Gave Voice to Many Animated Characters
By Lauren Wiseman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Dallas McKennon, 89, a lanky, grizzly-bearded character actor whose voice can be heard in Walt Disney animated films such as "Lady and the Tramp" and "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" and had a recurring role on the television series "Daniel Boone," died July 14 at a care center in Raymond, Wash., of respiratory failure and other age-related causes, according to his family.
Mr. McKennon's voice credits are long and varied. In "Lady and the Tramp" (1955), he was the voice behind Toughy, Professor and Pedro, and he portrayed many characters in "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" (1961). He voiced the Owl in "Sleeping Beauty" (1959), the Fox in "Mary Poppins" (1964) and the Bear in "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" (1971).
Disney also called on the actor to loan his voice to the company's popular theme parks. Mr. McKennon can be heard as Benjamin Franklin at Epcot Center, and exclaims on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, "This here's the wildest ride in the wilderness!"
Mr. McKennon, also known as Dal, gave voice to a slew of television characters, including Buzz Buzzard in the Woody Woodpecker cartoons produced by Walter Lantz; Gumby, Pokey and Prickle in "The Gumby Show" in the late 1950s; and Archie Andrews and other characters in the Archie Comics TV series.
In a more high-profile role, he portrayed storekeeper Cincinnatus from 1964 to 1969 in the NBC series "Daniel Boone" starring Fess Parker. He also had small parts in TV shows including "Bonanza" and "Gunsmoke" and was the projectionist in Vincent Price's 1959 horror film "The Tingler."
In the early 1950s, he provided the original voice for Kellogg's Tony the Tiger, the orange-striped Frosted Flakes mascot who shouted, "They're g-r-r-r-r-r-eat!" in commercials. He also voiced other brand mascots, including Snap, Crackle and Pop for Rice Krispies.
Raymond Dallas McKennon Jr. was born July 19, 1919, in La Grande, Ore., and began his show business career reading newscasts and books for children on a local radio station. After serving in the Army Signal Corps in Alaska during World War II, he worked for a radio station in Portland, Ore., hosting a children's show, "Mr. Buttons."
He moved to Hollywood in the early 1950s after he filmed a bit part as a miner in "A Bend in the River," with the encouragement of the western's star, James Stewart. Mr. McKennon started working with the Walt Disney Co., providing voices for many of the studio's popular animated films and singing on Disney-produced records.
"Dal is one of the craziest guys I have ever known in the sense that he was joyfully alive as any 8-year-old kid can enjoy being," said Will Ryan, an actor, songwriter and friend. "He was such a lively character who constantly wanted, and was worthy of, your attention."
In the late 1960s, Mr. McKennon and his family moved back to Oregon and settled in the coastal town of Cannon Beach while Mr. McKennon traveled to Los Angeles for work. More recently, he wrote and produced musicals, including one about Johnny Appleseed and another about the Oregon Trail, for local community theaters.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Betty Warner McKennon of Hoquiam, Wash.; eight children, Dalene Lackaff of Woolwich, Maine, Barbara Porter and Linda Strozyk, both of Raymond, Wash., Gayle McKennon of Hyannis, Mass., Tamara Rock of South Bend, Wash., Wendy McKennon of North Bend, Ore., Jerald McKennon of Tualatin, Ore., and Steven McKennon of Newberg, Ore.; 21 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
By Lauren Wiseman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Dallas McKennon, 89, a lanky, grizzly-bearded character actor whose voice can be heard in Walt Disney animated films such as "Lady and the Tramp" and "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" and had a recurring role on the television series "Daniel Boone," died July 14 at a care center in Raymond, Wash., of respiratory failure and other age-related causes, according to his family.
Mr. McKennon's voice credits are long and varied. In "Lady and the Tramp" (1955), he was the voice behind Toughy, Professor and Pedro, and he portrayed many characters in "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" (1961). He voiced the Owl in "Sleeping Beauty" (1959), the Fox in "Mary Poppins" (1964) and the Bear in "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" (1971).
Disney also called on the actor to loan his voice to the company's popular theme parks. Mr. McKennon can be heard as Benjamin Franklin at Epcot Center, and exclaims on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, "This here's the wildest ride in the wilderness!"
Mr. McKennon, also known as Dal, gave voice to a slew of television characters, including Buzz Buzzard in the Woody Woodpecker cartoons produced by Walter Lantz; Gumby, Pokey and Prickle in "The Gumby Show" in the late 1950s; and Archie Andrews and other characters in the Archie Comics TV series.
In a more high-profile role, he portrayed storekeeper Cincinnatus from 1964 to 1969 in the NBC series "Daniel Boone" starring Fess Parker. He also had small parts in TV shows including "Bonanza" and "Gunsmoke" and was the projectionist in Vincent Price's 1959 horror film "The Tingler."
In the early 1950s, he provided the original voice for Kellogg's Tony the Tiger, the orange-striped Frosted Flakes mascot who shouted, "They're g-r-r-r-r-r-eat!" in commercials. He also voiced other brand mascots, including Snap, Crackle and Pop for Rice Krispies.
Raymond Dallas McKennon Jr. was born July 19, 1919, in La Grande, Ore., and began his show business career reading newscasts and books for children on a local radio station. After serving in the Army Signal Corps in Alaska during World War II, he worked for a radio station in Portland, Ore., hosting a children's show, "Mr. Buttons."
He moved to Hollywood in the early 1950s after he filmed a bit part as a miner in "A Bend in the River," with the encouragement of the western's star, James Stewart. Mr. McKennon started working with the Walt Disney Co., providing voices for many of the studio's popular animated films and singing on Disney-produced records.
"Dal is one of the craziest guys I have ever known in the sense that he was joyfully alive as any 8-year-old kid can enjoy being," said Will Ryan, an actor, songwriter and friend. "He was such a lively character who constantly wanted, and was worthy of, your attention."
In the late 1960s, Mr. McKennon and his family moved back to Oregon and settled in the coastal town of Cannon Beach while Mr. McKennon traveled to Los Angeles for work. More recently, he wrote and produced musicals, including one about Johnny Appleseed and another about the Oregon Trail, for local community theaters.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Betty Warner McKennon of Hoquiam, Wash.; eight children, Dalene Lackaff of Woolwich, Maine, Barbara Porter and Linda Strozyk, both of Raymond, Wash., Gayle McKennon of Hyannis, Mass., Tamara Rock of South Bend, Wash., Wendy McKennon of North Bend, Ore., Jerald McKennon of Tualatin, Ore., and Steven McKennon of Newberg, Ore.; 21 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
