Billy Gilbert was an American radio comedian, famous for his comical sneezing gags, who, for Disney, provided the voice of Sneezy the dwarf in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as well as Willie the Giant in the Fun and Fancy Free segment Mickey and the Beanstalk. It is believed by Animation Historian John Canemaker that Gilbert got the role of Sneezy by walking into Walt's office for his audition and sneezed 5 times, and Walt said, "Billy, you've got the job."
Gilbert was spotted by Stan Laurel, who was in the audience of Gilbert's show Sensations of 1929 and became employed as a gag writer, actor and director for Fox Film Corporation. He found similar work at Columbia Pictures, as well as in RKO short subjects. He later starred in many movies, such as His Girl Friday, Seven Sinners, Captain Courageous, Tin Pan Alley, The Under-Pup, The Great Dictator, Valley of the Sun, A Little Bit of Heaven, Rosalie, Rio, Anchors Aweigh, and Five Weeks in a Balloon.
On Broadway, he worked in several productions as an actor, writer, and director. These included acting roles in Fanny, The Chocolate Soldier, and Gypsy Lady, and his offstage work included The Red Mill, Sally, and Buttrio Square.
In the 1950s, Gilbert worked frequently in television with shows, like The Red Skelton Hour, The Danny Thomas Show, My Little Margie, Andy's Gang, Shirley Temple's Storybook, and a memorable pantomime sketch with Buster Keaton on You Asked for It.
On September 23, 1971, 11 days after his 77th birthday, Billy Gilbert died in Hollywood, California from a stroke and is buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
