George Givot

Biography

Dapper American character actor and radio personality, born in Omaha, Nebraska. After attending Chicago University, Givot entered show business as a comedian with the Ziegfeld Follies. His particular forte was mimicking a variety of ethnic dialects. Performing in vaudeville and in nightclubs, he scored an immediate hit with his comic creation, the "Greek Ambassador of Good Will", an English-fracturing Greek immigrant. He took this character with him to radio, where he worked for some time on the Jimmy Durante Show. Continuing popularity led to appearances in two-reel comedies and feature films. By the end of the 1930's, Givot had intended to settle down as a 'gentleman farmer' on his estate in Tarzana, California. However, a messy marital break-up and debts incurred in a failed business venture forced him back into the acting profession, albeit mostly in dramatic parts. However, his aptitude as a dialectician continued to be put to good use in Road to Morocco (1942) (as Neb Jolla), Behind the Rising Sun (1943) (as the hearty Russian newspaper man Boris), Captain Pirate (1952) (Tomas Velasquez) and China Gate (1957) (as ex-Parisian policeman Pigalle). From 1944, Givot took time out from the movies to return to Broadway, appearing in the musical comedy "Mexican Hayride" as Lombo Compos, partnering fellow vaudevillian Bobby Clark in a numbers racket. Towards the end of his career, Givot returned to his roots as a voice actor and is probably best remembered for voicing the gentle Italian restaurateur Tony in Lady and the Tramp (1955).