Gene Sheldon (born Eugene Hume, February 1, 1908 â€" May 1, 1982) was
an American actor, mime artist, and musician. He is remembered as the
mute servant Bernardo in Walt Disney's live-action Spanish Western
series Zorro (1957-1959).Born in Columbus, Ohio, Sheldon began acting
at an early age, serving as stage assistant to his father Earl, a
magician. His tasks included appearing as a girl, dressed
appropriately but not speaking. Sheldon also gained experience as a
radio announcer at age 17, broadcasting on Toledo, Ohio radio in
1925.His film debut was in the 1934 movie Susie's Affairs, as Slug the
Banjoist. The next year, he had a small part in the early Fred
Astaire, Ginger Rogers musical Roberta as a banjo player in the film's
band: In the musical number "Let's Begin" he had a short comedy scene
tuning the banjo and afterwards dancing in the comedy dance number
with Fred Astaire and Candy Candido.Sheldon appeared in the Broadway
revue Priorities of 1942, performing a comedy banjo act in which he
did not speak, wearing an outfit resembling the costume of silent film
comedian Harry Langdon and mimicking some of Langdon's distinctive
gestures.
an American actor, mime artist, and musician. He is remembered as the
mute servant Bernardo in Walt Disney's live-action Spanish Western
series Zorro (1957-1959).Born in Columbus, Ohio, Sheldon began acting
at an early age, serving as stage assistant to his father Earl, a
magician. His tasks included appearing as a girl, dressed
appropriately but not speaking. Sheldon also gained experience as a
radio announcer at age 17, broadcasting on Toledo, Ohio radio in
1925.His film debut was in the 1934 movie Susie's Affairs, as Slug the
Banjoist. The next year, he had a small part in the early Fred
Astaire, Ginger Rogers musical Roberta as a banjo player in the film's
band: In the musical number "Let's Begin" he had a short comedy scene
tuning the banjo and afterwards dancing in the comedy dance number
with Fred Astaire and Candy Candido.Sheldon appeared in the Broadway
revue Priorities of 1942, performing a comedy banjo act in which he
did not speak, wearing an outfit resembling the costume of silent film
comedian Harry Langdon and mimicking some of Langdon's distinctive
gestures.
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