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Joe Alaskey

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Joe Alaskey
Born
Joseph Francis Alaskey III

(1952-04-17)April 17, 1952
Troy, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 3, 2016(2016-02-03) (aged 63)[1]
Green Island, New York, U.S.[2]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1975–2016
Websitewww.joealaskey.com (archived)

Joseph Francis Alaskey III (April 17, 1952 – February 3, 2016) was an American actor and comedian. He was one of Mel Blanc's successors at the Warner Bros. Animation studio until his death. He alternated with Jeff Bergman, Greg Burson, Jim Cummings, Bob Bergen, Maurice LaMarche and Billy West in voicing Warner Bros. cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, Speedy Gonzales, Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner and Taz, among many others. He also voiced Plucky Duck on Tiny Toon Adventures from 1990 to 1995. Alaskey was the second actor to voice Grandpa Lou Pickles on the Nickelodeon cartoon Rugrats (taking over after David Doyle's death in 1997). He voiced Lou again in the Rugrats spin-off series All Grown Up!.

Early life

[edit]

Alaskey was born in Troy, New York, on April 17, 1952 to Joseph Francis Alaskey Jr. and Domenica "Dorothy" De Sorrento De Luca Alaskey.[3][2] At age three, he was looking for a pair of sunglasses or people's cigar butts so that he could portray different characters.[4] Alaskey was interested in archeology at the age of ten.[4] After archeology, he was interested in becoming a priest and an English teacher.[4] Alaskey moved to New York City in the 1970s, where he worked in insurance while preparing to become an actor.[4]

Career

[edit]

After moving to New York City, Alaskey began his show business career as a stand-up comedian and broadcaster.[5][6] He was occasionally seen onscreen impersonating Jackie Gleason, with whom he shared a physical resemblance.[4] In the 1980s, Gleason personally chose Alaskey to re-record selected dialogue from the "lost episodes" of The Honeymooners found in Gleason's private collection.[7] After Gleason died in 1987, the project was shelved.[4] In 1985, Alaskey provided various voices for Galtar and the Golden Lance. Alaskey was in several television shows including Night Court, Head of the Class, Back to the Future, and Spitting Image: The 1987 Movie Awards. His first major film was Who Framed Roger Rabbit as Yosemite Sam.[8] Alaskey provided a vocal Gleason impersonation in the "Mighty's Wedlock Whimsy" episode of Bakshi-Hyde Ventures' Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures in 1988, and a Cary Grant impersonation in "The Bride of Mighty Mouse" episode from the same season.

Although best known for his ability to successfully impersonate Looney Tunes characters, Alaskey did voice work for non-Warner Bros. characters as well. He has voiced Grandpa Lou Pickles on Rugrats (inheriting the role after David Doyle's death in 1997).[3][9] He voiced Lou again in the Rugrats spin-off series, All Grown Up!. He also created the voice of Thomas Timberwolf for the internet series TimberWolf, created by animation legend Chuck Jones. He was heard briefly as a voice-over announcer for the Toon Disney channel (and sometimes Dcom extras on Disney Channel). He was the voice of Curt Connors in the Spider-Man 2 video game and Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: Friend or Foe. Alaskey was in the independent film The Legend of Sasquatch and voiced Mermaid Man in the video games SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, Pants! and SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab. He voiced Stinkie in Casper as well as that film's 1996 animated spin-off, The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper. Alaskey played Beano Froelich in Out of This World but left the show early in its final season, making only infrequent appearances in a few episodes. In the 1980s, he worked as the original announcer on the short-lived game show Couch Potatoes, hosted by Marc Summers. Alaskey made several onscreen appearances, portraying the show's "next door neighbor". For the show's final weeks, he was replaced by Jim McKrell and the "next door neighbor" concept was dropped. During this time, he was also a panelist on The New Hollywood Squares, hosted by John Davidson.[citation needed]

In 2003, he took over the roles of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck in the film Looney Tunes: Back in Action.[8] He also, at times, provided the voices for Sylvester, Tweety, and other Looney Tunes characters.[8] Alaskey was the primary voice for Plucky Duck on Tiny Toon Adventures.[8]

In 2008, Alaskey participated in a unique interview conducted by Logan Leistikow and released by TheYellowMic.com. He answered questions and told his story, then went out onto Hollywood Boulevard and talked to people on the street who wanted to hear his famous voices. This was the first time Alaskey had performed in public in this manner.[10]

In 2014, Alaskey started narrating the television documentary series Murder Comes to Town, which airs on the Investigation Discovery Network.

Alaskey's only leading role in a live-action film was as lovable loser Ron Douglas in the black comedy Lucky Stiff, directed by Anthony Perkins and co-starring Donna Dixon and Jeff Kober.

Death

[edit]

Alaskey died in his apartment in Green Island, New York, from cancer with his brother by his side on February 3, 2016, at the age of 63. Five days later, his wake was held at St Patrick's Cemetery in Watervliet.[2][11][12]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
List of voice performances in feature and direct-to-video films
Year Title Role Notes
1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit Yosemite Sam [13]
1990 Spaced Invaders Dr. Ziplock
The Jungle Book Kaa
1991 Bugs Bunny's Lunar Tunes Daffy Duck, Marvin the Martian Direct-to-video
A Wish for Wings That Work Truffles, The Ducks
1992 Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation Plucky Duck, Elmer Fudd, Tupelo Toad, Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon Direct-to-video[13]
1995 Casper Stinkie [13]
Carrotblanca Daffy Duck, Sylvester Short
Another Froggy Evening Marvin the Martian Short
1996 Marvin the Martian in the Third Dimension Duck Dodgers, K-9, Martian Commander Short
1997 Father of the Bird Sylvester Short
1998 Bugs Bunny's Silly Seals Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Henery Hawk, Sylvester Junior, Wile E. Coyote, Slowpoke Rodriguez[13] Direct-to-video
Looney Tunes Sing-Alongs Daffy Duck, Tweety
Quest for Camelot Sing-Alongs Daffy Duck, Tweety
The Rugrats Movie Grandpa Lou Pickles [13]
2000 Tweety's High Flying Adventure Tweety, Sylvester, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Pepé Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, Henery Hawk, Colonel Rimfire Direct-to-video
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie Grandpa Lou Pickles [13]
2001 Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase Officer Wembly[13] Direct-to-video
2002 Balto II: Wolf Quest Hunter, Nuk[13] Direct-to-video
2003 Rugrats Go Wild Grandpa Lou Pickles[13]
Looney Tunes: Stranger Than Fiction Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Sylvester Jr., Tweety, Marvin the Martian Direct-to-video
Looney Tunes: Reality Check Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety, Wile E. Coyote, Cecil Turtle, Beaky Buzzard
Looney Tunes: Back in Action Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Beaky Buzzard, Mama Bear Nominated - Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production[13]
2004 Hare and Loathing in Las Vegas Bugs Bunny Short
Daffy Duck for President Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck
2006 The Legend of Sasquatch Dave
Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Marvin the Martian, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew[13] Direct-to-video
2007 Elf Bowling the Movie: The Great North Pole Elf Strike Santa Claus, Bagger, Chief Manamana [13]
2008 Justice League: The New Frontier Bugs Bunny[13] Direct-to-video
2009 The Haunted World of El Superbeasto Erik the Newscaster, Van Sloan[13]
2011 Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz The Wizard of Oz, Butch, Droopy Dog[13]
2012 Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse Friar Tuck, Droopy Dog[13]
2013 Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure Droopy Dog, King Droopy[13]
2015 Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest Droopy Dog[13]
2016 Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz The Wizard of Oz, Butch, Droopy Dog Posthumous release
Direct-to-video
(final film role), dedicated in memory.[13]

Television

[edit]
List of voice performances in television shows
Year Title Role Notes
1988 Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures Sourpuss 6 episodes
1990–1992 Tiny Toon Adventures Plucky Duck, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester, Yosemite Sam, Marvin the Martian, Speedy Gonzales, Wile E. Coyote, Roger Rabbit, Hugo the Abominable Snowman, Additional voices Main Role
85 episodes
1991 Back to the Future The Sheriff 2 episodes
Where's Waldo? Additional voices 13 episodes
Tom & Jerry Kids Mouse Scarlet Episode: "Jerry Hood and His Merry Meeces/Eradicator Droopy/Tyke on a Hike"
1992 The Little Mermaid Lobster Mobster 3 episodes
The Plucky Duck Show Plucky Duck, Plucky's Dad, and Wade Pig Main Role
13 episodes
1993 Bonkers Flaps the Elephant, Arnie and Silas Stork 4 episodes
1994–1996 Duckman Dream Sequence Criminal 3 episodes
1995–2002 The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Sylvester, Tweety, Daffy Duck, and Marvin the Martian 52 episodes
1995 The Baby Huey Show Baby Huey Season Two only[13]
1996 Life with Louie Johnny Love Episode: "A Fair to Remember"
1996–1998 The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper Stinkie and Gorey Narrator Recurring Role
52 Episodes
1997 Extreme Ghostbusters Sturt 3 episodes
1997–2004 Rugrats Grandpa Lou Pickles, Additional voices 49 episodes
1998 The Drew Carey Show Daffy Duck Episode: "My Best Friend's Wedding"
1999 Timon & Pumbaa Little Jimmy 2 episodes
Hey Arnold! German Major and Soldier #2 Episode: "Veterans Day"
Men in Black: The Series Short Bug and Truck Driver Episode: "The Mine, Mine, Mine Syndrome"
2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Soda Vendbot and Newspaper Vendbot Episode: "The Slayer"[13]
2001 Johnny Bravo Jean Paul, Piney, and Platypus Episode: "Lumberjack Johnny"[13]
Time Squad Robin Hood, Wilbur Wright, Samuel F. B. Morse Episode: "If It's Wright, It's Wrong/Recruitment Ad/Killing Time"
Samurai Jack General and Alien #3 Episode: "Episode VII"[13]
2003 Teamo Supremo Chief Episode: "The Chief of Cheer"
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Peter Potamus, FEAR #1, and Employee 2 episodes[13]
2003–2005 Duck Dodgers Captain Duck Edgar Dumas Aloysius Dodgers, Additional voices Main role, 39 episodes[13]
2003 My Life as a Teenage Robot Ivan, Storeowner #3, and Eyedrop Salesman Episode: "See No Evil"[13]
2003–2008 All Grown Up! Grandpa Lou Pickles and Rustler #2 15 episodes
2006–2007 Avatar: The Last Airbender Dealer and Broadsword Man 2 episodes
2006 Codename: Kids Next Door Principal Smelling Episode: "Operation R.E.C.E.S.S."
2006–2007 Loonatics Unleashed Melvin the Martian, Sylth Vester, The Royal Tweetums, and Stoney the Stone 5 episodes[13]
2008–2013 The Garfield Show Additional voices 5 episodes
2009 Looney Tunes: Laff Riot Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck Unaired pilot for The Looney Tunes Show[14] Replaced by Jeff Bergman

Video games

[edit]
List of voice performances in video games
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Sylvester and Tweety in Cagey Capers Sylvester
1995 Daffy Duck in Hollywood Daffy Duck Sega Genesis version
1996 Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster and the Beanstalk Plucky Duck Credited as Joe Alasky
1997 Dilbert's Desktop Games Phil The Prince of Insufficient Light, Accounting Troll
The X-Fools
1998 Microshaft Winblows 98 Bill Gates
Rugrats Adventure Game Grandpa Lou Pickles [13]
Rugrats: Search for Reptar
Tiny Toon Adventures: The Great Beanstalk Plucky Duck Uncredited
1999 Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time Marvin the Martian, Rocky and Mugsy [13]
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Important Merchant, Interpreter, Watto's Flunky
Tiny Toon Adventures: Toonenstein Plucky Duck
Rugrats: Studio Tour Grandpa Lou Pickles [13]
2000 Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption
Duck Dodgers Starring Daffy Duck Daffy Duck, Marvin the Martian, Dr. I.Q. Hi [13]
Escape from Monkey Island Digg the Lucre Lawyer, Judge Edd
Looney Tunes Racing Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Gossamer, Rocky, Marvin the Martian, Tweety, Smokey the Genie, Evil Scientist [13]
Looney Tunes Space Race Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Marvin the Martian, Tweety [13]
Bugs Bunny & Taz: Time Busters Count Blood Count, Daffy Duck, Tweety, Bubba Chop [13]
2001 Sheep, Dog 'n' Wolf Daffy Duck, Marvin the Martian, Gossamer, Phantom [13]
2002 Rugrats: Royal Ransom Grandpa Lou Pickles [13]
Loons: The Fight for Fame Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Rocky and Mugsy
Taz: Wanted Daffy Duck, Tweety
Hot Wheels Velocity X Rupert, Backroads, Opponent [13]
Tiny Toon Adventures: Defenders of the Universe Plucky Duck Cancelled Game
2003 Looney Tunes: Back in Action Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Mr. ACME Chairman, Sylvester, Marvin the Martian
2004 Spider-Man 2 Dr. Connors, Thug [13]
The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee
2005 Fantastic Four Additional voices Credited as Joe Alasky
SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, Pants! Mermaid Man [13]
2006 Gothic 3 English Dub
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab Mermaid Man
The Sopranos: Road to Respect
Superman Returns The Citizens of Metropolis
2007 Spider-Man: Friend or Foe Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus [13]
Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck Daffy Duck
Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Marvin the Martian [13]
2008 Looney Tunes: Cartoon Conductor Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Barnyard Dawg, Marvin the Martian, Road Runner, Speedy Gonzales, Sylvester [13][15]
White Knight Chronicles Drisdall English Dub[13]
2011 Looney Tunes Click 'N READ Phonics Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, Sylvester, Tweety, Tasmanian Devil [16]
2014 Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Green Loontern

Live-action

[edit]
List of acting performances in television and feature films
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Night Court Thomas Dobbs Episode: "Author, Author"
1987 Head of the Class Jack Episode: "Ode to Simone"
1987–1988 Super Password Himself 10 episodes
1987–1991 Out of this World Beano Froelich 68 episodes
1988 Lucky Stiff Ron Douglas
1989 Couch Potatoes Himself, The Neighbor 9 episodes
1992 Nurses Trekker #1 Episode: "Eat Something"
The Golden Palace Mr. Smith #3 Episode: "Camp Town Races Aren't Nearly as Much Fun as They Used to Be"
1993 Bank Robber Night Clerk #2
The Waiter Producer Short
1994 Forrest Gump President Richard Nixon (voice) [13]
2015 Murder Comes to Town Narrator (voice) Investigation Discovery true crime television series
Episode: "Cowboys from Hell"
Dark Seduction Fatman

Theme parks

[edit]
List of voice performances in theme park attractions
Year Title Role Notes
1991 Looney Tunes River Ride Daffy Duck
Sylvester
Speedy Gonzales 		[13]
1992 Yosemite Sam and the Gold River Adventure! Daffy Duck
Sylvester
Speedy Gonzales
1993 The Toonite Show Starring Bugs Bunny Daffy Duck
Foghorn Leghorn
1995 The Bugs Bunny Wacky World Games Daffy Duck
1999 Looney Tunes: What's Up, Rock? Daffy Duck
Sylvester
2000 The Looney Tunes Rockin' Road Show Daffy Duck
Sylvester
2010 Looney Tunes Dance Off Bugs Bunny
Daffy Duck
Sylvester
Tweety Bird

Web series

[edit]
List of voice performances in web series
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Timber Wolf Thomas Timber Wolf

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kiefer, Halle (February 4, 2016). "Looney Tunes Voice Actor Joe Alaskey Dies at 63". Vulture. Retrieved June 19, 2019. According to his spokesperson, prolific voice actor and impressionist Joe Alaskey died of cancer Wednesday night at the age of 63.
  2. ^ a b c Leovy, Jill (February 4, 2016). "Joe Alaskey dies at 63; impersonator was a later voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Ortiz, Erik (February 4, 2016). "Joe Alaskey, Voice Behind Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Dies at 63". NBC News. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Greene Jr., James (December 3, 2012). "Sufferin' Succotash! Looney Tunes Voice Actor Joe Alaskey On Bugs Bunny, Geraldo, & Why He Wasn't In 'Space Jam'". Split Sider. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  5. ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (February 4, 2016). "Joe Alaskey, Voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Dies at 63". TheWrap.
  6. ^ Wang, Yanan (February 5, 2016). "Joe Alaskey, 'voice of many childhoods' as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dies at 63". The Washington Post.
  7. ^ Kaplan, Peter W. (January 26, 1985). "75 'Honeymooners' Episodes Found". The New York Times. Retrieved November 26, 2006.
  8. ^ a b c d Dornbush, Jonathon (February 4, 2016). "Modern Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck voice actor Joe Alaskey dies at 63". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  9. ^ Westbrook, Caroline (February 4, 2016). "Joe Alaskey – aka the voice of Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny – has died aged 63". Metro. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  10. ^ "The Yellow Mic: Meet Bugs Bunny". YouTube. October 27, 2008. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021.
  11. ^ Sorto, Gabrielle (February 4, 2016). "Joe Alaskey, voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, dies at 63". CNN. Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  12. ^ Grondahl, Paul (February 5, 2016). "Joe Alaskey, Troy native, voice of Daffy Duck, dies at 63". Time Union. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as "Joe Alaskey (visual voices guide)". 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 credits or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  14. ^ "Laff Riot (full Unaired Pilot)". November 4, 2009 – via Internet Archive.
  15. ^ "Joe Alaskey interview (Tiny Toon Adventures, Looney Tunes, Who Framed Roger Rabbit)". Saturday Morning Rewind. Retrieved June 12, 2021. Since 1981, over the past 30 years, I've been doing Bugs, Daffy and the other characters. I'm the only guy in the talent pool who has played all of the major characters, including… yes, including Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, but also Porky. You have to hunt for some of these credits, but I have done them all at one point; Hubie and Bertie, and Henery Hawk, all those characters.
  16. ^ "Looney Tunes ClickN READ Phonics clips". YouTube. June 2011. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
[edit]
Preceded by
Jeff Bergman (1990-93; 2011-present)
 Voice of Daffy Duck
1990–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Voice of Grandpa Lou Pickles
1998–2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Voice of Bugs Bunny
2000–2011 		Succeeded by
Jeff Bergman
Preceded by
Jeff Bergman
 Voice of Droopy Dog
2011–2016 		Succeeded by
Jeff Bergman
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