Arnold Stang, a legendary comic, was born on September 28, 1918, in New York City, to a lawyer father, who was forced to become a salesman after the 1929 stock market crash. Stang grew up in Brooklyn, attended New Utrecht High School, and began his career in the early 1930s by auditioning for and winning roles on radio's "Horn and Hardart's Children's Hour" and "Let's Pretend," a kiddie program.
Stang's distinctive voice was heard in various radio shows, including the "Archie Andrews" series, "The Goldbergs," and soap operas and mysteries, often providing comedy relief. He traded quips with famous comedians like Eddie Cantor, Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Fanny Brice, and Milton Berle.
In the late 1940s, Stang transitioned to television, thanks to Milton Berle, and found a niche as a foil to big stars. He appeared in satirical shows like "Henry Morgan's Great Talent Hunt" and "The Phil Silvers Show." Stang also lent his voice to cartoon voiceovers, including Popeye's pal Shorty, and later became famous for his role as "Hoiman" the mouse in Paramount's "Herman and Katnip" series.
Stang's film work was sporadic, but he appeared in notable movies like "The Man with the Golden Arm," "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World," and "Ghost Dad." He was a frequent TV commercial spokesman, pitching products like Delco, Chunky candy, and Orkin.
In his later years, Stang continued acting on stage and screen, appearing in productions like "The Front Page," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," and "Play It Again, Sam." He was married to writer JoAnn Taggart since 1949 and died of pneumonia at age 91 in 2009, leaving behind his wife, two children, and a legacy as a beloved comedian.
