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 |