Mousie Garner

Paul "Mousie" Garner
Paul "Mousie" Garner
Born	Paul Albert Garner (1909-07-31)July 31, 1909 Washington, D.C., United States
Died	August 8, 2004(2004-08-08) (aged 95) Glendale, California, USA

Paul Albert "Mousie" Garner (July 31, 1909 – August 8, 2004) was an American actor. Garner earned his nickname by assuming the role of a shy, simpering jokester. Garner was one of the last actors still doing shtick from vaudeville, and has been referred to as "The Grand Old Man Of Vaudeville."

He was born on July 31, 1909 in Washington, D.C.

In addition to big-time vaudeville, Mousie Garner appeared on Broadway and in major national touring companies; in short subjects, feature films and documentaries; on network television, cable and radio shows; and in nightclubs, auditoriums and concert halls.

Mousie Garner made his stage debut as a child in 1913, singing, dancing and imitating Al Jolson in a family musical-comedy act developed by his father. While still a child, Garner entertained soldiers during World War I. By the time he was a teenager in the 1920s, he had already decided upon a career on the vaudeville stage. Garner was part of Ted Healy's new stooges after the departure of Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard. Garner, also known as "The Grand Old Man of Vaudeville", was one of over 20 comedians who worked as part of Ted Healy's stooge act with his cousin, Jack Wolf (father of Warner Wolf) and Richard "Dick" Hakins between 1922 and 1936. He was never a member of The Three Stooges at the same time as Larry Fine, Moe Howard, Curly Howard or Shemp Howard, although he would later join the New Three Stooges in 1975 with official Stooge Joe DeRita. Garner continued working on stage and on screen with Dick Hakins, and either his cousin Jack Wolf or Wolf's replacement, Sammy Wolfe, in a musical comedy trio known as The Gentlemaniacs (aka: Garner, Wolf [or Wolfe] and Hakins) throughout the 1920s and '30s. The Gentlemaniacs starred in several feature films and short subjects including After the Show (1929), Swing It Professor (1937), The Hit Parade (1937), Murder With Reservations (1938) and Radio and Relatives (1940).

Serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Garner was shipped overseas and he achieved the rank of technical sergeant before completing his term. He participated in the Allied forces' North African campaign, and was injured twice on duty. He received several commendations and after recovering from his wartime injuries, Garner joined the U.S.O. to star in Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson's "Sons O' Fun", the touring version of "Hellzapoppin'". The show was staged for servicemen throughout Europe during the Allies' postwar occupation. Garner's service in the U.S.O would continue throughout both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, as he continued to entertain the troops throughout the 1950s and '60s.