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A cat-ologue of characters on Top Cat
He's a chief, he's a king, but above everything he's tip top!
He's the coolest kitty in the big city, but did you know that Top Cat was based on another show? It started off as a parody of The Phil Silvers Show, a.k.a. Sergeant Bilko! The show follows soldiers from Fort Baxter as they get caught up in get-rich-quick schemes. Sound familiar? Joe Barbera, co-creator of Top Cat, said the show was "a brilliant example of comedy in television" and, fresh off the hit of The Flintstones, wanted to try a cartoon where the humor was more irreverent and sophisticated.
Hanna and Barbera also pulled inspiration from the East Side Kids movies, which follow a gang of fast-talking gang of juvenile delinquents. Between these two creative works, Hanna and Barbera drew up a gang of smart alec street cats who love get-rich-quick schemes and messing with local law enforcement.
Let's take a look at all of the characters from Top Cat and learn some fun facts about these cats!
Benny the Ball
Benny is Top Cat's right hand cat, but he also is the only character with a direct connection with The Phil Silvers Show! Maurice Godfeld voiced Benny, and also played Private Duane Doberman. The cartoonists even modeled Benny's appearance after Godfeld's.
Top Cat
He's "da boss" or "chief" to his fellow alley cats, but you can call him Top Cat or T.C. Actor Arnold Stang was the voice of Top Cat and for the first few episodes, deliberately did an impression of Phil Silvers. Supposedly, the sponsor of the cartoon asked him to stop the impression and stick to his own voice, which was also recognizeable from his work in radio and commercials.
Officer Dibble
Officer Dibble is the long-suffering police officer whose main job is to deal with Top Cat and his friends. The character was likely inspired by Officer Pay O'Day from East Side Kids, an officer who grew up in the tenemants and tries to reform the street children. Dibble was voiced by Allen Jenkins, who also played a police officer in I Love Lucy.
Choo Choo
Choo-Choo, while not having a direct character reference to East Side Kids or Phil Silvers, is a core member of Top Cat's gang. He's sensitive and flamboyant, but anxious and insecure, especially when it comes to dating. Top Cat happily steps in to be Choo-Choo's wingman in episodes like "Choo-Choo's Romance" or "Choo-Choo Goes Gaga". What Choo-Choo lacks in emotional strength, he makes up for in pure muscle, being able to knock cats off their feet with one punch or push a car uphill by himself.
Brain
Every cartoon needs a slightly negative character to bring the story back down to Earth. Winnie the Pooh has Eeyore, Spongebob has Squidward, and Top Cat has Brain. Deadpan, slow, and always tired, Brain's in charge of the group's money...when they have money. He also does not have a direct reference character.
Fancy-Fancy
When Fancy-Fancy isn't in the alley with the boys, he is usually off charming the ladies. His fun fact is that his voice actor, John Stephenson, appears in a number of cartoons including The Flintstones, Wacky Races, Jonny Quest, and many more.
Spook
Spook is another quiet, more reserved member of the alley cat gang. Out of all the cats, he is the least focused on girls and the most focused on music and playing the bongo drums. He is voiced by Leo De Leon, who also provided the voice for Brain.
Griswald
Griswald is a police dog enlisted to get the cats out of the alley. Voice actor Don Messick reportedly used the laugh he created for Griswald later on for Muttley in Wacky Races.
Lola Glamour
Lola Glamour is a socialite cat who appears in one episode, "Choo-Choo Goes Ga-Ga" where Choo-Choo thinks he's falling in love with a glamorous lady, but it turns out she knows him from attending third grade together. Based on the voice used by actress Jean Vander Pyl, Lola is likely inspired by Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Jazz
A.T. Jazz, short for All That Jazz, is a rival of Top Cat's who tries to turn the group against him. Jazz also turns Dibble against Top Cat by, get this, cleaning up the alley. Voiced by the legendary Daws Butler.
