Joseph Kearns Biography
Joseph Kearns was an accomplished American actor, who is best commemorated for his role as George Wilson on the CBS television series Dennis the Menace from 1959 till his death in 1962, and for providing the voice of the Doorknob in the 1951 animated Disney film, Alice in Wonderland.
Joseph Kearns Age
Joseph was 55 years old at the time of his death, he was born Joseph Sherrard Kearns on February 12, 1907, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America. He celebrated his birthday on February 12, every year and his birth sign is Aquarius.
Joseph Kearns Death
Joseph died on February 17, 1962 (aged 55) in Los Angeles, California. He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on February 11, 1962, during the third season of Dennis the Menace, after being on the Metrecal diet for six weeks
Joseph was hospitalized, but never regained consciousness and died on February 17, 1962, five days after his 55th birthday. He was buried at the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Joseph Kearns Education
Joseph studied at the University of Utah, teaching a course in theatrical make-up to fund his tuition. After graduating from college, he briefly tried his hand at wool buying and worked for his father for a year.
Joseph traveled the West as a representative of Howell, Jones, and Donnell of Boston. His wool-buying job came to an abrupt end when Joseph bought five boxcars full of black wool from a breed called Karakul for $8,000.
The problem was that black wool could not be dyed and no one knew how to use it in those days. After this fiasco, Joseph gladly gave up the wool business and pursued a show business profession.
Joseph Kearns Family
Joseph Kearns Parents and Siblings
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Kearns moved with his family to California when he was very young. His mother was Cordelia M. Kearns, a concert pianist, from whom Joseph derived his passion for music.
Joseph and his family were faithful Mormons, whose ancestors were Mormon pioneers. His first experience of acting was in 1916 when he joined ‘The Rising Generation”, a vaudeville troupe of eleven children that toured for 14 months.
Joseph Kearns Wife
Joseph never married nor had any children. Describing himself as a night owl who hated to get up early in the morning, He enjoyed cooking, reading novels, writing, traveling, going to the movies, and playing cards in his spare time.
Joseph Kearns Net Worth
Joseph has an estimated net worth of $7 million dollars as of 2021. This includes his assets, money, and income. His primary source of income was his career as an Actor. Through his various sources of income, Joseph has been able to accumulate a good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Joseph Kearns Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Joseph.
Joseph Kearns Wikipedia
- Full Names: Joseph Sherrard Kearns.
- Popular As: Joseph Kearns.
- Gender: Male.
- Occupation / Profession: Actor.
- Nationality: American.
- Race / Ethnicity: Pending Update.
- Religion: Christian.
- Sexual Orientation: Straight.
Joseph Kearns Birthday
- Zodiac Sign: Aquarius.
- Date of Birth: February 12, 1907.
- Place of Birth: Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Date of Death: February 17, 1962 (aged 55).
- Place of Death: Los Angeles, California.
- Birthday: February 12.
Joseph Kearns Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Pending Update.
- Mother: Cordelia M. Kearns.
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Pending Update.
- Marital Status: Was Single.
- Wife/Spouse: Not Available.
- Dating / Girlfriend: Was Single.
- Children: Pending Update.
Joseph Kearns Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $7 million dollars as of 2021.
Joseph Kearns Radio
Joseph joined the staff of radio station KSL in Salt Lake City in 1930 remaining there until 1936 when he moved to Los Angeles. He started his acting profession in radio in the 1930s, becoming active during the 1940s, with features on the shows The Adventures of Sam Spade, Burns and Allen, The Whistler, and dozens of other shows.
On Suspense, he was almost a mainstay, heard regularly as the host “The Man in Black” in the early years, announcing many episodes in the later run, and playing supporting and occasional lead roles in hundreds of shows throughout the series’ tenure in Hollywood, from judges to kindly old-timers to cowards. He also appeared on The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, playing various different characters including Professor Moriarty and even Dr. Watson.
Kearns played Ed, the security guard for Jack Benny’s underground money vault, on The Jack Benny Program. The running gag was that Benny had kept Ed on duty at the vault’s door so long that the guard was not conversant with current events.
When Benny informed him that “The War” (World War II) had ended, Ed asked whether the “North” or the “South” had won, assuming that the American Civil War was the war Benny referred to. He played numerous parts on the Benny show, including an IRS Agent. (“NO ONE yells at a tax collector, Mr. Benny!”).
He appeared in regular roles on The Mel Blanc Show (as the cantankerous father of Mel’s on-air girlfriend, Betty, played by Mary Jane Croft) and The Harold Peary Show as Old Doc Yak-Yak. He also played numerous comedic parts on Judy Canova’s radio show, including her “dumb boyfriend”, Lukey.
Joseph Kearns Actor
Kearns made his film debut in Hard, Fast, and Beautiful (1951). He was the voice of the Doorknob in Disney’s animated film, Alice in Wonderland (1951). Kearns appeared in other movies, making his final film appearance as the crime photographer in Anatomy of a Murder (1959).
On television, Kearns reprised his radio roles on The Jack Benny Program and also appeared with Eve Arden and Richard Crenna in Our Miss Brooks (1953–55), first as Assistant Superintendent Michaels and later (in eight episodes) as Superintendent Stone, a role that he had played on the radio.
He appeared on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show a total of 11 times, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet a total of 16 times, I Love Lucy, My Little Margie, Perry Mason, I Married Joan, Willy, December Bride, It’s a Great Life, Angel, Gunsmoke, and General Electric Theater. Kearns played Fred on Professional Father. In 1959, Kearns appeared as criminologist Edward Langley in the Perry Mason episode, “The Case of the Perjured Parrot”.
Kearns’ final role was as George Wilson, the grouchy, cantankerous neighbor on CBS’s Dennis the Menace based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham. After his death, Kearns was replaced in the cast by Gale Gordon, who played George Wilson’s brother John. Kearns and Gordon had worked together prior to Dennis the Menace, on the old radio show The Cinnamon Bear and in the 1956 film Our Miss Brooks.
In the last episode that aired before Kearns’ death, episode 89 entitled “Where There’s a Will”, the story dealt with Mr. Wilson making out a will and explaining that Dennis would inherit his gold watch when he dies. The last episode Kearns filmed was titled “The Man Next Door”, episode 100, and shown on May 6, 1962, three months after his death. There were references to George being ‘back east’ in subsequent shows.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joseph Kearns
Who was Joseph Kearns?
Joseph was an accomplished American actor, who is best commemorated for his role as George Wilson on the CBS television series Dennis the Menace from 1959 till his death in 1962, and for providing the voice of the Doorknob in the 1951 animated Disney film, Alice in Wonderland.
How old was Joseph Kearns?
Joseph was an American national born on February 12, 1907, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Was Joseph Kearns married?
Details about Joseph’s love life are still under review.
How much is Joseph Kearns worth?
Joseph has a net worth of $7 million dollars as of 2021. This amount has been accrued from his leading roles in the entertainment industry.
Is Joseph Kearns dead or alive?
Joseph died on February 17, 1962 (aged 55) in Los Angeles, California. He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on February 11, 1962, during the third season of Dennis the Menace, after being on the Metrecal diet for six weeks
Joseph Kearns Social Media Contacts
- Instagram: Pending Update.
- Twitter: Pending Update.
- Facebook: Pending Update.
- Youtube: Pending Update.
- Tiktok: Pending Update.
- Website: Pending Update.
Related Biographies.
You may also like to read the Bio, Career, Family, Relationship, Body measurements, Net worth, Achievements, and more about:
Reference:
We acknowledge the following websites that we have referenced as we were writing this article.:
- Wikipedia
- IMDB
- Instagram and
- Youtube
About InformationCradle Editorial Staff
This Article is produced by InformationCradle Editorial Staff which is a team of expert writers and editors led by Josphat Gachie and trusted by millions of readers worldwide.
We endeavor to keep our content True, Accurate, Correct, Original and Up to Date. For complain, correction or an update, please send us an email to informationcradle@gmail.com. We promise to take corrective measures to the best of our abilities.
