Motion Picture Actor, Screenwriter. He was the voice of the cartoon star Popeye the Sailor for over 40 years. Mercer was born in Worthington, Indiana, the son of vaudeville entertainers with whom he performed from childhood. His twin interests in art and show business led him to join the Fleischer Studio as an apprentice animator around 1931. In 1935, Billy Costello, the original voice of Popeye, was dismissed for becoming too difficult to work with, and the Fleischers were searching for a replacement. Lou Fleischer, the studio's music director, overheard Mercer amusing his coworkers with a "really good" Popeye impression, and told his brothers Max and Dave. The would-be animator landed the role with one audition and made his debut in "King of the Mardi Gras" (1935). Costello had already established Popeye's key vocal traits, but he was a singer rather than an actor. Mercer proved to be a superior comedian who brought engaging warmth and humor to the character, making him more appealing to audiences. The hilarious ad-libbed comments he injected into the sailor's mutterings got him an additional job as a gag writer, and from 1942 he received story credit for many entries in the series. Mercer went on to voice not only Popeye but Wimpy, Popeye's nephews, and Poopdeck Pappy in over 400 theatrical and television cartoons. He also worked on the Fleischers' animated features "Gulliver's Travels" (as King Little, 1939) and "Mr. Bug Goes to Town" (1941), and provided all the voices for TV's "Felix the Cat" (1959 to 1960). A heart attack in 1978 forced Mercer into semi-retirement. He died of cancer in Queens, New York.
Motion Picture Actor, Screenwriter. He was the voice of the cartoon star Popeye the Sailor for over 40 years. Mercer was born in Worthington, Indiana, the son of vaudeville entertainers with whom he performed from childhood. His twin interests in art and show business led him to join the Fleischer Studio as an apprentice animator around 1931. In 1935, Billy Costello, the original voice of Popeye, was dismissed for becoming too difficult to work with, and the Fleischers were searching for a replacement. Lou Fleischer, the studio's music director, overheard Mercer amusing his coworkers with a "really good" Popeye impression, and told his brothers Max and Dave. The would-be animator landed the role with one audition and made his debut in "King of the Mardi Gras" (1935). Costello had already established Popeye's key vocal traits, but he was a singer rather than an actor. Mercer proved to be a superior comedian who brought engaging warmth and humor to the character, making him more appealing to audiences. The hilarious ad-libbed comments he injected into the sailor's mutterings got him an additional job as a gag writer, and from 1942 he received story credit for many entries in the series. Mercer went on to voice not only Popeye but Wimpy, Popeye's nephews, and Poopdeck Pappy in over 400 theatrical and television cartoons. He also worked on the Fleischers' animated features "Gulliver's Travels" (as King Little, 1939) and "Mr. Bug Goes to Town" (1941), and provided all the voices for TV's "Felix the Cat" (1959 to 1960). A heart attack in 1978 forced Mercer into semi-retirement. He died of cancer in Queens, New York.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
Inscription
CPL US ARMY
World War II
Family Members
Advertisement
