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Alan Carney

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alan Carney
Carney in Mr. Lucky (1943)
Born
David Boughal

(1909-12-22)December 22, 1909
DiedMay 2, 1973(1973-05-02) (aged 63)
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years active1941–1973

Alan Carney (born David Boughal; December 22, 1909 – May 2, 1973) was an American actor and comedian.

Biography

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Alan Carney was born David Boughal in Brooklyn, New York, on December 22, 1909. His parents, Edward and Nellie (Kearney) Boughal, were Irish immigrants.

He performed in vaudeville for years. After making his first film, 1941's Convoy, Carney signed a contract at RKO Pictures and appeared in choice supporting roles in such films as Mr. Lucky.

In 1943, Carney teamed up with Wally Brown as RKO's answer to Abbott and Costello. In addition to their inexpensive starring vehicles, Brown and Carney co-starred in Step Lively, a musical remake of the Marx Brothers film Room Service. Wally played Chico's part, while Alan Carney filled in for Harpo; the "Groucho" role was essayed by George Murphy. The comedy team was also featured on a live USO tour arranged by the studio.

After 1946's Genius at Work, RKO terminated the team's contracts. Alan Carney continued in films and television as a supporting player, working prolifically at Disney Studios in the 1960s and 1970s. One of Carney's best latter-day roles was as Mayor Dawgmeat in the 1959 musical film Li'l Abner. On television he played Harry Nolan in "Have Gun Will Travel" S1 E32 "The Five Books of Owen Deaver" which aired 4/25/1958.

Carney appeared with Wally Brown in Who Was That Lady? (1960) and in Walt Disney's The Absent-Minded Professor (1961), but they never appeared in the same scenes together. The duo was slated to be reunited for It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), but Brown died not long before filming began.

Alan Carney made his last film appearance in Walt Disney Productions' Herbie Rides Again, released in 1974 after his death.

He died in Van Nuys, California, of a heart attack at the age of 63 from the excitement of winning the daily double at Hollywood Park Racetrack.[1]

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "Alan Carney Dies. Comedian Was 63". The New York Times. May 5, 1973. Retrieved 2015-02-10. Alan Carney, film and stage comedian who was at one time under contract to both R.K.O. and Disney Studios, died Wednesday of a heart attack after having won the daily double at Hollywood Park.
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