Billy Gilbert

The son of singers in the Metropolitan Opera, 'Billy Gilbert' (qv) began performing in vaudeville at age 12. He developed a drawn-out, explosive sneezing routine that became his trademark (he was the model for, and voice of, Sneezy in _Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)_ (qv)). Gilbert's exquisite comic timing made him the perfect foil for such comedians as 'Stan Laurel' (qv) and 'Oliver Hardy' (qv), and he was especially memorable as the dim-witted process server Pettibone in _His Girl Friday (1940)_ (qv).::frankfob2@yahoo.com