Bob Kaliban

Bob Kaliban
Born
Robert Dean Kaliban

November 6, 1933
DiedDecember 12, 2020 (aged 87)
EducationLoras College, RADA
Occupations
  • Actor
  • musician
Years active1960–2011

Robert Dean Kaliban (November 6, 1933 – December 12, 2020) was an American actor, singer, and musician who served as president of the New York branch of SAG-AFTRA. He also appeared in television, films and TV commercials as the "Ty-D-Bol Man”.

Personal life and career

Kaliban was born on November 6, 1933, in Lisbon, Iowa. After attending Loras College in Dubuque, he moved to New York City in the 1950s where he began his career in the theater.[1] Twice married, Kaliban briefly moved to London and gained a scholarship at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[2] His first role on Broadway was in the musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He also appeared in Ben Franklin in Paris.[3]

In 1968, Kaliban became president of the Screen Actors Guild.[4] Regarding his role as SAG president, Kaliban stated: “We have been stripped of our dignity and believability as actors by every client who uses real people. The trend must turn back from real people to the real professional.”[5]

Kaliban later appeared in local television commercials in the New York City area. Despite leaving SAG in 1994, he continued to have a “Trustee” status of the Pension Plan until his death.[6][7][8][9]

Kaliban died on December 12, 2020 in California.[10]

Filmography

Film

Year(s) Title Character Note Ref
1978 If I Ever See You Again Account Supervisor
1979 Something Short of Paradise George Pendleton
1979 A Family Circus Christmas Daddy
1980 The Berenstain Bears Meet Bigpaw Big Paw / Announcer
1980 The Missing Link Croak / Slick
1980 I Go Pogo Bewildered Bat
1983 The Charmkins Bramble Brother #2
1987 The Big Bang Extra (English dub)
1993 Tracey Takes on New York Extra
1996 Christmas in Cartoontown Voice
2003 It Runs in the Family Jim Lindsay
2011 Top Cat: The Movie Judge/Police Chief/Mayor Final role [11]

Television

Year(s) Title Character Note Ref
1963 The Patty Duke Show Charlie Anderson (credited as Robert Kaliban)
1967 Run for Your Life Arthur Court
1980 Drawing Power! Pop, additional voices
1982 A Family Circus Easter Daddy [11]
1979-2009 SchoolHouse Rock! Lou, Mr. Chips, additional voices
1995-1996 Starla and the Jewel Riders Josh, Merlin, King Jared (voice)
1999-2000 A Little Curious Little Cup, Plush (voice)
2007 Human Giant Doritos Commercial Man

Video games

Year(s) Title Character Ref
2003 Clifford the Big Red Dog: Phonics Phineas T. Wordsworth, Host Cow [11]

Commercials

Year(s) Company Character
1968-1984 Ty-D-Bol Ty-D-Bol Man
1986-1995 Toys "R" Us Geoffrey

Discography

Albums

  • The Best of Schoolhouse Rock (1998)

References

  1. ^ Alvey, Rob (July 9, 2021). "A Tribute to Bob Kaliban". Garden City News. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "Robert Kaliban Obituary (2020) - Healdsburg, CA - Newsday". Legacy.com. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  3. ^ "The Theater: 'Ben Franklin in Paris'; Preston in Musical at the Lunt‐Fontanne". The New York Times. October 28, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  4. ^ Robb, David (December 14, 2020). "Bob Kaliban Dies: Former SAG New York President & Veteran Voice Actor Was 87". Deadline. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  5. ^ Nassif, Fred (June 30, 1974). "And Now a Word From Somebody Real". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  6. ^ "Voiceover Lab Bob Kaliban's Character Voices Workshop". SAG-AFTRA. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "Bob Kaliban". Television Academy. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  8. ^ "SAG-AFTRA Statement on the Passing of Former NY President Bob Kaliban". SAG-AFTRA. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  9. ^ Armbrust, Roger (November 5, 2019). "Four SAG Trustees Enter Fray Over Pension & Health". Backstage. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  10. ^ "Bob Kaliban Dies: Former SAG New York President & Veteran Voice Actor Was 87". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c "Bob Kaliban (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).