Len Carlson Explained

Len Carlson
Birth Date:2 September 1937
Birth Place:Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[1]
Death Place:Keswick, Ontario, Canada
Occupation:Voice actor
Years Active:1964 - 2006

Len Carlson (September 2, 1937  - January 26, 2006) was a Canadian voice actor who has voiced various characters on many animated television series from the 1960s to the 2000s, an occasional live-action TV actor, and a Kraft Canada TV pitchman during the 1970s and 1980s. He was a native of Edmonton and a former professional athlete.

Career

He was the voice of Big Boss, Sundown and Mace on C.O.P.S., Senator Robert Kelly (and the Supreme Intelligence) on X-Men (1992), Bert Raccoon and Pigs Two and Three in The Raccoons (and a voice director for the show from 1990 onwards), Putter from Popples, Mr. Frumble, Mr. Gronkle, and Mayor Fox in The Busy World of Richard Scarry, Professor Coldheart in Care Bears (1985), and Rocket Robin Hood in some of the third-season episodes. He was also the voice of Allo and Quackpot on the TV series, Dinosaucers and he was the original voice of the Green Goblin in Spider-Man the original series (1967) and the voice of Buzz in the show Cyberchase (2002). Also, he was the voice of Sterling Überbucks, his brother Carling, his great grandfather Sterling Überrucks and his nephew Stewie on Roboroach (2002) and the title character in the short-lived Swamp Thing (1991) animated series.

He also voiced all the male characters in two animated 1970s series (The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo and The Toothbrush Family), was the voice of Ace the Seagull and Sharkey Shark in the children's TV series The Waterville Gang and did voices for movies including The Nutcracker Prince, , The Great Defender of Fun, and reindeer voices in the live-action feature Blizzard.

In his last years, Carlson was a regular on Nelvana-produced shows such as Rolie Polie Olie, Cyberchase, Pecola, Donkey Kong Country, Medabots, Beetlejuice, and Beyblade as the main antagonist Gideon (season two). Most recently, he appeared in the Canadian co-production Atomic Betty, voiced the characters Hugo and Q in the video game Street Fighter III 3rd Strike and narrated the animated bible TV series Friends and Heroes. He also voiced Herc Stormsailor in the 1980s show Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors.

Death

Carlson died of a heart attack in Keswick, Ontario, at the age of 68 on January 26, 2006.[1] The season two finale of Atomic Betty, "Takes One To Know One", the Cyberchase episode "Ecohaven Ooze", and the episode "Space Rangers!" were all dedicated to his memory.

Filmography

List of television programs in which Carlson had a voice role
YearTitleRoleNotes
1967–1969Spider-ManGreen Goblin / Additional voices
1975data-sort-value="Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo, The" The Undersea Adventures of Captain NemoCaptain Mark Nemo / Dr. MacPherson
1977data-sort-value="Toothbrush Family, The" The Toothbrush FamilyTom / Toby / Gramps / Additional voices
1980data-sort-value="Christmas Raccoons, The" The Christmas RaccoonsBert Raccoon
1981data-sort-value="Raccoons on Ice, The" The Raccoons on IceBert Raccoon
data-sort-value="Trolls and the Christmas Express, The" The Trolls and the Christmas ExpressAdditional voices
1983data-sort-value="Raccoons and the Lost Star, The" The Raccoons and the Lost StarBert Raccoon / Pig General
1984data-sort-value="Raccoons: Let's Dance!, The" Bert Raccoon
1985Care BearsProfessor Coldheart, Strato NefariousDiC version
1985–1986Jayce and the Wheeled WarriorsHerc Stormsailor / Terror Tank
1985–1991data-sort-value="Raccoons, The" The RaccoonsBert Raccoon / Pigs Two and Three (Boyd and Floyd) / Mr. Knox / Additional voices
1987DinosaucersAllo / Quackpot
Sylvanian FamiliesPackbat / Wade Waters / Cliff Babblebrook / Rocky Babblebrook
1987–1989Colonel Cantfayl / Sargent Staff
1988–1989C.O.P.S.Brandon 'Big Boss' Babel / Sgt. Colt 'Mace' Howard / Walker 'Sundown' Calhoun
1988-1989Police AcademyCaptain Harris / Additional voices
1989data-sort-value="Legend of Zelda, The" The Legend of ZeldaGanon / Moblins
1989–1991BeetlejuiceThe Monster Across the Street / Additional voices
1990–1991Swamp ThingSwamp Thing
1990data-sort-value="Nutcracker Prince, The" The Nutcracker PrinceKing / Mouse / Court Attendant / Band Member #2 / Spectator / Soldier
1992–1996Senator Robert Kelly / Additional voices
1994–1997data-sort-value="Busy World of Richard Scarry, The" The Busy World of Richard ScarryMr. Frumble / Mr. Gronkle / Mayor Fox / Additional voices
1996–2003Monster by MistakeGorgool / Morgool
1997–1999data-sort-value="Mr. Men Show, The" The Mr. Men ShowAdditional voicesUS version
1997-2000Donkey Kong CountryKrusha
1998–2004Rolie Polie OliePappy Polie / Additional voices
2000–2001CorduroyBuckaroo
2001–2003PecolaOfficer KumadaEnglish version
2002Rolie Polie Olie: The Great Defender of FunPappy Polie / TV Announcer
2002–2003Beyblade V-ForceGideon
2002–2006CyberchaseBuzz (season 1-5)
2003BlizzardAdditional reindeer voices
2004Philo
2004–2006Atomic BettyMinimus P.U. / Greenbeard / B-1 / Spindly Tam Kanushu (seasons 1-2)
2006Cosmo StarfinderFinal role

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LEN CARLSON, CARTOON VOICE ARTIST: 1937-2006. https://archive.today/20080828230946/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060509.OBCARLSON09/TPStory/Obituaries. dead. August 28, 2008. Lawlor. Alison. May 9, 2006. The Globe and Mail. S9.