Paul Frees

Known for ActingBorn 1920-06-22Died 1986-11-02Chicago, Illinois, USA

Solomon Hersh Frees (June 22, 1920 – November 2, 1986), known professionally as Paul Frees, was an American actor, voice actor, impressionist and screenwriter. He is best known for his voice work in cartoons during the Golden Age of Animation. Like Mel Blanc, he was sometimes referred to as "The Man of a Thousand Voices". Born in Chicago, Illinois, Frees started his entertainment career as a vaudeville impressionist and in 1942 began working on Hollywood radio series. After being drafted into the U.S. Army in World War II, he was wounded in action and eventually resumed his work in radio upon his return to the states. Frees appeared in over 250 films, cartoons and TV episodes, although he had few on-screen appearances and often went uncredited. He was also frequently enlisted to re-dub actors' performances, such as Tony Curtis' dialogue as Josephine in the 1959 film Some Like it Hot. That same year, Frees co-wrote and directed the film The Beatniks, his only feature film. Frees had a long career with Walt Disney Studios, providing the voice for Ludwig Von Drake and other characters, narrating short films, and supplying many voices for Disney theme park attractions, most notably the Ghost Host in The Haunted Mansion, various voices in Pirates of the Caribbean, and the narrator for both Adventure Thru Innerspace and Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln. On TV, Frees worked with Jay Ward Productions, providing the voice of Boris Badenov and other characters in various series, and also supplied many voices for Rankin/Bass cartoon specials. He also appeared in TV commercials and was the original voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy and the second voice of Froot Loops mascot Toucan Sam (after Mel Blanc). Frees was married five times and had two children via his third wife, voice actress Joyce Schultz. In his later years, Frees suffered from multiple health issues. He died in Tiburon, California, on November 2, 1986, at age 66, from an overdose of pain medication. He was cremated and his remains were scattered over the Pacific Ocean.Read more

Movies & web series

Pillsbury's Magic Circus

Take Me To Your Gen'rul

Freeloading Feline

Tex Avery's Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection

Sacré Bleu Cross

Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6

Le Quiet Squad

Bomb Voyage

Window Pains

Roof-Top Razzle Dazzle

Rah Rah Ruckus

Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.3

The Hat

Pest of Show

Keeping Up with Krazy

The Adventures of Sam Space

Attack of the Jungle Women

Pirates of the Caribbean | Disneyland Resort

Mars and Beyond

Cock-A-Doodle Deux Deux

Ape Suzette

Witty Kitty

Reaux, Reaux, Reaux Your Boat

Disney's DTV Valentine

What's Up, Hideous Sun Demon

Jerky Turkey

Mouse in the House

Super Chicken

Super President

Some Like It Hot

Get Smart

Mouse Blanche

Tin Can Concert

Clash and Carry

The Wonderful World of Disney

Aesop and Son

The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends

The Wonderful World of Disney

The Day After Trinity

Mr. Terrific

Bats in the Belfry

That's No Lady, That's Notre Dame

Unsafe and Seine

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Knight Rider

Heir Bear

The Puppetoon Movie

The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal