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Paul Frees

Paul Frees

Actor · 1920 – 1986 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Solomon Hersh Frees (June 22, 1920 – November 2, 1986), known professionally as Paul Frees, was an American actor, voice actor, impressionist and screenwriter. He is best known for his voice work in cartoons during the Golden Age of Animation. Like Mel Blanc, he was sometimes referred to as "The Man of a Thousand Voices". Born in Chicago, Illinois, Frees started his entertainment career as a vaudeville impressionist and in 1942 began working on Hollywood radio series. After being drafted into the U.S. Army in World War II, he was wounded in action and eventually resumed his work in radio upon his return to the states. Frees appeared in over 250 films, cartoons and TV episodes, although he had few on-screen appearances and often went uncredited. He was also frequently enlisted to re-dub actors' performances, such as Tony Curtis' dialogue as Josephine in the 1959 film Some Like it Hot. That same year, Frees co-wrote and directed the film The Beatniks, his only feature film. Frees had a long career with Walt Disney Studios, providing the voice for Ludwig Von Drake and other characters, narrating short films, and supplying many voices for Disney theme park attractions, most notably the Ghost Host in The Haunted Mansion, various voices in Pirates of the Caribbean, and the narrator for both Adventure Thru Innerspace and Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln. On TV, Frees worked with Jay Ward Productions, providing the voice of Boris Badenov and other characters in various series, and also supplied many voices for Rankin/Bass cartoon specials. He also appeared in TV commercials and was the original voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy and the second voice of Froot Loops mascot Toucan Sam (after Mel Blanc). Frees was married five times and had two children via his third wife, voice actress Joyce Schultz. In his later years, Frees suffered from multiple health issues. He died in Tiburon, California, on November 2, 1986, at age 66, from an overdose of pain medication. He was cremated and his remains were scattered over the Pacific Ocean.

Movies24

  • Movie7.2
  • Movie7.2

    The Harder They Fall

    1956 · 160 votes

  • Movie8.1

    Some Like It Hot

    1959 · 4K votes

  • Movie6.2
  • Movie7.2

    Tora! Tora! Tora!

    1970 · 623 votes

  • Movie7.4

    Patton

    1969 · 1.3K votes

  • Movie6.8

    The War of the Worlds

    1953 · 732 votes

  • Movie7.4

    The Time Machine

    1960 · 950 votes

  • Movie7.5

    The Manchurian Candidate

    1962 · 841 votes

  • Movie7.3

    The Last Unicorn

    1982 · 621 votes

  • Movie7.3

    A Place in the Sun

    1951 · 429 votes

  • Movie6.5
  • Movie6.6

    The Hobbit

    1977 · 382 votes

  • Movie6.6

    Breakheart Pass

    1975 · 239 votes

  • Movie7.3

    Grand Prix

    1966 · 239 votes

  • Movie7.2

    Operation Petticoat

    1959 · 430 votes

  • Movie6.9
  • Movie7.3

    Sei donne per l'assassino

    Blood and Black Lace

    1964 · 485 votes

  • Movie6.4

    The Return of the King

    1980 · 229 votes

  • Movie6.7
  • Movie6.2

    Robin and the 7 Hoods

    1964 · 76 votes

  • Movie6.8

    His Kind of Woman

    1951 · 78 votes

  • Movie6.3
  • Movie7.0

    The Abominable Dr. Phibes

    1971 · 345 votes

Series22

  • TV7.5

    Knight Rider

    1982 · 1.5K votes

  • TV8.0

    Get Smart

    1965 · 448 votes

  • TV7.4

    The Flintstones

    1960 · 1K votes

  • TV7.1

    The Bullwinkle Show

    1959 · 61 votes

  • TV6.5

    Dragnet

    1951 · 36 votes

  • TV7.8

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    1955 · 266 votes

  • TV5.8

    The Millionaire

    1955 · 4 votes

  • TV7.5

    Studio 57

    1954 · 2 votes

  • TV5.3
  • TV6.7

    Lux Video Theatre

    1950 · 7 votes

  • TV7.5

    City Detective

    1953 · 2 votes

  • TV7.9
  • TV6.6

    The Mr. Magoo Show

    1960 · 10 votes

  • TV8.0
  • TV6.2

    The Gumby Show

    1956 · 20 votes

  • TV7.5

    Top Cat

    1961 · 371 votes

  • TV7.7

    Mr. Terrific

    1967 · 8 votes

  • TV7.5

    The Secret Squirrel Show

    1965 · 78 votes

  • TV5.3

    Dangerous Assignment

    1952 · 3 votes

  • TV7.4

    The Impossibles

    1966 · 5 votes

  • TV6.2

    The Beatles

    1965 · 12 votes

  • TV7.1