- Shepard Menken
Infobox actor
name = Shepard Menken
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = birth date|1921|11|2|mf=y
location =New York City, New York ,USA
height =
deathdate = death date and age|1999|1|2|1921|11|2
deathplace =Woodland Hills, California ,USA
occupation =Film ,television ,voice actor Shepard Menken (
November 2 ,1921 –January 2 ,1999 ) was an Americanvoice actor andcharacter actor .Menken began his career at the age of 11, when he started appearing on children's radio programs. After high school, Menken attended
Columbia University , and later studied performing arts at theNeighborhood Playhouse Theater and theJuilliard School of Music .Menken made his film debut in 1949 with a supporting role in "The Red Menace", and eventually appeared onscreen in 17 movies. Menken also worked steadily as a television actor, appearing on such series as "
I Love Lucy ", "I Spy ", and "The Wild, Wild West ". He was also in demand as a voice talent, working on animated cartoons forHanna-Barbara ,UPA , andMarvel Productions , as well as advertising spots forStar Kist ,Tuna andMattel Toys ; his was the voice intoning, "The only way to fly!" inWestern Airlines ' spots in the 1960s. Menken also voiced theClyde Crashcup character in "The Alvin Show ". He also voiced Chroma the Great and Tock the Watchdog in the 1970live-action/animated film "The Phantom Tollbooth", and provided the voice for the titular character in "Rikki-Tikki-Ravi ". In 1963, Menken formed his own company,Malibu Films , which specialized in educational and industrial films.Menken died of
natural causes onJanuary 2 ,1999 .External links
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