Billy Gilbert (September 12, 1894 - September 23, 1971) was an American comedian and actor most known for his comic sneeze routines.
Born William Gilbert Barron in Louisville, Kentucky, the child of singers with the Metropolitan Opera, he began working in vaudeville at the age of 12, and was 35 years old when he appeared in his first film for the Fox Film Corporation in 1929.
Billy Gilbert played professional football for Crystal Palace FC, Portsmouth FC and Colchester United FC.
A tough-tackling defender he won the FA Youth Cup with Crystal Palace FC and promotion to the First Division.
After moving to Portsmouth FC he also was a key player when the club went up to Division One.
After leaving Colchester United FC he returned to live in Portsmouth and became player-manager at Waterlooville FC.
When the club merged with Havant Town FC he was installed as player-manager at the new club Havant and Waterlooville FC, winning promotion in his first season and quitting during the following season for personal reasons.
The son of singers in the Metropolitan Opera, Billy Gilbert began performing in vaudeville at age 12. He developed a drawn-out, explosive sneezing routine that became his trademark (he was the model for, and voice of, Sneezy in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)). Gilbert's exquisite comic timing made him the perfect foil for such comedians as Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, and he was especially memorable as the dim-witted process server Pettibone in His Girl Friday (1940).
