Michael Rye obit

Voiceover actor Michael Rye dies at 94

Bridged the generations from radio to videogame work

 

 He was not on the list.

Michael Rye, a voiceover actor who brought his sonorous voice to lead roles in many radio shows and television cartoon series, died in Los Angeles on Sept. 21 after a brief illness. He was 94.

In radio’s heyday, the Chicago-based Rye crowded some 40 network shows into an average week. He was Jack Armstrong on “Jack Armstrong — The All American Boy,” Gary Curtis on “Ma Perkins,” Tim Lawrence on “The Guiding Light,” Pembrook on “Backstage Wife.” His Hollywood radio credits included “Meet Millie,” “Lux Radio Theater,” “Suspense,” “The Whistler” and “This Is Your FBI.”

Later, his voice would be heard on cartoon series “The Lone Ranger.” He voiced Duke Igthorn and King Gregor on Disney’s “Gummi Bears” and Green Lantern and Apache Chief on “Super Friends.” As part of the Hanna Barbera stock company, Rye had many roles on “Scooby Doo,” “Pound Puppies” and other HB cartoon series.

Rye segued into television with roles on “G.E. Theater,” “Schlitz Playhouse,” “Wagon Train,” “77 Sunset Strip,” “M Squad,” “Dr. Kildare,” among others.

Until the late ’90s, Rye voiced many national television and radio commercials. He narrated thousands of industrial training films, videos and interactive software of all types and even contributed to videogames.

Rye had a significant first on his vita: He voiced the first full-length recorded book, “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.” He is also credited in T.L. Osborn's gospel documentaries as the narrator.

J. Riorden Billsbury was born in Chicago.

He served a two-year term as national president of the Information Film Producers of America (IFPA) in the 1970s. Rye was also a member of AFTRA and SAG and an honorary lifetime member of Sperdvac, the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy.

Rye is survived by his wife, Patricia Foster Rye.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Filmography

Live action

    Hands of a Stranger - George Britton

    Two Lost Worlds - Captain Hackett

    The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin - Ace Rocklin (ep. "Pritikin's Predicament")

    Jane Wyman Presents - Fred Jackson (ep. "The Bravado Touch")

    Wagon Train - Hanlon (ep. "The Liam Fitzmorgan Story")

    M Squad - Carlson (ep. "The Crush Out")

    Perry Mason - Commentator (ep. "The Story of the Laughing Lady")

    Mr. Terrific - The President (ep. "I Can't Fly")

    Mission: Impossible - Agent Belson (ep. "The Traitor")

 

Animated roles

    A Pup Named Scooby-Doo - Skippy Johnson, Arnie Barney

    The All-New Super Friends Hour - Apache Chief, Green Lantern

    Battle of the Planets - President Kane, Additional Voices

    Challenge of the Super Friends - Apache Chief, Green Lantern

    Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears - Duke Igthorn, King Gregor, Sir Gawain

    DuckTales - Narrator (for the recap sequences in the serialized versions of Time is Money and Super Ducktales)

    Hot Wheels - Jack "Rabbit" Wheeler

    Skyhawks - Captain Mike Wilson

    Mighty Man and Yukk - Main Title Narrator

    Pink Panther and Sons - Additional Voices

    Scooby and Scrappy-Doo - Additional Voices

    Shirt Tales - Additional Voices

    Snorks - Additional Voices

    Spider-Man - Mysterio

    Spider-Man - Farley Stillwell

    Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends - Magneto

    Super Friends - Apache Chief, Green Lantern

    Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show - Apache Chief, Green Lantern

    The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo - Demondo, Zimbulu, Reflector Specter

    The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda - Additional Voices

    The All-New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show - Additional Voices

    The Dukes - Additional Voices

    The Flintstone Kids - Mr. Slaghoople

    The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible - Narrator

    The Godzilla Power Hour - Additional Voices

    The Incredible Hulk - The Supreme Hydra/Steve Perry, Jasper Bryn

    The Lone Ranger - Lone Ranger

    The Mork & Mindy / Laverne & Shirley / Fonz Hour - Additional Voices

    The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show - Main Title Narrator

    The Real Ghostbusters - Dr. Crowley

    The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour - Additional Voices

    The Smurfs - Additional Voices

    The Super Globetrotters - Narrator

    The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians - Green Lantern

    Yogi's Treasure Hunt - Additional Voices

    Fluppy Dogs - J. J. Wagstaff

 

Films

 

    Hugo the Hippo - Grownups

    Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers - Mayor

    Yogi and the Invasion of the Space Bears - Ranger Jones

 

Video games

 

    Dragon's Lair - Narrator

    Space Ace - Narrator

    Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp - Narrator

 

Information Film Narrator

 

    Various Productions for Aerojet-General Corporation Sacramento

    Various Productions for Air Force Space & Missile Systems Center

 

Radio

 

    Announcer on The Cisco Kid (1943–1945)

    Jack Armstrong on Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy (1944–1946)

    The Narrator on Mystery House (1944–1946)

    Announcer on Joyce Jordan, M.D. (1944–1947)

    Mr. First Nighter on The First Nighter Program (1945–1954)

    Gary Curtis on Ma Perkins (1945–1959)

    Reverend Dr. John Ruthledge on Guiding Light (1947–49, replacing Arthur Peterson, Jr.)

    Mark Dillon in the first Gunsmoke audition show (1949)

    Several roles on Backstage Wife (1940s)

    Hank Stafford on Granby's Green Acres (1950)

    Johnny Booth Jr. on Meet Millie (1951–1954)

    Several roles on Dangerous Assignment (1953)

    Several roles on Lux Radio Theater (1950s)

    Announcer on The Horizons West Show (1965–1966)