Paul Frees

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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.

Filmography

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2025
Pirates of the Caribbean | Disneyland Resort
Movie Auctioneer (voice) / Pirate Skull (voice)
2015
3-D Rarities
Movie (archive footage)
2007
Tex Avery's Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
Movie Joe Wolf (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
2004
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
Movie Ludwig Von Drake / Herman (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
2003
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.3
Movie True Spirit of Adventure / Narrator / Creature (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
1992
Larry Harmon's Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown
Movie Narrator
1991
Disney’s Coyote Tales
Movie Mouse (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
1987
The Puppetoon Movie
Movie Arnie the Dinosaur / Pillsbury Doughboy (voice)
1986
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
Movie Self / Narrator (voice)
1986
Disney's DTV Valentine
Movie Ludwig Von Drake / Announcer (voice)
1983
The Wind in the Willows
Movie Wayfarer (voice)
1983
Twice Upon a Time
Movie Narrator / Chef of State / Judges / Bailiff (voice)
1983
What's Up, Hideous Sun Demon
Movie Trailer Announcer
1982
The Last Unicorn
Movie Mabruk (voice)
1982
The Case of Dashiell Hammett
Movie Narrator (voice)
1982
Knight Rider
TV show K.A.R.R.

More credits

1982
The Flight of Dragons
Movie Solarius / Antiquity (voice)
1982
Woody Woodpecker and Friends
Movie Various Voices
1982
Routes of Exile: A Moroccan Jewish Odyssey
Movie Narrator (voice)
1980
The Day After Trinity
Movie Self - Narrator (voice)
1980
The Return of the King
Movie Orc / Uruk-Hai / Capt. Shagrat / Lt. Snaga / Lord Elrond (voice)
1979
Jack Frost
Movie Kubla Kraus / Father Winter (voices)
1979
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
Movie Winterbolt / Jack Frost / Policeman (voice)
1978
The Stingiest Man in Town
Movie Ghost of Christmas Past / Ghost of Christmas Present (voice)
1978
The Ghost of Flight 401
Movie Narrator / Additional Voices (voice) (uncredited)
1978
Hardware Wars
Movie Narrator
1977
Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
Movie Santa Claus / Olaf / Donkey Dealer (voice)
1977
The Hobbit
Movie Bombur/Troll #1 (voice)
1977
Fantastic Animation Festival
Movie Opening Narration
1976
Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Movie Santa Claus / Aeon / General Ticker / Seventeen Seventy Six
1976
Frosty's Winter Wonderland
Movie Jack Frost
1976
The Milpitas Monster
Movie Narrator (voice)
1976
The First Easter Rabbit
Movie Zero / Santa (voice)
1976
Casey at the Bat
Movie Narrator
1975
Breakheart Pass
Movie Levi Calhoun (voice) (uncredited)
1974
Run, Joe, Run
TV show Narrator
1972
Willie Mays and the Say-Hey Kid
Movie Iguana (voice)
1972
The Osmonds
TV show
1972
Rain Rain, Go Away
Movie Charlie Beary / Junior (voice)
1972
Unlucky Potluck
Movie Charlie Beary / Junior Beary / Boss (voice)