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The Caretaker, semi-officially named Silas Crump, is a character found within the Haunted Mansion.

History[]

Background[]

The Caretaker is the groundskeeper for the Haunted Mansion and/or its adjacent cemetery. He does a nightly job with his dog with both master and pet being terrified of the manor's undead residents.

Many names have been put forward for the Caretaker over the years but the closest to an official one is Silas Crump. This name coming from a crate which could once be found in Liberty Square which was addressed to him.

Appearance[]

All the figures share the same face mold and basic costume (barring variations in the length of his scarf). The hairstyle of the Caretaker varies considerably however; for example when Walt Disney World first opened, he sported red hair with a Lincoln beard, something still displayed in the Tokyo Disneyland attraction, meanwhile the Disneyland version is clean-shaven with white hair.

Appearances[]

The Haunted Mansion[]

The Caretaker appears in all mainstream versions of the Haunted Mansion. He and his dog stand at the gates of the cemetery right after the guests fall from the attic. The caretaker and dog are seen cowering at the sight of the ghosts.

Live-Appearances[]

The Caretaker has made a handful of meet 'n' greet appearances as a face character, where he gives his dog's name to be "Bones". He notably opened the opening show to the Mansion's 50th-anniversary celebrations in 2019, warning the audience that he was feeling, down into his bones, that more supernatural activity would be afoot tonight than there had been ever since the Mansion first opened five decades earlier.

Other Appearances[]

Film[]

The Haunted Mansion (film)[]

The caretaker and his dog make a brief cameo as ghosts during the graveyard sequence. In this depiction, the dog's breed is identified as a Labrador retriever and is shown to be healthy in shape.

Early script drafts gave him a speaking role warning the Evers about the hauntings with the intent of casting Don Knotts. However, the character was regulated into a cameo, with an uncredited Knotts playing him as his last live-action film role.

Haunted Mansion (2023 film)[]

The Caretaker and his dog appear in this movie, wherein they are depicted as ghosts, much like in the 2003 film. Here, they make their first appearance in a vision Ben Matthias is drawn into. As Ben visits the graveyard, the Caretaker, his dog, and the Hitchhiking Ghosts all manifest. The Caretaker warns Ben against entering the graveyard, unless he wants to go to the afterlife. He later helps the protagonists defeat the villain, Alistair Crump, during the climax and remains in the mansion as a resident, helping the new owners and becoming part of their family.

Television[]

The Mouse Factory[]

The Caretaker, under the name of Clyde, is briefly seen in Episode 4 of the TV series, Spooks and Magic, now being the caretaker of "Diller's Midnight Manor" (the Mansion as renamed and taken over by host Phyllis Diller).

Muppets Haunted Mansion[]

The Gravedigger, portrayed by Darren Criss, appears in the Disney+ special, with a Muppet dog.

Printed Material[]

The Ghost Gallery[]

In the 1990s, cast-members of the Haunted Mansion in Walt Disney World created a backstory for the attraction as a means of answering guest questions. All of this backstory was recorded on paper and while unofficial, has since influenced both the original Haunted Mansion's official and semi-official features as-well as adaptations based on the Haunted Mansion.

In this story, he is a Walt Disney World cast-member named Dick O'Dell who was given a room in the Haunted Mansion to live in after the manor was moved to Florida from New York as an attraction. His dog is the child of Loki, the ghost dog seen in the ride who itself is the child of the Hellhound in the ride which once belonged to Master Gracey.

The Haunted Mansion (SLG Comics)[]

The Caretaker is named Horace Fusselbottom in the comics. While depicted as incredibly nervous and easy to frighten, Horace actually has a courageous spirit beneath his frightened façade, with the ghosts enjoying his company so much that they frighten away a replacement in "The New Groundskeeper".

In "The Groundskeeper's Secret", his motivation for taking the job of watching over a haunted house and graveyard is revealed. A widower, Horace buried his deceased wife in the graveyard adjacent to the Mansion, allowing him to meet her spirit every night while on the job.

Video Games[]

The Haunted Mansion (video game)[]

Main Article: Zeke Holloway

The caretaker appears in this adoption as a ghost in the winter gardens, although his dog is written out. He makes his appearance once the level is completed and is shown to be disgruntled, often remarking that no person is around to pay him for his work. Notably, the game's main protagonist, Ezekiel "Zeke" Holloway, is inspired by the Caretaker.

Disney Crossy Road[]

The Caretaker is a playable character in the Haunted Mansion levels of this mobile-game.

Gallery[]

Wiki
The Disney Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Caretaker.

Trivia[]

  • In Phantom Manor, the Phantom serves to fill in the Caretaker's niche, being found holding a shoulder with his own undead dog outside the mansion following the bride scene.
  • The name "Silas Crump" is a tribute to imagineer Rolly Crump, who worked on the Haunted Mansion.
  • There are several adoptions and art that show both the Caretaker and his dog reimagined or rewritten as ghosts.
  • During the seasonal overlay Haunted Mansion Holiday, the Caretaker and his dog are replaced by Jack and his ghost dog Zero.


v - e - d
Disney Parks - The Haunted Mansion - Transparent Logo
Media
Films: The Haunted Mansion (video/soundtrack) • Haunted Mansion (video/soundtrack)

Television specials: Muppets Haunted Mansion
Shows: Chibi Tiny TalesRandom Rings
Books: Tales from the Haunted MansionThe Haunted MansionDisney Kingdoms: The Haunted MansionKingdom KeepersThe Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney ClassicThe Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies
Video Games: Adventures in the Magic KingdomThe Haunted MansionWalt Disney World ExplorerKinect: Disneyland AdventuresDisney Infinity: 2.0 EditionDisney Crossy RoadDisney Emoji BlitzThe Haunted Mansion: The Black Widow Bride

Disney Parks
The Haunted MansionPhantom ManorMystic ManorHaunted Mansion HolidayMemento MoriMuseum of the Weird
Characters
Ghost HostMadame LeotaCaretakerMaster GraceyHatbox GhostHitchhiking GhostsThe Singing BustsGeorge HightowerConstance HatchawayRavenCaptain GoreLittle LeotaOrganistThe Coffin OccupantSally SlaterThe BridePickwickThe MarinerPrudence PockBluebeardDeathThe ExecutionerThe Beheaded KnightDuelistsGramsAlexander NitrokoffQuicksand MenWerecat LadyBlack PrinceMedusaThe Watchful BustsMiss April DecemberDraculaSpidersOne-Eyed Black CatShadow PianistThe HellhoundHaunted ArmorThe MummyGargoylesThe AlligatorBatsThe Purple ShroudOrgan BansheesWraithsHaunted TreesCaretaker's DogPhantom FiveGraveyard OwlsGraveyard CatsPop-Up GhostsThe King, the Queen, and the DuchessBicycle GhostsGraveyard SpectersDread FamilyPlaque Devil

Phantom Manor: Melanie RavenswoodHenry RavenswoodMartha RavenswoodGoliathThe GardenerThe River CreatureJake the ForemanThe Ticket SellerThe ApothecaryMayor of Phantom Canyon
Mystic Manor: Henry MysticAlbertCaptain Mary OceaneerMaestro D'ElfmanChinese Dragon StatueChinese ArmorCarnivorous PlantSamurai ArmorLava IdolTribal Totem PolesDrummer IdolWarrior IdolsThe Monkey King Statue
Haunted Mansion Holiday: Jack SkellingtonOogie BoogieLock, Shock and BarrelSallyZeroThe Vampire Teddy-BearZeroThe Giant SnakeThe Man-Eating WreathThe One Hiding Under Your BedSkeleton Reindeer
The Museum of the the Weird: The Mistress of EvilThe CandlemanMadame ZarkovThe Grandfather Coffin ClockThe Ghost FishThe Beast Man
Characters from Spinoffs: Elizabeth HenshawRamsleyEmmaEzraJim EversSara EversMegan EversMichael EversZombiesZeke HollowayAtticus ThornAmicus ArcaneDanny CroweMaxwell KeepMelody KeepRoland KeepThe Fiery DragonBen MatthiasFather KentGabbieHarrietBruce DavisTravisPatVic

Songs
Grim Grinning Ghosts

Haunted Mansion Holiday: Kidnap the Sandy ClawsMaking Christmas
Mystic Manor: Mystic Manor Theme Song
Muppets Haunted Mansion: Rest in PeaceLife HereafterTie the Knot TangoDancing in the Moonlight
Spinoffs: Down by the Old Mill StreamShe'll Be Coming 'Round the MountainBy the Beautiful SeaWhen the Saints Go Marching InSuperstitionBridal ChorusHis Soul Left Gloss on the Rose

See also
Gracey ManorThe Flying DutchmanThe Ghost Relations DepartmentBat StanchionsGriffin StatuesFloating CandelabraFace ArmchairGrandfather ClockLeota's SpellbookPipe OrganTarot CardsMystic ManorRavenswood ManorBig Thunder MountainThunder MesaBig Thunder Mining CompanyIocane PowderBeacon of SoulsSoul GemsSeaman's RingCrump ManorEvers and Evers Real Estate


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Disney Crossy Road Logo
Media
Disney Crossy RoadSoundtrack
Disney
Mickey Mouse & Friends: MickeyMinnieDonaldDaisyGoofyPlutoFifiPeteClarabelle CowHorace HorsecollarWillie the GiantChip and DaleMortimer MouseChief O'HaraDetective CaseyButch the BulldogGolden HarpFather TimePeter Pig

The Lion King: SimbaNalaShenzi, Banzai, and EdOstrichGazelleRhinoHippoZebraBlue BeetleGrubZazuRafikiTimonPumbaaMufasaScar
Tangled: RapunzelFlynn RiderStabbington BrothersPub ThugsAttilaVladBig NoseHook HandUlfShortyPascalMaximusMother GothelThe KingThe QueenCaptain of the GuardsWarthogThe Lantern
Wreck-It Ralph: RalphVanellopeFelixSgt. CalhounKing CandyTaffyta MuttonfudgeCandleheadSurge ProtectorGeneNicelandersRancis FluggerbutterOther Sugar Rush RacersSour BillBlue RacerGeneral Hologram
Big Hero 6: Hiro HamadaBaymaxRobert CallaghanGo Go TomagoHoney LemonWasabiFredFred's DadTadashi HamadaCassYamaAlistair KreiHeathcliffAbbigail CallaghanMegabotSergeant GersonCass
Zootopia: Judy HoppsNick WildeFlashClawhauserGazelleYaxBogoMayor LionheartBellwetherDougFinnickMr. BigMr. OttertonManchasGideonJerry Jumbeaux Jr.NangiPriscillaMr. HoppsMrs. HoppsBusiness LemmingDuke WeaseltonFru FruKozlovOfficer McHornWrangledWreck-It RhinoPig Hero 6
The Jungle Book: MowgliKaaBalooAkelaRakshaGrayShere KhanColonel HathiKing LouieBandar-Log MonkeyFlying SquirrelCrocodilePeacockVultureElephantBee Hive
Alice Through the Looking Glass: Alice KingsleighDormouseTweedledee and TweedledumCheshire CatBandersnatchBayardWhite QueenMarch HareWhite RabbitMad HatterAbsolemTimeWilkinsHumpty DumptyRed QueenBorogroveFrog Delivery ManGentleman FishVegetable SoldierVegetable ServantVegetable ExecutionerArmored Chess Piece
Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack SparrowWill TurnerElizabeth SwannJoshamee GibbsTia DalmaJames NorringtonMartyCottonBootstrap Bill TurnerPintelRagettiAngelicaBlackbeardPrison DogMaccusDavy JonesHelmsmanPhilip SwiftSyrenaCaptain SalazarGhost LesaroShansaHenry TurnerCarina SmythThe RedheadMurtoggMullroyTreasure ChestStray CatTinyPirate With PigsGhost SharkGhost SeagullAuctioneer
Aladdin: AladdinJasmineThe SultanPrince AchmedGazeemRazoulRajahIagoAbuGenieJafarMagic CarpetPink FlamingoBeggar JafarGolden Scarab BeetleMagic LampSnake CharmerGolden Camel
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Jack SkellingtonSallyLock, Shock, and BarrelOogie BoogieSanta ClausBehemothWolfmanCorpse FamilyVampiresMummy BoyMayor of Halloween TownDr. FinkelsteinJewelHarlequin DemonZeroCreature Under the StairsHanging TreeHelgamine and ZeldabornMelting ManSkeletal ReindeerEaster BunnyMr. HydeIgorWinged DemonDevilCyclopsMummy BoyAccordion Player, Bass Player, and Saxophone PlayerZombie Toy DuckVampire Teddy
Mulan: MulanYao, Ling, and Chien PoFa LiFa ZhouHayabusaKhanCri-KeeLittle BrotherMushuShan YuCaptain Li ShangThe Emperor of ChinaThe MatchmakerGeneral LiGrandmother FaFirst Ancestor FaChi-FuGreat Stone Dragon
Moana: MoanaSinaFrigatebirdChief TuiGramma TalaPuaFrigatebirdKakamora ChiefMauiHeiHeiGhost MataiEelTamatoaFrog MonsterSloth MonsterEight Eyed BatChicken FeedMaui's HookThe Ocean
Beauty and the Beast: BelleMauriceChip PottsMrs. PottsGastonLeFouFrouFrouChapeauPlumetteBeastCogsworthLumiereThe Enchantress
Lilo & Stitch: Lilo PelekaiNani PelekaiDavid KawenaMrs. HasagawaMertle EdmondsStitch
DuckTales: Scrooge McDuckDonald Duck (Classic)Huey, Dewey, and LouieWebbigail VanderquackMrs. BeakleyBeagle Boys (Big Time, Burger, and Bouncer)GyroDarkwing DuckFalcon GravesPixiu Chinese DragonPeghook's GhostLaunchpad McQuackHack and Slash SmashnikovGizmoduckShadow MagicaMa BeagleFlintheart GlomgoldPharaoh Toth-RaHeadless Man-Horse

Pixar
Toy Story: WoodyJessieBuzz LightyearHammEmperor ZurgRexSlinky DogMrs. NesbitBo PeepWheezyBabyheadBullseyeLennyThe ProspectorMint in the Box ProspectorTrixieBig BabyGreen Army MenBabyfaceJaney DollStretchBookwormRocky GibraltarMr. PricklepantsChucklesButtercup

Inside Out: JoySadnessAngerDisgustFearBing BongFrank and DaveForgettersJanglesRainbow Unicorn
Finding Dory: DoryDebGurglePearlSheldonTadGillBloatSquirtNemoMarlinJacquesBubblesDestinyBaileyGeraldFlukeRudderHankCrushMr. RayBeckyJellyfishAnglerFishOtterCharlieJennyPhilip Sherman
Monsters, Inc.: BooNeedlemanWaxfordC.D.A. AgentMike WazowskiCelia MaeFlintMr. WaternooseJames P. SullivanRandall BoggsRozPhlegmCharlieSimulation KidGarbage CubeHarleySpike
The Incredibles: Bob ParrHelen ParrDashVioletJack-JackLucius BestSyndromeEdna ModeRick DickerGilbert HuphKari McKeenBomb VoyageRusty McAllisterThe UnderminerOmnidroid

Disney Parks
The Haunted Mansion: Professor Phineas PlumpMaidGargoyleCaretaker and DogButlerSally SlaterHeadless KnightExecutionerSpiderMadame LeotaRavenConstance the BrideThe OratorThe Cat LadyThe MedusaThe MuseArmorDoom Buggy
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