One of the, uh, greatest product icons ever.
Oh no!! He sang the “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch” song, too!!
A great voice actor and an outstanding vocalist. G’bye, Thurl.
The three words that best describe this news are as follows, and I quote: “Stink. Stank. Stunk.”
Nobody will ever surpass his original recording of “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch.”
Damn!
No offense and all, but I was under the impression he’d died years ago.
RIP Mr. Ravenscroft. A fabulous name and a fabulous voice.
We’ve brought Thurl up in past threads – he did a lot of voices for Disney, including some still used at the Haunted Mansion. I believe he sang as part of the Mellotones. Although I haven’t found anything to substantiate it, I suspect he sings Shere Khan’s ending to “That’s what friends are for” in The Jungle Book (the part otherwise voiced by George Sanders). And I think he was the voice of Paul Bunyan in the Disnery cartoon.
Pretty distinctive voice.
He also had the coolest name in show business.
You were a great one, Mr. Grinch…
And another Grim Grinning Ghost joins the chorus. But I bet he had fun down on Earth.
His was a voice that I LOVED.
What I wouldn’t give to be able to BOOM like that.
I wish he’d done some opera. What I wouldn’t have given to hear his Mephistopheles in Faust, or Commendatore in Don Giovanni…
RIP, Thurl.
According to his Disney Legends page, he was indeed a member of the Mellomen and “lent his voice to…‘The Jungle Book’”.
The Legend’s page sums up his career nicely, I think.
Thurl also sang a very deep, stern song called “No Dogs Allowed” in one of those early Peanuts feature-length animated films (perhaps A Boy Named Charlie Brown).
It was whichever the one was where Charlie Brown went to New York (?) for the big spelling bee (you know, the one where he misspelled “beagle”).
Uh-oh.
Frank Gorshin, Henry Corden (Fred Flintstone), Howard Morris (Ernest T. Bass) form a complete a cartoon-voice actor death troika. With Thurl Ravenscroft, a new one has to be started.
So how is Paul Winchell doing these days?
Regarding Peanuts films: Snoopy Come Home is the film which features the song “No Dogs Allowed” (composed by the great Richard and Robert Sherman, also frequent Disney contributors). The film jayjay is thinking of is A Boy Named Charlie Brown.
Nothing else to add except that Tony is probably one of the most well-known and best cereal mascots ever created. He’s…well, you know. Thurl’s deep voice was an important part of the character, and hopefully a good replacement can be found.
“There’s kind of a weight shift. Grrrr…and then ea…t.”
[Nerdy Disney Nitpick]
It was the Mellomen.
[/Nerdy Disney Nitpick]
RIP Thurl, you will be missed.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Robert Shaw, Conductor of the CelestialChoir
FROM: Saint Peter, The Gatekeeper
**RE: ** Thurl Ravenscroft
Okay Bob, you win. It isn’t often that the Big Guy gives in like this, but He really, really doesn’t want you to resign. Upon reflection, The Almighty has seen fit to grant your request and has called Thurl Ravenscroft home. The Mellowman should be reporting to your office shortly.
Oh, and Bob? Just one other thing. I know it’s kind of unusual, but this is also coming from You-Know-Who. Please be sure to include a performance of You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch in next Sunday’s Celestial Choir concert. And make sure nobody books the BIG CHAIR, because HE will be in attendance. Thanks, and pax tecum, maestro.
Ah, DAMN!
One of my favorite voices ever. He did so much, too.
Someone has found a good portion of the stuff he did, for those interested.
Per his role as Tony: I read a year or two ago that Kellogg’s has had five backups all this time, with one heir apparent.
He did so many good things. I’ll miss him. May he rest in peace.