Andy Devine
His unmistakable gravelly voice and gentle giant persona made him a beloved sidekick in Hollywood's classic Westerns and animated films.
1905–1977 (age 72)·American actor·Birthday: October 7·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Andy Devine carved out a singular niche in Hollywood not with leading-man looks, but with a voice like rocks in a tin can and an affable, bumbling charm. The Arizona native, a former football player, broke into films in the silent era, but his vocal cords—permanently altered by a childhood accident—became his ticket to fame in the talkies. He became the quintessential comic relief, the loyal, often cowardly sidekick to heroes like Roy Rogers and Wild Bill Hickok on television. While he shone in John Ford's 'Stagecoach,' his warmth transcended the saddle; he brought a tender heart to 'A Star Is Born' and gave Friar Tuck a wonderfully gruff soul in Disney's 'Robin Hood.' For decades, Devine was a comforting, familiar presence, proving that heroes often need a best friend with a funny voice and a good heart.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Andy was born in 1905, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1905
Andy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1905Born
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Started school
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1918Became a teenager
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Could drive
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1923Could vote
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Turned 21
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1935Turned 30
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 40
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 50
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 60
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 70
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1977Died at 72
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
Key Achievements
- Played the memorable stage driver Buck in John Ford's landmark Western 'Stagecoach' (1939).
- Starred as sidekick Jingles in the popular TV series 'The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok' for seven years.
- Voiced the beloved character Friar Tuck in Disney's 1973 animated classic 'Robin Hood.'
- Appeared as Cookie, Roy Rogers's sidekick, in a series of ten feature films throughout the 1940s.
Did You Know?
His distinctive voice was the result of a childhood incident where he fell while running with a curtain rod in his mouth, injuring his throat.
He was offered the role of the Tin Man in 'The Wizard of Oz' but had to decline due to a prior film commitment.
He served as the grand marshal of the Rose Parade in 1973.
He was a skilled athlete and played football for Santa Clara University.
“I've made a career out of a voice that sounds like a busted foghorn.”
