Thurl Ravenscroft has passed away. Many won’t remember the name of this man but know him as the voice of Tony the Tiger from the Frosted Flakes cereal, and as the gritty-throated voice belting out “You’re a mean one, Mister Grinch…” from Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. He was also the character voice of Kirby from “The Brave Little Toaster”, the uncredited background voice of goblins in “The Hobbit”, Wickersham Brother in “Horton Hears a Who!” and the voice behind some of the best classic songs and voices. Along with him passes on the end of an era.
Thurl Ravenscroft, voice of Tony the Tiger
Thurl Ravenscroft of Fullerton whose voice was known worldwide through his work in movies, TV and at Disneyland, died Sunday from prostate cancer. He was 91.
Tony the Tiger? That was Ravenscroft.
Disneyland? Too many voices to mention, but Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion and the Enchanted Tiki Room were all graced by Ravenscroft’s pliable, unique voice.
Movies? How about “Cinderella,” “Dumbo” and “Lady and the Tramp”? “Disneyland wouldn’t have been, and wouldn’t be, the same without him,” said former park President Jack Lindquist. “It’s all part of the experience. You can’t go home with a ride, but you can go home with a memory, and part of that is the audio - the sound part of it. His voice was one of the things that made it all come alive.”
Thurl Arthur Ravenscroft was born Feb. 6, 1914, in Norfolk, Neb. He moved to California in 1933 to study interior design at the Otis College of Art and Design. While in school he was encouraged to go into show business and auditioned at Paramount studios to be a singer.
By the mid-1930s, he was appearing regularly on radio, first on a program titled “Goose Creek Parson.” In the late 1930s, he appeared on the “The Kraft Music Hall” with Bing Crosby.
After military service in World War II, he returned to Hollywood, later becoming involved in the Mellomen singing group, and began a career in radio, movies, TV and commercials.
In 1952, Ravenscroft achieved a measure of immortality, thanks to a TV commercial.
“I’m the only man in the world that has made a career with one word: Grrrrreeeeat!” Ravenscroft roared in a 1996 interview with t he Orange County Register. “When Kellogg’s brought up the idea of the tiger, they sent me a caricature of Tony to see if I could create something for them. After messing around for some time I came up with the ‘Great!’ roar, and that’s how it’s been since then.”
In 1966, Dr. Seuss and Chuck Jones teamed up to do “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” for CBS. Ravenscroft recalled the Grinch fondly, saying, “That was my chance to prove I could really sing.”
- Orange County Register
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