May 24, 2005
RIP, Thurl Ravenscroft

The wonderfully named Thurl Ravenscroft, who gave voice to Tony the Tiger, has died at the age of 91.


Ravenscroft died Sunday of prostate cancer, said Diane Challis Davy, director of Laguna Beach's Pageant of the Masters.

For more than 50 years, Ravenscroft was the affable voice behind Tony the Tiger, TV's popular cartoon pitchman for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes.

"I'm the only man in the world that has made a career with one word: Grrrrreeeat!" Ravenscroft told the Orange County Register in 1996. "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 'Grrrrreeeat!' roar, and that's how it's been since then."

He also narrated the summertime Pageant of the Masters at Laguna Beach for 20 years and lent his voice to characters on thrill rides at Disneyland, including the Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, the Enchanted Tiki Room and the Haunted Mansion.

"Disneyland wouldn't have been, and wouldn't be, the same without him," the park's former president, Jack Lindquist, told the Register. "His voice was one of the things that made it all come alive."

Ravenscroft also did voices for the animated films Cinderella, The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, Lady and the Tramp and many others.


Actually, there's another animated film to which Ravenscroft lent his voice, and it may be his most recognizable work even though he wasn't credited for it: When you hear the song You're A Mean One, Mister Grinch from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, you're hearing Thurl Ravenscroft. Rest in peace.

UPDATE: And of course, read Mark Evanier for more.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on May 24, 2005 to National news | TrackBack
Comments

"When you hear the song You're A Mean One, Mister Grinch from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, you're hearing Thurl Ravenscroft."

Now I that I think about it, I knew it couldn't have been the narrator of the cartoon, Boris Karloff. It has to be one of the funniest songs ever recorded, and the accompanying animation is perfect for the tune.

On the other hand, I am holding you responsible for the fact that the song has been playing in my head for the last 15 minutes. :-)

Posted by: William Hughes on May 24, 2005 9:54 AM

I've been a fan of his for a long time. Had him in a few Dead Pool rosters too.

Posted by: Laurence Simon on May 24, 2005 10:22 AM

BAD JOKE ALERT!

OK, folks, you know the drill. I'm about to tell a joke. It's really bad. So bad, I have to put this warning up. Please don't blame the management for the quality of this joke.

"The wonderfully named Thurl Ravenscroft, who gave voice to Tony the Tiger, has died at the age of 91."

I guess that means he's now in his grrrrave!

This may have been the worst one yet, folks!

Posted by: William Hughes on May 24, 2005 2:49 PM