Posted on 05/23/2005 9:13:43 AM PDT by Borges
Howard Morris, who died Saturday at 85, was an actor and voiceover artist who became a familiar figure to television viewers of the early 1950s as one of the regulars on "Your Show of Shows," the Sid Caesar variety series that launched some of the biggest names in American comedy.
While his face was less known to later generations, Morris's voice popped up all over the airwaves. He could be heard in cartoons, as Fred Flintstone's boss, Mr. Slate, and as Jughead Jones in various televised versions of the "Archie" comic strip, as well as the title character in the animated series "The Atom Ant Show." Morris could also be heard in hundreds of advertisements, as the voice of the Qantas Airways koala ("I hate Qantas"), and as the Hamburglar, burbling "Robble Robble" while making off with Mayor McCheese's lunch in spots for McDonald's. "I have a beach house at Malibu with arches on top of it," he once claimed.
Sporting a list of show-business credits even more varied than his list of marriages - there were six in all - Morris directed such film comedies as "With Six You Get Eggroll" (1968) and "Don't Drink the Water" (1969), as well as episodes of "Hogan's Heroes," "Bewitched," and the original pilot of "Get Smart."
As an actor, he made appearances on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Twilight Zone," and he attained continuing celebrity for a series of appearances as Ernest T. Bass, a rock-throwing, doggerel-spouting hillbilly on "The Andy Griffith Show." A sample of Bass's poetry, written by Morris: "If I knew you was coming, I know what I'd do, I'd a rose both arms, and I'd a wove at you!"
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
Frank Gorshin died? Dang! Wasn't he "The Joker" on the campy "Batman" tv series?
The Riddler.
Oh, that's right. Thanks
Ah, he was a talented, funny man.
I'm not sure about that. Morris directed several episodes, but I don't think he was a producer.
The voice of Tony the Tiger too.
Did you write that? It's very good.
I grew up with Ernest T. and T.A.G.S. I feel like I lost part of my family :(
I'm afraid I did...
We have a local Chapter of the Ernest T Bass Rock Chuckin Society..........T-Shirts and everything. This guy was cool .
God Bless ya Mr Morris....thanks for many many grins.
RIP, Ernest T.
You're right. Producer he was not.
Their "This Is Your Life" spoof is still one of the funniest things I have ever seen...Morris in particular. Remember him hanging onto Caesar's leg, blubbering?
I do indeed. And if I am not mistaken that particular episode is available on DVD.
he also made an appearance on The Cosby Show in the 80's... his voice and laugh gave him away...
"Old Aunt Maria"
Old Aunt Maria, jump in the fi-ah,
Fire too hot, jump in the pot,
Pot too black, jump in the crack,
Crack too high, jump in the sky,
Sky too blue, jump in canoe,
Canoe too shallow, jump in the tallow,
Tallow too soft, jump in the loft,
Loft too rotten, jump in the cotton,
Cotton so white she stay there all night.
CHARLENE: That's good, Ernest T.
ERNEST T.: Wanna hear 'Eatin' Goober Peas'?
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