George Winslow, 1950s child star who appeared with Marilyn Monroe, dies at 69

George Wentzlaff, a child actor whose recognizable raspy voice had audiences laughing in the 1950s, has died. He was 69.

Wentzlaff, who retired from Hollywood when he was 12, died of a heart attack on June 13 at his Camp Meeker, California home, the local Press Democrat reported on Monday.

Kevin Braafladt, a longtime friend, found him in his bed. He told the Press Democrat that Wentzlaff was “about the nicest guy you could ever know.” The former actor was also a cat lover with over 25 cats at the time of his death.

The Los Angeles native got his start on the Art Linkletter radio show People Are Funny. According to legend, Cary Grant heard his voice and introduced him to director Norman Taurog. He then made his screen debut in Room For One More in 1952, notes The Hollywood Reporter.

Wentzlaff, who was billed in that first film as “Foghorn,” worked with Grant again in the Howard Hawks comedy Monkey Business with Marilyn Monroe. He worked with Hawks and Monroe again in Gentlemen Prefer Prefer Blondes.

Other films included Artists and Models with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Rock, Pretty Baby and Summer Love. He also appeared on TV in Blondie and THe Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

After his film career ended, he later served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and worked for the U.S. Postal Service. He never married.