- Don Messick
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Don Messick Born Donald Earl Messick
September 7, 1926
Buffalo, New York, U.S.Died October 24, 1997 (aged 71)
Salinas, California, U.S.Cause of death Stroke Occupation Voice actor Years active 1948–1996 Donald Earl "Don" Messick[1] (September 7, 1926 – October 24, 1997) was an American voice actor best known for his work for Hanna-Barbera. Perhaps his most well-known voice creations include Scooby-Doo, Papa Smurf, and Dr. Benton Quest.
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Early life and career
Messick was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Lena Birch (née Hughes) and Binford Earl Messick, a house painter.[1] He first wanted to be a ventriloquist, and even supported himself as one for a time. His big break came in the mid-1940s. At MGM, Tex Avery was producing the Droopy cartoons. The regular voice actor, radio actor Bill Thompson, was not available. Daws Butler, who voiced characters for MGM, suggested that Avery seek out Messick, and so, he was hired to voice Droopy. Later, in the mid-1950s, when Bill Thompson parted ways with MGM, Messick took over the role of Droopy.
Messick and Butler became a voice acting team for the Hanna-Barbera unit in 1957 with the arrival of Ruff and Reddy. Don was Ruff the cat and the Droopy-sounding Professor Gizmo. Butler was the southern-speaking dog, Reddy. Messick also narrated the show, which played out like an animated soap opera.
From 1957 to 1965, Butler and Messick gave voice to a large number of characters. Always the sidekick, Messick’s characters were not headliners. His notable roles in this era were Boo Boo Bear, Ranger Smith, Major Minor, Pixie Mouse, Astro and Muttley.
Messick was used primarily for his narration skills, which were heard on many of those cartoons in which Daws Butler starred. In narrating the Yogi Bear cartoons, he also voiced Ranger Smith in something close to his natural voice, leaving the impression that the Ranger was narrating the cartoons.
Messick would eventually star in a cartoon series: Ricochet Rabbit. This character was paired with the slow-poke Deputy Droop-a-Long, voiced by Mel Blanc.
In outer space cartoons, Messick created noises and sounds for weird space creatures and aliens. His "Ranger Smith" voice was often heard as various space villains. His narrator voice was given to Vapor Man, Dr. Benton Quest, The Perilous Paper Doll Man, and Multi Man. His narrating voice was also heard on Hong Kong Phooey and Laff-A-Lympics.
In 1974, he performed on Hong Kong Phooey as Spot the cat, Hong Kong Phooey's faithful sidekick.
Scooby Doo and later roles
In 1969, he was cast as the cowardly canine Scooby-Doo on Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. He voiced him through all of the various versions of Scooby-Doo: on television in numerous formats from 1969 to 1985, four television films, and a number of commercials as well. Messick was still voicing the role when A Pup Named Scooby-Doo came along from 1988 to 1991. From 1980 to 1988, Messick also voiced Scooby's nephew, Scrappy-Doo, having taken over the role originated by voice actor Lennie Weinrib in 1979.
In 1981 Messick started a role as Papa Smurf on The Smurfs from 1981 to 1989. He also voiced Ratchet (the Autobot doctor), Gears, and Constructicon Scavenger on The Transformers.
In the mid-1980s, new episodes of The Jetsons were produced. Messick returned as Astro, RUDI, and new voice Uniblab, a pesky robot that worked for Mr. Spacely.
Messick also starred in the Masters of the Universe Golden Book video as He-Man.
Messick also appeared in an on-camera role on the MTM Enterprises sitcom Duck Factory, playing a cartoon voice artist named Wally Wooster. In one episode, frequent collaborator Frank Welker guest-starred as a rival voice artist angling for his job.
In 1988, he had an uncredited role as the Pimp of the Year pageant announcer on I'm Gonna Git You Sucka.
From 1990 to 1995, he voiced Hamton J. Pig in FOX's Tiny Toon Adventures and its spin-offs.
Around that time, Don Messick also returned as the voice of Droopy for Tom & Jerry Kids and Droopy, Master Detective.
At a charity speaking engagement in London, shortly before his death, Messick performed many of his characters, except Scooby Doo. He claimed that giving up smoking had robbed him of the rasp in the voice that he needed.
Retirement and death
In late September 1996, Messick suffered a stroke while recording voices at Hanna Barbera.
On October 12, 1996, Messick had a "retirement party" at his favorite Chinese restaurant (Joe Barbera personally sent a limo to Messick and his wife, and the two were chauffeured). Many of his companions and peers during his career who had come to pay tribute to him included Henry Corden, Casey Kasem, Lucille Bliss (his co-star from The Smurfs), June Foray (another co-star from The Smurfs) and Gary Owens.
Messick suffered a second stroke and died on October 24, 1997. He was cremated. His ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at the Point Lobos State Reserve.
Since Messick's death, Scott Innes and Frank Welker have both played the role of Scooby-Doo.
A year later in 1998, the film Scooby Doo on Zombie Island was dedicated to his memory.
References
External links
- Don Messick Tribute Short biography of Don Messick
- Don Messick at Find a Grave
- Don Messick at the Internet Movie Database
- Brett Rogers's article on Don Messick
Preceded by
NoneVoice Of Scooby-Doo
September 1969 — September 1996Succeeded by
Scott InnesPreceded by
NoneVoice of Ratchet
1984-1986Succeeded by
Robert FoxworthCategories:- 1926 births
- 1997 deaths
- Deaths from stroke
- American radio actors
- American voice actors
- People from Buffalo, New York
- Yogi Bear
- Ventriloquists
- Scooby-Doo
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