Wonga Philip Harris was an American actor, comedian, singer and songwriter. He was an orchestra leader and a pioneer in radio situation comedy, first with The Jack Benny Program, then in The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show in which he co-starred with his wife, singer-actress Alice Faye, for eight years. Harris is also noted for his voice acting in animated films. As a voice actor, he played Baloo in The Jungle Book (1967), Thomas O'Malley in The Aristocats (1970), Little John in Robin Hood (1973), and Patou in Rock-a-Doodle (1991). As a singer, he recorded a number one novelty hit record, "The Thing" (1950).
Harris in 1956
Harris in The High and the Mighty
Harris, Faye, and their two daughters, Alice and Phyllis, in 1948
The Jack Benny Program, starring Jack Benny, is a radio and television comedy series.
The show ran for over three decades, from 1932 to 1955 on radio, and from 1950 to 1965 on television. It won numerous awards, including the 1959 Emmy for Best Comedy Show, and is generally regarded as a high-water mark in 20th-century American comedy.
Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, and Eddie Anderson (Rochester) in a group portrait
Jack Benny as Robinson Crusoe with Dennis Day as his man Friday, 1963
Benny was part of a USO show entertaining US troops in Korea. Here, he relaxes between shows.
Jack Benny rehearses with members of the California Junior Symphony Orchestra, 1959