Ivan Owen

Ivan Owen (August 19 1927 - October 17 2000) was a British voice actor who created the vocal persona of the puppet Basil Brush.

Born in South London, Owen had already developed expertise in puppet voices when he met Peter Firmin, Basil's designer, in the 1960s. He voiced Basil from his first appearance in 1963, which he modelled, it is reported, on that of Terry-Thomas. He also operated the puppet, although the only moving part of it was the mouth.

Although Basil Brush went on to become hugely famous in Britain and many countries of the Commonwealth, Owen maintained his anonymity throughout the height of the puppet's fame during the 1970s, never giving interviews or allowing himself to be photographed.

References

* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4079103,00.html Obituary]