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Will Ryan

Actor

Will Ryan

Born May 21, 1949 in Cleveland, Ohio, USADied November 19, 202157 films

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.

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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.

Throughout his lifetime, Ryan voiced:

Rabbit (Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore) - after the death of Junius Matthews.

Digit (the 1986 animated film An American Tail)

Petrie (original voice, the 1988 animated film The Land Before Time)

Elmo Aardvark. (Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective) - and in several Elmo Aardvark CDs.

Willie the Giant (Mickey's Christmas Carol)

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

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). His musical incarnation was being the 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.

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.

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

On November 19, 2021, at the age of 72, Will Ryan died from complications related to pancreatic cancer.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Will Ryan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia .

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The best way into Will Ryan's work
Mickey's Christmas Carol posterFirst watchMickey's Christmas Carol19837.7as 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)Ebenezer Scrooge is far too greedy to understand that Christmas is a time for kindness and generosity. But with the guidance of some new found friends, Scrooge learns to embrace the spirit…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Little Mermaid poster7.4The Little Mermaid1989The Land Before Time poster7.2The Land Before Time1988An American Tail poster6.8An American Tail1986Looney Tunes: Back in Action poster6.4Looney Tunes: Back in Action2003Get a Horse! poster7.6Get a Horse!2013Thumbelina poster6.5Thumbelina1994Rock-A-Doodle poster6.2Rock-A-Doodle1991Wizards poster6.2Wizards1977

Filmography

57 films as actor
  1. 2015The Adventures of Biffle and ShoosterSam Shooster
  2. 2013Get a Horse!Peg-Leg Pete (voice)
  3. 2007Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Great Clubhouse HuntWillie the Giant (voice)
  4. 2003Looney Tunes: Back in ActionPapa Bear (voice)
  5. 2002Adventures in Odyssey: The Caves of QumranEugene Meltsner (voice)
  6. 2001Adventures in Odyssey: Escape from the Forbidden MatrixEugene Meltsner
  7. 2000Adventures in Odyssey: The Last Days of Eugene MeltsnerEugene Meltsner
  8. 2000Little Dogs On The Prairie: Lyin' Cheatin' And A Hot LollipopScout
  9. 2000Little Dogs On The Prairie: Pride Prejudice And FudgeScout
  10. 2000Little Dogs On The Prairie: A Lotta Love And A Little Off The TopScout
  11. 1998Adventures in Odyssey: Baby DazeEugene Meltsner
  12. 1998Adventures in Odyssey: A Stranger Among UsEugene Meltsner
  13. 1997Adventures in Odyssey: A Twist In TimeEugene Meltsner
  14. 1997Adventures in Odyssey: In Harm's WayEugene Meltsner
  15. 1996Rotten Ralph - The Taming of the Ralph(voice)
  16. 1995Adventures in Odyssey: Go West Young Man!Eugene Meltsner
  17. 1995The Pebble and the PenguinRoyal / Tika (voice)
  18. 1994A Troll in Central ParkBoss (voice)
  19. 1994Three Little Pigs Sing A GigLippy Pig (voice)
  20. 1994Adventures in Odyssey: Once Upon an AvalancheEugene Meltsner
  21. 1994ThumbelinaHero / Reverend Rat (voice)
  22. 1993Adventures in Odyssey: Star QuestEugene Meltsner
  23. 1993Morris Has a ColdMorris (voice)
  24. 1993Mouse SoupWeasel
  25. 1991Rock-A-DoodleStuey (voice)
  26. 1991A Gnome Named GnormGnorm
  27. 1991Ralph S. MouseMouse (voice)
  28. 1991Uncle ElephantUncle (voice)
  29. 1991Benny's Biggest BattleBoogwart (voice)
  30. 1990Jack and the BeanstalkBean Seller (voice) (uncredited)
  31. 1990The Clean Club
  32. 1989The Little MermaidSeahorse (voice)
  33. 1989The Wizard of Speed and TimeAll the Unions / Mr. President (voice) (as William Z. Ryan)
  34. 1989Stanley and the DinosaursSinging Dinosaurs (voice)
  35. 1988The Land Before TimePetrie (voice)
  36. 1988Cap'n O.G Readmore's Puss in BootsWordsy (voice)
  37. 1988Totally MinnieGoofy (voice)
  38. 1987Frog and Toad TogetherFrog (voice)
  39. 1987Sport Goofy in SoccermaniaScrooge McDuck / The Beagle Boys / Gyro Gearloose (voice)
  40. 1987Down and Out with Donald DuckPete / Goofy (voice)
  41. 1987Alice Through the Looking GlassThe Paper Man (voice)
  42. 1986An American TailDigit (voice)
  43. 1986Pooh's Great School Bus AdventureRabbit (voice)
  44. 1986Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeWordsy (voice)
  45. 1986Gummi Bears: A New BeginningUnwin / Ogres (voice)
  46. 1985The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin(voice)
  47. 1985SwabbiesPete / Beagle Boys
  48. 1985Cap'n O.G. Readmore's Jack and the BeanstalkWordsy (voice)
  49. 1985The Pyramid of Darkness: The Further Adventures of G.I. JoeFootloose (voice)
  50. 1985Too Smart for StrangersRabbit / Tigger (voice)
  51. 1985Frog and Toad Are FriendsFrog (voice)
  52. 1985The Bollo Caper(voice)
  53. 1984G.I. Joe: The Revenge of CobraRock 'n Roll (voice)
  54. 1984Fitness and Me: Why Exercise?Voice
  55. 1983Mickey's Christmas CarolCollector for the Poor #2 / Ghost of Christmas Present (Willie the Giant) / Ghost of Christmas Future (Pete) / Santa Claus (Big Bad Wolf) / Weasel #2 (voice)
  56. 1983Winnie the Pooh and a Day for EeyoreRabbit (voice)
  57. 1977WizardsGuards (uncredited)