Don Messick






Don Messick Biography

Don Messick was an American voice actor who is best known for voicing Scooby-Doo, Papa Smurf, and Boo-Boo Bear. He had a remarkable career, mainly in animation, where his unique voice brought many beloved characters to life.

Personal and Family Life

Born on September 7, 1926, in Buffalo, New York, Don Messick had a passion for entertainment from a young age. He married Helen Marie McHugh on October 10, 1953, and they had two children together. He was fond of performing and initially aspired to be a ventriloquist before finding his way into voice acting.

Career Highlights

Messick’s career took off in the early 1950s after being recommended by fellow voice actor Daws Butler. He became a key voice in many original Hanna-Barbera cartoons, including “The Jetsons” and “Yogi Bear.” Known for his ability to create numerous interesting characters, Messick’s most iconic roles include Scooby-Doo and Papa Smurf, both of which he voiced for several decades.

Death and Legacy

Don Messick passed away on October 24, 1997, in Salinas, California, due to a stroke. His contributions to the animation industry left a lasting impact, and he is remembered for his distinctive voice work that defined many childhoods across generations.

Filmography

Title Release Date Character
The Hobbit 1977-11-27 Balin/Troll #3/Goblin/Lord of the Eagles
The Last Unicorn 1982-11-19 The Cat
Rudolph’s Shiny New Year 1976-12-10 Papa Bear / Rumpelstiltskin
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue 1990-04-21 Papa Smurf
Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear! 1964-06-03 Boo-Boo / Ranger John Smith / Ranger Jones
Jack Frost 1979-12-13 Snip
The Flight of Dragons 1984-12-19 Giles of the Treetops / Lo Tae Zhao
Scooby-Doo! in Arabian Nights 1994-09-03 Scooby Doo / Boo-Boo Bear
Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July 1979-07-01 Sam Spangles
The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones 1987-11-15 Astro / R.U.D.I / Mac / Announcer / Store Manager / Robot
Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf 1988-11-13 Scooby-Doo / Scrappy-Doo
Charlotte’s Web 1973-03-01 Jeffrey
The Smurfs Christmas Special 1982-12-13 Papa Smurf / Azrael the Cat
Scooby-Doo Meets Batman 1972-11-10 Scooby-Doo / Professor Flakey
Yogi Bear’s All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper 1982-12-21 Boo Boo Bear / Ranger Smith
Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation 1992-03-11 Hamton J. Pig