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Len Carlson

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Len Carlson
Born(1937-09-02)September 2, 1937
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[1]
DiedJanuary 26, 2006(2006-01-26) (aged 68)
Keswick, Ontario, Canada
OccupationVoice actor
Years active1964–2006

Len Carlson (September 2, 1937 – January 26, 2006) was a Canadian voice actor who 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

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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 (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, Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot, The Great Defender of Fun, and reindeer voices in the live-action feature Blizzard.

In addition to numerous contributions to animated television, Carlson was the voice of Kraft Canada advertisements for decades, as well as being the voice of the Jolly Green Giant, Canadian Tire, Kelloggs, and more.[2] Carlson also contributed to creative projects, dramatically opening Canadian musician Lawrence Gowan's 1985 music video A Criminal Mind.[3]

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).

Death

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Carlson died of a heart attack in Keswick, Ontario, at the age of 68 on January 26, 2006.[1] The Atomic Betty episode, "Takes One To Know One", the Cyberchase episode "Ecohaven Ooze", and the Bigfoot Presents: Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks episode "Space Rangers!" were dedicated to his memory.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1966 The Marvel Super Heroes Loki, Odin [4]
1967–1969 Spider-Man Green Goblin, Additional voices
1975 The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo Captain Mark Nemo, Dr. MacPherson
1977 The Toothbrush Family Tom, Toby, Gramps, Additional voices
1980 The Christmas Raccoons Bert Raccoon [4]
1981 The Raccoons on Ice Bert Raccoon [4]
The Trolls and the Christmas Express Additional voices
1983 The Raccoons and the Lost Star Bert Raccoon, Pig General [4]
1984 The Raccoons: Let's Dance! Bert Raccoon
1985 Care Bears Professor Coldheart, Strato Nefarious DIC version
1985–1986 Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors Herc Stormsailor [4]
1985–1991 The Raccoons Bert Raccoon, additional voices [4]
1987 Dinosaucers Allo, Quackpot
Sylvanian Families Packbat, Wade Waters, Cliff Babblebrook, Rocky Babblebrook
1987–1989 ALF: The Animated Series Colonel Cantfayl, Sargent Staff
1988–1989 C.O.P.S. Brandon 'Big Boss' Babel, Sgt. Colt 'Mace' Howard, Walker 'Sundown' Calhoun
1988-1989 Police Academy Captain Harris, Additional voices
1989 The Legend of Zelda Ganon, Moblins
1989–1991 Beetlejuice The Monster Across the Street, Additional voices
1990–1991 Swamp Thing Swamp Thing
1990 The Nutcracker Prince King, Mouse, Court Attendant, Band Member #2, Spectator, Soldier [4]
1992–1996 X-Men: The Animated Series Senator Robert Kelly, additional voices
1994–1997 The Busy World of Richard Scarry Mr. Frumble, Mr. Gronkle, Mayor Fox, additional voices
1995–1996 The Neverending Story Vermin, various voices [4]
1996–2003 Monster by Mistake Gorgool, Morgool [4]
1997–1999 The Mr. Men Show Additional voices US version
1997–2000 Donkey Kong Country Krusha
1998 Pippi Longstocking Thunder-Karlsson [4]
1998–2004 Rolie Polie Olie Pappy Polie, Additional voices [4]
1998–2000 Flying Rhino Junior High Principal Mulligan [4]
1999 Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Hugo, Q [4]
1999 New Tales from the Cryptkeeper Injun Joe, Visiting Leader [4]
2000–2001 Corduroy Buckaroo
2001–2003 Pecola Officer Kumada English version[4]
2002 Rolie Polie Olie: The Great Defender of Fun Pappy Polie, TV Announcer [4]
2002–2003 Beyblade V-Force Gideon
2002–2006 Cyberchase Buzz (season 1-5) [4]
2003 Blizzard Additional reindeer voices
2004 Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot Philo [4]
2004–2006 Atomic Betty Minimus P.U., Greenbeard, B-1, Spindly Tam Kanushu (seasons 1-2) [4]
2005 Time Warp Trio Grim Episode: "Viking It and Liking It"[4]
2006 Captain Flamingo Various voices [4]
2006 Bigfoot Presents: Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks Cosmo Starfinder Final role[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lawlor, Alison (May 9, 2006). "LEN CARLSON, CARTOON VOICE ARTIST: 1937-2006". The Globe and Mail. p. S9. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008.
  2. ^ Gillis, Kevin. "In Memory of Len Carlson 1938-2006". The Unofficial Raccoons Homepage. Jim Gilsinan. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  3. ^ Archer, C. (15 September 2009). "TV Review - Rise Up: Canadian Pop Music in the 1980s Part One". Gloryosky. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Len Carlson (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 5, 2025. 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.
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