Clarence Odbody

Clarence Odbody (born May 1653) is a fictional angel 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. Odbody is loosely based on "a stranger", a character in Philip Van Doren Stern's 1943 booklet 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. 2Biography On Christmas Eve, 1945, George Bailey, facing financial ruin and disgrace, is contemplating committing suicide by jumping off a bridge into an icy river. Two celestial beings observe this, and decide to send an angel to save George. Unfortunately, the only angel available is Clarence Odbody, an AS2 (Angel Second Class), who after 200 years has yet to win his wings. To prepare for this assignment, Clarence is shown several scenes from George's life that show some of his selfless acts. Sent to Earth, Clarence finds George standing on the bridge about to leap into the river. Before George can jump off, Clarence jumps in the water, which prompts George to dive in to rescue hi