Biography
Stan Freberg was born in Pasadena, CA. He is known as the last network radio comic who changed comedy forever. He was also the father of funny TV and commercials. He was very young when he started his career in 1943 and made a name for himself by working at studios such as: Paramount, Disney, Warner Bros, and Walter Lantz. Throughout his career, he has made hundreds of comical radio shows, commercials, and series. His career spanned for over 50 years and in the 1950’s he had more record hits than any other artist at the time.
Family and early life
He was the son of a Baptist minister. He had two children named Donna Jr. and Donovan. Their mother passed away in 2000. Freberg married a woman named Betty Hunter in the 2002.
Career outline
As a teenager, Freberg worked in children puppet shows. When he was 16, he began his career in radio. He started voice acting for Warner Bros. as characters named Goofy Gophers and Pete Puma. At 25 he released his first novelty single which led to the release of several more. He did voice acting for several shows and films including: Mickey Mouse Birthday Party, Nuttin’ For Christmas, Heartbreak Hotel, The Great Pretender, Banana Boat, Lady And The Tramp, and dozens more.
In 1957, he was asked to replace Jack Benny on a CBS radio network. This made him the very last network comedian in the USA. In the late 1950s he had his own show titled The Stan Freberg Show. It aired for only 15 weeks, but it made Freberg memorable as a radio comedian. After his controversial Green Christmas single, he created the musical comedy Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America, The Early Years. It was praised by many and it changed recorded comedy forever. Freberg experimented with Broadway before turning to the advertising industry in the 1960s.
For decades after, he worked with advertisement. One of his most famous was a series on TV about the Encyclopedia Britannica. In the early 1990s, he produced an autobiography titled It Only Hurts When I Laugh. He also created a series, Stan Freberg Here, which aired on the radio. He continued to do voice acting and advertising for several years after. In 1996, he released United States of America, Volume 2: The Middle Years. It was the sequel his very popular United States of America, The Early Years.
Personal style
Very visual, elaborate comical shows. Took full advantage of the vocal effects and sound effects that radio had to offer.
Influences
Freberg was a very big fan of Jack Benny, Henry Morgan, Fred Allen, Vic and Sade.
Honors and awards
– In 1995, Freberg was put into the Radio Hall of Fame – Annie Award: In 1992 he won the Winsor McCay award. – Radio Advertising Bureau’s Orson Welles Award – Venice Film Festival’s Grand Prix – 21 Clios – A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. – He won three Emmys and a Grammy
Filmography
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