Jerry Houser
Biography
Biography
Introduced as a cherubic character actor, Jerry Houser has since become more famous for lending his eternally youthful gee-whiz voice to dozens of cartoons and commercials. In 1971, he made a lively movie debut as Oscy, the genial jock in "Summer of '42," a tender coming-of-age memoir. Highlighted by the actor's charming excitability, his performance spawned not only a follow-up turn in the college-bound sequel, "Class of '44," but a spate of roles as rambunctious mop tops in both film and television. However, aside from a memorable appearance in the raucous sports comedy "Slap Shot," most of his movie work has fallen into relative obscurity. Fans of live-action television may hold a special place in their hearts for his turn as Marcia Brady's lovable toy-salesman husband, Wally Logan, on two dependably sentimental 1980s-era Brady Bunch reunion specials, but Houser has undeniably become a more enduring star in the world of animation. With his patter-paced, uniquely high-pitched pipes, he's become an invaluable contributor to every cartoon-creating company from Hasbro to Disney, voicing effervescent adolescents and otherworldly sprites on such iconic hits as "G.I. Joe," "The Transformers," and "Aladdin" (1992) well into his middle age. Though he has largely dialed back his presence in narrative animation since the early 2000s, the omnipresent Houser continues to be the unique pitch-man voice for such commercial brands as Keebler and Best Buy, for whom he can unmistakably be heard in the company's signature in-store ads.