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Wally Cox

Born · December 6, 1924

Died · February 15, 1973 (48 years old)

Known For: Acting

Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Bio

Wally Cox was a beloved character actor who made his mark in television and ranks as one of the medium's most memorable performers. His ability to show his range likely was limited by his short stature, slight frame, and high-pitched voice, which along with his talent for being very funny, made him ideal for comedy parts such as his memorable turn as Professor P. Caspar Biddle in "The Bird-Watchers" episode of The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) in 1966. His television persona was that of a shy, timid man in horn-rimed glasses who spoke in a tentative, though distinctly enunciated, voice. It was a persona that his long-time friend Marlon Brando said was completely at odds with the real man. Cox always will be remembered as the eponymous "Mr. Peepers" and the voice of "Underdog," but he was an actor of wider talents seldom used by the industry, as can be seen in his turns as the sonar operator in The Bedford Incident (1965) and as the potential suicide Wally Haverstraw in The Bill Cosby Show (1969) episode "Goodbye, Cruel World" in 1970. Dying unexpectedly on February 15, 1973, from what some newspapers described as an accidental overdose of sedatives but which Marlon Brando in his autobiography said was a heart attack, Wally Cox's cremated remains were kept hidden in a closet by his old friend for three decades. According to Brando's son Miko, both his father's and Cox's ashes were scattered at the same time in Death Valley, California, in a ceremony following Brando's death, thus reuniting the lifetime friends.

Known for

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

Get Smart

Get Smart

Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible

The Beverly Hillbillies

The Beverly Hillbillies

Television: The First Fifty Years

Robinson J. Peepers (archive footage)

1999

Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths

(archive footage)

1990

Reel Horror

Clyde (archive footage)

1985

The Night Strangler

Mr. Berry

1973

Once Upon a Mattress

The Jester

1972

Magic Carpet

Harold Kane

1972

Search

(1 episode)

1972

McMillan & Wife

(1 episode)

1971

The Barefoot Executive

Mertons

1971

Alias Smith and Jones

(1 episode)

1971

Up Your Teddy Bear

Clyde King

1970

Night Gallery

(1 episode)

1970

The Wacky Zoo of Morgan City

Becker

1970

The Odd Couple

Mr. Fegivney · (1 episode)

1970

The Boatniks

Jason

1970

The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County

Mr. Bester

1970

The Young Country

Aaron Grimes / Ira Greebe

1970

Quarantined

Wilbur Mott

1970

Love, American Style

Peter · (1 episode)

1969

The Bill Cosby Show

Wally Haverstraw · (1 episode)

1969

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

Self · (2 episodes)

1969

Here's Lucy

Rock Barnett · (1 episode)

1968

Here's Lucy

Wally Manley · (1 episode)

1968

Here's Lucy

Gustav Vandemeer · (1 episode)

1968

Here's Lucy

Tommy Tucker · (1 episode)

1968

The Dick Cavett Show

Self - Guest · (3 episodes)

1968

The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band

Mr. Wampler

1968

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Self · (1 episode)

1968

It Takes a Thief

Tourist · (1 episode)

1968

A Guide for the Married Man

Technical Adviser (Married 14 years)

1967

Ironside

Scoutmaster

1967

Murder at N.B.C.

1966

Hollywood Squares

Self · (6 episodes)

1966

Mission: Impossible

Terry Targo · (1 episode)

1966

The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

(1 episode)

1966

The Bedford Incident

Seaman Merlin Queffle

1965

Get Smart

(1 episode)

1965

Mister Roberts

(1 episode)

1965

Lost in Space

Tiabo · (1 episode)

1965

I Spy

Herbie · (1 episode)

1965

Morituri

Dr. Ambach

1965

The Yellow Rolls-Royce

Ferguson

1964

Fate Is the Hunter

Ralph Bundy

1964

Underdog

(125 episodes)

1964

Underdog

Underdog (Voice) · (62 episodes)

1964

The Hollywood Palace

Self · (1 episode)

1964

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

(1 episode)

1963

Burke's Law

Count Carlo Szipesti · (1 episode)

1963

Burke's Law

Dr. Heresford Handy · (1 episode)

1963

Vacation Playhouse

Alfred · (1 episode)

1963

Spencer's Mountain

Preacher Goodman

1963

Marilyn

Self ("Something's Got to Give") (archive footage) (uncredited)

1963

The Lucy Show

Harold Tuttle · (1 episode)

1962

The Merv Griffin Show

Self · (2 episodes)

1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Self · (1 episode)

1962

The Beverly Hillbillies

Professor P. Caspar Biddle · (2 episodes)

1962

State Fair

Hipplewaite

1962

Something's Got to Give

Shoe Salesman

1962

The Mike Douglas Show

Self · (1 episode)

1961

The Dick Van Dyke Show

(1 episode)

1961

The Twilight Zone

James Elwood · (1 episode)

1959

DuPont Show of the Month

Messenger 7013 · (1 episode)

1957

The Lux Show

Self · (3 episodes)

1957

Wagon Train

Vincent Eaglewood · (1 episode)

1957

Tonight Starring Jack Paar

Self · (1 episode)

1957

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

Self · (1 episode)

1956

The Adventures of Hiram Holliday

Hiram Holliday · (23 episodes)

1956

The Steve Allen Show

Self · (1 episode)

1956

Babes in Toyland

Grumio, the Toymaker

1955

Matinee Theater

(2 episodes)

1955

Babes in Toyland

Grumio, the Toymaker

1954

Max Liebman Presents

(1 episode)

1954

Letter to Loretta

Leslie Nettleton · (1 episode)

1953

General Electric Theater

Monroe Winkler · (1 episode)

1953

Mister Peepers

Robinson Peepers · (48 episodes)

1952

Danger

(1 episode)

1950

The Colgate Comedy Hour

Self · (3 episodes)

1950

Your Show of Shows

(1 episode)

1950

What's My Line?

Self - Panelist · (2 episodes)

1950

What's My Line?

Self · (1 episode)

1950

Suspense

(1 episode)

1949

Suspense

Ace McCoy · (1 episode)

1949

The Ed Sullivan Show

Self · (1 episode)

1948