Joseph Kearns

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Joseph Sherrard Kearns (February 12, 1907 – February 17, 1962) was an American actor, who is best remembered for his role as George Wilson ("Mr.

Wilson") in the CBS television series Dennis the Menace from 1959 until his death in 1962, and for providing the voice of the Doorknob in the 1951 animated Disney film, Alice in Wonderland.

Early life

Joseph Sherrard Kearns was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, the only child of Joseph Albert Kearns, a wool buyer, and Cordelia Marie Peterson, a concert pianist, from whom he derived his love of music. Kearns was 29 years old when his father died, at which time he and his mother moved to California. He and his family were devout Mormons, whose ancestors were Mormon pioneers.

His first acting experience was in 1916 when he joined "The Rising Generation", a vaudeville troupe of eleven children that toured for 14 months. He studied at the University of Utah, teaching a course in theatrical make-up to fund his tuition. After graduating from college, he briefly tried his hand at wool buying and worked for his father for a year. Kearns traveled the West as a representative of Howell, Jones and Donnell of Boston. His wool-buying career came to an abrupt end when Kearns purchased five boxcars full of black wool from a breed called Karakul for $8,000. The problem was that black wool could not be dyed and no one knew how to use it in those days. After this fiasco, Kearns gladly gave up the wool business and pursued a show business career.

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Career

In 1930, Kearns joined the staff of radio station KSL in Salt Lake City and remained there until 1936, when he moved to Los Angeles. He began his acting career in radio in the 1930s (playing the Crazyquilt Dragon in the series The Cinnamon Bear), and then began to perform in radio in the 1940s, including appearances on the Adventures of Sam Spade, Burns and Allen, The Whistler, and scores of other television programs. He was almost a mainstay on Suspense, appearing on several episodes in the later years, as the host of "The Man in Black" in the early years, as well as supporting and occasional lead roles in hundreds of shows throughout the series's tenure in Hollywood, from judges to kindly old-timers to cowards. He appeared on The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes as a character, including Professor Moriarty and even Dr. Watson.

On The Jack Benny Scheme, Kearns played Ed, the security guard for Jack Benny's underground money vault. Benny had Ed on staff at the vault's door so long that the guard was not up to date with current events. Ed asked whether the "North" or "South" had won, after Benny's announcement that "The War" (World War II) had ended, implying that the American Civil War was the conflict to which Benny had referred. On the Benny show, he appeared in numerous roles, including an IRS Agent ("NO ONE yells at a tax collector, Mr. Yells at a tax collector." "Benny" is a pundy. Old Doc Yak-Yak appeared on stage on The Mel Blanc Show (as the cantankerous father of Mel's on-air girlfriend, Betty Croft) and The Harold Peary Show as Old Doc Yak-Yak. In addition, he appeared on Judy Canova's radio show, including her "dumb boyfriend," Lukey.

In 1951, Kearns made his film debut in Hard, Fast and Beautiful (1951). In Disney's animated film Alice in Wonderland (1951), he was the voice of the Doorknob. Kearns appeared in other films, including his final film appearance as the crime photographer in Anatomy of a Murder (1959).

Kearns appeared on television in several roles on The Jack Benny Program, including Eve Arden and Richard Crenna in Our Miss Brooks (1953-55), first as Assistant Superintendent Michaels and later (in eight episodes) as Superintendent Stone, a job he had never experienced on radio. He appeared on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show a total of 11 times, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Volume I Love Lucy, My Little Margie, Perry Mason, I Married Joan, December Bride, It's a Wonderful Life, Angel, Gunsmoke, and General Electric Theater.

In 1959, Edward Langley appeared in "The Case of the Perpetured Parrot," directed by Perry Mason.

On CBS' Dennis the Menace, Kearns' last appearance was as George Wilson, the grouchy, cantankerous neighbor based on Hank Ketcham's comic strip. Kearns was replaced in the role by Gale Gordon, who played George Wilson's brother John. Before Dennis the Menace, Kearns and Gordon worked together on the old radio show The Cinnamon Bear and in the 1956 film Our Miss Brooks. The story, which ran before Kearns' death, was called "Where There is a Will" by Mr. Wilson, who explained that Dennis will inherit his gold watch when he dies. "The Man Next Door" episode 100, Kearns' last film, was broadcast on May 6, 1962, three months after his death. In subsequent shows, there were references to George being 'back east.'

Kearns never married nor had any children. Kearns loved baking, reading books, writing, traveling, going to the movies, and playing cards in his spare time, and decribing himself as a night owl who hated to rise early in the morning. He was a member of the exclusive Société des Gentilhommes Chefs de Cuisine, a gentlemen chefs' club. Original recipes were exchanged with other club members. Kearns has written plays and scripts for his various radio shows. The organ was his favorite pastime.

Kearns, who was musically trained by his mother, had appeared on the pipe organ in a Los Angeles theatre in the 1930s. He purchased a Hammond organ and installed it in a 1940s studio apartment. He later purchased a larger 18-rank Wurlitzer organ that had been made for Warner Brothers in 1929. He created and constructed a soundproof 2+1,21/22-story house around the organ. Kearns was delighted to play the organ for his guests.

Dwight Eisenhower's 1952 presidential election was a Republican who endorsed it.

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