Roy Atwell

Born John Leroy Atwell on May 2, 1878, in Syracuse, New York, Roy Atwell was an American actor, comedian, and songwriter whose career spanned Broadway, film, and radio. He was the son of Joseph Addison Atwell and received his formal training at the Sargent School of Acting. A direct descendant of Joseph Atwell (1754–1834), a Revolutionary War soldier who purchased land in New York's military tract in 1792 and established a homestead known as Atwell's Corners in what is now Pompey Hollow, south of Syracuse near Cazenovia, Atwell carried a deep-rooted connection to upstate New York throughout his life.

Atwell's transition from dramatic actor to comedian came about through an accidental misdelivery of a line early in his Broadway career. Tasked with saying "It is spring and all the little birds are twittering in the tree tops," he instead produced the garbled version: "Tis ting and the twits are birdering in the tree flops." Rather than drawing criticism, the mistake earned a large laugh from the audience, and he was asked to repeat the effect the following night. That unplanned moment redirected his entire career, and the comedic stammering and line-mangling that resulted became his signature performance style.

His Broadway career ran from 1901 to 1935 and included appearances in a range of productions. He starred in Mlle. Mischief and The Mimic World in 1908, and also appeared in Here Comes the Bride, the play On to Fortune, the musical Marrying Mary, The Little Missus, Oh, My Dear!, The Firefly, Apple Blossoms, and How's Your Health. In addition to his stage work, Atwell was a member of Fortune Gallo's San Carlo Opera Company.

Alongside his theatrical career, Atwell appeared in 34 films between 1914 and 1947, frequently in cameo roles or parts that showcased his talent for comedic dialogue fumbling. His film credits include Don't Get Personal, Red Hot Romance, Grand Larceny, The Heart Specialist, South of Suva, Souls for Sale, The Outsider, The Harvester, Varsity Show, Behind the Mike, The Fleet's In, People Are Funny, Gentleman Joe Palooka, Abie's Irish Rose, and Where There's Life, which marked his final screen appearance in 1947. His most enduring film contribution was providing the voice of Doc in Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, a role that drew directly on his established persona of a character who comically scrambles his own words.

As a songwriter, Atwell composed the popular song "Some Little Bug is Going to Find You" and wrote the lyrics to "When a Piece of Toast Climbs Your Bedpost with a Cigar." He joined ASCAP in 1957. Atwell was married three times: to Blanche West beginning in 1907, to Dorothy Young from 1913 to 1916, and to Ethel Smith from 1916 to 1936. He died on February 6, 1962.