Jackson Beck (July 23, 1912 â€" July 28, 2004) was an American actor
best known as the announcer on radio's The Adventures of Superman and
the voice of Bluto in the Famous era Popeye theatrical shorts.Beck was
born on July 23, 1912, in New York City. Beck's father, Max Beck, was
a silent film actor.Beck's early radio experience included work at
WINS and WHN, both in New York City. Beginning in 1931, he worked on
Myrt and Marge, among other roles. In 1934, he was the announcer for
The Adventures of Babe Ruth on the radio. In 1943, he took over as
narrator of radio's The Adventures of Superman; it was Beck who
intoned the familiar prologue "strange visitor from another planet..."
He also had recurring roles, voicing an occasional tough guy and also
portraying Beany Martin, the Daily Planet's teenage copy boy. On
Superman episodes featuring Batman, he played Bruce Wayne's butler,
Alfred Pennyworth.He also impersonated Joseph Stalin and other world
leaders for The March of Time radio series, starred as The Cisco Kid
on radio from 1942 to 1945 and sleuth Philo Vance in a syndicated
series from 1948 to 1950, starred in the dramatic anthology Brownstone
Theater on Mutual, and served as narrator for the radio adventures of
Tom Corbett, Space Cadet.
best known as the announcer on radio's The Adventures of Superman and
the voice of Bluto in the Famous era Popeye theatrical shorts.Beck was
born on July 23, 1912, in New York City. Beck's father, Max Beck, was
a silent film actor.Beck's early radio experience included work at
WINS and WHN, both in New York City. Beginning in 1931, he worked on
Myrt and Marge, among other roles. In 1934, he was the announcer for
The Adventures of Babe Ruth on the radio. In 1943, he took over as
narrator of radio's The Adventures of Superman; it was Beck who
intoned the familiar prologue "strange visitor from another planet..."
He also had recurring roles, voicing an occasional tough guy and also
portraying Beany Martin, the Daily Planet's teenage copy boy. On
Superman episodes featuring Batman, he played Bruce Wayne's butler,
Alfred Pennyworth.He also impersonated Joseph Stalin and other world
leaders for The March of Time radio series, starred as The Cisco Kid
on radio from 1942 to 1945 and sleuth Philo Vance in a syndicated
series from 1948 to 1950, starred in the dramatic anthology Brownstone
Theater on Mutual, and served as narrator for the radio adventures of
Tom Corbett, Space Cadet.
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