Santa Claus Blog

Throughout the history of holiday movies, Santa Claus has been portrayed by numerous actors. From both film versions of Miracle on 34th Street (1947 and 1994), to Elf (2003), to The Santa Clause Trilogy (1994-2006), the actor always brings their own unique qualities to the performance and each of the performances always manage to be asset to the movie. In this blog, I thought we could explore the actors who have donned the red suit (and elderly makeup if they need it), and always managed to be endearing when they say “Ho! Ho! Ho!” Please feel free to tell me who your favorite is.

• The very first actor who portrayed Santa Claus on the Silver Screen was Edmund Gwenn in the original Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Gwenn won a well-deserved Academy Award (for Best Supporting Actor) for his performance. When he received the award his acceptance speech was “Now I know there is a Santa Claus.” Each of Gwenn’s cast mates in the film were very fond of him. Maureen O’Hara (Doris Walker) said “By the time we were halfway through the shoot, we all believed Edmund really was Santa Claus. I’ve never seen an actor more naturally suited for a role.” Alvin Greenman (Alfred the Janitor) said that he was “a dear, dear man,” who always took time to mentor him, and Robert Hyatt (Thomas Mara Jr.) said “He was a really nice guy, always happy, always smiling. He had this little twinkle in his eye.”     
• When Fox remade “Miracle,” in 1994, the role of Kris Kringle was assumed by Lord Richard Attenborough starring alongside Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott, and Mara Wilson. Much like Edmund Gwenn’s cast mates, Attenborough’s were also fond of him. When Lord Attenborough passed away on August 24th, 2014 at the age of 90, each in the cast tweeted their condolences. McDermott tweeted “Rest in Peace Richard Attenborough. U were the best Santa ever” and Wilson tweeted “Sir Richard Attenborough was the only Santa Claus I ever believed in. A wonderful man. Still in shock. May he rest in peace.” Also, Perkins tweeted “Terribly sad. He will always be my Kris Kringle.” Although the principle cast members who worked on this movie had a good time working together, their movie was critically panned in its initial release, and Fox offered a refund to any viewer who didn’t enjoy it and received approximately 1,500 tickets to the movie returned to their studio. There was also reviewer named Desson Howe who said the film “it will not be found on television half a century from now,” which is ironic because the film has gained popularity since its release and is consistently aired on television all throughout Christmas.
• The same year that Fox remade “Miracle,” Disney produced The Santa Clause (1994) starring Tim Allen (his first leading role in a movie). His collective contributions to Disney, including the Toy Story franchise, Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), The Shaggy Dog (2006), and other various TV roles, earned him the title of “Disney Legend” in 1999. (His award set the record for shortest time between first contribution to Disney (Allen’s was in 1991 with ABC’s Home Improvement) and being named a legend. Ironically, Tim Allen’s “Toy Story” cast mate, Tom Hanks was considered for the role of Scott Calvin in “The Santa Clause” franchise, but Allen got the role and reprised it in two sequels: The Santa Clause 2 (2002) and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006).
• Edward Asner, who is best known for playing the role of Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977) and Lou Grant (1977-1982) which earned him five Golden Globes and five Emmys actually is a Santa Claus veteran. He first donned the red suit in an episode of the television series Highway to Heaven (1984-1989). His next portrayal was in The Christmas Star (1986) which is a made-for-television produced by ABC and The Story of Santa Claus (1996), Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999), and an episode of The Ellen Show (2001-2002). The first time he played it in a theatrical movie, however, was in the comedy cult classic, Elf (2003). You Disney fans might also remember that Asner is known for providing the voice of Carl Fredricksen in Up (2009) and portraying Hank Cooper in Disney’s Gus (1976), starring opposite sit-com legends Don Knotts, Tim Conway, Harold Gould, and Tom Bosley. He has also done voices for numerous animated series for Disney, including Bonkers (1993-1994), Recess (1997-2001), and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000-2001).        

There are many other exceptional actors who have also played Santa Claus and not quite enough time to make this lengthy discussion about all of them. Leslie Nielsen in All I Want For Christmas (1991) and Santa Who? (2000), Paul Giamatti in Fred Claus (2007), Jim Broadbent in Get Santa (2014), and Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles (2018) all come to mind…no doubt movie buffs continue to benefit from their talents.   

Mary Jo Catlett: Simple yet Hilarious

In the voice-over acting world, there are actors who have very wide vocal ranges that can allow the actor to speak in all kinds of different accents. But there are other actors whose range allows them to talk in only one kind of accent, but it is distinctive and unique. Mary Jo Catlett is the latter. You might recognize Mary Jo’s saccharine voice as Mrs. Puff on Spongebob Squarepants (1999-present), but did you know she actually has some fascinating connections to Disney as well?

  Mary Jo Catlett was born on September 2nd, 1938 in Denver, Colorado. After attending Loretto Heights College in Denver, she was bitten by the “acting bug,” particularly in musical comedy, and relocated to New York to try her luck. Fortunately, she found success landing a role in the off-Broadway production of Along Came A Spider in 1963. The very next year, she was cast as Ernestina Simple in the original Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! starring Carol Channing. She also reprised the role of Ernestina in the first national tour of the show, which starred Ginger Rogers.  

Around the time of “Dolly,” Catlett also began making appearances on television in The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978), Maude (1972-1978), and M*A*S*H (1972-1983). She made her film debut in the Woody Allen comedy Bananas in 1971. After “Dolly,” Catlett continued to appear on Broadway in plays called Canterbury Tales, Different Times, and in 1973 she starred as Mabel in Broadway’s revival of The Pajama Game. She also acted the role of Mabel in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), and provided additional voices on the animated sit-com The Smurfs (1981-1989). In 1994, Mary Jo Catlett was cast in the role of Madame de la Grande Bouche, otherwise known as the Wardrobe in the original Broadway production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which was Disney’s very first film ever to be adapted on Broadway. The role earned her an Ovation Award Nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical!

After “Beauty,” Catlett later lent her voice to the Disney Channel Original Series Quack Pack (1996-1997). Three years after that, she landed the role of Mrs. Puff on “Spongebob.” She has voiced Mrs. Puff throughout the show’s entire 20-year-run, as well as other elderly characters including Squidward’s grandmother, Grandma Tentacles, and the elderly psychic. In the “Something Smells,” episode of Spongebob, there is a scene where Spongebob says “Hello, Dolly!” in reference to Mary Jo Catlett’s Broadway musical debut. Catlett has also voiced Mrs. Puff in each of the “Spongebob,” movies, The Spongebob Squarepants Movie (2004), The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015), and the upcoming The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run.

Catlett is also known at Disney for having small roles in the Disney Channel Shows Kim Possible (2002-2007) and That’s So Raven (2003-2007). Whether she acts on Broadway, Television, Film, or in Animation, her unmistakable voice never ceases to make us laugh!   

Disney’s Christmas Carol Blog

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is undoubtedly a classic holiday story! Dickens first published A Christmas Carol as a novella in 1843 and since that time, the story has been adapted for television, stage, radio, and of course, film. Disney has also made various adaptations of the story and I thought we could explore fun facts about those in this blog. Feel free to community on your favorites!

• Disney produced Mickey’s Christmas Carol in 1983, and it received an Oscar Nomination for Best Short Film, Animated that year. Featuring the voice talent of Wayne Allwine (Mickey Mouse), Alan Young (Scrooge McDuck), and Will Ryan (Pete/Ghost of Christmas Future and Willie the Giant) it was the very first film appearance of Wayne Allwine as Mickey Mouse and his first chance to work with future wife Russi Taylor as Minnie Mouse. (Though Taylor recorded some dialogue for the film, it wasn’t included in the final cut.) This film also marked the last appearance of Disney voice-over veteran, Clarence Nash, as Donald Duck, whom he voiced for over 50 years. 
• Prior to the 1983 version, Alan Young collaborated with Alan Dinehart on a Disneyland Records Album called An Adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Performed by the Walt Disney Players in 1974. It was his first time voicing Scrooge McDuck and he continued voicing Scrooge McDuck for 32 years until his death in 2016.
• Disney’s next adaptation of “Christmas Carol,” was The Muppet Christmas Carol, which was released in 1992. The film was directed by Brian Henson, son of “Muppets,” creator Jim Henson, who also directed The Muppet Treasure Island (1996). In this film, Scrooge is portrayed by Michael Caine, who is also known to Disney fans for voicing Finn McMissile in Disney/Pixar’s Cars 2 (2011). Caine to this day considers the role of Scrooge to be one of his most memorable. Caine got along wonderfully well with Henson while the film was in production, being seriously impressed with Henson’s skills as a director. Before filming began Caine told Henson “I’m going to play this movie like I’m working with the Royal Shakespeare Company. I will never wink, I will never do anything Muppety. I am going to play Scrooge as if it is an utterly dramatic role and there are no puppets around me,” to which Henson replied “Yes, bang on!” “Muppet Christmas Carol,” was also the second “Christmas Carol,” movie that was filmed at the Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England. The first was the movie-musical, Scrooge (1970) in which Ebenezer Scrooge was portrayed by Albert Finney.
• Disney re-adapted “Christmas Carol,” for C.G.I. in 2009 with Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge and all three of the Christmas Ghosts who visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve. In this film, Bob and Emily Cratchit were voiced by Gary Oldman and Leslie Manville, who were married in real life from 1987-1990 and have a son together. This is also the first film that Robert Zemeckis directed for Disney since Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). In this film, Cary Elwes provides the voice of Dick Wilkins, Scrooge’s partner at Mr. Fezziwig’s. Elwes previously worked with Jim Carrey in Liar Liar (1997) and Robin Wright in The Princess Bride (1987), and Wright voices Scrooge’s sister Fan as well as his fiancé, Belle in this film. Fionnula Flanagan voices Mrs. Dilber, Scrooge’s charwoman in this film, and Flannagan also worked with Jim Carrey in the movie Yes Man (2008). In the initial release for this film Jim Carrey described it as “A classical version of ‘A Christmas Carol.’ There are a lot of vocal things, a lot of physical things I have to do. Not to mention doing the accents properly, the English, Irish accents. I want it to fly in the UK. I want it to be good and I want them to go ‘Yeah, that’s for real.’ We were very true to the book. It’s beautiful. It’s an incredible film.”            

Of all these film adaptations my personal favorite is “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” because it was the first of these adaptations that I recall seeing as a child and I also enjoy the songs.

J. Pat O’Malley: Tone Changer

You might remember from some of my earlier blogs that I talked about various talented actors who frequently lent their voices to Disney cartoon characters. In this blog, I’d like to tell you about yet another actor—this one a personal request of Walt Disney himself—J. Pat O’Malley.

James Patrick Francis O’Malley was born in Burley England on March 14th, 1904. He started his career performing as a singer in the United Kingdom in 1925 and later signed on as a principal singer with Jack Hylton and his orchestra from 1930-1933. Known as just Pat O’Malley at the time, he recorded more than 400 songs with that orchestra including “Amy, Beautiful Amy,” which was a song about aviator Amy Johnson. O’Malley later partnered with Hylton, himself and they came to the United States in 1935 to record music with a band of American musicians. Their partnership, unfortunately, was short-lived and Hylton returned to England while O’Malley remained in the U.S. and ultimately found his way into acting. Addding the first initial of James back onto his first name, he became becoming J. Pat O’Malley to avoid confusion with the American actor, Patrick Henry O’Malley.

J. Pat O’Malley made his film debut in United Artists Captain Caution in 1940. He also made the films Thumbs Up and Lassie Come Home in 1943, and in both films he starred opposite Elsa Lanchester. He later appeared on the Broadway Stage in the play Ten Little Indians in 1944. It wasn’t long before O’Malley’s interesting British accent caught the attention of Walt Disney who hired O’Malley to voice the character of Cyril Proudbottom (the horse) in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949). In addition to the horse, he also voiced the characters of Mr. Winkie, the Policemen and the Paperboy.

After lending his voice to “Ichabod and Mr. Toad,” O’Malley voiced Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum, the Walrus, the Carpenter, and the Curious Oysters in Alice in Wonderland (1951), Jasper and Colonel the sheep dog in 101 Dalmatians (1961), the Pearly Band Drummer, the Huntsman, The Master of Hounds, and the Penguin Waiter in Mary Poppins (1964), Colonel Hathai the Elephant and one of the Vultures in The Jungle Book (1967), and Otto the Blacksmith Bloodhound in Robin Hood (1973). While voicing his bit roles in “Poppins,” he helped Dick Van Dyke develop his cockney accent for his role as Bert the Chimney Sweep in the film. 

Besides all these film roles, Walt Disney also hired O’Malley to play the role of “Perkins” in the Disney television serials “Spin and Marty,” which aired as part of The Mickey Mouse Club (1955-1959), and he also voiced several of the pirates in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, including the pirate dunking the magistrate into the well and also one of the prisoners who coaxes the dog with the keys.. He also lent his voice to two cartoon shorts, Goliath 2 (1960) and The Saga Windwagon Smith (1961), and he even appeared in the live-action Disney film, Son of Flubber (1963), the sequel to The Absent-Minded Professor (1961).

In 1969, J. Pat O’Malley appeared as the Park Policeman in Hello, Dolly! (1969) and portrayed Carol Brady’s father, Henry Tyler, in the pilot episode of The Brady Bunch (1969-1974). He continued acting in film and television until the early 1980s and passed away on February 27th, 1985 due to heart disease. He truly was a talented actor with a unique voice who helped make many Disney characters endearing.      

Paddi Edwards: Ghostly Entertaining

If you’re a fan of Disney Animation like I am, Halloween is as a time for celebrating and (or at least acknowledging) Disney villains. Throughout the history of Disney, the villains have always been voiced by talented actors—all of whose voices have unique qualities, from deep tones to harsh rasps. In this blog, I’d like to tell you about an actress who was known for having a raspy voice that she lent to a variety of films, most notably The Little Mermaid (1989). 

Patricia Mary Ursula Edwards was born on March 8th, 1931, in Bristol, England. She and her family relocated to Waban, Massachusetts where she officially became a U.S. citizen at the age of 21. In 1960, she made her official debut in the British film Inn for Trouble, a spin-off of a television series. In 1982, she starred as the Secretary in Halloween 3: Season of the Witch. Not long after that, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis were casting for their upcoming film project in Ghostbusters (1984), having just cast Yugoslavian actress Slavitza Jovan to portray the ruthless deity Gozer, they decided that her Slavic accent was too comical. Since they wanted the character of Gozer to be one of the scarier elements of the film, Paddi Edwards’ spookier voice turned out to be just what they were looking for. 

After lending her voice to “Ghostbusters,” Paddi Edwards made a guest-star appearance on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, playing the role of Anya the shape-shifting mother figure in “The Dauphin” episode which aired on television in 1989. The same year, Edwards was hired by Disney to voice the dual role of Ursula’s two evil eels in “Little Mermaid.” It is ironic, considering that Flotsam and Jetsam worked for a sea witch named Ursula in the movie, and one of Paddi Edwards’ real middle names is Ursula! In 1997, she was rehired by Disney to voice one of the Fates in Hercules (1997) which was co-written/co-directed by John Musker and Ron Clements who also co-wrote/co-directed “Mermaid.” She also lent her voices to Disney’s direct-to-video sequels to The Brave Little Toaster (1987), The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue (1997) and The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars (1998). Around the time of these movies, Edwards also lent her voices to Disney television shows as well, including 101: Dalmatians: The Series (1997-1998) and Pepper Ann (1997-2000), voicing the character of Vera Groober-Schwartz. She continued to voice that character, along with lending her voice to An Extremely Goofy Movie (2000), the direct-to-video sequel to A Goofy Movie (1995), before her untimely death due to respiratory failure on October 19th, 1999 at the age of 68.

Paddi Edwards has a unique body of work in the entertainment industry. Remembered as the voices of Gozer in “Ghostbusters,” Flotsam and Jetsam in “Little Mermaid,” or to Trekkies as Anya in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” though I’m sure we can all agree that her spooky voice served as an asset to every film and/or television show that she was a part of.  

Absolute Classics part 2

You might remember from two weeks ago that we began a tribute to films that are considered classics today—but weren’t necessarily beloved when they first came out. I’d like to continue our tribute to such films in this blog. Please feel free to comment on anything you find interesting.

Most movie buffs remember the year 1987 as the year of films of Fatal Attraction, Moonstruck, Broadcast News, or even The Untouchables. Each of the aforementioned films were huge hits! But hard core movie buffs might also remember 1987 as the year of The Princess Bride, which was released on September 25th, 1987. Although the film was critically well-reviewed in its initial release, it only grossed $30.8 million in the United States and Canada while on a $16 million dollar budget. It seemed, audiences didn’t know what genre defined the film, fairy tale/medieval satire, swashbuckling adventure, romance story, or a comedy. One reviewer who said said “Hey, it’s a cute movie. And if you need to do something in the afternoon, go ahead, take your kids.” The film however, did begin to gain cult status in the video market when it was released on Laserdisc in 1988, VHS in 1994, DVD in 2000, and Blu Ray in 2018. The same year that it was released on DVD (2000), the magazine Total Film voted it as the greatest comedy of all time. The film’s male star, Cary Elwes, also wrote a book in 2014 called As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of the Princess Bride in which he and Rob Reiner explain that one of the main reasons that “Princess Bride,” is a special film is because it is combines all of those genres into one plot.

1993 was the same year that the Walt Disney Company produced two beloved Halloween-themed films. The second was Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, though the first was Hocus Pocus. “Hocus Pocus,” was released on July 16th, 1993, and received mixed-to-negative reviews. Gene Siskel from The Chicago Tribune wrote that the film was “a ‘dreadful witches’ comedy with the only tolerable moment coming when Bette Middler presents a single song.” The Miami Herald referred to it as a “pretty lackluster affair. Despite the triple-threat actress combo, Hocus Pocus won’t be the Sister Act of 1993. There are a lot of go-sees this summer and this isn’t one of them.” The film also grossed only $8.1 million and was only in the top ten ranking of summer of ’93 films for two weeks. However, just like “Princess Bride,” this film gained cult status when it was released on VHS in 1994, DVD in 2002, and Blu Ray in 2018, which was just in time for the film’s 25th anniversary. The film has also been aired on television by the Disney Channel, ABC, and ABC Family’s 13 nights of Halloween, where it gains more viewers more and more every year. 2009’s broadcast of the film drew 2.5 million viewers and when it aired last year on Freeform, the viewing was averaged at 8.2 million.               

I hope you enjoyed our tribute to these classic films. Let me know which is your favorite, or if you have another you think I should have talked about.

Absolute Classics part 1

What do you think the term classic means? Is it something that stand the test of time? Award-winning? Hailed by critics? Something nostalgic? Or is it something that is simply beautiful and you wouldn’t imagine it any other way? No matter your definition, there are all kinds of movies that are considered classics. Some of the most widely accepted classics today, however, were not an “instant classic” when they were released. In this blog, I’d like to tell you about some of them, continuing with more next week. 

When The Wizard of Oz was released in 1939, the film didn’t exactly take everyone who saw it “Over the Rainbow.” Some moviegoers thought that Judy Garland was just a little too old to play L. Frank Baum’s 12-year-old Dorothy Gale. A reviewer of The New Yorker named Russell Maloney wrote that the film displayed “no trace of imagination, good taste, or ingenuity,” and was a “stinkeroo.” Although the film grossed a total of $3,017,000 (that’s both the US and worldwide—a lot of money in 1939), because of its high production costs and various distribution and other costs, it put Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) $1,145,000 in debt. In 1956, however, CBS purchased the rights to air the film on television, and it was on television that the film began to gain iconic status. Many adults young and old were “raised” on the annual network television event that it became-and its popularity only continued to grow when it was released on VHS in 1980, DVD in 1997, and Blu Ray in 2009.

In December of 1946, the term “Christmas holiday tradition” was given an entirely new meaning with Frank Capra’s sentimental classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Sadly, not everyone at that time saw the “wonderful” value of the film, and it lost $525,000 for its distribution company RKO. A critic named Bosley Crowther, wrote in for the New York Times, “The weakness of this picture from the reviewers point of view is the sentimentality of it-its illusory concept of life. Mr. Capra’s nice people are charming, his small town is a quite beguiling place and his pattern for solving problems is most optimistic and facile. But somehow, they all resemble theatrical attitudes rather than average realities.” Another film critic named Manny Farber wrote “To make his points (Capra) always takes an easy, simple-minded path that doesn’t give much credit to the intelligence of the audience,” and he added that it has only a “few unsentimental moments here and there.” The Oscars were kind enough to give the film a total of five nominations, but four out of those five nominations went to William Wyler’s The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). Just like with “Wizard of Oz,” seven years earlier, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” gained popularity when airing on television, though that didn’t happen until 1976. There it gained positive reception , and along with being released on VHS in the ‘80s, DVD in 2001, and Blu Ray in 2009, it is widely considered a “must” for Christmas-time viewing.

MGM produced Singin’ in the Rain in 1952. This film was only a moderate hit when it was first released, grossing $5.5 million in the US and internationally, though it did earn MGM a profit. And although the film provides “Best Picture Oscar” quality, in reality the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences only nominated the film for Best Original Score and Best Supporting Actress for Jean Hagen for her performance as spoiled screen diva, Lina Lamont. The film’s male lead star, Gene Kelly, previously made An American in Paris (1951) and that film was much more successful, winning the Best Picture Oscar that year, as well as five other Oscars. In 1989, however, Singin’ in the Rain was among the first 25 films to be inducted into the National Film Registry for films that are considered “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” whereas “An American in Paris,” wasn’t inducted until 1993. This film was later readapted for the Broadway Stage in 1985, and was released on VHS in 1992, DVD in 2002, and Blu Ray in 2012. 

Today each of these films are included on AFI’s (American Film Institute’s) Top 100 Movies with “It’s a Wonderful Life,” at #20, “The Wizard of Oz,” at #10, and “Singin’ in the Rain,” at #5. Please feel free to comment on any of these movies and tune in again when we continue our tribute to underrated classics.  

Real Life Mickeys and Minnies

There have been dozens and dozens of talented people throughout Disney’s history who were fortunate enough to be hired by the studio to work on and/or perform in films and TV. Some were married couples, even working closely together, and occasionally on the same show! The tradition began at the studio during Walt’s time, and continues today. Here are some examples:

Marc Davis was one of Walt’s “Nine Old Men” and he animated many “leading lady” characters at the studio including Cinderella in Cinderella (1950), Tinker Bell in Peter Pan (1953), and Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty (1959). His widow, Alice Estes Davis, was a costume designer for Disney, and designed the Briar Rose costume for Sleeping Beauty. They were married in 1956, three years before “Beauty” was released, and not long after, Alice met with Walt Disney himself, who was blown away by her work. Walt also asked her to design costumes for the live-action film Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks With a Circus (1960) as well as the beloved Disney Parks attraction “It’s a Small World.” The Davises also worked together designing the animatronics and costumes for “Pirates of the Caribbean.” and “The Haunted Mansion.”

John McIntire and Jeanette Nolan were actors who were married for 56 years. They first appeared together in the Alfred Hitchcock classic Psycho (1960), and the film Cloak and Dagger (1984), as well as in television shows like Wagon Train (1957-1962), The Virginian (1962-1971), and The Fugitive (1963-1967). They made their first appearance for Disney in The Rescuers (1977) in which McIntire voiced Rufus the Cat and Nolan voiced Ellie Mae the Mouse. They did voice work again in The Fox and the Hound (1981) (McIntire voiced Mr. Digger the Badger and and Nolan played the Widow Tweed). McIntire also appeared in Disney’s Herbie Rides Again (1974) and the Touchstone Pictures film Turner & Hooch (1989) and Jeanette Nolan appeared in a made-for-television film called “The Sky’s the Limit,” which aired on The Wonderful World of Disney (1954-present).

Julie Andrews was cast in Mary Poppins (1964) as a result of impressing Walt Disney in her portrayal of Queen Guinevere in Lerner and Lowe’s Camelot. Not long after she was hired, Walt asked her then-husband, Tony Walton, what he did for a living, and he explained that he was a costume designer. That being the case, Walt also hired him to serve as a design consultant and a costume consultant for “Poppins,” and he received a Best Costume Design Oscar Nomination for his efforts, along with his wife who received a Best Actress Nomination for her performance as the magical nanny, and also won. Although Tony lost the Costume Design Award to Cecil Beaton in My Fair Lady (1964), he won a Best Art Direction Oscar 15 years later for the film All That Jazz (1979), an award that he also shared with Philip Rosenberg, Edward Stewart, and Gary J. Brink. 

When ABC Studios (which is owned by Disney) green-lit Once Upon a Time (2011-2018), Ginnifer Goodwin was cast in the role of Mary Margaret Blanchard, aka “Snow White” and Josh Dallas was cast opposite her in the role of David Nolan, aka “Prince Charming.” It ironically led to a real life romance between Dallas and Goodwin and they were married on April 14th, 2014. They continued portraying their characters on “Once,” for the entire run of the show, though only appeared in the series finale episode of the show’s 7th season. In addition to “Once,” both Goodwin and Dallas provided voices to Disney’s Oscar-winning animated feature Zootopia (2016), in which Goodwin voiced leading character Officer Judy Hopps and Dallas voiced the Frantic Pig. Goodwin has also lent her voice to the Disney Channel/ Junior Series Sofia the First (2012-2018) and the direct-to-video movie Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Never Beast (2015) and Dallas portrayed Fandral in Marvel’s Thor (2011). 

It’s fun to find out that people who share their private lives together were able to collaborate in their field of expertise. That it happened inside Disney’s wonderful world makes it even more special!       

Adventures from Odyssey to Disney

If you grew up in the ‘90s, like I did, and went to church you might have at some point either listened to the radio series or watched the video series Adventures in Odyssey from Focus on the Family. Focus was founded in Southern California, but based in Colorado Springs, CO. Both programs told stories about faith in the Lord through the adventures of some kids who frequented an arcade and ice cream shop called “Whit’s End.” The continues, and now in its 32nd year. The show featured characters who were brought to life by talented voice actors, but, interestingly, many of those voice actors, in addition to lending their voices to “Odyssey,” also did voices for Disney!

• Hal Smith originated the role of John Avery “Whit” Whitaker from 1987 until his death in 1994. Before his unfortunate death, Smith explained that role of Whit was one of the most rewarding these he’s ever done in his life, and that Whit was also one of his all-time favorite roles. Smith was also generous enough to help fellow other actors at Disney be cast in “Odyssey.” Previously, Smith originated the role of Owl in the “Winnie the Pooh,” franchise at Disney at 1966 and continued to voice that character from 1966-1991. He was cast as Owl around the time he wrapped up eight seasons of playing his trademark role of Otis Campbell on The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1966). Smith also voiced Winnie the Pooh himself for nine years after “Pooh,” originator Sterling Holloway retired in 1977. Smith voiced Belle’s horse Philippe in Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Jafar’s horse in Aladdin (1992) as well. After his unfortunate passing, in the role of Whit was assumed by Paul Herlinger, who portrayed the character from 1996-2008. Whit is currently voiced by Andre Stojka, who coincidentally is Disney’s current voice of Owl in “Winnie the Pooh.”
• Will Ryan has voiced a variety of characters on “Odyssey,” though his best known role is that of brainiac Eugene Meltsner. On “Odyssey,” he also voiced Harlow Doyle, Officer David Harley, and over 100 others. For Disney, Will Ryan is the current voice of Willie the Giant, (the Giant from Fun and Fancy Free (1947)). He began voicing the character in 1983 for Mickey’s Christmas Carol, in which he also voiced the villainous Pete. Ryan also voiced Tigger, Rabbit, and was the singing voice of Eeyore in the Disney Channel Series Welcome to Pooh Corner (1983-1986), which also featured the voice of “Odyssey,” co-star, Hal Smith. In addition to lending his voice to shows, Ryan, who is also a gifted musician, co-wrote music for a Disney album called “Goin’ Quackers,” and has done voice-work for Disney Park Attractions, i.e. Gepetto at Pinocchio’s Daring Journey attraction and the Weasel at Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin, both of which are located at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland. Besides all of his Disney roles, Will Ryan also voiced Digit the cockroach in An American Tail (1986) and Petrie the Flyer in The Land Before Time (1988), both of which were directed by former Disney animator, Don Bluth.
• Katie Leigh was cast in the role of “Odyssey” youth Connie Kendall in 1987, even though in reality, Leigh was a legal adult at the time. For Disney, Leigh provided the voice of Dumbo the Flying Elephant on the Disney Channel Series Dumbo’s Circus (1985) which also featured the voices of Hal Smith and Will Ryan, as well as Jim Cummings, who voiced the character of Darkwing Duck in Darkwing Duck (1991-1992), in which Leigh voiced the character of Honker Muddlefoot. Prior to that show, Leigh, Cummings, and Ryan also lent their voices to Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985-1991). Outside of Disney, Leigh is also known for being the speaking voice of the Maharaja in Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and she also originated the role of Baby Rowlf in the CBS Series Baby Muppets (1984-1991).
• Alan Young was hired in 1994 to provide the voice of Whit’s college buddy, Jack Allen, in 1994. Long before he was cast in that role, however, he was already a Disney Veteran for voicing Donald Duck’s greedy uncle Scrooge McDuck, a role he began voicing in 1974 and continued voicing till his death in 2016. He also made a brief appearance in the film The Cat From Outer Space (1978), and later voiced Hiram Flaversham, father of Olivia Flaversham in The Great Mouse Detective (1986). Young also helped write the Disneyland Records 1974 Album An Adaptation of Dickens’ Christmas Carol, performed by the Walt Disney Players, where he voiced both Scrooge McDuck, and ironically Mickey Mouse! Besides his Disney roles, one might also recognize him as Mr. Ed’s Jockey, Wilbur Post from Mister Ed (1961-1996) or from The Time Machine (1960), and he also made a cameo in the remake which was released in 2002.           

These four actors are talented in everything that they do and the characters they voice are enduring because of them. I’m sure we can call agree that both Disney and Focus on the Family were lucky to have hired them.

Double-Accoladed Actors part…2

Two weeks ago I promised a second part to the blog I wrote on Actors who have been nominated for an Oscar for playing the same character twice in two different films. Please feel free to continue the dialogue on this interesting segment of the acting community!

• Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in Rocky (1976), portraying the leading role of Rocky Balboa. The film earned him Oscar nominations for his Acting performance as well as his Original Screenplay, though Stallone lost both awards to Network (1976): Peter Finch for his Acting performance and Paddy Chayefsky for Original Screenplay. In “Rocky,” Stallone also served as the boxing choreographer, and was generous enough to give bit parts in the film to his father and his brother, who share the name Frank, and his dog, Butkus. In addition to being one of the six actors nominated twice for playing the same character, Stallone is also the third person to be nominated for acting and writing in the same year, following Charlie Chaplin in The Great Dictator (1940) and Orson Welles in Citizen Kane (1941). Stallone currently is the record-holder for the most years in between nominations for playing the same character in a gap of 39 years, recreating the “Balboa” role in Creed (2015), in which he was nominated in the supporting category. He was defeated yet again by Mark Rylance for Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies (2015).
• Paul Newman originated the role of “Fast Eddie” Felson in The Hustler (1961). Before Newman was cast in this film, ironically, he had never held a pool cue. It was because of this that he took out the dining room from his home and installed a pool table—so he could spend literally every hour practicing and do all of his own shots in the film. At one point, he even challenged co-star, Jackie Gleason, who in reality was a much better pool player, to a $50 bet on a pool game. Although Gleason won, and Newman paid him the next day with a total of 5000 pennies, Gleason and Newman did become close friends and Newman was able to improve on his own skills while making the movie. Newman later went on to recreate the role 25 years later in Martin Scorsese’s The Color of Money (1986). Newman said that he felt that Scorsese was the right person to direct the sequel because he liked the way Scrosese directed Raging Bull (1980) six years earlier. “Raging Bull,” is a biopic on boxer, Jake LaMotta, who was impersonated in the film by Robert DeNiro who won an Oscar for the performance, though the real LaMotta, ironically, appeared as a bartender in “The Hustler.”
• Cate Blanchett first played the role of Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth (1998). At the time, Cate Blanchett wasn’t internationally known as a movie star, though that was remedied as a result of this one. Ironically, in 1998, Dame Judi Dench was nominated as Best Supporting Actor for her 8-minute portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love (1998). Although Blanchett lost the Leading Oscar to Gwyneth Paltrow for her portrayal of Viola De Lesseps in “Shakespeare in Love,” Dench won. (Coincidentally, this movie also starred Joseph Fiennes and Geoffrey Rush who also appeared in “Shakespeare in Love,” and both films were nominated for Best Picture as well. “Shakespeare” won.) Blanchett reprised her role as Queen Elizabeth I 19 years later in Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007). This nomination made Blanchett the only woman to be nominated for an Oscar twice for playing the same character in two different movies. Although she lost the award to Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose (2007), she won for the first time as Best Supporting Actress for her impersonation of Katharine Hepburn in Scorsese’s The Aviator (2004) and the second time in the Leading Category for her portrayal of Jasmine in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine (2013). To this day, Blanchett is also the only Oscar-winning actress ever to win an Oscar for impersonating another Oscar winner.  

Wayne + Russi = Mickey and Minnie

1977. The release year for films such as The Rescuers, Freaky Friday, Pete’s Dragon, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. It was also the year the Disney Studios was looking for a new voice talent for Mickey Mouse—after the retirement of the studio’s Sound Effects Head, Jimmy MacDonald, who had voiced the character since 1947, and had assumed the role from Walt Disney himself. 

The studio hired Wayne Allwine, who began his career working in the Disney Studio mailing room, and later in the sound effects department under MacDonald’s mentorship. Allwine made his debut as Mickey Mouse in The All New Mickey Mouse Club in 1977, the first television revival of the Original Mickey Mouse Club (It aired on television from 1955-1958). Allwine’s first theatrical appearance as Mickey happened in 1983 when Disney produced Mickey’s Christmas Carol in which Mickey Mouse portrays Bob Cratchit.

Russi Taylor, on the other hand, began her career voicing the baby from Ted and Georgette’s marriage on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977). She also voiced Strawberry Shortcake in the characters first six original television specials. She won the role of Minnie Mouse in 1986, (succeeding Ruth Gordon and Janet Waldo (Judy Jetson’s voice)), beating more than 200 actresses for the part! Her debut as Minnie was in a special called DTV: Doggone Valentine in 1987. She met Allwine, at a recording session for a television special called Totally Minnie which aired in 1988. 

Surprisingly, Taylor and Allwine fell in love—and became husband and wife in 1991. Together, they began voicing Minnie and Mickey together on a regular basis, from the television show Disney’s House of Mouse (2001-2003) to the direct-to-video movies Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999) and Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004) to the Magic Kingdom Park Atrraction, Mickey’s Philhar Magic, which opened at the Magic Kingdom in 2003. Taylor also succeeded Clarence Nash as the voice of Donald Duck’s three nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, in the series DuckTales (1987-1990).

Besides Mickey, Wayne Allwine also voiced the Horned King’s Guards in The Black Cauldron (1985), and one of Professor Ratigan’s cronies in The Great Mouse Detective (1986). Around the time he voiced Mickey, Allwine also lent his talents as a sound effects editor to Disney/Touchstone-produced films such as Splash (1984) and Three Men and a Baby (1987). He continued to voice the character of Mickey Mouse for a total of 32 years until his untimely death on May 18th, 2009, due to acute diabetes, at the age of 62. His last performances as Mickey were in the video game Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and in the “Goofy Babysitter,” episode of The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse which aired on television in 2011. Both programs of which were dedicated in his memory.

Around the time that she got the part of Minnie Mouse, Russi Taylor also succeeded Clarence Nash as the voice of Donald Duck’s three nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie in ‘86. Besides that, she lent her voice to several direct-to-video sequels: Cinderella 2: Dreams Come True (2002), The Fox and the Hound 2 (2006), Cinderella 3: A Twist in Time (2007). In addition, she had voice parts on the television shows: Jake and the Neverland Pirates (2011-2016) Sofia the First (2012-2018). In addition to all of her Disney roles, Taylor also voiced Pebbles Flintstone in The Flintstone Comedy Hour (1980) and the character of Martin Prince in The Simpsons (1989-present). Taylor voiced the character of Minnie Mouse for a total of 33 years before she passed away of colon cancer on July 26, 2019 at the age of 75.

The romantic relationship of Mickey and Minnie Mouse represents a huge part of the legacy of Disney and it continues to stand the test of time. From the time they debuted together in the short Plane Crazy in 1928, to their more recent appearance together in the ABC television special Mickey’s 90th Spectacular in 2018, Allwine and Russell were a classic pair. Walt Disney is started their life together, but it was Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor who made the magic last! 

Double-Accoladed Actors part…1

Throughout the history of Hollywood, many actors have created outstanding performances on screen and been rewarded with an Oscar. Did you know, however, that six of those actors reprised their role in “sequels” to the original films, AND received an Oscar nominations for both performances? In this blog, I’d like to tell you all about some of those actors containing next week. Please feel free to comment on anything interesting! 

• Bing Crosby was the very first actor to be nominated for an Oscar twice for creating the role of Father Chuck O’Malley in Going My Way (1944) and The Bells of Saint Mary’s (1945). He won the Best Actor Oscar for “Going My Way,” in which he starred opposite Barry Fitzgerald and Gene Lockhart. Barry Fitzgerald received a Lead and a Supporting Nomination for his performance as Father Fitzgibbon (which is the only time that has happened and is no longer possible due to Academy guidelines). Crosby reprised the role of Father O’Malley the following year in “Bells,” starring opposite Ingrid Bergman, who also received an Oscar Nomination for her performance as Sister Mary Benedict. During the production, there was a Catholic Priest who helped oversee the production and at one point, Crosby and Bergman pranked him as they shot the ending scene where Father O’Malley and Sister Mary Benedict said their last goodbyes. As they were shooting Crosby and Bergman embraced in a passionate kiss which made the priest jump up shouting in protest.
• Peter O’Toole became the second actor to receive two Oscar nominations for playing the same character in different movies when he played King Henry II in Becket (1964) and then again in The Lion in Winter (1968). In “Becket,” O’Toole wore a crown entirely made of cardboard. He also appeared opposite his then-wife, Sian Philips who played Gwendolen in the film. In “Lion in Winter,” O’Toole appeared alongside Katherine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine who won her third Best Actress Oscar for the film. Hepburn criticized O’Toole for occasionally appearing drunk on the set, as well as co-star Anthony Hopkins, who was only five years younger than O’Toole, even though they played father and son. Despite that, Hepburn did enjoy working with O’Toole, and said that “his energy and vigor helped restore her own vitality at a time when she really needed it.”
• Al Pacino created the character of Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972) and again in The Godfather: Part 2 (1974). The first time he was nominated in the supporting category against his co-stars, Robert Duvall and James Caan as Tom Hagen and Santino “Sonny” Corleone. Pacino boycotted the Oscars due to anger for being nominated in the supporting category instead of lead, protesting that he was onscreen longer than Marlon Brando. All three were beaten that year by Joel Grey for his performance as the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret (1972), which Grey had also performed on Broadway. For the second film, Pacino was nominated for his performance in the leading category, though he lost again that year to Art Carney in Harry and Tonto (1974). While Robert De Niro took home the Oscar in the supporting category for his performance as the young Vito Corleone, Al Pacino’s overdue Oscar wouldn’t come until 18 years later for his leading performance in Scent of a Woman (1992). He was also nominated that year for his supporting performance in Glengarry Glen Ross (1992).              

Our tribute to actors being recognized for creating the same characters in different films continues next week!

John Candy: A Teddy Bear of a Comedian

He made us laugh like crazy in all kinds of comedies throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, Stripes (1981), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), and Home Alone (1990) to name a few, playing clumsy, but likable guys in pretty much every one of them. Originating from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, he performed on Canadian television and was the co-owner of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League for three years. He even made two films for the Walt Disney Studios. He is none other than John Candy!

John Franklin Candy was born on October 31st (Halloween Night), 1950 in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. He was raised in a working-class Roman Catholic family, and after graduating from Neil McNeill Catholic High School, he enrolled in Centennial Community College to study journalism. It was there, however, that he discovered that the also had an interest in performing, deciding to to pursue that instead and at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

In his early 20s, he guest starred on Canadian-produced television shows called Cucumber (1970) and Police Surgeon (1971-1975). His big break, however, came at the age of 27, when he officially became a member of the Toronto branch of the comedy troupe, The Second City. Many of the other members of the troupe would became lifelong friends of his, i.e.: Catherine O’Hara, Rick Moranis, Eugene Levy, and Harold Ramis. Candy and his Toronto Second City colleagues collaborated with Andrew Alexander to create the show SCTV (1976-1981). 

John Candy made his film debut in an uncredited appearance in a comedy called Class of ’44 (1973). His first credited film appearance, however, was alongside pal Dan Aykroyd in Steven Spielberg’s 1941 (1979). He landed another role the following year in The Blues Brothers (1980), reuniting him with Aykroyd; and then he starred as Ox alongside Bill Murray and Harold Ramis in Stripes (1981). He later reunited with his Second City alumni for the show SCTV Network (1981-1983), before he landed the role of Tom Hank’s womanizing brother, Freddie Bauer, in Ron Howard’s Splash (1984), the first film ever produced by Disney’s spin-off label, Touchstone Films. Many have argued that this is the role that made John Candy a superstar. He had originally wanted to play the role of the villainous Dr. Walter Kornbluth in the film, though Ron Howard convinced him to play Freddie instead. As a result, Candy suggested Eugene Levy for Walter. Around the time of “Splash,” Columbia offered him the role of Louis Tully in Ghostbusters (1984). He considered it, but ultimately declined, believing that his buddy Rick Moranis would be a much better fit for the role.      

John Candy’s first role as a leading man was in Summer Rental (1985), directed by Carl Reiner. Two years after that, he made his very first collaboration with comedy writing/producing/directing legend John Hughes in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), which would also be his first official pairing with Steve Martin. Martin and Candy previously appeared in Warner Bros. film adaptation of the off-Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors (1986), which also featured Bill Murray and Rick Moranis, though their scenes were not together. Since making “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” both Martin and Candy have stated that the film is the favorite of both of their careers. ’87 continued as a busy year for Candy, because with the role of Barf in Mel Brooks’s Spaceballs. In ’88, John Candy reunited with Hughes and Aykroyd in The Great Outdoors as Chet Ripley (written and produced by Hughes, and directed by Howard Deutch). Candy also made a cameo as Chet in She’s Having a Baby (1988), which was also written, produced, and directed by John Hughes.

Candy made his fourth collaboration with John Hughes in Uncle Buck in 1989, which also starred Macaulay Culkin. Prior to that, he was offered the role of Wayne Szalinski by Disney, once again declining in favor of Moranis. He ultimately accepted Disney’s offer to voice the cartoon character of Wilbur the Albatross of Albatross Airlines in The Rescuers Down Under (1990), the sequel to The Rescuers (1977). That same year, he played the role of Gus Polinski, Polka King of the Midwest, in Home Alone (1990), his fifth collaboration with John Hughes. It also reunited him with Catherine O’Hara and Macaulay Culkin. Ironically, both “Rescuers Down Under,” and “Home Alone,” were released on November 16th.  

During “Home Alone,” Candy became close with director Chris Columbus and it wasn’t long before they were working together again on Only the Lonely (1991) which was written and directed by Columbus and also featured Macaulay Culkin and his younger brother, Kieran, along with Ally Sheedy, Jim Belushi, and Silver Screen Legends, Anthony Quinn and Maureen O’Hara. While filming on location in Chicago, Candy noticed that he was staying in a much bigger trailer than Maureen O’Hara. Bothered by that, he asked the production team why that was the case, and they explained that there wasn’t enough money in the film’s budget for him and O’Hara both to have big trailers, so purely out of generosity, he traded trailers with O’Hara. 

The same year as “Only the Lonely,” Candy starred in the film JFK, which received a Best Picture Oscar Nomination. ’91 was also the year that he, along with Wayne Gretzky and Bruce McNall, became co-owners of the Toronto Argonauts. Candy, Gretzky, and McNall worked together on signing some of the team’s most valuable players, including wide receiver Raghib Ramadian “Rocket” Ismail, and they were over the moon when the Argonauts took home the 1991 Grey Cup. Candy didn’t completely shy away from making movies though, starring in Disney’s Cool Runnings in 1993 and making his directorial debut in 1994 in Hostage For a Day which starred George Wendt.

John Candy tragically died of a heart attack at the age of 43 on March 4th, 1994. At the time, he was in Durango, Mexico shooting the movie, Wagons East (1994). Prior to going there, he spoke to good friend Catherine O’Hara that he was afraid about going to Mexico because he had a gut feeling that “something bad is going to happen there,” and that was the last time they spoke. “Hostage For a Day” and “Wagons East,” were both released after his death, along with another film called Canadian Bacon (1995), which was a reunion for him with Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi. All of his best friends were in attendance at his funeral and eulogies were delivered by both Aykroyd and Catherine O’Hara. At the time of his death, Disney had also recorded a great deal of his voice for the character of Redfeather the Turkey in Pocahontas (1995), but the character was deleted from the film after his unfortunate death. 

25 Facts You Might or Might Not Know About The Lion King

On June 24th, 1994, Walt Disney Animation Studios released their original version of The Lion King. The film received universal acclaim and became the highest-grossing motion picture of 1994 worldwide. On July 19th, 2019, Disney will release a readaptation of The Lion King in the medium of motion-capture animation, 25 years after the original classic. In honor of that, I thought we could explore some interesting facts about this classic Disney blockbuster. Please feel free to comment on anything you find interesting.

• The Lion King (1994) was nominated for four Oscars and won two: Best Original Score (Hans Zimmer) and Best Original Song “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” (m. Sir Elton John, l. Sir Time Rice.) John and Rice were also nominated for the songs “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata.”
• Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, who provided the respective voices of Adult Simba and Timon in the film, later befriended one another at the film’s premiere and have since starred in three Broadway Shows Together: Mel Brook’s The Producers (2001), The Odd Couple (2005), and It’s Only A Play (2014).
• “Lion King,” was readapted for Broadway on November 13th, 1997. The show won six Tony’s, including Best Musical. The show featured Samuel E. Wright in the role of Mufasa, who ironically voiced Sebastian in The Little Mermaid (1989). The show is still going strong, having played a total of 9,009 performances as of June 30th, 2019.
• James Earl Jones, the voice of Mufasa in the original film, will reprise the role in the remake
• “The Lion King,” lead to the creation of two direct-to-video sequels, The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride (1998), and The Lion King 1 1/2 (2004). Disney also produced two spin-off television series, Timon & Pumbaa (1995-1999), which aired on the Disney Channel and The Lion Guard (2016-present) which currently airs on the Disney Junior Network. Ernie Sabella has voiced the character of Pumbaa the Warthog in every one of these shows, except the new film. Seth Rogen will be the new voice of Pumbaa. 
• James Earl Jones and Madge Sinclair, the voices of King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi, Simba’s parents, previously worked together in a comedy called Coming to America (1988) where they played the King and Queen mother of Prince Akeem (played by Eddie Murphy). Ironically, there were scenes in the film where they wore costumes made of lion fur!
• In addition to James Earl Jones returning, the voice cast of Disney’s new “Lion King,” will also feature Beyonce Knowles-Carter, Billy Eichner, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Donald Glover, John Kani, Keegan-Michael Key, John Oliver, Seth Rogen, and Alfre Woodard. The film will be directed by Jon Favreau, who previously directed The Jungle Book (2016), which also featured the motion-capture technique, and won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. The same team of visual effects artists who worked on “Jungle Book,” will also be applying their talents to “Lion King.”
• The original film was co-directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, both of whom directed Disney-produced shorts, i.e.: The Little Matchgirl (2006) (Allers), Tummy Trouble (1989) and Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990) (Minkoff)—the latter two of which starred Roger Rabbit of Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). Minkoff also directed The Haunted Mansion (2003) with Eddie Murphy.
• Jeremy Irons, the original voice of Scar, originally was able to do his own singing in the “Be Prepared,” sequence. However, his vocal chords became strained when singing the line “You won’t get a sniff without me,” and hence, Jim Cummings, who also voiced Ed the Hyena in the film, finished the song in place of Irons.
• Nathan Lane improvised Timon’s comedic line “What do you want me to do, dress in drag and do the hula?”
• In addition to the character of Scar having two separate voices, one for the speaking and the other for singing, several other roles in the film where shared by two different actors. The role of Adult Simba was spoken by Matthew Broderick, though it was sung by Joseph Williams
• “Lion King,” was in production at Disney around the same time as Pocahontas (1995). Everyone who worked at Disney at the time had more faith in “Pocahontas,” then they did in “Lion King,” and even thought that “Pocahontas,” would go on to receive a Best Picture Oscar Nomination (as Beauty and the Beast (1991) had previously done). Ironically, “Lion King,” proved to be the big hit, while “Pocahontas,” was met with mixed-to-negative reviews and didn’t make a great deal of money.
• When “Lion King,” won the Best Original Score and Best Original Song Oscars, it followed in the footsteps of all the Disney Oscar-winning films released prior to it: The Little Mermaid (1989), Song “Under the Sea,” Beauty and the Beast (1991), Song “Beauty and the Beast,” and Aladdin (1992), Song “A Whole New World.” Although “Pocahontas,” was a critical and financial flop, it managed to win Oscars in the same categories too. The “Pocahontas,” song was, “Colors of the Wind.”
• Andreas Deja, the supervising animator for the character of Scar in the film is known at Disney for being the supervising animator for many of the modern villains at the studio. He also animated The Horned King in The Black Cauldron (1985), Gaston in Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Jafar in Aladdin (1992).
• Jeff Nathanson wrote the screenplay for Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can (2002) and the screenplay for the new “Lion King.” 
• Shenzi and Banzai the Hyenas were voiced by Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin, both of whom have had Pixar voice-over roles. Goldberg voiced Stretch the Octopus in Toy Story 3 (2010) and Marin voiced Ramone in the Cars franchise (2006-2017).
• Hanz Zimmer is also returning to score the new film, and Sir Elton John and Sir Tim Rice have also re-teamed to make revisions to the songs they wrote for the original, in addition to all-new song called “Never Too Late,” which will play at the end of the new film’s credits. The film will also feature the song “He Lives In You,” which was written for the Broadway version of “Lion King,” by Lebo M.
• “Lion King,” was the all-time favorite animated film of Oscar-winning Silver Screen legend, Gregory Peck. He ranked the film in his top five all-time favorite movies!  
• Jonathan Taylor Thomas began recording “Lion King,” while starring as Randy Taylor in the Disney/ABC Series Home Improvement (1991-1999). Coincidentally, his on-screen, father, Tim Allen also began recording the voice of Buzz Lightyear, in Toy Story (1995), while starring on the show.
• Disney didn’t record actual lions roaring for the film. Frank Welker, who is known at Disney for voicing many non-speaking characters, including Max the Dog in The Little Mermaid (1989), Abu in Aladdin (1992), and numerous others, provided all the lion roars heard in the film.
• During the “Be Prepared,” sequence, the scene where the hyenas are marching past Scar can be connected to WW2 Symbolism.
• There originally was a song for Mufasa to sing called “To Be King,” but it was scrapped when it didn’t fit James Earl Jones’s singing voice.
• The plot of “Lion King,” can be compared to both William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and also the bible stories of Moses and Joseph.
• Liam Neeson was considered to voice of Mufasa, but he turned it down. Neeson later went on to voice Aslan the Lion in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005) and its sequels, Prince Caspian (2008), and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010). “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” and “Prince Caspian,” were both produced by Disney.
• “Lion King,” remained the highest-grossing animated film of all time, until it was surpassed by Toy Story 3 in 2010 and after that, Frozen in 2013. However, it is still the highest-grossing 2D Animated Film of all-time.