Book: When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics. 9781107650282. Critchlow. Donald T.. 2013-10-21. Cambridge University Press.
    17. News: In Radio Hall Of Fame, 14 Men, Kate Smith. 9 June 1962. Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 16 September 2010.
    18. Web site: Charles Correll Star. Hollywood Walk of Fame. 28 September 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110617060410/http://www.hollywoodchamber.net/index.php?module=wof&s=nor&p=1&sname=correll&wof_id=320. 2011-06-17. dead.
    19. Web site: Broadcasting Hall of Fame . National Association of Broadcasters . 28 September 2010.