Henry Calvin

Henry Calvin, born Wimberly Calvin Goodman on May 25, 1918, in Dallas, Texas, was an American actor and singer whose career spanned Broadway, film, radio, and television. He died in Dallas on October 6, 1975, from throat cancer.

Calvin grew up in Dallas, where he sang in his local Baptist church choir and frequently served as featured soloist. He attended Winnetka Grade School and later Sunset High School before enrolling at Southern Methodist University, after which he pursued a professional career as an actor and singer.

His Broadway career ran from 1947 to 1965 and included appearances in Sally, The Chocolate Soldier, Happy as Larry, and Kismet, in which he played the Wazir of Police. In 1950, Calvin hosted a radio program on NBC. Two years later he appeared on the children's television series Howdy Doody as Big Ben, and in 1956 he made his film debut in Crime Against Joe, playing the character Red Waller.

Calvin became widely recognized for his portrayal of Sergeant Demetrio López García on Walt Disney's live-action television series Zorro, which aired from 1957 to 1959. The character served as a comedic foil to Zorro and his alter ego Don Diego de la Vega, played by Guy Williams, and was frequently outwitted by those around him, in part due to his weakness for food and wine. Calvin's baritone voice was featured throughout the series in drinking songs, serenades, and a duet with Annette Funicello. He also recorded a version of the Zorro theme song. After the series ended due to a contract dispute with ABC, Calvin reprised the role of García in four Zorro stories broadcast as part of Walt Disney Presents in 1960 and 1961.

During the same period, Calvin appeared in the 1960 Disney film Toby Tyler as Ben Cotter, a circus wagon driver who befriends the title character, played by Kevin Corcoran. Gene Sheldon, who had co-starred with Calvin on Zorro as Bernardo, played another of Toby's mentors in the film. All three actors subsequently appeared together in the 1961 Disney production Babes in Toyland, in which Calvin played Gonzorgo. For Disneyland Records, Calvin recorded the children's song Never Smile at a Crocodile, a recording later reissued on a Peter Pan soundtrack CD. He also contributed vocals to the Babes in Toyland soundtrack, including We Won't Be Happy Till We Get It alongside Ray Bolger.

Following the conclusion of his Disney work, Calvin guest-starred in a number of television series throughout the 1960s. In a 1963 episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show, his character performed a comedy sketch as Oliver Hardy opposite Dick Van Dyke's character as Stan Laurel. He also appeared in Petticoat Junction, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Run Buddy Run, and Mannix, among others. In 1965 he appeared in the film Ship of Fools as Gregorio. Calvin maintained ties with former Zorro cast members in later years, traveling to Argentina with Guy Williams in 1973 to attend a charity event.