For our unKnown actor this week, we have a man of many voices and accents. He has been featured in many different Disney films over a span of 20 years playing several characters that Disney fans have grown to love. This man is Bill Thompson, born July 8, 1913 in Indiana and died July 15, 1971 in Los Angeles. Besides his Disney roles, Bill is also known for providing the lovable monotone voice for Droopy the dog in all of his cartoons throughout the 1940s and 1950s.
Bill’s bit with Disney started in 1951 with Alice in Wonderland. He voiced the frantic White Rabbit and the know-it-all Dodo.
The same year, he was in the Walt Disney Christmas Show, which was a TV movie, as the character Willoughby.
1953 was Bill’s next voice stint, bringing the gullible yet lovable Mr. Smee to life in Peter Pan. He also voiced a few of the other pirates as needed, though he was not credited for them.
In the 1953 short Ben and Me, Bill gave his voice to some of the background characters and to Governor Keith.
Lady and the Tramp (1955) would not be the same without Bill’s voice talents because he did a handful of the characters in that film! His main character was the scotty dog Jock, but he also voiced Bull the Bull Terrier, the Policeman at the Zoo, Dachsie and Joe.
Four years later, we hear him in Sleeping Beauty, giving a voice to Prince Phillip’s father, King Hubert.
There was a long break before his next Disney film, which came as a short film in 1967. He voiced Scrooge McDuck in Scrooge McDuck and Money.
There were two characters that Bill brought to Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color throughout its broadcast. Those characters were Ranger J Audubon Woodlore and an Ajax Employment Agency Proprietor.
Bill’s last Disney film came the year before his death, in 1970, where he had a short yet memorable voice part as Uncle Waldo in The Aristocats. It was a small part, but I know that is one that my sister and I laugh at every time we watch it! "Neighbourhood!!"
I hope you are enjoying reading about all of the different actors throughout Disney history and how they shared their many talents with us and future generations!
Showing posts with label Wonderful World of Color. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wonderful World of Color. Show all posts
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
unKNOWN Actors: John Fiedler
The voice of John Fiedler is a voice that, every time I hear it, it makes me smile because it makes me think of one of my favorite little characters. John, born February 3, 1925 and died June 25, 2005, is best known for being the voice for the lovable little Piglet from Winnie the Pooh!
In fact, providing the voice for Piglet is what got John started in the Disney voicing business. His first Disney gig was in 1968, voicing Piglet for Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. After that, every single thing with Piglet has John doing the voice, all the way up to 2005! You can hear him as Piglet in everything from Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974), The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977), all of the different Winnie the Pooh Holiday specials, the television show The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988-1991), The Tigger Movie (2000), Pooh’s Big Movie (2003) and even Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (2005). He even voiced Piglet in other shows, such as the TV show House of Mouse (2001-2002), the show’s movie House of Villains (2001) and in the Kingdom Hearts Video game.
While he may be most known for this beloved character, that is not the only Disney film we hear or see John Fiedler in.
His first non-Piglet film was Robin Hood in 1973 playing the Churchmouse Father Sexton.
During Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, John has two appearances. First was in 1973 as Bill Wasdahl in The Mystery of Dracula’s Castle and the other was in The Whiz Kid and the Mystery at Riverton (1974) was Charles Blackburn.
He next was seen in The Shaggy D.A. (1976) as Howie Clemmings. This is the last live action film that John does for Disney.
The Rescuers (1977) brought his next voice acting movie outside of Piglet, lending his voice to Deacon Owl. There is a porcupine in The Fox and the Hound (1981) that John voices as well. He seems to favor animals….
The last set of Disney movies we hear John in is The Emperor’s New Groove (2000). He give a voice to the old man who was thrown out the window by the emperor. We later find out in the sequel, The Emperor’s New Groove 2: Kronk’s New Groove (2005) that the old man’s name is Rudy, as John voices him as well in this movie. This will be the last movie that he voices before his death.
This is the Disney voice and acting history for John Fiedler. Next time you watch one of these movies, listen for his voice and see if you can pick out its distinct resemblance to any of these other characters, especially little Piglet. I know I hear it!
If you have any extra facts about John or any of the other actors I have previously researched, please feel free to email me or just leave a comment below! I love sharing information with everyone and I love learning just as much! Also, if you have any suggestions of people you would like to see me research, let me know that as well.
In fact, providing the voice for Piglet is what got John started in the Disney voicing business. His first Disney gig was in 1968, voicing Piglet for Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. After that, every single thing with Piglet has John doing the voice, all the way up to 2005! You can hear him as Piglet in everything from Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974), The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977), all of the different Winnie the Pooh Holiday specials, the television show The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988-1991), The Tigger Movie (2000), Pooh’s Big Movie (2003) and even Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (2005). He even voiced Piglet in other shows, such as the TV show House of Mouse (2001-2002), the show’s movie House of Villains (2001) and in the Kingdom Hearts Video game.
While he may be most known for this beloved character, that is not the only Disney film we hear or see John Fiedler in.
His first non-Piglet film was Robin Hood in 1973 playing the Churchmouse Father Sexton.
During Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, John has two appearances. First was in 1973 as Bill Wasdahl in The Mystery of Dracula’s Castle and the other was in The Whiz Kid and the Mystery at Riverton (1974) was Charles Blackburn.
He next was seen in The Shaggy D.A. (1976) as Howie Clemmings. This is the last live action film that John does for Disney.
The Rescuers (1977) brought his next voice acting movie outside of Piglet, lending his voice to Deacon Owl. There is a porcupine in The Fox and the Hound (1981) that John voices as well. He seems to favor animals….
The last set of Disney movies we hear John in is The Emperor’s New Groove (2000). He give a voice to the old man who was thrown out the window by the emperor. We later find out in the sequel, The Emperor’s New Groove 2: Kronk’s New Groove (2005) that the old man’s name is Rudy, as John voices him as well in this movie. This will be the last movie that he voices before his death.
This is the Disney voice and acting history for John Fiedler. Next time you watch one of these movies, listen for his voice and see if you can pick out its distinct resemblance to any of these other characters, especially little Piglet. I know I hear it!
If you have any extra facts about John or any of the other actors I have previously researched, please feel free to email me or just leave a comment below! I love sharing information with everyone and I love learning just as much! Also, if you have any suggestions of people you would like to see me research, let me know that as well.
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