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Ageless, timeless, and with round, yet ruggedly handsome good looks, Arnold the Piggy made his mark on Television History in the madcap, freewheeling series "Green Acres." In fact, his remarkable portrayal of Arnold Ziffel so captured America' hearts and imaginations, that he is often, incorrectly, identified as "Arnold Ziffel"--the role, instead of Arnold the Piggy, humble, trailblazing member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) since 1965.
Adhering to the "less is more" philosophy of acting, Arnold was able to convey a broad range of emotion and angst with body postures and facial expressions, and infused his characterization of Arnold Ziffel, small town boy with big dreams and amazing talent, with much subtlety and complexity. No common ham, this little piggy won awards in school for academic excellence as well as for his preternaturally sophisticated artistic endeavors, especially a series of abstract nudes that caused a great stir, even in the late 1960s. Multi-lingual (English, Hungarian, and Pig Latin) and cosmopolitan, Arnold also had the common touch, and could perform Shakespeare as well as Stooges.
In the 1980s, he toured way-way-off-Broadway in "Charlotte's Web" as Wilbur and received critical acclaim, even in the sticks. He brought home the bacon again reprising his role as Arnold Ziffel in "Return to Green Acres," but he did so with some sorrow in that former Green Acres co-star and longtime sweetheart Cynthia the Dog had become a real bitch and dumped him for Beethoven, that flash-in-the-pan big screen actor.
Later in the 90s, rumors flew that he was in fact playing the title role in block-buster "Babe", but the part was awarded to a younger piglet who is a nephew of a prominent director. Arnold is dead-set against cosmetic surgery, feeling that a pork chop might not be a good idea...despite his longtime friendship with the Gabor sisters.
He no longer lives in Hooterville, but continues to generously endow Hooterville High's arts programs and was key in lobbying for vegetarian lunches in the cafeteria. Having invested his money in truffles and pig iron, his wealth has allowed him to be active in animal-friendly charity work and in mentoring young, four-legged actors; he continues to write freelance for snooty magazines, and is a founding member of SAG Readers, the actors union's reading program for children.
Thank you, Miss Yvonne, for everything since 2003: the bio, the fight for pages on IMDb, TV Tome, TV.com, etc. I'm hog-wild for you.
I'm an actor/director, a piggy philanthropist, I have an M B A, and a beautiful and profitable vineyard ("Piggy Port" is our best-seller!).
BROKEN-HEARTED HOG
I met Chloë during the holidays, and I thought she was special. I also thought she thought I was special. She was starring in "Sweeney Todd" in Southern California and representing California, she had recently won the Miss Farm America crown. I got her some new headshots, pulled some favors at Endeavour Talent for some professional representation, and cast her in one of the commercials I have been directing for the California Dairy Board.
She was late two afternoons after lunch for make-up call. I went looking for her the second day, and I found her smooching a big show-off stallion who works at those Medieval Dinner Clubs where they joust. We finished the commercial, but I couldn't speak for the rest of the day. I thought she was really too flirty a few times before when we were at parties and political fundraisers, and now I wonder where she was each of the times she wasn't with me! I feel stupid and used.
I told her I wanted her out of my life, and she just turned and said "suck my curly tail, you pink dink!" I think I'm going to throw myself into the business of the winery for awhile until I can see other animals in pairs and not cry.
