Gil Stratton

Biography

Gil Stratton was originally billed as Gil Stratton, Jr. He had a young, wholesome juvenile look when, at the age of 19, he debuted on Broadway creating the role of Bud Hooper in the 1941 Broadway musical "Best Foot Forward", in which he sang and danced. Stratton continued working in New York on stage and in radio, which got him his first featured film role with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in Girl Crazy (1943). More films roles soon followed, usually playing himself in such movies as Dangerous Years (1947) and Half Past Midnight (1948). In Stalag 17 (1953) he made a noteworthy impression as "Cookie", the stuttering narrator. His small physical stature landed him the part of "Mousie", a smaller member of Marlon Brando's motorcycle gang in The Wild One (1953). He next played "Junior Jackson" in the 1954 sitcom That's My Boy (1954), which got the attention of management at the local Los Angeles CBS affiliate KNXT, and they offered him regular work as the daily sportscaster. That job wound up lasting more that 20 years and garnered him the reputation as one of the best sportscasters in the business. Being in Los Angeles also afforded Stratton the opportunity to continue work in films, often playing himself as an announcer, most notably in Mae West's last film, Sextette (1978). Although officially retired and living in Hawaii (where he moved in 1984), Stratton still occasionally keeps his hand in the film and TV business, such as his role as a café manager in the not particularly well received Dismembered (2003). He maintains a home in the Toluca Lake area of Los Angeles, but spends most of his time in Hawaii, where he also owns a radio station.