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Photo of Will Ryan

Will Ryan

Actor, Producer, Writer, Additional Credits
Died November 19, 2021 (72 years)
William Frank Ryan (May 21, 1949 – November 19, 2021) was an American voice actor and producer–writer–composer, well-known for singing about the American West. In the late seventies he teamed up with Phil Baron as Willio and Phillio.  They had regular gigs on television, radio and comedy clubs and universities throughout the US. Ryan and Baron later paired up again voicing characters of best friends Teddy Ruxpin (Baron) and Grubby the Octopede (Ryan) in the Teddy Ruxpin book and tape series as well as the 1987 television show The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin.

The Willio and Phillio act brought Ryan back into music and after moving to California, he began to write and record songs for Disney. He provided the voice of Rabbit, Tigger, and Eeyore in the Disney Channel's long-running series Welcome to Pooh Corner and in many other Pooh cartoons. He also provided the voice of Barnaby the Dog on the popular series Dumbo's Circus.

Since 1987, Ryan has been a fixture of the radio drama Adventures in Odyssey, playing Eugene Meltsner, Harlow Doyle, David Harley, Patrick O'Ryan and hundreds of one-shot characters.

He also voiced Rabbit in Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore after the death of Junius Matthews.

Ryan also voiced the character Digit in the 1986 animated film An American Tail.

Ryan had also provided the original voice of Petrie in the 1988 animated film The Land Before Time.

He appears in the film The Wizard of Speed and Time as several different motion picture union representatives.

He is the current voice of Elmo Aardvark. He can be heard as the character, called Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective and in several Elmo Aardvark CDs.

Ryan is the current voice of Willie the Giant. He started voicing the character from Mickey's Christmas Carol.

Ryan's youthful involvement in pop music has continued alongside his animation career. Will Ryan compositions have been recorded by artists such as Patti LaBelle, Diane Schuur, Victoria Jackson, The Pointer Sisters and Joanie Sommers (whom he also produced).

With Andrew J. Lederer and Michael Rosenberg (Jackie Diamond), Ryan performed in the '20s-style music and comedy trio, The Merry Metronomes. He and Lederer also appeared from time to time as a duo, usually under the name The Natty Nabobs.

His latest musical incarnation is as leader of Los Angeles-based Will Ryan and the Cactus County Cowboys, a cross between the Marx Brothers and The Sons of the Pioneers. His variety show, Will Ryan's Cactus County Round-Up, has been a staple in Southern California since 2008. It regularly plays at several venues, including the Steve Allen Theatre in Hollywood.

Ryan continues to do voice work. In 2009 he was working on the third season of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the 21st season of Adventures in Odyssey, and the new radio series of Will Ryan's Cactus County Round-Up.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Will Ryan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia .
Known For
  • The Land Before Time
  • An American Tail
  • Thumbelina
  • Mickey's Christmas Carol
  • Adventures of the Gummi Bears
  • Get a Horse!
  • The Pebble and the Penguin
  • A Troll in Central Park
  • Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi
  • Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore
  • The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
  • A Flintstones Christmas Carol
  • Sport Goofy in Soccermania
  • Welcome to Pooh Corner
  • The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss
  • Adventures in Odyssey: Star Quest
  • Adventures in Odyssey: Once Upon an Avalanche
  • Stanley and the Dinosaurs
  • Frog and Toad Together
  • Adventures in Odyssey: Go West Young Man
  • Frog and Toad Are Friends
  • Teen Wolf: The Animated Series
  • Adventures in Odyssey: Baby Daze
  • Dumbo's Circus

Filmography

2021
Mickey Mouse Funhouse (TV Series) · as Willie The Giant (voice)
2019
The Little Mermaid Live! · as Herald (voice)
2015
2015
2015
Little Charmers (TV Series) · as Cast
2013
Get a Horse! · as Peg-Leg Pete (voice)
2012
2010
Family Guy Presents: Road to the North Pole · as Winnie The Pooh (voice)
2007
Mickey's Great Clubhouse Hunt · as Willie The Giant (voice)
2006
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (TV Series) · as Willie The Giant
2005
Wonder Showzen (TV Series) · as The Letter P
2004
2003
Looney Tunes: Back in Action · as Papa Bear (voice)
2002
2001
2001
House of Mouse (TV Series) · as Willie The Giant
2000
2000
1999
Courage the Cowardly Dog (TV Series) · as The Duck Brothers
1999
Family Guy (TV Series) · as Winnie The Pooh (voice)
1998
1998
Adventures in Odyssey: Baby Daze · as Eugene Meltsner
1997
Young Pocahontas · as Cast
1997
1997
1996
The Story of Santa Claus · as Additional Voices
1996
1995
The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat (TV Series) · as Fat Pirate
1995
The Pebble and the Penguin · as Royal / Tika (voice)
1995
1994
1994
1994
A Troll in Central Park · as Boss (voice)
1994
The Baby Huey Show (TV Series) · as Boogeyman
1994
1994
Thumbelina · as Hero / Reverend Rat (voice)
1993
Adventures in Odyssey: Star Quest · as Eugene Meltsner
1993
1992
1991
Rock-A-Doodle · as Stuey (voice)
1991
1991
1991
1991
Ralph S. Mouse · as Mouse (voice)
1991
Uncle Elephant · as Uncle (voice)
1990
Jack and the Beanstalk · as Bean Seller (voice) (uncredited)
1990
Up world · as Gnorm
1990
Bobby's World (TV Series)
1990
1990
G.I. Joe (TV Series)
1989
The Little Mermaid · as Seahorse (voice)
1989
Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (TV Series) · as Dale (singing Voice)
1988
The Wizard of Speed and Time · as All The Unions / Mr. President (voice) (as William Z. Ryan)
1988
The Land Before Time · as Petrie (voice)
1988
Superman (1988) (TV Series) · as Conroy
1988
Garfield and Friends (TV Series) · as Mckraven
1988
Totally Minnie · as Goofy (voice)
1987
DuckTales (TV Series) · as Sharkey (voice)
1987
The Mother Goose Video Treasury · as Bertram The Gander
1987
Sport Goofy in Soccermania · as Scrooge Mcduck / The Beagle Boys / Gyro Gearloose (voice)
1987
Alice Through the Looking Glass · as The Paper Man (voice)
1987
Down and Out with Donald Duck · as Pete / Goofy (voice)
1987
1987
1987
1986
An American Tail · as Digit (voice)
1986
My Little Pony 'n Friends (TV Series) · as Additional Voices
1986
The Glo Friends (TV Series) · as Various Characters (1986)
1986
Teen Wolf: The Animated Series (TV Series) · as Chubs (voice)
1986
Wildfire (TV Series) · as Cast
1986
Gummi Bears: A New Beginning · as Unwin / Ogres (voice)
1986
Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation · as Stars And Hearts (voice)
1986
DTV Valentine · as Pongo / Goofy (voice)
1985
Adventures of the Gummi Bears (TV Series) · as Unwin / Ogres (voice)
1985
The Wuzzles (TV Series) · as Wishing Well
1985
Too Smart for Strangers · as Rabbit / Tigger (voice)
1985
1985
Dumbo's Circus (TV Series)
1984
CBS Storybreak (TV Series) · as Robbut
1983
Mickey's Christmas Carol · as Collector For The Poor #2 / Ghost Of Christmas Present (willie The Giant) / Ghost Of Christmas Future (pete) / Santa Claus (big Bad Wolf) / Weasel #2 (voice)
1983
Welcome to Pooh Corner (TV Series) · as Rabbit (1983-1986)
1983
1981
The Smurfs (TV Series) · as Slime
1977
Wizards · as Guards (uncredited)
1977
ABC Weekend Special (TV Series) · as Chestnut

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