Joseph Tapley Dougherty (November 4, 1898 – April 19, 1978) was an American actor, who provided the original voice of the Warner Bros. animation character, Porky Pig, starting with the character's debut in I Haven't Got a Hat in 1935 through Porky's Romance in 1937. Treg Brown changed his voice for Porky. Due to Dougherty's stutter, Count Cutelli was brought for additional lines due to the length of the audio and budgetary issues.
After that, Mel Blanc took over the role and voiced Porky for 52 years. Dougherty spoke with a natural stutter that became one of the character's trademarks; Dougherty's inability to control his stutter was a factor in the part being recast. According to Friz Freleng, the director of I Haven't Got a Hat, Dougherty would get nervous every time they said cut. Freleng also called the casting for someone who stuttered and they landed on Dougherty.Friz Freleng at Reg Hartt's Cineforum, Toronto, Canada, 1980. 12:27-13:11Friz on Film
Early life and career Dougherty was born in Missouri. Before becoming an actor, Dougherty attended medical school at the University of Nebraska, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. When Friz Freleng needed someone who had stuttering issues do the role of Porky Pig, the casting director hired Dougherty. Dougherty would continue voicing the character from 1935 until 1937 when Mel Blanc took over the role of the character presumably because Dougherty could not control his stuttering issues.
Before he was fired, Count Cutelli was brought in to provide the additional lines for Porky. His last role ever was in the TV program Pistols 'n' Petticoats, where he played the role of Floyd Sullivan in one episode before officially retiring.
Death Dougherty died on April 19, 1978, in Los Angeles, California from a heart attack. He was 79 years old.
Partial filmography +YearTitleRoleNotes1935I Haven't Got a HatPorky PigGold Diggers of '491936Boom BoomWestward WhoaPlane DippyFish TalesPorky's PetPorky's Poultry PlantMilk and MoneyLittle Beau PorkyPorky in the North Woods1937Porky's Romance1938Berth QuakesVoices1949Knock on Any DoorMan (uncredited)on-screen role1950ShakedownManStorm WarningTownsman1954A Star Is BornMakeup Man #3 (uncredited)1955East of EdenTownsman at Carnival1956Around the World in 80 DaysExtra (uncredited)1966The LonerTownsman (uncredited)episode: "A Little Scroll to the End of the Line", also on-screen role1967Pistols 'n' PetticoatsFloyd Sullivanon-screen role; episode: "Harold's Double"
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