W. C. Fields

Legendary Comedian

W. C. Fields is one of the most legendary comedians of all time. Born William Claude Dukenfield in Philadelphia on January 29, 1880, much of the information on his early life is unclear. This is largely because Fields loved to tell stories, on stage and off, and he seldom missed an opportunity for exaggeration. His son calls him "...the most complex, confusing, and contradictory man who ever lived."

Fields was known for his character of an almost mean-spirited man but with a soft, likable side. He is known for many quotations, including, "Anyone who hates dogs and children can't be all bad", and "Never give a sucker an even break".

Fields was the son of James and Kate (Felton) Dukenfield, and the oldest of five children. Dukenfield sold produce in Philadelphia, and young Claude (as he was called) enjoyed juggling. He did not like the produce business, but he loved juggling and he loved the attention he received. He would later claim to have left home at an early age, sometimes 11, sometimes as early as 9. But later research indicates he may have stayed at home until he was 16 or even 19. He became a hustler at pool, billiards, and shell games, but he still loved juggling. He soon left to take a juggling job in Atlantic City, changing his name to W. C. Fields. He then joined a variety of road shows, practicing and perfecting his act, until he got his big break from Fred Irwin, a New York City producer, in 1899. That's where he met Harriet Hughes, his assistant and, in 1900, his wife.

Also in 1900, B. F. Keith hired him for his Orpheum theater circuit. This was big time show business, and Fields was by now doing comedy as well as his juggling. He was traveling world wide, and by some accounts was the world's greatest juggler. (He is in the Juggling Hall of Fame). In 1904, his son, W. C. Fields, Jr, was born at their home in Philadelphia. This blessed event caused the couple to separate, however, as Fields wanted his family to travel with him while his wife insisted on staying at home. However, the couple never divorced, and Fields always provided monetarily for them both.

Fields was a great success, both in this country and abroad. In 1915 he signed with the great Ziegfeld Follies for the handsome salary of $600 a week. He was doing more and more comedy routines in his show, and less juggling, but was also developing an alcohol problem. He stayed with Ziegfeld until 1921, when he was signed by competitor George White for more than $1,000 a week. Fields' Broadway debut was in the hit play Poppy in 1923, for which he was acclaimed. In 1925, film legend D. W. Griffith made a film version of the play, called Sally of the Sawdust, also starring Fields. It was Fields' first big movie role, though his first movie was a short film in 1915 called Pool Sharks.

Fields starred in eight films from 1926 to 1928, but went back to Broadway for $5,000 a week in Earl Carroll's Vanities show in 1928 and 1929. After that run, Fields was in several stage shows and movies, but nothing big was happening. He finally signed a contract with Paramount Studios for $100,000 a year for three years and nine films. The fourth movie under that contract, You're Telling Me in 1934, was a hit, and his first really good "talking picture". This was followed in 1934 by another hit, The Old Fashioned Way. Many people believe Fields' best film was It's a Gift, which was also made in 1934. His part in the big-budget David Copperfield helped him win a $300,000 contract from Paramount in 1935 for three movies. He made two movies that year, but his alcohol problems had gotten so bad that he was unable to make the third.

In 1936, Fields' alcohol-related health problems helped keep him from doing much work on a film version of Poppy. In fact, he nearly died in 1937 from his alcoholism, but he could not kick the habit. In 1937, he began working on radio, and made his last picture for Paramount in 1938, The Big Broadcast of 1938, before the studio dropped him. He was offered the role of the Wizard in 1939's The Wizard of Oz, but turned it down as he felt the film would not be successful.

Fields signed a contract with Universal Studios for much less money, and made two movies that were marked by Fields' arguing and fighting behind the scenes. The second movie, however, My Little Chickadee, made so much money that the studio gave him the freedom to make another film any way he wanted - at least they wouldn't have to argue with him. The resulting film, 1940's The Bank Dick, was both a commercial and critical success. His next film, however, 1941's Never Give a Sucker an Even Break, was a confusing failure, and Universal dropped him.

The next four years were marked with a few small movie roles, and many large illnesses, all brought on by his drinking. He finally gave in to it, and died on December 25, 1946, in Pasadena, California. He had showed a comic genius, but much of the ability, unfortunately, was lost to alcohol. Even so, he will always be remembered as one of the greatest comedians. His gravestone does not have the epitaph he proposed, perhaps with that sarcastic, even mean, sense of humor of his - "All things considered, I'd rather be in Philadelphia".