Scatman Crothers started his musical career as a 15 year old drummer in a speakeasy band in his home town of Terre Haute. He played a variety of instruments including drums and guitar on jazz club band circuits in his early days as an entertainer. He formed his own band in the 1930s and finally traveled to California with the band in 1948.
He decided to try acting and made his debut in the movie Meet Me At The Fair (1953) He worked in both the movies and television, often taking bit parts. He also made musical shorts. His films include:
Even though Crothers worked in television since the beginning, he really came into his own in the medium doing the voices of cartoon characters such as Hong Kong Phooey in the 1970s after his talent for voice-over work was noticed in The Aristocats. He appeared as a guest on many of the shows popular in the 1970s, but was most noted for his supporting role on the sitcom Chico and the Man. He starring in three short-lived 1980s television series: One of the Boys (1982), Casablanca (1983), and Morningstar/Eveningstar (1986).
Scatman Crothers married Helen Sullivan in 1937 and had one daughter, Donna in 1949. In 1985 Crothers developed a malignant tumor behind his left lung. He tried to work through the illness, but the inoperable tumor spread to his esophagus in 1986. He died on November 22, 1986. He is buried next to his wife Helen (1918-1997) in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California, the same cemetery as his Chico co-star, Freddie Prinze. Crothers died at Van Nuys, California, USA.