Joe Alaskey

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Joe Alaskey
Birth nameJoseph Francis Alaskey III
Born(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]
Medium
Years active1983–2016
Genres
Websitewww.joealaskey.com/

Joseph Francis Alaskey III (April 17, 1952 – February 3, 2016) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, voice artist, and impressionist.[3]

Alaskey was one of Mel Blanc's successors at the Warner Bros. Animation studio until his death. He alternated with Jeff Bergman and Greg Burson (and occasionally 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 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 (inheriting the role after David Doyle's death in 1997). He voiced Lou again in the Rugrats spin-off series All Grown Up!, as well as the Rugrats film trilogy. He also voiced Uncle Stinkie in Casper, as well as the film's 1996 animated spin-off The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper.

Early life

Alaskey was born in Troy, New York on April 17, 1952 to Joseph Francis Alaskey Jr. and Domenica "Dorothy" De Sorrento De Luca Alaskey.[4][2] At age 3, he was looking for a pair of sunglasses or people's cigar butts so that he could portray different characters.[5] Alaskey was interested in archeology at the age of ten.[5] After archeology, he was interested in becoming a priest and an English teacher.[5] Alaskey moved to New York City in the 1970s. While initially in New York City, he worked in insurance while the acting was getting started.[5]

Career

Alaskey was occasionally seen onscreen impersonating Jackie Gleason, with whom he shared a physical resemblance.[5] 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.[6] After Gleason died in 1987, the project was shelved.[5] 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.[7] 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).[4][8] He voiced Lou again in the Rugrats spin-off series, All Grown Up!, as well as the Rugrats film trilogy. 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 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.[9] In 2003, he took over the roles of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck in the film Looney Tunes: Back in Action.[7] He also, at times, provided the voices for Sylvester, Tweety, and other Looney Tunes characters.[7] Alaskey was the primary voice for Plucky Duck on Tiny Toon Adventures.[7] In 2014, Alaskey started narrating the television documentary series Murder Comes to Town, which airs on the Investigation Discovery Network.

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

Death

Alaskey died in Green Island, New York, from cancer on February 3, 2016, at the age of 63. Five days later, his wake was held at St Patricks Cemetery in Watervillet. He is survived by his brother John Ned Alaskey. [2][10][11]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit Yosemite Sam [12] Voice, Film debut
Lucky Stiff Ron Douglas
1990 Spaced Invaders Dr. Ziplock Voice
The Jungle Book Kaa Voice
1991 Bugs Bunny's Lunar Tunes Daffy Duck / Marvin the Martian Voice, 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 [12] Voice, Direct-to-video
1993 Super Mario Bros. Goombas Uncredited
Bank Robber Night Clerk #2
The Waiter Producer Short
1994 Forrest Gump President Richard Nixon [12] Voice
1995 Casper Stinkie [12] Voice
Carrotblanca Daffy Duck / Sylvester the Cat Voice, Short
Another Froggy Evening Marvin the Martian Voice, Short
1996 Marvin the Martian in the Third Dimension Duck Dodgers / K-9 / Martian Commander Voice, Short
1997 Father of the Bird Sylvester the Cat Voice, Short
1998 Bugs Bunny's Silly Seals Daffy Duck / Sylvester the Cat / Henery Hawk / Sylvester Junior / Wile E. Coyote / Slowpoke Rodriguez [12] Voice, Direct-to-video
Quest for Camelot Sing-Alongs Daffy Duck / Tweety Bird
Looney Tunes Sing-Alongs Daffy Duck / Tweety Bird
The Rugrats Movie Grandpa Lou Pickles [12] Voice
2000 Tweety's High Flying Adventure Tweety Bird / Sylvester the Cat / Bugs Bunny / Daffy Duck / Pepé Le Pew
Marvin the Martian / Henery Hawk / Colonel Rimfire 		Voice, Direct-to-video
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie Grandpa Lou Pickles [12] Voice
2001 Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase Officer Wembly [12] Voice, Direct-to-video
Timber Wolf Thomas Timber Wolf
2002 Balto II: Wolf Quest Hunter / Nuk [12]
2003 Rugrats Go Wild Grandpa Lou Pickles [12] Voice
Looney Tunes: Stranger Than Fiction Daffy Duck / Sylvester the Cat / Sylvester Jr. / Tweety Bird / Marvin the Martian Voice, Direct-to-video
Looney Tunes: Reality Check Daffy Duck / Sylvester the Cat / Tweety Bird / Cecil Turtle / Beaky Buzzard
Looney Tunes: Back in Action Bugs Bunny / Daffy Duck / Sylvester the Cat / Beaky Buzzard / Mama Bear [12] Voice, Nominated - Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production
2004 Hare and Loathing in Las Vegas Bugs Bunny Voice, Short
Daffy Duck for President Bugs Bunny / Daffy Duck
2006 The Legend of Sasquatch Dave Voice
Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas Daffy Duck / Sylvester the Cat / Marvin the Martian / Foghorn Leghorn / Pepé Le Pew [12] Voice, Direct-to-video
2007 Elf Bowling the Movie: The Great North Pole Elf Strike Santa Claus / Bagger / Chief Manamana [12] Voice
2007 Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale Brown Cat
2008 Justice League: The New Frontier Bugs Bunny [12] Voice, Direct-to-video
2009 The Haunted World of El Superbeasto Erik the Newscaster / Van Sloan [12]
2011 Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz The Wizard of Oz / Butch / Droopy Dog [12]
2012 Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse Friar Tuck / Droopy Dog [12]
2013 Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure Droopy Dog / King Droopy [12]
2015 Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest Droopy Dog [12]
Dark Seduction Fatman
2016 Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz The Wizard of Oz / Butch / Droopy Dog [12] Voice, Posthumous release
Direct-to-video
(final film role), dedicated in memory.

Television

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 Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures Sourpuss Voice
1989 Couch Potatoes Himself as the announcer and neighbor of host Marc Summers 9 Episodes
1990 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures Voice
1990–1992 Tiny Toon Adventures Plucky Duck / Batduck / Friar Pluck / Daffy Duck / Duck Dodgers / Porky Pig / Sylvester
Elmer Fudd / Yosemite Sam / Marvin the Martian
Wile E. Coyote / Stork / Speedy Gonzales
Hugo the Abominable Snowman / Pete Puma / Cartoonist / Director / Announcer / Narrator / Various / Additional Voices / Fancy Flea / Ralph Duck - Plucky's Father / Capt. Quirk / Presto the Great / Toxic Revenger / Capt. James T. Kirk / Dignitary / Ed Sullivan / George Washington / Trash Bag Dispenser / Cecil Turtle / Dan Dogma / Pluck Twacy / Mosquito / Steven Spielberg / Bobbo Acme / Doctor / Happy the Cow / Wade Pig / Ralph Duck - Plucky's Father / Singing Cockroach / Toonywood Squares Announcer / TV Spokesman / Secuity Guard / Pluck Heyerdahl / Ned Land / Richard Nixon / Edward / Ralph Kramden / Ed McMaham / Fox / Oogie / Hugo the Abominable Snowman / Flea Guard / Danny DeVito / Aide #2 / Pig Toon / Angry Father / Taxidermist / WAL Announcer / Hunters / John Candied-Yam		 Voice, Main Role
85 Episodes
1991 Back to the Future The Sheriff Voice, 2 Episodes
1991 Where's Waldo? Voice
1992 Nurses Trekker #1 Episode: "Eat Something"
1992 The Little Mermaid Lobster Mobster Voice, 3 Episodes
1992 Tom & Jerry Kids Voice, Episode: "Penthouse Mouse/12 Angry Sheep/The Ant Attack"
1992 The Golden Palace Mr. Smith #3 Episode: "Camp Town Races Aren't Nearly as Much Fun as They Used to Be"
1992 The Plucky Duck Show Plucky Duck / Plucky's Dad / Wade Pig Voice, Main Role
13 Episodes
1993 Bonkers Flaps the Elephant Voice, 4 Episodes
1994–1996 Duckman Dream Sequence Criminal Voice, 3 Episodes
1995–2000 The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Sylvester the Cat / Tweety Bird / Marvin the Martian Voice
1995 The Baby Huey Show Baby Huey VoiceSeason Two Only[12]
1996 Life with Louie Johnny Love Voice, Episode: "A Fair to Remember"
1996–1998 The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper Stinkie / Gorey Narrator Voice, Recurring Role
52 Episodes
1996 Quack Pack Amos Slade Voice, Episode: "Ducky Dearest"
1997 Extreme Ghostbusters Sturt Voice, 3 Episodes
1997–2004 Rugrats Grandpa Lou Pickles / WWII Soldier / Ice Cream Man / Protester / Waiters / Workman / Auctioneer / Willard Scott Sound Alike / Tall Wrestler / Guard (1) / Announcer (13) / Loudspeaker / Soundman / Randy Panda / Senior Citizen / Parrot / Judge #3 / The Real Santa / Nearby Guest Voice
1998 The Drew Carey Show Daffy Duck Voice, Episode: "My Best Friend's Wedding"
1999 Timon & Pumbaa Little Jimmy Voice, 2 Episodes
1999 Hey Arnold! German Major / Soldier #2 Voice, Episode: "Veterans Day"
1999 Men in Black: The Series Short Bug / Truck Driver Voice, Episode: "The Mine, Mine, Mine Syndrome"
2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Soda Vendbot / Newspaper Vendbot Voice, Episode: "The Slayer"[12]
2001 Johnny Bravo Jean Paul / Piney / Platypus Voice, Episode: "Lumberjack Johnny"[12]
2001 Time Squad Robin Hood / Wilbur Wright / Samuel F. B. Morse Voice, Episode: "If It's Wright, It's Wrong/Recruitment Ad/Killing Time"
2001 Samurai Jack General / Alien #3 Voice, Episode: "Episode VII"[12]
2003 Teamo Supremo Chief Voice, Episode: "The Chief of Cheer"
2003 Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Peter Potamus / FEAR #1 / Employee Voice, 2 Episodes[12]
2003–2005 Duck Dodgers Captain Duck Edgar Dumas Aloysius Dodgers
Martian Commander X-2 / Andromeda Annihilator / Drake Darkstar / Tomar-Re / Melvyn / Dr. Woe / Dodgers' Weird Fantasy Dad / Hubie and Bertie / Muttley / Rocky
Beaky Buzzard / Ego Dodgers / Himself		 Voice, Main role, 39 Episodes [12]
2003 My Life as a Teenage Robot Ivan / Storeowner #3 / Eyedrop Salesman Voice, Episode: "See No Evil"[12]
2003–2008 All Grown Up! Grandpa Lou Pickles / Rustler #2 Voice
2006–2007 Avatar: The Last Airbender Dealer / Broadsword Man Voice, 2 Episodes
2006 Codename: Kids Next Door Principal Smelling Voice, Episode: "Operation R.E.C.E.S.S."
2006–2007 Loonatics Unleashed Melvin the Martian / Sylth Vester / The Royal Tweetums / Stoney the Stone Voice, 5 Episodes[12]
2008–2013 The Garfield Show Additional Voices Voice, 5 Episodes
2009 Laff Riot Bugs Bunny / Daffy Duck Unaired pilot for The Looney Tunes Show[13]
2014–2016 Murder Comes to Town Narrator 20 episodes, on the Investigation Discovery true crime TV series.

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
1994 Sylvester and Tweety in Cagey Capers Sylvester the Cat
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 [12]
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 / Daffy Duck [12]
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 [12]
2000 Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption
Duck Dodgers Starring Daffy Duck Daffy Duck / Marvin the Martian / Dr. I.Q. Hi [12]
Escape from Monkey Island Digg the Lucre Lawyer / Judge Edd
Looney Tunes Racing Daffy Duck / Sylvester the Cat / Gossamer / Rocky / Marvin the Martian / Tweety Bird / Smokey the Genie / Evil Scientist [12]
Looney Tunes Space Race Daffy Duck / Sylvester the Cat / Marvin the Martian / Tweety Bird [12]
Bugs Bunny & Taz: Time Busters Count Blood Count / Daffy Duck / Tweety Bird / Bubba Chop [12]
2001 Sheep, Dog 'n' Wolf Daffy Duck / Marvin the Martian / Gossamer / Phantom [12]
2002 Rugrats: Royal Ransom Grandpa Lou Pickles [12]
Loons: The Fight for Fame Daffy Duck / Sylvester the Cat / Rocky and Mugsy
Taz: Wanted Daffy Duck / Tweety Bird
Hot Wheels Velocity X Rupert / Backroads / Opponent [12]
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 the Cat / Marvin the Martian
2004 Spider-Man 2 Dr. Connors / Thug [12]
The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee rowspan2
2005 Fantastic Four Credited as Joe Alasky
SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, Pants! Mermaid Man [12]
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 Doctor Octopus [12]
Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck Daffy Duck
Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal Bugs Bunny / Daffy Duck / Sylvester the Cat / Marvin the Martian [12]
2008 Looney Tunes: Cartoon Conductor Bugs Bunny / Daffy Duck / Barnyard Dawg / Marvin the Martian / Speedy Gonzales / Sylvester the Cat
White Knight Chronicles Drisdall English Dub[12]
2012 Looney Tunes Click 'N READ Phonics Bugs Bunny / Daffy Duck / Yosemite Sam / Sylvester the Cat / Tweety Bird / Tasmanian Devil
2014 Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Green Loontern

References

  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. ^ Blevins, Joe (February 4, 2016). "Voice actor Joe Alaskey was also a damned good impressionist". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Ortiz, Erik (February 4, 2016). "Joe Alaskey, Voice Behind Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Dies at 63". NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Kaplan, Peter W. (January 26, 1985). "75 'Honeymooners' Episodes Found". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved November 26, 2006.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ The Yellow Mic: Meet Bugs Bunny
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Grondahl, Paul (February 5, 2016). "Joe Alaskey, Troy native, voice of Daffy Duck, dies at 63". Time Union. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  12. ^ 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 https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Joe-Alaskey/
  13. ^ https://archive.org/details/laff-riot

External links

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
Preceded by Voice of Droopy Dog
2011–2016 		Succeeded by
Jeff Bergman
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