29 Facts About Phil Harris

Wonga Philip Harris was an American actor, comedian, musician and songwriter.

Phil Harris was an orchestra leader and a pioneer in radio situation comedy, first with The Jack Benny Program, then in The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show in which he co-starred with his wife, singer-actress Alice Faye, for eight years.

Phil Harris was born in Linton, Indiana, but grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, and identified himself as a Southerner.

Phil Harris began his music career as a drummer in San Francisco, in the mid-1920s playing drums in the Henry Halstead Big Band Orchestra.

Phil Harris formed an orchestra with Carol Lofner in the latter 1920s and started a long engagement at the St Francis Hotel.

The partnership ended by 1932, and Phil Harris led a band in Los Angeles for which he was the singer and bandleader.

Phil Harris starred in I Love a Bandleader with Leslie Brooks.

Phil Harris recorded Woodman, Spare That Tree in 1947.

Phil Harris made a cameo appearance in the Warner Bros.

In 1936, Phil Harris became musical director of The Jell-O Program Starring Jack Benny singing and leading his band, with Mahlon Merrick writing much of the show's music.

When Phil Harris exhibited a knack for snappy one-liners, he joined the cast, portraying himself as a hip, hard-drinking Southerner whose good nature superseded his ego.

Phil Harris gave the others nicknames, such as "Jackson" for Jack Benny.

Gerald Nachman has written that Phil Harris was a soft-spoken, modest man off the air.

In On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio John Dunning wrote that Phil Harris's character made the show popular.

Phil Harris has appeared on Jack Benny's show from 1948 to 1952.

Songs by Phil Harris include the early 1950s novelty song, "The Thing".

In 1956, Phil Harris appeared in the film Good-bye, My Lady.

Phil Harris made numerous guest appearances on 1960s and 1970s television series, including The Steve Allen Show, the Kraft Music Hall, Burke's Law, F Troop, The Dean Martin Show, The Hollywood Palace, and other musical variety programs.

Phil Harris appeared on The American Sportsman which took celebrities on hunting and fishing trips around the world.

Phil Harris worked as a voice actor for animated films, providing the voice of Baloo the bear in The Jungle Book, Thomas O'Malley in The Aristocats, and Little John in Robin Hood.

Phil Harris spent time in the 1970s and early 1980s leading a band that appeared often in Las Vegas, often on the same bill with bandleader Harry James.

Phil Harris and Alice Faye married in 1941; it was a second marriage for both and lasted 54 years, until Phil Harris's death.

Phil Harris engaged in a fistfight at the Trocadero nightclub in 1938 with RKO studio mogul Bob Stevens; the cause was reported to be over Faye after Stevens and Faye had ended a romantic relationship.

Phil Harris was a lifelong friend of singer and actor Bing Crosby.

Phil Harris appeared on telecasts of Bing's Pro-Am Golf Tournament from Pebble Beach, California, and appeared in an episode of ABC's short-lived sitcom The Bing Crosby Show.

Phil Harris was a resident and benefactor of Palm Springs, California, and was active in many local civic organizations.

Phil Harris died of a heart attack at age 91 in his Rancho Mirage home in the night of August 11,1995.

Phil Harris is interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Cathedral City, California.

Phil Harris was a benefactor of his birthplace of Linton, Indiana, establishing scholarships in his honor for promising high school students, performing at the high school, and hosting a celebrity golf tournament in his honor every year.