orig. Harrold Jese Pereira de Faria
born July 25, 1908, San Leandro, Calif., U.S.
died March 30, 1985, Torrance, Calif.
U.S. actor.
He created the colourful, arrogant character Throckmorton F. Gildersleeve on the hit comedy series Fibber McGee and Molly in 1937. He starred in his own popular radio serial, The Great Gildersleeve (1941–50), considered the first spin-off created from another series. He later acted in television series such as Blondie (1957) and Fibber McGee and Molly (1959), and he appeared in the film Clambake (1967). Peary continued to perform on radio into the 1970s.