Part 1: Voices In Heaven
Part 3: Voices In Heaven 3

UPDATE: I’M DISABLING COMMENTS. I know a lot of you commented with quality feedback, and thank you for that. But this series keeps attracting the same comments over and over again! Comments like: “You forgot ____!” or “How about __?” “Next time you have to add ____” I’ve also had some spam and really fucking weird comments too. I’m just getting sick of reading the same comments from people who think I have the ability to add every single deceased voice actor who ever existed, not taking into account that I’m only human and these pictures/tributes take a lot of work. I know it sounds petty, especially since it’s about paying tribute to the actors, but eh.

Yes, i got quite a few requests for this sequel! If you don’t know the premise of this, basically it’s a list of animal animated characters with deceased voice actors - to honor their memory.
The problem with my last one was that the scale was too big. It didn’t really allow for smaller characters, so this time; the scale is a lot smaller. I know there are STILL heaps of characters that i have missed, there are far too many. So please like last time; try and stave off from listing forgotten characters.

1. Mrs. Brisby (The Secret of Nimh, 1982)
   This character was requested the most for the sequel, after watching the film and learning about her voice actor’s death, i can see why.
   Mrs. Brisby was voiced by American actress; Elizabeth Hartman. Born in Youngstown, Ohio in 1943, Elizabeth was best known for her role in the 1965 film ‘A Patch of Blue’. A role that earned her a Golden Globe Award for ‘New Star Of The Year’. From there, she went on to star in many other films and theatre roles, such as: ‘The Group’, ‘You’re A Big Boy Now’, and ‘The Beguiled’. Until Elizabeth came to voice her last Hollywood role, Mrs. Brisby, after which she voluntarily retired from acting; due to chronic mental health issues. Throughout most of her life, Hartman suffered greatly from Depression. Her declining mental health cost her; her marriage, her career and eventually her life. On June 10, 1987, Elizabeth commited suicide by jumping out her fifth floor apartment window. Earlier that morning, she had reportedly contacted her psychiatrist saying that she ‘felt down’.
   Elizabeth Hartman was 43 years old.
2. Jeremy (The Secret of Nimh, 1982)
   Yes, another character from this film is gone. It’s weird, most of the cast is now deceased. Weird, considering that this film isn’t THAT old. So far, Mrs. Brisby, Auntie Shrew, The Great Owl, Jenner, Sullivan and Jeremy are now deceased. That’s most of the main cast! Anyway, I’ve gotten a little side-tracked. This is to remember the work of one of the most famous/greatest voice actors of all time…Dom DeLuise.
   Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1933, Dom DeLuise was an acclaimed American actor, comedian, film director, television producer, author and chef. He starred in many films, TV shows, and provided his voice work for many Don Bluth films, becoming a trademark voice talent for his movies. Kind of like how John Ratzenberger is a trademark voice for Pixar films. Dom’s filmography consists of 118 credited roles! Needless to say, this man was a legend in his prime.
   Unfortunately, Dom’s battle with Cancer, Diabetes and Kidney failure, cut him down at the age of 75. DeLuise died on May 4, 2009 at Saint John’s Health Center, in California. His good friend Burt Reynolds made a statement to the Los Angeles Times, saying: “As you get older and start to lose people you love, you think about it more, and I was dreading this moment. Dom always made you feel better when he was around, and there will never be another like him.”
3. The Great Owl (The Secret of Nimh, 1982)
   The last ‘Secret of Nimh’ character that i decided to include in this piece, i couldn’t help it; i love this character too much!
   The Great Owl was voiced by Amercian actor John Carradine. Born in New York City in 1906, Carradine was best known for his roles in horror films and Westerns as well as Shakespearean theatre. He was married several times, had several children and was the patriarch of the ‘Carradine Family’. Including four of his sons and four of his grandchildren who are or were also actors. One of his talented granchildren being Martha Plimpton, who was Stef from ‘The Goonies’ or Virginia from ‘Raising Hope’ (a little fun fact there)
   John starred in many films such as: The Grapes of Wrath, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Stagecoach, Monster and Doctor Dracula. To this day, John Carradine has over 340 credits in his filmography!
   Carradine eventually retired from acting from painful and crippling arthritis as old age was taking its toll. On November 27, 1988, Carradine died from muliple organ failure at Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Milan, Italy. His son David recalled his last words were: “Milan: What a beautiful place to die.”
   John Carradine was 82 years old.
4. Fiver (Watership Down, 1978)
   This actor’s death happened fairly recently, this year in fact.
   Fiver was voiced by English actor Richard Briers. Born in Raynes Park, Surrey in 1934, Richard’s fifty year career consisted of roles in television, films, stage and radio. Making his film debut in the 1960 film ‘Bottoms Up’ He went on to feature in other films such as: ‘Murder She Said’ and ‘Fathom’. But it was his voice talent that claimed him to fame. Brier was even the original voice actor for ‘Noddy’ (I loved that show as a kid!) He also provided his voice for ‘Bob The Builder’ in 2005! And of course his role as Fiver in Watership Down (1978), not only for the film; but also for the later TV series (1999-2001) only this time voicing a series exclusive character called Captain Broom, and was one of the very few actors who stayed for all 3 series of the series.
   In an interview with The Daily Mail on 31 January 2013, Briers stated that he had smoked about half a million cigarettes before quitting in 2003. He said he was diagnosed with emphysema in 2008, and that it had progressed quite rapidly. He died at his home in London on 17 February 2013.
   Richard Briers was 79 years old.
5. Jerry Mouse (Tom & Jerry, TV series and Movie)
   Yep, to date, Jerry has two or possibly more deceased voice actors. That’s a lot for a character that mostly doesn’t talk, or at least shouldn’t talk! But i guess it should be expected from a character that’s been around for so many decades. One voice actor was from the episode ‘Blue Cat Blues’ from the original TV series, the other was one that voiced Jerry’s first full speaking role, in the ‘Tom & Jerry Movie’ (a god awful, childhood crushing film, but that’s not the point)
   First of Jerry’s voice actors is one Paul Frees. Born in Chicago, in 1920, Paul Frees was an American voice and character actor. He voiced Jerry’s inner monologue that narrated the short episode ‘Blue Cat Blues’. Among his many roles, Frees is mostly recognised for his voice work for The Disney Company and voicing the Villain Boris Badenov for ‘The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show’. He is mostly known for providing voices for numerous characters at Disney Parks including the unseen ‘Ghost Host’ in the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. He also voiced several audio-animatronic pirates for the ‘Pirates of the Carribean’ ride such as ‘The Auctioneer’ and even recorded the iconic ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ used for the attraction.
   Frees voice acting career was active until his sudden death from heart failure on November 2, 1986.
   Paul Frees was 66 years old.
   Jerry’s second voice talent was one Dana Hill, that’s right, he was voiced by a woman! She provided his voice for the full length film ‘Tom & Jerry: The Movie’. While i hate the film, i do admire the voice actress, who died a pretty untimely death.
   Born in Los Angeles, California in 1964, Dana Hill was an Amercian actress and acclaimed voice actress. With her raspy voice and childlike appearence, she was often limited to playing child and adolescent roles even in her thirties! She was best known for her role as Audrey Griswald in ‘National Lampoon’s European Vacation’. Dana’s limited height was caused by an early childhood diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes, which also ended a promising athletic career for Dana, and caused lifelong health problems (you can probably see where this is going).
   Something i find quite amusing about Dana’s voice acting career, is that out of all the roles she provided a voice for, very few of them were female. She gave a voice to many cartoon characters, such as: Max (Goof Troop TV series), Charles Duckman (Duckman TV series), Buddy Gummi (Disney Gummi Bear’s TV series), Danny (Rover Dangerfield), and even various voice work for Nickelodeon’s ‘Rugrats’ TV series.
   Unfortunately, her promising career was cut short in her prime. In May, 1996, Hill slipped into a coma, following a massive paralytic stroke caused by complications from Diabetes. The following month, on July 15, 1996, Dana Hill passed away.
   She was only 32 years old.
6. Mickey Mouse
   This shouldn’t be much of a shock, Mickey has been around since 1928. In fact, Mickey has to date been through more than five voice actors! But, for now i’ll only focus on his very original voice actor and creator…Sir Walt Disney himself.
   Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, Walt Disney was an American voice actor, animator, producer, director, screenwriter and business magnate. Responsible for the creation of one of the biggest known companies in the world, that of course being ‘The Walt Disney Company’, which is know to have an annual revenue of approximitely US$36 Billion!
   In 1928, he and his staff created the world’s most well known fictional character Mickey Mouse. During Walt’s lifetime, he received four honorary Academy Awards, seven Emmy Awards, won 22 Academy Awards out of 59 nominations, including a record of four in one year. Giving him more awards than any other individual in history!
   Walt unfortunately died on December 15, 1966 from Lung Cancer in Burbank, California.
   Walt Disney was 65 years old.
7. Templeton (Charlotte’s Web, 1973)
   I loved this film as a kid, i still do. But surprisingly, most of the main cast are still alive. That is except Templeton and Wilbur.
   The sneaky Templeton was voiced by Amercian actor and comedian Paul Edward Lynde. Born in Mount Vernon, Ohio in 1926, Paul Lynde was a noted character actor and comedian. With his snarky voice and persona, he is best known for his voice work as ‘The Hooded Claw’ from ‘The Perils of Penelope Pitstop’ TV series. Lynde’s distinctive voice is still popular among impressionists, one you may recognise is Roger from ‘Amercian Dad’ voiced by Seth Macfarlane himself. Seth admitted in an interview that Roger’s voice was inspired by Paul Lynde’s voice work.
   Paul was also well known as Uncle Arthur on Bewitched, and soon became a common guest on many sitcoms of the 1960’s, including: The Munsters, The Flying Nun, The Dean Martin Show, I Dream of Jeannie, Gidget and The Phil Silvers Show. In 1972, Lynde even starred in his own sitcom, simply called ‘The Paul Lynde Show’ although the air time was reasonably short-lived.
   On Monday, January 11, 1982, Paul Lynde was found dead in his bed, after he failed to turn up for a birthday celebration. His death was treated as suspicious at the time, but was soon ruled to be a heart attack.
   Paul Lynde was 55 years old.
8. Adult Thumper (Bambi, 1942)
   Again, considering how old this film is, it shouldn’t come as much of a shock.
   Adult Thumper was voiced by American actor Sam Edwards. Born in Macon, Georgia in 1915, Sam Edwards was an acclaimed TV star with a 46 year long career, appearing in over 60 different series and sitcoms including: Green Acres, Happy Days, The Dukes of Hazzard, Days of our Lives, The Andy Griffith Show and many, many more.
   As a voice actor and radio veteran, Edwards was often heard behind many characters both on film and records. Providing voices for Thumper in Bambi, The Cowardly Lion and Tinman for the Disney ‘Oz series’ and even voiced Tigger, Rabbit and Owl for the Winnie the Pooh records.
   Sam spent his last 24 years in Durango, Colorado after spending much of his retirement travelling the world with his wife of 35 years. Until he died on July 28, 2004. Cause unknown, probably old age.
   Sam Edwards was 89 years old.

---

Once again, R.I.P to all the great actors listed here. You’re in a better place now, and your talent will live on for generations to come. :heart:

Mickey Mouse, Thumper (c) Disney
Mrs Brisby, The Great Owl, Jeremy (c) Don Bluth
Fiver (c) Nepenthe Studios
Jerry Mouse, Templeton (c) Hanna Barbera