Hello forum. Am curious if anyone knows much about Kearn's life outside of the show? His acting bio is readily available but am curious if he was married, children, etc.

Some of you may know he was an avid organist:
http://atos.stirlingprop.com/kbase/JoeKearns/kearns.htm

And a picture of his grave is available here:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5434

I had always wondered about the same thing, so I went to the local library and searched back issues of the New York Times. One article that I found was written in Feb. 1962, which discussed his death. I didn't print it out, but I remember is saying that he was survived by his mother and a sister. It didn't say anything about wife and kids, etc. Perhaps that information was just not included in there, so it is possible that he may have been married..who knows. It would be interesting to know more about his personal life. If anyone has information, send it along.

I know he was a staple on old time radio shows and that's about it.

He seemed like such an unpleasant character on screen. He probably was a nice guy in real life.

The imdb doesn't list anything about a family. He very well could have been what used to be called a "confirmed bachelor".

I suspect that confirmed bachelor
more or less summed it up. He
may have avoided interviews for
just that reason. And has anyone
ever noticed the way he sometimes
held his arms when walking? It
was just curious. And yet I also
want to say I liked him very
much in the role. He was a fine
actor and really the star of the
show. This old fuddy duddy being
bothered by some noisy kid is
very easy to identify with. They
should have done promos promoting
him as the star of the show. The
coin collecting, and everything,
I love that character. Kearns
did a fantasic job. Don't you
think?

Originally posted by Samme
Kearns
did a fantasic job. Don't you
think?

Yes! He was able to play the fuddy duddy/grump without actually being annoying to watch. That's a rare trick. In my opinion, the show lost something when he passed away.

I don't know anything about Joe Kearns personal background. But I do know he was a very heavily employed old time radio show actor. He was the original "Man In Black" host on the Suspense radio show. He also played many roles in many dramatic, western, and comedy radio series. He was the original Man in the Vault, the vault guard for Jack Benny in his radio shows. He played on Gunsmoke radio shows, many other dramatic CBS radio shows. He is a very omnipresent voice on radio shows from the '40's and '50's. Often you wouldn't even guess it was Joseph Kearns unless you listen very closely. He also played in several radio shows WITH the other Mr. Wilson, Gale Gordon. It's neat to hear both Mr. Wilsons in one show. Joe Kearns was a very succcessful CBS radio actor. He also played the psychiatrist in an I Love Lucy episode. He was a great actor and a real shame that he died so relatively young.

Joe Kearns also co-starred with another future star, Barbara Billingsley in the short-lived 1955 sitcom "Professional Father" as well.

I agree! He was a great character actor and played the likeable grouch to a tee. The show sure went down hill real fast after he died.



Yes! He was able to play the fuddy duddy/grump without actually being annoying to watch. That's a rare trick. In my opinion, the show lost something when he passed away.

He was also on the radio version of THE LIFE OF RILEY starring William Bendix.
And he appeared in The Three Stooges' unsold TV pilot "Jerks of All Trades"
(filmed in 1947).