Harry Rudolph von Zell (July 11, 1906 – November 21, 1981) was an American announcer of radio programs, and an actor in films and television shows.

[1] When that series came to an end in 1930, he headed for New York and became a CBS staff announcer, working with Fred Allen, Phil Baker, Eddy Duchin and Ed Wynn.

Then, as Cantor cast member Dinah Shore's solo career began to blossom, she brought von Zell in as announcer on her Birds Eye Open House program.

[6] Some mistakenly believe Hoover was present when the incident occurred, because of a re-enactment fabricated by Kermit Schafer for his Pardon My Blooper record album, a number of years later.

In 1941, von Zell sang on NBC's popular "jam session" program The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street.

After this, von Zell headlined his short-lived radio program, The Smiths of Hollywood, which featured Arthur Treacher and Jan Ford (who would later become Howard Hughes' paramour under the name Terry Moore).

[9] Nearly 20 years later, the exposure von Zell received from the Columbia comedies led to his being hired for television shows as the medium began to reach a mass audience.

Appearing under his name (as Goodwin had), Harry von Zell continued to play the befuddled friend of the Burns family, and the show-within-a-show's announcer, until 1958, the year of Gracie Allen's retirement and the series' conclusion.

During 1960-61, he appeared in five episodes of the television series Bachelor Father as Frank Curtis, a good friend of Bentley Gregg (played by John Forsythe).

Von Zell died of cancer on November 21, 1981, aged 75, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital[1] in Woodland Hills, California.