Will Ryan (May 21, 1949 - November 19, 2021)[1] was a voice actor originally from Cleveland, Ohio.
Something of a prodigy, his music career began when, while still in high school, he signed the first of two recording contracts with CBS Records.
Leaving music for a while, he took over the job once held by R. Crumb at the American Greetings card company back in his native Cleveland.
Transferring to live comedy, he formed a team with Phil Baron and, as Willio and Phillio, they became Midwestern favorites, with radio shows and a regular gig on PM Magazine. Songs they recorded on the 'Wizard' label included "All Winter Long", "The Cleveland Stroll", "It Sure Feels Like Love" and the holiday-themed "Hail to Thee O' Christmas Tree" and "Christmas Roundelay". 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 & tape series as well as the 1987 television show The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin.
Willio and Phillio brought Ryan back into the field of music and after relocating to California, he began to write and record wacky songs for Disney, becoming one of its most popular and versatile voice actors. He provided the voice of Rabbit, in the Disney Channel's Welcome to Pooh Corner series and in many other Pooh cartoons.
He also voiced Rabbit in Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore following the death of Junius Matthews (though Ken Sansom would take over the character in the late 1980s).
He was the actual voice actor of the gander (male goose) Bertram from Mother Goose's Treasuries Series (1987).
He was also the original voice of Petrie in The Land Before Time.
He appeared in the film The Wizard of Speed and Time as several different motion picture Union representatives, making use of his unique vocal talents.
He was the voice of Elmo Aardvark, who has been reputed, in a series of magazine articles and elsewhere, to have been created by his grandfather and to predate Mickey Mouse. There was a successful Internet cartoon series featuring the character, called Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective and there have been several Elmo Aardvark CDs.
Ryan's youthful involvement in the pop music field continued alongside his animation career. Ryan compositions have been recorded by artists such as Diane Schuur, Victoria Jackson, The Pointer Sisters and Joanie Sommers (who he also produced).
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.
After a period mostly spent working elsewhere, Ryan once again became a frequent Disney voice artist.
Ryan passed away on November 19, 2021 at the age of 72 after a battle with cancer.
Role in The Land Before Time[]
The fictional character Petrie, in Don Bluth's 1988 theatrical animated hit, The Land Before Time, was Will Ryan's favorite acting performance.
One of Will's most famous roles was voicing the character Petrie in the original The Land Before Time. The Sullivan-Bluth Studio was so enthralled by Ryan's performance as Petrie, also as the voice of Digit in An American Tail.
Partial Filmography[]
Partial Discography[]
- Eugene Sings!
- Eugene Sings! Christmas
- Am I Cool or What?
- Goin' Quackers
- Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective]
- Elmo Aardvark: Vintage Cartoon Sound Tracks
- Elmo Aardvark: Classic Cartoon Soundtracks
- Classic Songs for Leonard Reed's Shim Sham Shimmy
References[]
- Credits for album, Am I Cool or What? featuring Ryan compositions, Answers.com, Retrieved on February 10, 2008.
- Interview wirh Ryan The Phantom Tollbooth, Retrieved on March 26, 2008.
- List of Walt Disney Records artists Mouse Tracks The Story of Walt Disney Records, Retrieved on April 24, 2008.
External links[]
- Will Ryan at the Internet Movie Database