# Not so grrrrrrrrreat! Voice of Tony the Tiger has died **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 24, 2005, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248 "2005-05-24T12:34:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/21 "2005-05-24T20:41:20Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > I wish he’d done some opera. What I wouldn’t have given to hear his Mephistopheles in Faust, or Commendatore in Don Giovanni… Oh yeah. Listen to some of the stuff in the sound archive at the site **Joe K** linked to. There’s a “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” for starters. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/22 "2005-05-24T20:46:22Z")
Also at that link, there’s “Asleep in the Deep”! [http://members.aol.com/allthurl/ram/deep.ram](http://members.aol.com/allthurl/ram/deep.ram) ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/23 "2005-05-25T04:23:23Z")
It wasn’t a cereal killer who got him, was it? [ul] [li]First off, I’m not the first one to make that joke, I’m sure.[/li][li]Why does everyone have to be a comedian?[/li][li]So inappropriate… I got nothing against the guy… [/li][li]I love Frosted Flakes… almost as good as Peanut Butter Crunch…[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/24 "2005-05-25T04:46:35Z")
What an amazing piece of Americana he was. His work as Tony, on the Grinch, and so much else. June Foray better live forever. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/25 "2005-05-25T13:25:58Z")
Did anybody see Letterman’s “tribute” last night? Paraphrased: “Services for Mr. Ravenscroft will be held in such-and-such church after which he’ll be buried in a grrrrrrrrave.” ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/26 "2005-05-25T15:29:54Z")
And his coffin won’t have a lid, it will have a boxtop. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/27 "2005-05-25T17:01:18Z")
Quoting myself, above: > [@](#): > > 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). From this page, from the link provided by **Joe K** : [http://members.aol.com/allthurl/disneyfilm.htm](http://members.aol.com/allthurl/disneyfilm.htm) > [@](#): > > He did not provide the singing voice for Shere Khan, as many believe. George Sanders performed the role, including singing the last line in “That’s What Friends Are For”. Kinda hard to believe. When my father heard that (when the film first came out) he said “I didn’t know George Sanders’ voice went that low!” He apparently didn’t use it much in films, though. From the IMDB site ([http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001695/bio](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001695/bio) ): > [@](#): > > Possessed of a fine baritone singing voice, often raised at parties, Sanders released an album entitled “The George Sanders Touch: Songs for the Lovely Lady” (ABC-Paramount: 1958), today a much sought-after collector’s item. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/28 "2005-05-25T17:03:31Z")
Curiously, the IMDB page for Thurl Ravenscroft _does_ credit him with singing Sanders’ part ([http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0712391/](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0712391/) ): > [@](#): > > The Jungle Book (1967) (singing voice: George Sanders) I note that his page has been updated to include his recent demise. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/29 "2005-05-26T01:00:17Z")
You’re a mean one, Mr. Death. ☹ I saw an interview with him a few years ago, and he said that when people found out that he was Tony the Tiger, they’d always ask him to do, “They’re grrrreeeaaat!” and I thought that was the lamest thing ever. I always vowed that if I ever met him, I’d ask him to sing _You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch_, now I’ll never get that chance. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/30 "2005-05-26T02:17:17Z")
**THURL RAVENSCROFT** With a name like that he should have been sacking the great cities of Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/31 "2005-05-26T04:14:16Z")
I had him in the Death Pool. ☹ He was a unique choice. I always thought my choices would ensure life. Huh. I even figured the Pope would hang in there, if I picked him. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/32 "2005-05-26T05:18:16Z")
I’ve been acquainting myself with a sampling of the man’s work since clicking on that great site **Joe K** linked. It’s easy to see why the commercial for Chicago’s Z-Frank Chevrolet (featured on [this page](http://members.aol.com/allthurl/commercials.htm)) stayed on the air for over two decades. Another highlight is _Boll Weevil_, the last selection on [this page.](http://members.aol.com/allthurl/groups.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/33 "2005-05-26T12:08:30Z")
I remember reading how he used to go down the cereal isle and when a kid would pick up a box of Frosted Flakes he would do the voice. Saturday mornings will not be the same without him. ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/34 "2005-05-26T12:15:54Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Did anybody see Letterman’s “tribute” last night? > > Paraphrased: > > “Services for Mr. Ravenscroft will be held in such-and-such church after which he’ll be buried in a grrrrrrrrave.” I saw it, and I was disgusted. Nothing is sacred anymore, not even someone’s life. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/35 "2005-05-26T13:52:50Z")
Somebody has to mention his work as Kirby the Vacuum Cleaner in _The Brave Little Toaster_, a very underappreciated movie, especially for the music. While we’re all remembering “Grrreat” and “Mr. Grinch”, please have a thought for “I just \*know \* I’m going to regret this.” ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/36 "2005-05-26T22:27:57Z")
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > I saw it, and I was disgusted. Nothing is sacred anymore, not even someone’s life. I think it’s funny myself. My personal theory is “All good humor is going to offend somebody.” And regarding people’s lives not being sacred: Thurl isn’t the first dead person to have a joke made after him immediately after he dies. Dead celebrities are often joked about in all aspects of the media, even here on the Dope. When a famous singer who was satirized in recent years by Dave Chappelle died, a number of threads appeared with the title “Rick James is dead, bitch!” When the _Gidget_ actress who was name-checked in a song from _Grease_ died, we got “Look at me, I was Sandra Dee.” And I have no idea how to end this post, since I’m planning on writing another one right now, so there you go. In conclusion, dead people are often satirized. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/37 "2005-05-31T02:25:22Z")
Nice cartoon about Thurl’s passing can be found [here.](http://www.shortpacked.com/d/20050527.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248/38 "2005-05-31T03:53:49Z")
Thanks for the archive, that was beautiful! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-grrrrrrrrreat-voice-of-tony-the-tiger-has-died/305248.md?page=1)