Clarence Odbody
Clarence Odbody, also spelled Clarence Oddbody, (born May 1653) is a guardian angel character in Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life, where he was portrayed by Henry Travers, and in the 1990 sequel, Clarence, where he was played by Robert Carradine.
| Clarence Odbody | |
|---|---|
Henry Travers portrayed guardian angel Clarence Odbody in Frank Capra's 1946 film It's A Wonderful Life | |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Clarence Odbody, AS2 |
| Occupation | Clockmaker Guardian Angel |
Odbody is loosely based on "a stranger" in Philip Van Doren Stern's 1943 short story The Greatest Gift.
In 1977's It Happened One Christmas, a remake of the 1946 film, a gender-reversed Clarence appeared as Clara Oddbody, played by Cloris Leachman. The 1986 musical A Wonderful Life features Odbody, who was played by David Hyde Pierce in its 2005 rendition.
In the 1946 film Odbody is the implied subject when, in the well-known quote, Zuzu Bailey (played by Karolyn Grimes) says "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings."