Dallas Raymond McKennon (July 19, 1919 – July 14, 2009), sometimes credited as Dal McKennon, was an American actor. With a career lasting over 50 years, McKennon's best known roles include

Gumby Gumby and Pokey figures ''Gumby'' is an American cartoon character and associated media franchise created by Art Clokey. He is a blocky green humanoid made of clay. Gumby stars in two television series, '' Gumby: The Movie'', and other medi ...

for Art Clokey, Archie Andrews in several different Archie series for Filmation, and Buzz Buzzard in the

Woody Woodpecker Woody Woodpecker is a cartoon character that appeared in theatrical short films produced by the Walter Lantz Productions, Walter Lantz Studio and Universal Animation Studios, Universal Animation Studio and distributed by Universal Pictures sinc ...

cartoons.

Early life and career

Born near La Grande, Oregon, Mckennon served during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

in the Army Signal Corps in

Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...

. His mother died when he was a child, so he lived on a farm with his aunt and uncle where he was fascinated with nature. McKennon's best-known voice roles were

for Art Clokey, Archie Andrews in several different '' Archie'' series for Filmation, and the primary voice of Buzz Buzzard in the ''

'' cartoons. In the early 1950s, McKennon created and hosted his own daily kids TV wraparound show, ''Space Funnies''/''Capt. Jet'', which was aired weekday mornings on KNXT (KCBS-TV) TV Ch. 2 in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. It was the first Los Angeles–based kids show to air reruns of ''

The Little Rascals ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, who also pr ...

'' and Laurel & Hardy shorts. He was also the primary voice actor for the 1960 cartoon series '' Q.T. Hush''. McKennon was also the voice of the Hardy Boys' sidekick, Chet Morton, in the 1969 animated mystery series. McKennon also sang and provided many character voices, mainly for Walt Disney Animation. He voiced characters in ''

Pinocchio Pinocchio ( , ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel, ''The Adventures of Pinocchio'' (1883) by Italian writer Carlo Collodi of Florence, Tuscany. Pinocchio was carved by a poor man named Geppetto in a Tuscan vil ...

'', ''

Lady and the Tramp ''Lady and the Tramp'' is a 1955 American Animated film, animated Musical film, musical romantic comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by Buena Vista Film Distribution. Based on Ward Greene's 1945 ''Cosmopolitan (magazine) ...

'', ''

Sleeping Beauty "Sleeping Beauty" (, or ''The Beauty Sleeping in the Wood''; , or ''Little Briar Rose''), also titled in English as ''The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods'', is a fairy tale about a princess curse, cursed by an evil fairy to suspended animation in fi ...

'', '' One Hundred and One Dalmatians'', ''

Mary Poppins Mary Poppins may refer to: * Mary Poppins (character), a nanny with magical powers * Mary Poppins (franchise), based on the fictional nanny ** Mary Poppins (book series), ''Mary Poppins'' (book series), the original 1934–1988 children's fanta ...

'', and '' Bedknobs and Broomsticks''; his laughter as a hyena in ''Lady and the Tramp'' was later recycled as a stock sound effect for the voice of Ripper Roo in the '' Crash Bandicoot'' video game series. He also provided the voices for many Disney attractions such as the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad safety announcement, a pair of laughing hyenas in the Africa Room portion of

It's a Small World It's a Small World (stylized in all lowercase and in quotations or with exclamation mark) is an Old Mill boat ride located in the Fantasyland area at various Disney theme parks around the world. Versions of the ride are installed at Disney ...

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin (April 17, 1790) was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and Political philosophy, political philosopher.#britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the m ...

's voice in Epcot's The American Adventure, Epcot's WorldKey information kiosks, and Zeke in the Country Bear Jamboree. McKennon's best-known live action role is the innkeeper Cincinnatus in ''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (, 1734September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyo ...

''. He also had a bit part as a diner cook in '' The Birds'' and as a gas station attendant in '' Clambake''. His final movie was '' Gumby: The Movie'' under the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

Charles Farrington. He voiced Gumby, Fatbuckle, Lucky Claybert, and Professor Kapp. McKennon was an avid

Oregon Trail The Oregon Trail was a east–west, large-wheeled wagon route and Westward Expansion Trails, emigrant trail in North America that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon Territory. The eastern part of the Oregon Trail crossed what ...

historian. He visited schools around the Northwest lecturing children about Oregon history and worked at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center giving instructional speeches, and put together plays, skits, songs, stories, and informational documents leading up to the Oregon Trail's sesquicentennial (150th anniversary). He also worked with

Oregon Public Broadcasting Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) is the primary public broadcasting, public media organization for the U.S. state of Oregon as well as southern Washington (state), Washington. It provides news, information, and programming via television stati ...

creating ''The Pappenheimers'', an instructional video series to help teach children German. His character lived in a

Volkswagen Type 2 The Volkswagen Transporter, initially the Type 2, is a range of light commercial vehicles, built as vans, pickups, and cab-and-chassis variants, introduced in 1950 by the German automotive industry, automaker Volkswagen as their second mass ...

and would tell stories about relatives in Germany.

Personal life

In 1942, McKennon married his childhood love interest, Betty Warner, in

Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...

. The couple had six daughters and two sons. They lived in California until 1968, when they moved to Cannon Beach, Oregon, from where McKennon commuted for voice acting and voiceover roles.

Death

McKennon died from natural causes aged 89 on July 14, 2009, at the Willapa Harbor Care Center in Raymond, Washington, five days shy of his 90th birthday.

Filmography

Live-action

*'' Bend of the River'' (1952) – Miner (uncredited) *'' Tom Thumb'' (1959) – Con-Fu-Shon (voice) *'' The Tingler'' (1959) – Projectionist (uncredited) *'' Have Rocket, Will Travel'' (1959, TV Series) – The Unicorn (voice, uncredited) *'' Let No Man Write My Epitaph'' (1960) – Court Clerk (uncredited) *'' Wagon Train'' (1960) – Hotel Clerk Kelly *'' The Silent Call'' (1961) – Old Man *'' Twist Around the Clock'' (1961) – Motel Proprietor (uncredited) *''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'' (1961–1962) – Jake / Homesteader *''Womanhunt'' (1962) *'' Ben Casey'' (1962, TV Series) – Waco Martin *'' Son of Flubber'' (1963) – 1st Juror (uncredited) *'' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1963, TV Series) – Jim Tolliver *'' The Birds'' (1963) – Sam, the Cook (uncredited) *'' House of the Damned'' (1963) – Mr. Quinby *'' Twilight of Honor'' (1963) – Mr. Phillips (uncredited) *'' The Wheeler Dealers'' (1963) – Sea Captain / Prissy Hotel Clerk (uncredited) *'' My Favorite Martian'' (1963, TV Series) – Mailman *'' The Misadventures of Merlin Jones'' (1964) – Detective Hutchins *'' A Tiger Walks'' (1964) – Reporter (uncredited) *'' 7 Faces of Dr. Lao'' (1964) – Lean Cowboy *''

'' (1964) – Fox / Penguin #2 / Hunting Horse / Merry-Go-Round Operator (voice, uncredited) *''

'' (1964, 80 episodes) – Cincinnatus *'' The Glory Guys'' (1965) – Karl Harpane *''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on ...

'' (1966, TV Series) – Jenkins *''

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American sitcom television series that was aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color. The series ...

'' (1967, TV Series) – Brian Jackson *'' Clambake'' (1967) – Bearded Gas Station Attendant (uncredited) *'' Iron Horse'' (1967, TV Series) – Gabe *'' Dundee and the Culhane'' (1967, TV Series) – Al *'' Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady?'' (1968) – Old Soldier *'' The Love God?'' (1969) – Bird Caller (uncredited) *'' The Andersonville Trial'' (1970, TV Movie) – First Guard *'' Bedknobs and Broomsticks'' (1971) – Bear (voice) *''

Cannon A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder during th ...

'' (1971, TV Series) – Bucky Fosdick *''Emilio and His Magical Bull'' (1975) *'' Space Academy'' (1977, TV Series) – Johnny Sunseed *'' The Cat from Outer Space'' (1978) – Charlie Cooney *'' Hot Lead and Cold Feet'' (1978) – Saloon Man *'' Tourist Trap'' (1979) – Mask (archived recording of laugh) *'' Mystery Mansion'' (1983) – Sam *''Wee Sing: King Cole's Party'' (1987) – Crooked Old Man *''The Talking Christmas Tree'' (1990) – Santa Claus *'' Frozen Assets'' (1992) – Stud of the Year Octogenarian *''

Elf An elf (: elves) is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic peoples, Germanic folklore. Elves appear especially in Norse mythology, North Germanic mythology, being mentioned in the Icelandic ''Poetic Edda'' and the ''Prose Edda'' ...

'' (2003) – Jack-in-the-Box (archived recording of laugh)

Film

*''

'' (1940) – Donkeys (uncredited) *''

'' (1955) – Toughy / Pedro / Professor / Hyena *''

'' (1959) – Diablo/Owl *'' One Hundred and One Dalmatians'' (1961) – Barking Dogs *'' Treasure Island'' (1973) – Captain Flint / Ben Gunn *'' Oliver Twist'' (1974) – Bookseller / Charlie Bates *''

The Adventures of Pinocchio ''The Adventures of Pinocchio'' ( ; , i.e. "The Adventures of Pinocchio. Story of a Puppet"), commonly shortened to ''Pinocchio'', is an 1883 Children's literature, children's fantasy novel by Italian author Carlo Collodi. It is about the mischi ...

'' (1972) – Geppetto *'' Journey Back to Oz'' (1972) –

Omby Amby The Soldier with the Green Whiskers is a character from the fictional Land of Oz who appears in the classic children's series of List of Oz books, Oz books by American author L. Frank Baum and his successors. He is introduced in ''The Wonderful W ...

*'' The Adventures of Mark Twain'' (1985) – Jim Smiley *'' The Puppetoon Movie'' (1987) – Gumby / Additional voices *'' Gumby: The Movie'' (1995) – Gumby / Professor Kapp / Fatbuckle / Lucky Claybert / Nobuckle (credited as Charles Farrington)

Animation

*''

'' (1952–1972) – Buzz Buzzard / Willoughby / Paw *''Space Funnies'' (1956–1957, TV Series) – Captain Jet *'' Hergé's Adventures of Tintin'' (1957, TV Series) – Tintin / Professor Calculus *'' The Gumby Show'' (1957, 1960–1964, TV Series) – Gumby / Pokey / Prickle / Nopey / Gumbo (only in ''Chicken Feed'') / Henry (re-dubbed voice) / Rodgy (re-dubbed voice) / Granny *'' The Woody Woodpecker Show'' (1957–1958, '' Walter Lantz'' Series) – Buzz Buzzard *'' Paul Bunyan'' (1958, Short) – Cal McNab *''

Bucky and Pepito ''Bucky and Pepito'' is a 1959 Western-themed animated television series produced by Sam Singer.''Bucky and Pepi ...

'' (1959–1960, TV Series) – Bucky and Pepito *'' Q. T. Hush'' (1960, TV Series) – Q.T. Hush / Shamus *'' Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse'' (1960–1962, TV cartoon series) – Courageous Cat / Minute Mouse / Additional voices *'' Inspector Willoughby'' (1960–1965, ''Walter Lantz'' series) *''Come Out Party'' (1963, Short) – Inspector Willoughby *'' Sinbad Jr. and his Magic Belt'' (1965–1966, TV Series) – Sinbad Jr. *''

Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree ''Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree'' is a 1966 American animation, animated musical film, musical fantasy film, fantasy short film based on the first two chapters of ''Winnie-the-Pooh (book), Winnie-the-Pooh'' by A. A. Milne. The film was produ ...

'' (1966) – Bees (uncredited) *'' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'' (1966) – Max *'' Cat and Dupli-cat'' (1967, ''

Tom and Jerry ''Tom and Jerry'' is an American Animated cartoon, animated media franchise and series of comedy short films created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Best known for its 161 theatrical short films by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the series ...

'' short) – Jerry Mouse (singing voice) *''Sissy Sheriff'' (1967, Short) – Sugarfoot / Dirty McNasty *''Lotsa Luck'' (1968) – (voice) *'' Archie's Funhouse'' (1968, TV Series) – Archie Andrews / Hot Dog / Mr. Weatherbee *'' The Archie Show'' (1968, TV Series) – Archie Andrews / Hot Dog / Mr. Weatherbee *'' The Hardy Boys'' (1969, cartoon series) – Joe Hardy / Chubby Morton *''

Sabrina the Teenage Witch ''Sabrina the Teenage Witch'' is a comic book series published by Archie Comics about the adventures of a fictional American teenager named Sabrina Spellman. Sabrina was created by writer George Gladir and artist Dan DeCarlo, and first appeared ...

'' (1969–1970, TV Series) – Salem / Archie Andrews / Hot Dog / Mr. Weatherbee / Batso / Ratso *'' Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies'' (1970, TV Series) – Salem / Archie Andrews / Hot Dog / Mr. Weatherby / Rover / Batso / Ratso *''Aesop's Fables'' (1971) – Owl / Frog / Rooster and Beaver *'' Daffy Duck and Porky Pig Meet the Groovie Goolies'' (1972) –

Sylvester the Cat Sylvester J. Pussycat Sr. is a fictional character, an anthropomorphic Bicolor cat, cat in the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of cartoons. Most of his appearances have him often chasing Tweety Bird, Speedy Gonzales, or Hippety Hop ...

(meowing sounds) *'' The U.S. of Archie'' (1974, TV Series) – Archie Andrews / Hot Dog / Mr. Weatherbee *'' The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh'' (1977) – Bees (uncredited) *''The American Adventure'' (1982) – Benjamin Franklin / Soldier #2 *''

Goof Troop ''Goof Troop'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Disney Television Animation, Walt Disney Television Animation. The series focuses on the relationship between single father Goofy and his son, Max Goof, Max, as well as their neighbor Pet ...

'' (1992, TV Series) – Old Man in Bathtub

Commercials

* Kellogg's Corn Flakes - Cornelius Rooster

Video games

*'' Crash Bandicoot'' (1996) – Ripper Roo (laugh only, uncredited) *'' Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back'' (1997) – Ripper Roo (laugh only, uncredited) *'' Darkstalkers 3'' (1997) – Laugh sound effect (uncredited) *'' Crash Team Racing'' (1999) – Ripper Roo (laugh only, uncredited) *'' M.U.G.E.N'' (1999) – Various voices (archive recordings) *'' Crash Bash'' (2000) – Ripper Roo (laugh only, uncredited) *'' Disney's Magical Mirror Starring Mickey Mouse'' (2002) – The Ghost (laugh only, uncredited) *'' Grabbed by the Ghoulies'' (2003) – Laugh sound effect (uncredited) *'' LocoRoco'' (2006) – Stock laughter heard in the Dolangomeri level theme; reused in the sequel in the same world's level theme (uncredited)

Theme park attractions

*'' Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland'' – Narrator *'' Big Thunder Mountain Railroad'' – Safety spiel *'' Country Bear Jamboree'' – Zeke *'' The Hall of Presidents'' – Andrew Jackson *''

'' – Laughing hyenas *'' The American Adventure'' – Benjamin Franklin *''

The Haunted Mansion The Haunted Mansion is a dark ride, dark-ride attraction located at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo Disneyland. The haunted house attraction features a ride-through tour in Omnimover vehicles called “Doom Buggies”, and a walk-through s ...

'' – Deaf Old Man

Walt Disney and other record albums

*''Story and Songs of Mary Poppins'' - Bert/Narrator *''Story and Songs of The Jungle Book'' - Narrator/Bagheera *''More Jungle Book'' - Narrator/Bagheera *''Story and Songs of Bedknobs and Broomsticks'' - Emelius/Narrator *''Story of Lady and the Tramp'' - Tramp *''Story of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'' - Ned Land *''The Story of Sword in the Stone'' - Sir Ector *''Hector, the Stowaway Pup'' - Hector *''Donald Duck and His Friends'' –

Scrooge McDuck Scrooge McDuck (occasionally stylized as $crooge McDuck) is a cartoon character created in 1947 for The Walt Disney Company by Carl Barks. Appearing in Disney comics, Scrooge is a Scottish-born American anthropomorphic duck. Like his nephew, Do ...

*The Wizard of Oz - Scarecrow, other voices *''The Scarecrow of Oz'' - Captain Andy *''The Tin Woodman of Oz'' - Scarecrow, other voices *''The Cowardly Lion of Oz'' - Scarecrow, other voices *''The Story of Treasure Island'' - Narrator *''The Story of Robin Hood'' - Narrator *The Story of The Boatniks - Narrator/Harry *The Story of The Love Bug - Peter Thorndyke *''Toby Tyler in the Circus'' - Mr. Tupper *''The Story of Swiss Family Robinson'' - Father *''The Hall of Presidents Soundtrack'' - Andrew Jackson *''The Story of 101 Dalmatians'' - Collie, other voices *''tom thumb Soundtrack - Various Voices'' *''Woody Woodpecker and His Friends - Inspector Willoughby'' *''The Animal Village'' - Various Voices *''Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies'' (1985) – Narrator / Crooked old man *''Wee Sing America'' (1987) – Various voices *''Wee Sing Silly Songs'' (1988 re-recording) – Various voices *''Wee Sing: Fun n Folk'' (1989) – Various voices *''Wee Sing Around the Campfire'' (1990 re-recording) – Various voices *''Wee Sing Dinosaurs'' (1991) – Various voices *''Wee Sing Animals Animals Animals'' (1999) – Various voices
Centerpoint: Poetry & Music for Christmas
– Featured reader

References

External links

– ''Daily Telegraph'' obituary *
Dallas McKennon
from ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. In 1993 it was acquired by Guardian Media Group Limited, and operated as a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' ...

'' {{DEFAULTSORT:McKennon, Dallas 1919 births 2009 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male television actors American male voice actors Animal impersonators Burials at sea Disney people Filmation people People from La Grande, Oregon United States Army personnel of World War II Walter Lantz Productions people