Gerald Mohr is Fantastic

 Hanna-Barbera struck gold when they cast Gerald Mohr in their Fantastic Four series. Somehow, they got a man who had a voice that perfectly fits Mr. Fantastic, and he looked like him, too!

A New York native, Mohr's earliest acting roles, like other Hanna-Barbera actors, were in radio. He'd later branch out into film and television, but even today, his radio credits are among his most notable. He was heard in Jack Benny, Lux Radio Theatre, The Lone Wolf, and Philip Marlowe. Supposedly, he turned to radio after a hospital visit for appendicitis saw him cross paths with a broadcaster who noticed his voice. It is estimated that Mohr participated in over 500 radio shows. With such a resume, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Hanna-Barbera got their hands on him.

Now, Reed Richards is a man who exemplifies many traits: brilliance, heroism, and warmness are a few that spring to mind. Gerald Mohr did a fantastic (no pun intended!) job bringing these qualities to life in just twenty episodes. When I read Fantastic Four, it is his voice that I hear whenever Reed speaks. Even nearly sixty years later, I can't think of an actor who I like as Reed as much as Gerald. That's no disrespect to the others, many of whom did great, I simply think Gerald Mohr had the best take. 

While Mohr was a prominent figure in radio, his animation credits were more minuscule. Fantastic Four was the only Hanna-Barbera cartoon he appeared in. He also portrayed Green Lantern in the Filmation Aquaman series airing around the same time and was heard in a few theatrical cartoons. On November 9th, 1968, merely two months after Fantastic Four ended, Mohr died of a heart attack. He was in Stockholm filming a TV pilot when he passed and was only 54 years old. Though his career is often overlooked, Mohr is remembered for his strong voice, his body of work, and his portrayal of two of the most well-known superheroes out there.

I'll now share a piece about Gerald Mohr which is written, funnily enough, by the man himself. This appeared in the Star-Ledger on August 6th, 1950. The piece is focused on Philip Marlowe, a gritty detective whom Mohr portrayed for three years on radio. To be more specific, it's a humorous look at how many saw Mohr and Marlowe as one and the same. 

Mohr isn't so tough even if he's Marlowe

By Gerald Mohr

    Sure, I'm Philip Marlowe. And Philip Marlowe is a rough guy, whether it comes to cops, mugs or women. I'm only Philip Marlowe on CBS radio, and I wish people would realize it.
    I don't know how often I've been approached by some stranger (usually a little loaded) who'll say:
    "Hey, Marlowe, you think you're tough?"
    I assure them that I'm really Gerald Mohr and no, I don't think I'm tough. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
    Even worse are the calls that come to my house from dames who try to sound like the sexy-voiced women on my CBS show, "The Adventures of Philip Marlowe." We can tell from their voices that they're usually teenage kids, but not always. My wife Rita gets most of these calls and has become an expert at shunting them off. But she sometimes wonders out loud about the calls I might get when she's not home. 

    Well, I sometimes, wonder about them, too, Rita.
    This confusion of me with my radio role carries over in our social life, also. Even friends of long standing will occasionally start to introduce me to guests at a party as Philip Marlowe and have it come out Philip Mohr or Gerald Marlowe.
    And my wife has long ago gotten used to being called Mrs. Philip Marlowe by people who should know better. Besides, Marlowe isn't married, a minor point that any real fan would be aware of.
    This is sometimes funny, but it is sometimes embarrassing or annoying, too. And in the case of oversized drunks who want to choose me just to prove they're tougher than Philip Marlowe, it can get real uncomfortable.

    Now, I have a confession to make. I really don't blame people who don't know me well for mixing up my identities, because...well, if this be schizophrenia, make the most of it, but I get confused, too.

    Since I've done the Philip Marlowe show for two years, I find myself thinking like him every now and then, and I find myself talking like him and adopting his mannerisms. I read in the newspapers about some mobster and I find myself feeling that I know him. When I walk by the gun shop, I find myself eyeing the "rods" with a professional interest, and the police handling of a crime, as reported in the newspapers, earns my professional approval or contempt.    

    I even find myself, occasionally, thinking I really am tough!

    This can be dangerous, I know. But I can't help it.
    So listen, pal, the next time you come up to me looking for trouble, watch out. And listen, gal, if you think you're playing for keeps, I'm a footloose guy and gonna stay that way. And copper, if you want my help on the next caper, you gotta play ball, too.
    Sure, I'm Philip Marlowe. And Philip Marlowe is a rough guy, whether it comes to comps, mugs, or women. 
    Er...I think!