Lennie Weinrib
Lennie Weinrib (April 29, 1935 – June 28, 2006), also known as Lenny Weinrib, Leonard Weinrib, and Len Weinrib, was an American actor, voice actor, comedian and writer. He is best known for playing the title role in the children's television show H.R. Pufnstuf, Grimace in McDonaldland commercials, the title role in Inch High, Private Eye, the original voice of Scrappy-Doo on Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, Hunk and Prince Lotor on Voltron, and Bigmouth on The Smurfs. He also was the voice for Timer in the "Time for Timer" ABC public service announcements in the early 1970s.
Lennie Weinrib | |
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Born | Leonard Weinrib April 29, 1935 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
Died | June 28, 2006 71) Santiago, Chile | (aged
Occupation | Actor, voice actor, comedian, writer |
Years active | 1958–1992 |
Children | 3 |
Life and career
A native of the Bronx, Weinrib got his start in show business working with Spike Jones, then later in The Billy Barnes Revue. He made guest appearances on The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Burke's Law, The Munsters, Happy Days and Adam-12. He charted nationally (Music Vendor, #132) with the comedy single "Prez Conference" in 1962. He also guest starred in an Emergency! episode called "Firehouse Four" as Fred Gibson, an overweight, accident-prone man. Woody Allen's character in his 1995 film Mighty Aphrodite was named "Lenny Weinrib."
Voice actor
He was most notable for his voice acting work. Starting with The Jetsons, Weinrib provided numerous voices for such animated series as Inch High, Private Eye, The New Adventures of Batman, Tarzan and the Super 7, and Hong Kong Phooey. He was the voice for both Roland and Ratfink in that series of cartoon shorts. He also provided the voice of Timer in the 1970s "Time for Timer" series of educational spots shown on the ABC network. In Voltron: Defender of the Universe, he voiced both Hunk and the villain Prince Lotor in the "Lion Voltron series", as well as Captain Newley and Cliff in the "Vehicle Voltron" series. He also voiced a secretary bird and king Leonidas the lion in the animated sequence of the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Another Disney role Weinrib voiced was an evil sorcerer named Zorlok for an episode of Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears. He also voices the school bully Lenny Warthog on the NBC series Kissyfur.
He also lent his voice to Superman in 1970 for a Sesame Street sketch of a lecture about words beginning with "S" which happened to be the character's favorite letter of the Alphabet. Weinrib again voiced the Man of Steel, and his alter-ego Clark Kent, for a 1972 episode of The Brady Kids, "Cindy's Super Friend".
Weinrib voiced Davey Jones' uncle Sedgwick, Shaggy's great-uncle Nathaniel, and Redbeard on The New Scooby-Doo Movies and Cap'n Noah Smitty in Yogi's Ark Lark. He also voiced Scrappy-Doo in the original Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo TV series before Don Messick took over the role.
He voiced the title role in H.R. Pufnstuf throughout the show's entire run from 1969 through 1971, and also wrote every episode of the series. He also appeared as H.R. Pufnstuf as a guest on The Dating Game in Christmas 1972 and on one episode of the TV show CHiPs in 1977. On The Krofft Supershow he played the title character in Magic Mongo.
He did the voices for Moonrock and Sergeant Boulder on The Flintstone Comedy Show. In 1986, he was the original voice of Freddy Flintstone on The Flintstone Kids, before Scott Menville replaced him the following season. In 1991, he voiced Max the Mole on the all-star Hanna-Barbera animated series Yo Yogi!.
Live action
Weinrib appeared on The Dick Van Dyke Show three times, each time playing a similar character, a loud, over-the-top, insult-type comedian. This character was named "Jackie Brewster" ("Buddy Can You Spare a Job", 1961), "Danny Brewster" ("The Sam Pomerantz Scandals", 1963), and "Phil Franklin" ("The Impractical Joke", 1965).
He also appeared on single episodes of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. ("Winky Blintz" in "The Off-Broadway Affair", 1966) Happy Days ("Duke" in "Ritchie's Cup Runneth Over", 1974), and on two episodes of Adam-12 in 1973 and 1974 as Tony the police garage mechanic. He also guest starred in a 1974 episode of Emergency! called "Firehouse Four" as Fred Gibson.
Directing
Weinrib's directing career consists of three feature films, all in the beach party genre: Beach Ball for Paramount in 1965, and Wild Wild Winter and Out of Sight, both for Universal in 1966. Weinrib also co-wrote the 1963 joke book The Elephant Book.
Retirement and death
Weinrib retired from acting in the 1990s and moved to Santiago, Chile.
For the Family Guy episode "Petarded", Seth MacFarlane explained on the Season 4 DVD commentary he wanted to use Weinrib to voice Timer for a cutaway gag, but Weinrib was suffering from failing health when "Petarded" was being produced, and as MacFarlane explained, he "didn't remember doing it" after the recorded audio was played back for him later. In the end, Timer was voiced by Seth himself and Weinrib died about a year after "Petarded" first aired.
Weinrib died in a hospital near his home on June 28, 2006, after suffering a stroke.[1]
Family
Weinrib's elder daughter Linda Weinrib and grandchildren Lauren Bendik and Steven Bendik are voice actors. His younger daughter Heidi Weinrib has performed as part of the ensemble cast of Rojo de Chile, a Chilean talent competition broadcast by Television Nacional de Chile. His youngest daughter Grace Weinrib is an artist and also lives in Santiago, Chile as does their mother Sonia.
Filmography
Voices
- H.R. Pufnstuf - Voices of H.R. Pufnstuf, Bela Lugosi Tree, Dr. Blinky's Talking Book, Orson Vulture, Polka Dotted Horse, Stupid Bat, Pop Lolly, West Wind
- Lidsville - Voices of Admiral Scuttlebutt, Bela the Vampire's Cowl, Big Chief Sitting Duck, Boris the Executioner's Hood, Hiram the Farmer's Hat, Hoo Doo's Parrot, Raunchy Rabbit, Jack of Clubs
- The Krofft Superstar Hour - Voices of H.R. Pufnstuf, Orson Vulture, Stupid Bat
- The Skatebirds - Voice of Knock-Knock the Woodpecker ("Skatebirds" segment)
- Barnyard Commandos - Additional Voices
- Buford and the Galloping Ghost - Additional Voices
- CB Bears - King, Rattle, Yukayuka
- Dr. Dolittle - Sam Scurvy, various
- Dynomutt, Dog Wonder - Roto Chopper
- Foofur - Additional Voices
- Fred Flintstone and Friends - Additional Voices
- Galaxy Goof-Ups - Additional Voices
- Garfield and Friends - Additional Voices
- Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! - Additional Voices
- Hong Kong Phooey - Additional Voices
- Inch High, Private Eye - Inch High
- Jabberjaw - Additional Voices
- Jokebook - Additional Voices
- Kissyfur - Charles, Lennie
- Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour - Additional Voices
- My Little Pony and Friends - Additional Voices
- Pac-Man - Additional Voices
- Rambo and the Forces of Freedom - Gripper, Mad Dog
- Scooby and Scrappy-Doo - Scrappy-Doo
- Space Cats - Additional Voices
- Space Stars - Dipper
- The Addams Family - Gomez Addams
- Adventures of the Gummi Bears - Additional Voices
- The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda - Additional Voices
- The Brady Kids - Superman/Clark Kent
- The All-New Popeye Hour - Additional Voices
- The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan - Stanley Chan
- The Most Important Person - Various Voices
- The Flintstone Comedy Hour - Announcer, Moonrock
- The Flintstone Comedy Show - Moonrock, Sgt. Boulder
- The Flintstone Kids - Fred Flintstone (1986-1987), Commissioner
- The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone - TV special - Mr. Silika
- The Further Adventures of SuperTed - Additional Voices
- The Great Grape Ape Show - Additional Voices
- The Hoober-Bloob Highway - Additional Voices
- The Jetsons - Additional Voices (1985-1987)
- The Kwicky Koala Show - Additional Voices
- The Little Rascals - Additional Voices
- The Mumbly Cartoon Show - Additional Voices
- The New Adventures of Batman - Joker, Clayface, Mr. Freeze, Chameleon, Moonman, Professor Bubbles, Sweet Tooth, Zarbor, Penguin, Electro, Commissioner Gordon.
- The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show - Additional Voices
- The New Scooby-Doo Movies - Uncle Nathaniel, Additional Voices
- The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show - Bronto, Moonrock
- The Pink Panther Laugh and a Half Hour and a Half Show - Additional Voices
- The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show - Additional Voices
- The Scooby-Doo Show - Squire Mooney, Additional Voices
- The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour - Additional Voices
- The Smurfs - Bigmouth, Additional Voices
- The Smurfic Games - TV special - Bigmouth
- The Super Globetrotters - Additional Voices
- The Tom and Jerry Show - Additional Voices
- These Are the Days - Additional Voices
- Trollkins - Additional Voices
- Uncle Croc's Block - Elephunt Cave Cat, Billy the Kit, Captain Eddie Kittenbakker, Captain Kitt, Jasper Catdaver, Kitty Wizard, Sir Walter Cat, Hep Cat ("Fraidy Cat" segments)
- Voltron - Hunk Garrett, Prince Lotor (Lion Force series); Cliff, Captain Newley (Vehicle Force series)
- Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - Chet Boyle
- Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color - Additional Voices
- Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch - Hi-Riser
- Yo Yogi! - Max the Mole
- Yogi's Gang - Smokestack Smog
- Yogi's Space Race - Additional Voices
- Yogi's Treasure Hunt - Additional Voices
Live-action
- The Dick Van Dyke Show - 3 episodes (1961, 1963, 1965)
- My Favorite Martian - 1 episode as Dentist Dr. Herbie Little (1964)
- The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - 1 episode as Winky Blintz (1966) "The Off-Broadway Affair"
- Happy Days - "Duke", 1 episode (1974)
- The Krofft Supershow - as the title character in the "Magic Mongo" segment (1977-78)
- Laredo - episode - The Sweet Gang - Bud Sweet
- Adam-12 - 2 episodes as a Police garage mechanic
- Emergency! - episode - Firehouse Four - Fred Gibson
- The Munsters - episode - "The Midnight Ride of Herman Munster" - Freddie (1964)
- The Twilight Zone - 1 episode - "Miniature" - Buddy Russell (1963)
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents - 3 episodes as Amos, Harry, Stanley (1960-1962)
- The Red Skelton Show - 1 episode as Ronnie (1959)
- The Waltons - episode - The Marathon S3E10 - as Spanky (1974)
Films
- Tales of Terror (1962) - Policeman (segment "The Black Cat")
- The Thrill of It All (1963) - Truck Driver
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) - F-14 / Ladder Fireman (voice, uncredited)
- Not with My Wife, You Don't! (1966) - Green Eyed Monster of Jealousy (voice, uncredited)
- Out of Sight (1966, Director)
- Good Times (1967) - Leslie Garth
- Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It. (1970) - (voice, uncredited)
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) - Secretary Bird / King Leonidas (voice)
- Yogi's Ark Lark (1972) - Cap'n Noah Smitty
- The Adventures of Robin Hoodnik (1972) - Robin Hoodnik / Alan Airedale / Whirlin' Merlin / Lord Scurvy / Friar Pork / Little John (voice)
- Tabitha and Adam and the Clown Family (1972) - Big Louie / Count Krumley / Mr. McGuffin (voice)
- The Magical Mystery Trip Through Little Red's Head (1974) - Timer / All Other Voices (voice)
- Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (1975, TV Short) - Darzee the Tailorbird
- The Strongest Man in the World (1975) - State Coach
- Shogun Assassin (1980) - (voice)
- Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales (1982) - Prince Abadaba (voice)
- The Adventures of Ronald McDonald: McTreasure Island (1990, Short) - The Captain / Pirates (voice)
Commercials
- McDonald's McDonaldland Commercials - Grimace (1971-1986) / Uncle O'Grimacey (voice)
- Time for Timer - Timer
- Cookie Crisp - Cookie Jarvis
- Super Friends - network promo "Meet... Super-Friends!" narrator for series premiere on ABC-TV September 1973
See also
Biography portal
References
- McLellan, Dennis (2 July 2006). "Lennie Weinrib, 71; Actor Voiced H.R. Pufnstuf". Los Angeles Times.