Andrew Vabre Devine, a renowned comedic actor in American films, was born in Flagstaff, Arizona. He was raised in nearby Kingman, Arizona, the son of Irish-American hotel operator Thomas Devine and his wife Amy. As a student, Devine was an accomplished athlete, playing semi-pro football under the pseudonym Jeremiah Schwartz, which he used to maintain eligibility for college football.
Devine's athletic prowess earned him a successful football career at St. Mary & St. Benedict College, Arizona State Teacher's College, and Santa Clara University. After college, he moved to Hollywood with aspirations to become an actor. He initially landed small roles in silent films, but his breakthrough came with the talkie The Spirit of Notre Dame (1931),thanks in part to his impressive football background.
However, Devine's severely raspy voice, resulting from a childhood injury, initially threatened his sound-film career. Yet, his unique voice soon became his trademark, and he went on to become a beloved comic figure in a wide range of films over the next forty-five years.
In the 1950s, Devine's fame soared with his co-starring role as Jingles P. Jones in the television and radio series Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1951) alongside Guy Madison. Before the series concluded, Devine took over as host of the children's show Andy's Gang (1955),which garnered him a new fan base among young children.
Throughout his career, Devine remained active in films until his passing in 1977. He was survived by his wife and two sons.
