CINEFILER

Will Ryan

Born
May 21, 1949
Died
November 19, 2021
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 Little Mermaid
(1989)
Seahorse (voice)
Thumbelina
(1994)
Hero / Reverend Rat (voice)
The Land Before Time
(1988)
Petrie (voice)
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
(2003)
Papa Bear (voice)
Mickey's Christmas Carol
(1983)
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)
An American Tail
(1986)
Digit (voice)
Rock-A-Doodle
(1991)
Stuey (voice)
A Troll in Central Park
(1994)
Boss (voice)
Wizards
(1977)
Guards (uncredited)
I Know That Voice
(2014)
Self
The Little Mermaid Live!
(2019)
Herald (voice)
The Pebble and the Penguin
(1995)
Royal / Tika (voice)
Get a Horse!
(2013)
Peg-Leg Pete (voice)
Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation
(1986)
Stars and Hearts (voice)
Full Filmography
Acting
Wizards
(1977)
Guards (uncredited)
Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore
(1983)
Rabbit (voice)
Mickey's Christmas Carol
(1983)
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)
Fitness and Me: Why Exercise?
(1984)
Voice
The Making of Mickey's Christmas Carol
(1984)
Self
Frog and Toad Are Friends
(1985)
Frog
Cap'n O.G. Readmore's Jack and the Beanstalk
(1985)
Wordsy (voice)
Too Smart for Strangers
(1985)
Rabbit / Tigger (voice)
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
(1985)
(voice)
Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
(1986)
Wordsy (voice)
Gummi Bears: A New Beginning
(1986)
Unwin / Ogres (voice)
An American Tail
(1986)
Digit (voice)
Pooh's Great School Bus Adventure
(1986)
Tigger (voice)
Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation
(1986)
Stars and Hearts (voice)
Disney's DTV Valentine
(1986)
Pongo / Goofy (voice)
Frog and Toad Together
(1987)
Frog
Alice Through the Looking Glass
(1987)
The Paper Man (voice)
Sport Goofy in Soccermania
(1987)
Scrooge McDuck / The Beagle Boys / Gyro Gearloose (voice)
Down and Out with Donald Duck
(1987)
Pete / Goofy (voice)
Totally Minnie
(1988)
Goofy (voice)
Cap'n O.G Readmore's Puss in Boots
(1988)
Wordsy (voice)
The Land Before Time
(1988)
Petrie (voice)
Stanley and the Dinosaurs
(1989)
Voice
The Wizard of Speed and Time
(1989)
All the Unions / Mr. President (voice) (as William Z. Ryan)
The Little Mermaid
(1989)
Seahorse (voice)
The Clean Club
(1990)
Jack and the Beanstalk
(1990)
Bean Seller (voice) (uncredited)
Uncle Elephant
(1991)
Uncle (voice)
Benny's Biggest Battle
(1991)
Boogwart (voice)
Rock-A-Doodle
(1991)
Stuey (voice)
Ralph S. Mouse
(1991)
Mouse (voice)
Mouse Soup
(1993)
Weasel
Adventures in Odyssey: Star Quest
(1993)
Eugene Meltsner
Morris Has a Cold
(1993)
Morris (voice)
Adventures in Odyssey: Once Upon an Avalanche
(1994)
Eugene Meltsner
Thumbelina
(1994)
Hero / Reverend Rat (voice)
A Troll in Central Park
(1994)
Boss (voice)
Adventures in Odyssey: Go West Young Man!
(1995)
Eugene Meltsner
The Pebble and the Penguin
(1995)
Royal / Tika (voice)
Adventures in Odyssey: A Twist In Time
(1997)
Eugene Meltsner
Adventures in Odyssey: In Harm's Way
(1997)
Eugene Meltsner
Adventures in Odyssey: Baby Daze
(1998)
Eugene Meltsner
Adventures in Odyssey: A Stranger Among Us
(1998)
Eugene Meltsner
Adventures in Odyssey: The Last Days of Eugene Meltsner
(2000)
Eugene Meltsner
Adventures in Odyssey: Escape from the Forbidden Matrix
(2001)
Eugene Meltsner
Adventures in Odyssey: The Caves of Qumran
(2002)
Eugene Meltsner
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
(2003)
Papa Bear (voice)
Mickey's Great Clubhouse Hunt
(2007)
Willie the Giant (voice)
Family Guy Presents: Road to the North Pole
(2010)
Winnie the Pooh (voice)
The One and Only June Foray
(2013)
Himself
Get a Horse!
(2013)
Peg-Leg Pete (voice)
I Know That Voice
(2014)
Self
The Adventures of Biffle and Shooster
(2015)
Sam Shooster
The Little Mermaid Live!
(2019)
Herald (voice)
Production
Data provided by TMDB