June Foray American actress Date of Birth: 18.09.1917 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Debut
2. Voice of Cartoons
3. Iconic Voices
4. Versatile Performer
5. Collaboration with Jay Ward
6. Recognition and Legacy
7. Film and Television Appearances

Early Life and Debut

June Foray, an American voice actress, began her career at the tender age of 12, performing in a dramatic radio production at a local station in Springfield, Massachusetts. By the age of 15, she was a regular on radio shows and moved to Los Angeles, California, where she quickly gained recognition as a talented voice actress. She became a popular performer on radio, appearing in shows such as the Jimmy Durante and Danny Thomas variety programs.

Voice of Cartoons

In the 1940s, Foray ventured into film, making several appearances in action movies. However, her true calling was in the world of animation. Her diminutive stature of 4'11" prevented her from a successful career in theater or on-screen, but it allowed her to perfectly embody the voices of various beloved cartoon characters. She became a regular collaborator with Walt Disney, providing the voice of Lucifer the cat in "Cinderella" (1950) and showcasing her vocal versatility in Walter Lantz's popular "Woody Woodpecker" cartoon series.

Iconic Voices

For "Warner Brothers Cartoons," Foray is best known for her unforgettable portrayal of Granny in "Sylvester and Tweety," as well as the witch Hazel in "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies" cartoons. Her voice also became synonymous with the narrator of "Really Scent." She was the voice of Smurfette in "The Smurfs," Ursula in "George of the Jungle," and the lovable Cindy Lou Who in the classic 1966 film "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"

Versatile Performer

Beyond her iconic cartoon roles, Foray's voice graced numerous other projects. She provided the voices for Chatty Cathy and the evil Talking Tina doll in the "Living Doll" episode of "The Twilight Zone." She also voiced Queen Tabitha in "Thumbelina." Foray collaborated with "Hanna-Barbera," contributing to "The Flintstones," "Tom and Jerry," "Scooby-Doo," "The Jetsons," and countless other beloved shows. Her extensive work with Stan Freberg included commercials, albums, and the 1957 radio series, where she brilliantly voiced the secretary of the werewolf account executive.

Collaboration with Jay Ward

One of Foray's most notable collaborations was with Jay Ward, where she portrayed nearly every female character in "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show," including Natasha Fatale and Nell Fenwick. She also provided the voices of Magica De Spell and Mrs. Beakley in the popular animated series "DuckTales."

Recognition and Legacy

Later in her career, Foray received a starring role as Granny Gummi in Disney's animated television series "Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears." She and Jay Ward remained among the few surviving voice actors from the Golden Age of American animation. Foray continued to be active well into her later years, voicing Granny Fa in "Mulan II" and a character in "Looney Tunes: Back in Action."

In October 2006, Foray portrayed Susan B. Anthony in three episodes of "Dr. Floyd's Radio Adventures." Animator and director Chuck Jones famously remarked, "June Foray isn't the girl Mel Blanc, Mel Blanc was the boy June Foray." (Mel Blanc was a legendary voice actor.) In 1995, the non-profit organization ASIFA-Hollywood established the June Foray Award, which has since been awarded to "individuals who have made significant contributions to the art of animation and the animation industry." Foray herself was the first recipient of the award.

In 2007, Britt Irvin became the first person to voice a remake character previously voiced by Foray in the original series. Irvin voiced Ursula in "George of the Jungle" for Cartoon Network. Foray also made a guest appearance in the first season of the long-running animated series "The Simpsons," in the episode "Some Enchanted Evening." The episode's running gag was inspired by a skit in "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle" a few years prior, in which none of the characters, including narrator Bill Conrad, could define "rubber baby buggy bumpers."

Film and Television Appearances

While primarily known for her voice work, Foray also had a few notable roles on-screen. She played a priestess of a fire cult in the adventure film "Sabaka." She also had a small part as Carmela, a Mexican telephone operator, in the TV series "Green Acres" (1965-1971) and appeared in the comedy-action film "Boris and Natasha" (1992).