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Wally Cox

Wally Cox

Wally Cox was a beloved character actor who made his mark in television and ranks as one of the medium's most memorable performers. His ability to show his range likely was limited by his short stature, slight frame, and high-pitched voice, which along with his talent for being very funny, made him ideal for comedy parts such as his memorable turn as Professor P. Caspar Biddle in "The Bird-Watchers" episode of The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) in 1966. His television persona was that of a shy, timid man in horn-rimed glasses who spoke in a tentative, though distinctly enunciated, voice. It was a persona that his long-time friend Marlon Brando said was completely at odds with the real man.

Cox always will be remembered as the eponymous "Mr. Peepers" and the voice of "Underdog," but he was an actor of wider talents seldom used by the industry, as can be seen in his turns as the sonar operator in The Bedford Incident (1965) and as the potential suicide Wally Haverstraw in The Bill Cosby Show (1969) episode "Goodbye, Cruel World" in 1970. Dying unexpectedly on February 15, 1973, from what some newspapers described as an accidental overdose of sedatives but which Marlon Brando in his autobiography said was a heart attack, Wally Cox's cremated remains were kept hidden in a closet by his old friend for three decades. According to Brando's son Miko, both his father's and Cox's ashes were scattered at the same time in Death Valley, California, in a ceremony following Brando's death, thus reuniting the lifetime friends.

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Television: The First Fifty Years

Television: The First Fifty Years

1999

as Robinson J. Peepers (archive footage)

Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths

Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths

1990

as (archive footage)

Reel Horror

Reel Horror

1985

as Clyde (archive footage)

The Night Strangler

The Night Strangler

1973

as Mr. Berry

Once Upon a Mattress

Once Upon a Mattress

1972

as The Jester

Magic Carpet

Magic Carpet

1972

as Harold Kane

Search

Search

1972

McMillan & Wife

McMillan & Wife

1971

The Barefoot Executive

The Barefoot Executive

1971

as Mertons

Alias Smith and Jones

Alias Smith and Jones

1971

Up Your Teddy Bear

Up Your Teddy Bear

1970

as Clyde King

Night Gallery

Night Gallery

1970

The Wacky Zoo of Morgan City

The Wacky Zoo of Morgan City

1970

as Becker

The Odd Couple

The Odd Couple

1970

as Mr. Fegivney

The Boatniks

The Boatniks

1970

as Jason

The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County

The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County

1970

as Mr. Bester

The Young Country

The Young Country

1970

as Aaron Grimes / Ira Greebe

Quarantined

Quarantined

1970

as Wilbur Mott

Love, American Style

Love, American Style

1969

as Peter

The Bill Cosby Show

The Bill Cosby Show

1969

as Wally Haverstraw

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

1969

as Self

Here's Lucy

Here's Lucy

1968

as Rock Barnett

Here's Lucy

Here's Lucy

1968

as Wally Manley

Here's Lucy

Here's Lucy

1968

as Gustav Vandemeer

Here's Lucy

Here's Lucy

1968

as Tommy Tucker

The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band

The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band

1968

as Mr. Wampler

Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible

1968

as Terry Targo

It Takes a Thief

It Takes a Thief

1968

as Tourist

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

1967

as Self

A Guide for the Married Man

A Guide for the Married Man

1967

as Technical Adviser (Married 14 years)

Ironside

Ironside

1967

as Scoutmaster

Murder at N.B.C.

Murder at N.B.C.

1966

Hollywood Squares

Hollywood Squares

1966

as Self

The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

1966

The Bedford Incident

The Bedford Incident

1965

as Seaman Merlin Queffle

Get Smart

Get Smart

1965

Mister Roberts

Mister Roberts

1965

Lost in Space

Lost in Space

1965

as Tiabo

I Spy

I Spy

1965

as Herbie

Morituri

Morituri

1965

as Dr. Ambach

The Yellow Rolls-Royce

The Yellow Rolls-Royce

1964

as Ferguson

Fate Is the Hunter

Fate Is the Hunter

1964

as Ralph Bundy

Underdog

Underdog

1964

The Hollywood Palace

The Hollywood Palace

1964

as Self

Burke's Law

Burke's Law

1963

as Count Carlo Szipesti

Burke's Law

Burke's Law

1963

as Dr. Heresford Handy

Vacation Playhouse

Vacation Playhouse

1963

as Alfred

Spencer's Mountain

Spencer's Mountain

1963

as Preacher Goodman

Marilyn

Marilyn

1963

as Self ("Something's Got to Give") (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Lucy Show

The Lucy Show

1962

as Harold Tuttle

The Beverly Hillbillies

The Beverly Hillbillies

1962

as Professor P. Caspar Biddle

State Fair

State Fair

1962

as Hipplewaite

Something's Got to Give

Something's Got to Give

1962

as Shoe Salesman

The Dick Van Dyke Show

The Dick Van Dyke Show

1961

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

1959

as James Elwood

DuPont Show of the Month

DuPont Show of the Month

1957

as Messenger 7013

The Lux Show

The Lux Show

1957

as Self

Wagon Train

Wagon Train

1957

as Vincent Eaglewood

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

1956

as Self

The Adventures of Hiram Holliday

The Adventures of Hiram Holliday

1956

as Hiram Holliday

The Steve Allen Show

The Steve Allen Show

1956

as Self

Babes in Toyland

Babes in Toyland

1955

as Grumio, the Toymaker

Matinee Theater

Matinee Theater

1955

Babes in Toyland

Babes in Toyland

1954

as Grumio, the Toymaker

Max Liebman Presents

Max Liebman Presents

1954

Letter to Loretta

Letter to Loretta

1953

as Leslie Nettleton

General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater

1953

as Monroe Winkler

Mister Peepers

Mister Peepers

1952

as Robinson Peepers

Danger

Danger

1950

The Colgate Comedy Hour

The Colgate Comedy Hour

1950

as Self

Your Show of Shows

Your Show of Shows

1950

What's My Line?

What's My Line?

1950

as Self - Panelist

What's My Line?

What's My Line?

1950

as Self - Mystery Guest

Suspense

Suspense

1949

Suspense

Suspense

1949

as Ace McCoy