Otis Harlan (December 29, 1865 – January 20, 1940) was an American actor and comedian. He voiced Happy, one of the Seven Dwarfs in the Disney animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This made him the earliest born actor to feature in a Disney film and one of the earliest born known American voice actors.

Early years Harlan was born on December 29, 1865, in Zanesville, Ohio. Harlan was the uncle of the silent film era leading man, Kenneth Harlan. He studied at Gambier Military Academy, Kenyon College, and Yale.

Career

Harlan debuted on stage on September 12, 1887, in "The Hole in the Ground" at the Fourteenth Street Theatre. In 1893, he appeared in Victor Herbert's The Magic Knight. In 1911 he starred in Little Boy Blue on Broadway. He was playing in vaudeville shows by 1911, appearing in Irving Berlin's ragtime musicals. Harlan also played the role of Cap'n Andy in the first, part-talkie film version of "Show Boat" (1929). He was also seen as the Master of Ceremonies in the sound prologue that accompanied the film. In 1935, Harlan played the role of Starveling in Max Reinhardt's 1935 film version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. In 1937, Harlan provided the voice of "Happy", one of the Seven Dwarfs in the Disney animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In the same year he also appeared in the Our Gang short Roamin' Holiday. Contrary to popular belief, Harlan did not voice Mr. Mole in Bambi. Mr. Mole was voiced by Bambi'''s story director, Perce Pearce."Animation Anecdotes #282". Retrieved 2017-09-22.

Harlan retired in the summer of 1939.

Personal life and death Harlan married Nellie Harvey in Camden, New Jersey and had a daughter named Marion.

In April 1938 Harlan had a stroke during a rehearsal. He was in critical condition in Hollywood Hospital, "conscious at intervals".

Harlan died on January 20, 1940, in Martinsville, Indiana, aged 75.

Selected filmographyA Black Sheep (1915) as Goodrich MuddA Stranger in New York (1916, Short) as The StrangerThe Resurrection of Dan Packard (1916)The Romance Promoters (1920) as Minor RoleThe Girl in the Taxi (1921) as Alexis Keeping Up with Lizzie (1921) as Sam Henshaw The Foolish Age (1921) as Old Top: Carr Diamonds Adrift (1921) as Brick McCannTwo Kinds of Women (1922) as Major LangworthyThe Right That Failed (1922) as Mr. Duffey Gay and Devilish (1922) as Peter Armitage (the uncle) The Understudy (1922) as Mr. ManningUp and at 'Em (1922) as William Jackson The Ladder Jinx (1922) as Thams GridleyThe Eternal Flame (1922) as Abbé ConrandWithout Compromise (1922) as Dr. Evans The World's a Stage (1922) as Richard Manseld Bishop The Spider and the Rose (1923) as The SecretaryTruxton King (1923) as HobbsMain Street (1923) as Ezra StowbodyThe Brass Bottle (1923) as Captain of the Guard The Victor (1923) as Chewing Gum Baron The Barefoot Boy (1923) as Wilson Pioneer Trails (1923) as 'Easy Aaron' CropseyThe Near Lady (1923) as Herman Schultz The Lullaby (1924) as Thomas Elliott The Clean Heart (1924)The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln (1924) as Denton OffutGeorge Washington Jr. (1924) as Sen. HopkinsThe White Sin (1924) as Judge LangleyMademoiselle Midnight (1924) as Padre Francisco One Law for the Woman (1924) as Judge BlakeWelcome Stranger (1924) as Seth TrimbleCaptain Blood (1924) as Corliss Code of the Wilderness (1924) as Uncle JephonThe Dixie Handicap (1924) as The Old RetainerThe Redeeming Sin (1925) as Papa chuchuOh Doctor! (1925) as Mr. ClinchHow Baxter Butted In (1925) as Amos NicholsNine and Three-Fifths Seconds (1925) as MotherbundFine Clothes (1925) as AlfredWhere Was I? (1925) as BennettLightnin' (1925) as ZebThe Limited Mail (1925) as Mr. JoffreyDollar Down (1925) as NorrisThunder Mountain (1925) as Jeff CoulterThe Perfect Clown (1925) as The BossThe Pay-Off (1926) as The Young Woman's FatherWhat Happened to Jones (1926) as Ebenezer Goodly Winning the Futurity (1926) as Tom GilesThe Prince of Pilsen (1926) as Bndit ChiefThe Midnight Message (1926) as Richard Macy3 Bad Men (1926) as Zach Little The Unknown Cavalier (1926) as Judge Blowfly JonesThe Whole Town's Talking (1926) as George SimmonnsThe Cheerful Fraud (1926) as Mr. BythewayThe Silent Rider (1927) as Sourdough JacksonDon't Tell the Wife (1927) as MagistrateDown the Strech (1927) as Babe DilleyThe Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927) as Old RuderSilk Stockings (1927) as Judge FosterGalloping Fury (1927) as Pop Tully The Shepherd of the Hills (1928) as By ThunderGood Morning, Judge (1928) as Jerry SnootThe Grip of the Yukon (1928) as Farrell O'NeilThe Speed Classic (1928) as The Thirsty OneSilks and Saddles (1929) as Jimmy McKeeClear the Decks (1929)Show Boat (1929) as Capt. Andy HawksBroadway (1929) as 'Porky' ThompsonHis Lucky Day (1929) as Jerome Van DyneGirl Overboard (1929) as Joe Evans Barnum Was Right (1929) as Samuel LockeThe Mississippi Gambler (1929) as Tiny Beardsley Take the Heir (1930) as John WalkerEmbarrassing Moments (1930) as Adam FullerParade of the West (1930) as Professor ClaytonLoose Ankles (1930) as Major Rupert HarperDames Ahoy! (1930) as Bill JonesCaptain of the Guard (1930) as JacquesThe King of Jazz (1930) as Charles's Intended Father-in-LawMountain Justice (1930) as Jud McTavishMan to Man (1930) as Rip HenryMillie (1931) as Luke - Counterman (uncredited)Aloha (1931) as Old BenMorals for Women (1931) as Mr. JohnstonAir Eagles (1931) as Mr. RamseyThe Big Shot (1931) as Doctor PeasleePartners (1932) as AuctioneerRacing Youth (1932) as DaveThe Rider of Death Valley (1932) as PeckRide Him, Cowboy (1932) as Judge JonesNo Living Witness (1932) as Pop EverettThat's My Boy (1932) as MayorWomen Won't Tell (1932) as Henry JonesThe Telegraph Trail (1933) as Uncle Zeke KellerMister Mugg (1933, Short)Laughing at Life (1933) as Businessman #1Doctor Bull (1933) as Agitator (uncredited) Marriage on Approval (1933) as Justice of the Peace Michael O'ConnorsHoop-La (1933) as Town Councilman - Side Show Customer (uncredited)The Sin of Nora Moran (1933) as Mr. MoranPalooka (1934) as Doorman Riley (uncredited)Let's Talk It Over (1934) as PurserI Can't Escape (1934) as Jim BonnThe Old Fashioned Way (1934) as Mr. Wendelschaffer (uncredited)King Kelly of the U.S.A. (1934) as Prime MinisterYoung and Beautiful (1934) as Sugar Daddy (uncredited)Music in the Air (1934) as Baker (uncredited)Life Returns (1935) as Dr. HendersonThe Hoosier Schoolmaster (1935) as Squire HawkinsChinatown Squad (1935) as Dad, on Sacramento Street (uncredited)Western Frontier (1935) as CookieDiamond Jim (1935) as Drunk (uncredited)A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) as Starveling - the TailorDr. Socrates (1935) as Fisher (uncredited)Hitch Hike Lady (1935) as Mayor LoomisThe Singing Kid (1936) as Bank Clerk (uncredited)Can This Be Dixie? (1936) as Thoma Jefferson PeachtreeRoamin' Holiday (1937, Short) as Hiram JenksWestern Gold (1937) as JakeSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) as Happy (voice, uncredited)Self Control (1938) as Uncle Smiley (voice, uncredited)Mr. Boggs Steps Out (1938) as Abner KatzScandal Street (1938) as Taxicab Driver (uncredited)Outlaws of Sonora (1938) as Pool playerThe Texans'' (1938) as Henry (uncredited) (final film role)

References

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