Top 20 Jungle Book facts

#2

How Harris got the part

At the time, Phil Harris was one of the best known jazz singers and musicians. 

He knew Walt Disney personally and used to see him at parties. 

So one day, Walt told his crew, "I want him to be Baloo". 

And the crew, even Phil Harris himself, thought Walt was crazy. Like, how could a jazz singer be a Kipling character?

But Phil auditioned anyway. 

He read some lines, then told Woolie Reitherman that it just didn't feel natural.

They let him do it the way he'd do it and Phil said stuff like "you'll get your roof knocked in". 

And Walt absolutely LOVED it! In fact, some of the stuff in the film was stuff Phil came up with. 

So not only did he play a major character, he was a big help with the entire film.