Will Ryan
William Frank Ryan (May 21, 1949 – November 19, 2021) was an American voice actor and producer–writer–composer, well-known for singing about the American West. In the late seventies he teamed up with Phil Baron as Willio and Phillio. They had regular gigs on television, radio and comedy clubs and universities throughout the US. Ryan and Baron later paired up again voicing characters of best friends Teddy Ruxpin (Baron) and Grubby the Octopede (Ryan) in the Teddy Ruxpin book and tape seri
The Willio and Phillio act brought Ryan back into music and after moving to California, he began to write and record songs for Disney. He provided the voice of Rabbit, Tigger, and Eeyore in the Disney Channel's long-running series Welcome to Pooh Corner and in many other Pooh cartoons. He also provided the voice of Barnaby the Dog on the popular series Dumbo's Circus.
Since 1987, Ryan has been a fixture of the radio drama Adventures in Odyssey, playing Eugene Meltsner, Harlow Doyle, David Harley, Patrick O'Ryan and hundreds of one-shot characters.
Throughout his lifetime, Ryan voiced:
Rabbit (Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore) - after the death of Junius Matthews.
Digit (the 1986 animated film An American Tail)
Petrie (original voice, the 1988 animated film The Land Before Time)
Elmo Aardvark. (Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective) - and in several Elmo Aardvark CDs.
Willie the Giant (Mickey's Christmas Carol)
He appeared in the film The Wizard of Speed and Time as several different motion picture union representatives.
Ryan's youthful involvement in pop music has continued alongside his animation career. Will Ryan compositions have been recorded by artists such as Patti LaBelle, Diane Schuur, Victoria Jackson, The Pointer Sisters and Joanie Sommers (whom he also produced). His musical incarnation was being the leader of Los Angeles-based Will Ryan and the Cactus County Cowboys, a cross between the Marx Brothers and The Sons of the Pioneers. His variety show, Will Ryan's Cactus County Round-Up, has been a staple in Southern California since 2008. It regularly plays at several venues, including the Steve Allen Theatre in Hollywood.
With Andrew J. Lederer and Michael Rosenberg (Jackie Diamond), Ryan performed in the '20s-style music and comedy trio, The Merry Metronomes. He and Lederer also appeared from time to time as a duo, usually under the name The Natty Nabobs.
In 2009, he was working on the third season of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the 21st season of Adventures in Odyssey, and a radio series called Will Ryan's Cactus County Round-Up.
On November 19, 2021, at the age of 72, Will Ryan died from complications related to pancreatic cancer.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Will Ryan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia .
Born
May 21, 1949
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Died
Nov 19, 2021
Known For
Acting
Movies
64 acting
1 crew
Popularity
1.7
Known For
The Little Mermaid
1989
as Seahorse (voice)
Thumbelina
1994
as Hero / Reverend Rat (voice)
Get a Horse!
2013
as Peg-Leg Pete (voice)
Mickey's Christmas Carol
1983
as Collector for the Poor #2 / Ghost of Christmas Present (Willie the Giant) / Ghost of Christmas Future (Pete) / Santa Claus (Big Bad Wolf) / Weasel #2 (voice)
An American Tail
1986
as Digit (voice)
The Land Before Time
1988
as Petrie (voice)
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
2003
as Papa Bear (voice)
A Troll in Central Park
1994
as Boss (voice)
Rock-A-Doodle
1991
as Stuey (voice)
The Pebble and the Penguin
1995
as Royal / Tika (voice)
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