Arnold Stang
A beloved character actor whose distinctive voice and nerdy persona made him a fixture in classic TV, film, and animation for over half a century.
1918–2009 (age 91)·American actor·Birthday: September 28·The Greatest Generation
Biography
With his horn-rimmed glasses, slight frame, and a voice that sounded like a friendly, frazzled hinge, Arnold Stang was an instantly recognizable fixture of American pop culture. His career began in radio as a teenager, playing street-smart city kids, a persona he perfected. Stang never carried a blockbuster, but he stole scenes in a cascade of them, most memorably as the loyal, junkie-hustling Sparrow in 'The Man with the Golden Arm' and as the frantic gas station attendant in the epic comedy 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.' To generations of children, however, he was simply the voice of the sly, scheming alley cat Top Cat. Stang's genius was in making the underdog—the nervous, bespectacled everyman—both hilariously hapless and deeply endearing, securing his place as a cherished utility player in the golden age of entertainment.
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.
Arnold was born in 1918, 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 Arnold Was Born
The biggest hits of 1918
Arnold's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1918Born
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Started school
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1931Became a teenager
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Could drive
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1936Could vote
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Turned 21
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1948Turned 30
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 40
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 50
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 60
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 70
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 80
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2009Died at 91
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Provided the iconic voice of the scheming feline Top Cat in the 1961-1962 animated series and later revivals.
- Delivered a critically acclaimed dramatic performance as Frank Sinatra's friend 'Sparrow' in the film 'The Man with the Golden Arm' (1955).
- Had a long-running role as the nerdy Francis on the popular radio and early TV series 'The Henry Morgan Show.'
- Appeared in over a dozen Broadway productions, including a notable role in 'The Boys from Syracuse' in 1939.
Did You Know?
He was the voice of the animated 'Herman the Mouse' in a series of popular Nestlé's Quik commercials.
Stang was a favorite guest on classic TV game shows like 'What's My Line?' and 'To Tell the Truth.'
He turned down the role of 'Cousin Itt' on 'The Addams Family' television series.
Despite playing meek characters, he was a dedicated bodybuilder in his youth.
“I was the kid who always got sand kicked in his face.”
