History Creator / WCFields

%%* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

Fields was best known for his comic persona as a misanthropic alcoholic who generally disliked dogs, women and children, an image that was somewhat TruthInTelevision. His films have been praised for their clever jokes and anti-sentimental comedy, which have made him a cult favorite even to this day. Creator/JohnCleese said Fields was doing Pythonesque things long before Creator/MontyPython. And ''The Bank Dick'' (1940), in particular, has been VindicatedByHistory as one of the best comedy films of all time.

Fields spent the last two years of his life in a sanitorium, suffering from failing memory and eyesight, a side effect of his alcoholism. He died on Christmas Day, 1946, from a massive gastric hemorrhage, aged 66.

* ComedicSociopathy

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* TheTrickster
* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist

* RunningGag: Perhaps the most famous ever: Whenever his character goes outside or inside in ''The Fatal Glass Of Beer'', which takes place during a snowstorm in the Canadian far north, he pauses in the door and says with great pathos: "And it ain't a fit night out ... for man nor beast." [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JOfYbhzy0g And EVERY TIME he gets a bucket of snow thrown in his face.]]

[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wc_fields.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:315:''"On the whole, I'd rather be in UsefulNotes/{{Philadelphia}}."'' [[note]]Fields, a native of the City of Brotherly Love, once humorously suggested the quoted phrase as an epitaph for himself.[[/note]]]]

William Claude Dukenfield, aka W. C. Fields (January 29, 1880 – December 25, 1946), was an American comedian, actor, juggler, and writer, most famous during the 1930s and '40s. He made several classic comedy films, but was also well known for his radio performances with Creator/EdgarBergen's dummy Charlie [=McCarthy=].

Fields is best known for his comic persona as a misanthropic alcoholic who generally disliked dogs, women and children, an image that was a bit TruthInTelevision. His films have been praised for their clever jokes and anti-sentimental comedy, which made him a cult actor even to this day. Creator/JohnCleese said Fields was doing Pythonesque things long before Creator/MontyPython. And ''The Bank Dick'' (1940), in particular, has been VindicatedByHistory as one of the best comedy films of all time.

Fields is endlessly quotable, being a funny comedian as he is. Not all of it is safe for work, though.

Fields is endlessly quotable, being a funny comedian as he is. Not all of it is safe for work though.

[[caption-width-right:315:''"On the whole, I'd rather be in UsefulNotes/{{Philadelphia}}."'' [[labelnote:†]]Fields, a native of the City of Brotherly Love, once humorously suggested the quoted phrase as an epitaph for himself.[[/labelnote]]]]

-->-- '''Leo Rosten''' on W.C. Fields

William Claude Dukenfield, aka W.C. Fields (January 29, 1880 – December 25, 1946), was an American comedian, actor, juggler, and writer, most famous during the 1930s and '40s. He made several classic comedy films, but was also well known for his radio performances with Creator/EdgarBergen's dummy Charlie [=McCarthy=].

* ChildHater: Considering how ill behaved the kids in those movies were, who couldn't but be on his side?

* ''Literature/DavidCopperfield'' (1935) -- Fields plays Mr. Micawber

-->'''Charlie:''' You ought to know - ''your'' grandfather was passed out under him!
* WouldHurtAChild: He kicks an infant in the film ''It's a Gift''.

* TheAlcoholic: Sadly TruthInTelevision. The last six years of his life don't feature very many performances because Fields was too busy drinking himself to death.

Fields is best known for his comic persona as a misanthropic alcoholic who generally disliked dogs, women and children, an image that was a bit TruthInTelevision. His films have been praised for their clever jokes and anti-sentimental comedy, which made him a cult actor even to this day. Creator/JohnCleese said Fields was doing Pythonesque things long before Creator/MontyPython. ''Film/TheBankDick'', in particular, has been VindicatedByHistory as one of the best comedy films of all time.

Fields is best known for his comic persona as a misanthropic alcoholic who generally disliked dogs, women and children, an image that was a bit TruthInTelevision. His films have been praised for their clever jokes and anti-sentimental comedy, which made him a cult actor even to this day. Creator/JohnCleese said Fields was doing Pythonesque things long before Creator/MontyPython. ''Film/TheBankDick'' (1941), has been VindicatedByHistory as one of the best comedy films of all time.

William Claude Dukenfield, aka W.C. Fields (January 29, 1880 – December 25, 1946) was an American comedian, actor, juggler, and writer, most famous during the 1930s and '40s. He made several classic comedy films, but was also well known for his radio performances with Creator/EdgarBergen's dummy Charlie [=McCarthy=].

[[caption-width-right:315:''"On the whole, I'd rather be in UsefulNotes/{{Philadelphia}}."'' [[note]]Fields, a native of the City of Brotherly Love, once humorously suggested the quoted phrase as an epitaph for himself.[[/note]]]]

[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wc_fields.jpeg]]

William Claude Dukenfield, aka W.C. Fields (January 29, 1880 – December 25, 1946) was an American comedian, actor, juggler, and writer, most famous during the 1930s and 1940s. He made several classic comedy films, but was also well known for his radio performances with Creator/EdgarBergen's dummy Charlie [=McCarthy=].

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/WC_Fields_3871.jpg]]

->''"Any man who hates dogs and babies can’t be all bad."''
-->--'''Leo Rosten''' on W.C. Fields

William Claude Dukenfield, a.k.a. W.C. Fields (January 29, 1880 - December 25, 1946), was an American comedian, actor, juggler and writer, most famous during the 1930s and 1940s. He made several classic comedy films, but was also well known for his radio performances with Edgar Bergen's dummy Charlie [=McCarthy=].

William Claude Dukenfield, a.k.a. W.C. Fields (1880–1946), was an American comedian, actor, juggler and writer, most famous during the 1930s and 1940s. He made several classic comedy films, but was also well known for his radio performances with Edgar Bergen's dummy Charlie [=McCarthy=].

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: He was a very dirty comic trapped in an era that didn't allow it to be put onscreen (much like Creator/MaeWest, only she did find a way around this). But he did sneak the occasional joke past, like the several times in ''The Bank Dick'' where we see the titular dick entering a bar called The Black Pussy. (See also VisualInnuendo below for another dramatic example.)

* ''[[Literature/AlicesAdventuresInWonderland Alice in Wonderland]]'' (1933) -- Fields plays Humpty Dumpty, which was later caricatured in the [[ClassicDisneyShorts Silly Symphony]] "Mother Goose Goes Hollywood" (1938)

* ''[[Literature/AlicesAdventuresInWonderland Alice in Wonderland]]'' (1933)