What's After the Movie
Cliff Edwards
Cliff Edwards, born Clifton Avon Edwards on June 14, 1895 in Hannibal, Missouri, emerged from a modest Midwestern upbringing to become one of the most recognizable voices of early American entertainment. Leaving school at fourteen, he drifted to St. Louis and Saint Charles, where he began singing in saloons and taught himself the ukulele because it was the cheapest instrument available, a decision that would later earn him the nickname Ukulele Ike. His breakthrough arrived in 1918 at Chicago’s Arsonia Café, where his rendition of Ja‑Da captured the attention of vaudeville impresario Joe Frisco, leading to a coveted spot at New York’s Palace and a subsequent appearance in the Ziegfeld Follies. Between 1919 and the early 1930s Edwards recorded prolifically for Pathé and other labels, delivering chart‑topping hits such as Singin’ in the Rain (1929) and popular standards like I Can’t Give You Anything but Love. His charismatic stage presence and pioneering scat‑sing style made him a staple of the 1920s‑era pop scene, and his recordings helped fuel a nationwide ukulele craze, prompting Tin Pan Alley publishers to add ukulele chords to sheet music. Transitioning to film in 1929, Edwards signed with Metro‑Goldwyn‑Mayer and appeared in more than thirty pictures, often performing comic musical numbers alongside Buster Keaton and other stars. The pinnacle of his screen legacy arrived when Walt Disney selected him to voice Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio (1940), where his rendition of When You Wish Upon a Star became an enduring anthem. He later reprised the role in Fun and Fancy Free (1947) and voiced the Dandy Crow in Dumbo (1941). Despite his early fame, Edwards’ personal life was troubled by financial mismanagement, multiple bankruptcies, and a succession of three marriages ending in divorce; he also struggled with alcoholism, tobacco addiction, and gambling. In his final years he lived in a charitable actors’ home, still offering his voice for Disney projects until his death from cardiac arrest on July 17, 1971, at age 76. Posthumously, he was honored as a Disney Legend in 2000 and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002 for his iconic recording.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Cliff Edwards, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Cliff Edwards rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Clifton Avon Edwards
Born: Hannibal, Missouri, U.S.
Citizenship: American
Birthday: June 14, 1895
Occupations: musician, actor, singer, voice actor, vaudeville performer
Years Active: 1918-1971
Spouses: Gertrude Ryrholm, Irene Wylie, Judith Barrett
External Links and Streaming Options
Explore more about on trusted external platforms like Metacritic, TMDb, Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb. Find additional details, reviews, and related content to deepen your understanding.
Movies Featuring Cliff Edwards
Fun & Fancy Free
Pinocchio
Dumbo
On Vacation with Mickey Mouse and Friends
Hollywood Wonderland
The New Spirit
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
George White’s Scandals
Sagebrush Law
Children of Pleasure
The Falcon Strikes Back
The Ghost Ship
She Couldn’t Say No
Laughing Sinners
Parlor, Bedroom and Bath
Way Out West
High School
Flowing Gold
Doughboys
You and Your Five Senses
I’m No Fool with a Bicycle
This Is Your Life Donald Duck
Breakdowns of 1941
The Christmas Party
Sidewalks of New York
Montana Moon
Good News
You and Your Eyes
Marianne
The Great Lover
Pacific Paradise
Shipmates
I’m No Fool as a Pedestrian
Crazy House
You and the Living Machine
Fighting Frontier
The Girl of the Golden West
The Story Behind Walt Disney’s ‘Fun and Fancy Free’
Millionaires in Prison
Starlit Days at the Lido
Maisie
Take a Chance
Modern Inventions
You and Your Food
I’m No Fool with Electricity
They Gave Him a Gun
The Monster and the Girl
Bad Guy
Fast Life
Stepping Out
You and Your Sense of Touch
Pirates of the Prairie
American Empire
Bandit Ranger
The Prodigal
I’m No Fool Having Fun
Seven Miles from Alcatraz
The Avenging Rider
His Girl Friday
Red River Robin Hood
The Bad Man of Brimstone
You and Your Senses of Smell and Taste
Hell Divers
From All of Us to All of You
You the Human Animal
Red Salute
Knockout
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
I’m No Fool in Water
Flying Devils
So This Is College
The Royal Rodeo
Saratoga
The Romance of Celluloid
Between Two Women
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Cliff Edwards, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1956
On Vacation with Mickey Mouse and Friends
Jiminy Cricket (voice)
You and Your Eyes
Jiminy Cricket (voice)
I’m No Fool as a Pedestrian
Jiminy Cricket (voice)
I’m No Fool Having Fun
Jiminy Cricket (voice)
You and Your Senses of Smell and Taste
Jiminy Cricket (voice)
I’m No Fool in Water
Jiminy Cricket (voice)
1955
You and Your Five Senses
Jiminy Cricket (voice)
I’m No Fool with a Bicycle
Jiminy Cricket (voice)
You and Your Sense of Touch
Jiminy Cricket (voice)
You the Human Animal
Jiminy Cricket (voice)
1947
Fun & Fancy Free
Hollywood Wonderland
Saloon Singer (clip from "Ride, Cowboy, Ride", 1939) (uncredited)
1943
Sagebrush Law
Ike
The Falcon Strikes Back
Goldie Locke
The Ghost Ship
Unnamed Officer
Fighting Frontier
Ike
The Avenging Rider
Ike
1942
The New Spirit
(voice) (uncredited)
Pirates of the Prairie
Ike
American Empire
Runty
Bandit Ranger
Ike
Seven Miles from Alcatraz
Stormy
Red River Robin Hood
Ike
1941
Dumbo
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Monster and the Girl
Leon Beecher 'Tips' Stokes
Knockout
Sleepy
1940
Pinocchio
She Couldn’t Say No
Banjo Page
High School
"Jeff" Jefferson
Flowing Gold
'Hot Rocks' Harris
Millionaires in Prison
Happy
His Girl Friday
Endicott
1937
Pacific Paradise
Himself
Modern Inventions
Robot Barber Chair (voice) (uncredited)
They Gave Him a Gun
Laro
Bad Guy
'Hi-Line'
The Bad Man of Brimstone
Buzz McCreedy
Saratoga
Tip
The Romance of Celluloid
Self
Between Two Women
Snoopy
1931
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
Victor Lebeau
Laughing Sinners
Mike
Parlor, Bedroom and Bath
Bell Hop
The Christmas Party
Himself
Sidewalks of New York
Poggle
The Great Lover
Finny
Shipmates
Bilge
Stepping Out
Paul Perkins
The Prodigal
Snipe
Hell Divers
Baldy
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2025)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2025 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.