Jan Rabson Explained

Jan Rabson
Birth Date:14 June 1954
Birth Place:East Meadow, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1982 - 2022
Spouse:Cindy Akers
Other Names:Stanley Gurd, Jr.

Jan Rabson (June 14, 1954 – October 13, 2022) was an American-Canadian actor. During his four-decade career, he appeared in over 100 titles. He frequently worked in voice over, including as Tetsuo Shima in the Streamline Pictures dub of the anime film Akira (1988) and Larry Laffer in the Leisure Suit Larry video game series (1993–2004; 2013–2020).

Life and career

Rabson was born in East Meadow, New York, on June 14, 1954. Rabson's voice was in thousands of commercials, films, TV shows, and animated films and series. For many years, Jan was a member of Johnny Carson's "Mighty Carson Art Players", performing in on-camera sketches as well as providing the voices for answering machines, cash registers and other inanimate objects for Johnny's sketches. One of his more famous roles included providing the voice for Larry Laffer in , , Leisure Suit Larry's Casino, , and .

Rabson performed in all of the Pixar Cars Toons shorts as well as Toy Story 3, Up, WALL-E and many more. In some of his anime dubbing and on-camera work, he used the name Stanley Gurd, Jr., and is best known for voicing Tetsuo Shima from the first English dub of Akira under that name. He is also the voice of Horse from the preschool series Slim Pig.

In 1988, Rabson was the first contestant and champion on Blackout.

In 2013, he reprised his role of Tetsuo Shima for AficionadosChris' review of Akira.

Personal life and death

Rabson resided in Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada and divided work between Vancouver and Los Angeles productions. He died of a heart attack on October 13, 2022, at the age of 68.[1] [2] [3]

Partial filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982One Day at a TimeCharlieEpisode: "Stick 'Em Up"
1982The Facts of LifeWaiterEpisode: "New York, New York"
1982Knight RiderCharlieEpisode: "Not a Drop to Drink"
1983CheersDirectorEpisode: "Now Pitching, Sam Malone"
1985HunterReporterEpisode: "The Big Fall"
1986What's Happening Now!!MurrayEpisode: "Mr. First Nighter"
1987Hooty, Dr. Brighthead, Computer (voice)English dub
1987, 1990Night CourtLaughton, Mr. Borelli2 episodes
1989Designing WomenManEpisode: "Manhunt"
1989Just the Ten of UsRod Serling LookalikeEpisode: "Highway to Heaven"
1990Growing PainsRod SerlingEpisode: "Happy Halloween"
1991James Bond Jr.Gordon Leiter, Goldfinger, Jaws, Skullcap, The Worm, Snuffer (voice)65 episodes
1991Parker Lewis Can't LoseFuture JerryEpisode: "Jerry's First Date"
1991–1993Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesKerma (voice)4 episodes
1993AnimaniacsPapa (voice)Episode: "Hollywoodchuck"[4]
1996The Real Adventures of Jonny QuestAvery, Donaldson (voice)Episode: "Alligators and Okeechobee Vikings"
1996Babylon 5VendorEpisode: "Interludes and Examinations"
1996BaywatchFrankEpisode: "Shark Fever"
1997Pinky and the BrainFarmer, Referee (voice)2 episodes
1997Almost PerfectMan in LineEpisode: "Gimme Shelter"
1999Batman BeyondRocketeer Leader (voice)Episode: "Heroes"
1999Beverly Hills, 90210SalEpisode: "Local Hero"
2002RugratsSteve Malone, Weatherman (voice)Episode: "Silent Angelica"
2002Justice LeagueProfessor Erlich (voice)Episode: "Paradise Lost"
2008BratzPrincipal Affleck (voice)3 episodes
2011–2020SuperbookProfessor Quantum (voice)20 episodes
2015Wind Rider (voice)Episode: "Rarity Investigates!"

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982Chasing DreamsScout
1987Dormuhot (voice)English dub
1987Fatal AttractionParty Guest
1995Toy StoryMr. Mike, Gas Station Attendant (voice)
1996The Hunchback of Notre DameFrollo's Soldiers (voice)
1996Theodore RexTina Rex (voice)
1997HerculesDriver (voice)
1998A Bug's LifeAxel, Grasshopper (voice)
1998AkiraTetsuo Shima (voice)Streamline Pictures English dub
1999Toy Story 2Japanese Businessman (voice)
2001Monsters, Inc.Sushi Chef (voice)
2003Finding NemoSeagulls (voice)
2004Barbie as the Princess and the PauperNack, Midas (voice)
2005A Fairy Tale ChristmasCrofton, Farmer (voice)
2006CarsT.J. Hummer (voice)
2007Betsy Bubblegum's Journey Through Yummi-LandMayor Marshmallow (voice)
2007Bratz Super BabyzTuber, Announcer (voice)
2008Horton Hears a Who!Town Cryer (voice)
2008WALL-EAxiom Passenger (voice)
2009UpConstruction Worker, Television Announcer (voice)
2009Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate IslandSea Biscuit, Voodoo Daddy (voice)
2010Toy Story 3Sparks (voice)
2011Quest for ZhuZhu Fu, Mangawanga (voice)
2013Monsters UniversityAstronomy Club President (voice)

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993Larry Laffer
1994Sam Andreas, Wheaton Hall, Jim Laffer
1996Larry Laffer
1998Leisure Suit Larry's CasinoLarry Laffer
2004Larry Laffer
2013Larry Laffer, Short Man
2018Larry Laffer
2020Larry Laffer

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://saltspringexchange.com/2022/11/01/obituary-jan-rabson/ Obituary: Jan Rabson
  2. Web site: Mateo . Alex . October 14, 2022 . Voice Actor Jan Rabson Passes Away . October 21, 2022 . Anime News Network.
  3. Web site: Chalk . Andy . October 17, 2022 . Leisure Suit Larry voice actor Jan Rabson has died . October 21, 2022 . PC Gamer.
  4. Web site: Jan Rabson (visual voices guide) . July 30, 2024 . Behind The Voice Actors. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.