Charles Correll


Charles James Correll was an American radio comedian, actor and writer, known best for his work for the radio series Amos 'n' Andy with Freeman Gosden. Correll voiced the main character Andy Brown, along with various lesser characters.

Biography

Career

Correll was born in Peoria, Illinois. He worked originally as a stenographer and a bricklayer. He met Gosden in Durham, North Carolina while working for the Joe Bren Producing Company. Both Correll and Freeman vacationed at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin during the 1930s and would broadcast Amos 'n' Andy from there. From 1928 to 1934, the team never had a vacation away from their radio show. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Amos 'n' Andy, the broadcast of March 19, 1958 was done by Correll and Gosden using their real voices and calling each other by their real names; this had never been done for the program before.
During 1961-1962, Gosden and Correll provided the voices for the animated series Calvin and the Colonel for American Broadcasting Company-TV.

Last years

Correll died during 1972 in a Chicago hospital after a heart failure. At the time of his death he was retired and living in Beverly Hills, California, just a few blocks away from his radio partner, Freeman Gosden.

Personal life and family

Correll's first marriage to Marie Janes ended with divorce on May 26, 1937; the couple had been married for ten years and did not have any children. On September 11, 1937 in Glendale, California, he married Alyce McLaughlin, a former dancer; they had six children, Dorothy, Charles, Barbara, John, and Richard. On July 5, 1954, John Correll, his seven-year-old son, died of what seemed to be an accidental poisoning. An autopsy determined the young boy died of an acute kidney infection. A baby girl born to the couple during 1939 died when she was less than a day old.
His son, Charles Correll, Jr. became an actor and a director. Another son, Richard Correll also became an actor, remembered best as the character Richard Rickover of Leave It to Beaver and also produced and directed the television situation comedy Family Matters.

Political views

Correll supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election.

Legacy

The comedy team was named to the Radio Hall of Fame during 1962; Correll was symbolized by a star shape on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his radio work during 1969. During 1977, Correll was inducted in the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame along with Gosden.