Clifford Charles Norton AKA Cliff Norton (March 21,1918 - January 25,2003) was an American character actor and radio announcer who had appeared in various movies and television series over a career that spanned over 40 years. He was probably best known as the announcer for Dave Garroway's radio program and for an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show in which he appeared as a member of the U.S. Forest Service, and he was also well known as a regular panelist and presenter on the 1954 ABC game show What's Going On?. He was also star and announcer for the 1960s syndicated program The Funny Manns.
He appeared in the short-lived weather spot Your Weather and Mine, airing locally in the Los Angeles area in 1963. The spot was sponsored by P.I.P.E.
This series originated as a series of comedy sketches in 1950 on the "Garroway at Large" (1949) series, which ran from 1949-51.
From 1960 to 1963 Mr. Norton was the host/performer and narrator of the silent film comedy anthology TV series: "Funny Mann". The series was seen in national syndication and on WABC TV Ch. 7 in NYC. Mr. Norton performed in comedy skits as "Milkmann", "Dental Mann", "MailMann", "The King Of Tomatoes", "PartyMann" etc. The skits led into a rerun of an old silent film comedy that featured: Poodles Hannaford, Snub Pollard, Billy Bevan, Oliver Norvell Hardy (without Stan Laurel) and Mickey (McGuire) Rooney. Mr. Norton pre-recorded his narrations, which were dubbed into the film's soundtrack. More often than not, the show's co-producer and co-creator, Bobby (Nick) Nicholson performed in the skits with Mr. Norton. {{Anonymous}}
The names of Mr. Norton's three children are: Susan Norton Kinne, Stacy Norton Evans and Clif Norton Jr.
A widower, he was survived by three children and four grandchildren.
Began as a radio disc jockey in 1937.
Served as a bombardier in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
While working in Chicago radio, he met NBC announcer Dave Garroway who introduced Cliff to TV with Garroway's variety series "Garroway at Large." For two years (1949-1951) Cliff was regtularly featured in humorous sketches.
