Dick Elliott

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Richard Dick Elliott April 30 1886 December 22 1961 was an American character actor who played in over 240 films from the 1930s until the time of his death He was born Richard Damon Elliott in Boston Massachusetts Elliott played many different roles typically as a somewhat blustery sort such as a politician A short fat man Elliott played Santa Claus on the Jimmy Durante Red Skelton and Jack Benny programs Elliott had a couple of memorable lines in Its a Wonderful Life 1946 in which he scolded James Stewart who was trying to say goodnight to Donna Reed advising him to stop hemming and hawing and just go ahead and kiss her He also had a few memorable appearances in episodes of the Adventures of Superman television series He appeared three times as Stanley on the CBS sitcom December Bride as well as on two of ABCWarner Brothers western series Sugarfoot and Maverick He was cast as the prospector Peter Cooper and then as Sheriff Tiny Morris in two segments of CBSs Tales of the Texas Rangers He appeared twice as Doc Thornton on ABCs The Real McCoys Elliott is perhaps best known as Mayberrys Mayor Pike in early episodes of CBSs The Andy Griffith Show one of his last screen works In two of the eleven episodes featuring Elliot as mayor actress Josie Lloyd portrayed his daughter On December 22 1961 Elliott died from heart illness