Father of Billy House Jr.
He was repeatedly used by Disney animators as a live-action model for their cartoon characters. He was filmed dancing and his movements were studied to create the actions of "Doc" in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." He was also the model for the fat pirate on Captain Hook's ship in Disney's "Peter Pan.".
Once weighed nearly 300 pounds. While performing as a clown for the Gentry Brothers Circus he entered a fat-man contest in Texas and easily won.
Started out as a trumpet player in Mankato, Minnesota, went on to perform in minstrel shows, circuses, vaudeville, Broadway, motion pictures, radio and television.