Robert Ridgely
Robert Ridgely | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 24, 1931 Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | February 8, 1997 (aged 65) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1960–1997 |
Robert Ridgely (December 24, 1931 – February 8, 1997)[1] was an American actor, known for both on-camera roles and extensive voice-over work.
Early life
Ridgely was born in Teaneck, New Jersey.[2] Before becoming an actor, he worked as a cabaret entertainer.[3]
Career
He served as a talk show host with Woody Woodbury. Ridgely appeared in commercials, including a classic McDonald's commercial, staged as a Broadway production number, where he sings "there is nothin' so clean – as my burger machine". He guest starred in TV series such as Sea Hunt and the Warner Bros. Television series Maverick, Lawman, and Surfside 6. He landed a regular role as Lieutenant Kimbro in the short-lived World War II series The Gallant Men. After the series was cancelled, he made guest appearances in shows, including Bonanza, WKRP in Cincinnati, Coach, Night Court, Wings, and Designing Women.
He appeared in various films, including two productions directed by Robert Altman early in his career, Nightmare in Chicago and Countdown. He also appeared in several Mel Brooks productions, including Blazing Saddles (1974), High Anxiety (1977), Life Stinks (1991) and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993). Ridgley starred in other films, including Something Wild (1986), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), Philadelphia (1993), and Boogie Nights (1997). He put his strong voice to use in voice-over roles in films like Down and Dirty Duck (1974) and television specials such as Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz (aka Dorothy in the Land of Oz) (1980). He did a great deal of voice work in animated series as well, including the titular heroes in Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, The New Adventures of Flash Gordon, and Thundarr the Barbarian. From 1985 to 1996, Ridgely was one of ABC's main primetime promo announcers. He also voiced the Peculiar Purple Pieman in the 1980s Strawberry Shortcake specials, Rex Charger in The Centurions, Thunderbolt Ross in The Incredible Hulk (1982), Finch in Daisy-Head Mayzie, and Commander Chief in Dexter's Laboratory.[4]
Death
Ridgely died of cancer on February 8, 1997,[3] at his home in the Toluca Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.[5]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Nightmare in Chicago | Dan McVeay | |
| 1971 | Chrome and Hot Leather | Sergeant Mack | |
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles | Boris, the hangman | |
| 1974 | The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat | The Devil (voice) | |
| 1974 | Down and Dirty Duck | Car Salesman (voice) | [4] |
| 1977 | High Anxiety | Flasher | |
| 1977 | American Raspberry | Celebrity Sportsman Host | |
| 1977 | Mouse and His Child | Jack-in-the-Box (voice) | [4] |
| 1980 | Melvin and Howard | Wally 'Mr. Love' Williams | |
| 1983 | Heart Like a Wheel | Bob Morton, 'Sportsline' | |
| 1984 | The Wild Life | Craig Davis | |
| 1986 | Something Wild | Richard Graves | |
| 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop II | Mayor Ted Egan | |
| 1988 | The Dirk Diggler Story | Jack Horner | Short film |
| 1993 | Philadelphia | Walter Kenton | |
| 1993 | Robin Hood: Men in Tights | Hangman | |
| 1994 | The Ref | Bob Burley | |
| 1996 | Hard Eight | Keno Bar Manager | |
| 1996 | Multiplicity | Laura's Father | |
| 1996 | That Thing You Do! | Hollywood Showcase Announcer | |
| 1997 | Fire Down Below | Simon | Posthumous release |
| 1997 | Boogie Nights | Colonel James | Posthumous release; final film role |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Hong Kong Phooey | Additional voices | Recurring role |
| 1975 | Uncle Croc's Block | Steve Exhaustion ("Star Time" segment), Bullseye, Hilda, Sonar, Tricky John Trooper (voices: "M.U.S.H." segment) | Main role |
| 1976-1979 | Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle | Tarzan (voice) | Main role |
| 1978 | Puff the Magic Dragon | Pirate, Pieman, Sneeze (voice) | Television special[4] |
| 1979–1982 | The New Adventures of Flash Gordon | Flash Gordon (voice) | Main role |
| 1980 | Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz | Jack Pumpkinhead, Tyron (voice) | Television special[4] |
| 1980 | The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang | Additional voices | Recurring role |
| 1980–1981 | Thundarr the Barbarian | Thundarr (voice) | Main role |
| 1981 | The Smurfs | Additional voices | Recurring role |
| 1982 | Richie Rich | Collector (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 1982–1983 | The Incredible Hulk | Thunderbolt Ross (voice) | Main role |
| 1983 | Alvin and the Chipmunks | Additional voices | Recurring role |
| 1983 | Monchhichis | Additional voices | Recurring role |
| 1983 | Saturday Supercade | Pitfall Harry (voice, "Pitfall!" segment) | Main role |
| 1984–1985 | Lucky Luke | Jolly Jumper (voice: English dub) | Main role |
| 1984 | Snorks | Mr. Kelp | Recurring role |
| 1985 | The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo | Captain Ferguson / Time Slime (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Galtar and the Golden Lance | Additional voices | Recurring role |
| 1985 | The Jetsons | Additional voices | Recurring role |
| 1985 | Paw Paws | Mighty Paw (voice) | Main role |
| 1987 | DuckTales | RipCord McQuack (voice) | Episode: "Top Duck" |
| 1989 | Denver, the Last Dinosaur | Douggie (voice) | Episode: "Party Time"[4] |
| 1989 | The Karate Kid | Additional voices | Recurring role |
| 1990 | TaleSpin | C.V. (voice) | Episode: "A Star Is Torn" |
| 1990 | The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda | Additional Voices | Recurring role |
| 1990 | Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures | Additional voices | Recurring role |
| 1990 | Gravedale High | Colonel Saddlesore (voice) | Episode: "Frankenjockey" |
| 1991 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Groundchuck (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 1992 | Tom & Jerry Kids | Sheriff Potgut (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Capitol Critters | Additional Voices | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Fish Police | Bob Sharks (voice) | Episode: "Beauty's Only Fin Deep" |
| 1992 | Goof Troop | Great Garbonzo (voice) | Episode: "Talent to the Max" |
| 1992 | Batman: The Animated Series | Madman (voice) | Episode: "Appointment in Crime Alley"[4] |
| 1993 | SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron | Dr. Harley Street (voice) | Episode: "The Ci-Kat-A" |
| 1993 | Bonkers | Al Vermin / Z-Bot (voice) | 6 episodes |
| 1994 | Fantastic Four | Skrull Emperor, Additional voices | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | Daisy-Head Mayzie | Finch (voice) | Television film[4] |
| 1995 | Dumb and Dumber | Various voices | 2 episodes[4] |
| 1996 | Dexter's Laboratory | Commander General, Various voices | 4 episodes[4] |
| 1996 | Quack Pack | Captain Jack (voice) | Episode: "Ready, Aim...Duck!" |
| 1997 | Cow and Chicken | Dr. Chunks (voice) | Episode: "Part Time Job"; posthumous release[4] |
References
- ^ "Robert Ridgely". Allmovie. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ "Robert Ridgely; Versatile Actor Appeared in Films, Television". The Los Angeles Times. February 13, 1997. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ a b "Robert Ridgely, 65, Film and TV Actor". The New York Times. February 16, 1997. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
Mr. Ridgely, a native of Teaneck, N.J., began as a cabaret artist.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Robert Ridgely (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.).
- ^ "Robert Ridgely, film, TV actor". Democrat and Chronicle. New York, Rochester. February 16, 1997. p. 30. Retrieved November 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.