Ken Sansom, Winnie the Pooh’s Rabbit, dies at 85
He was not on the list.
Beginning in 1988, Sansom portrayed the ever-worrying Rabbit in Winnie the Pooh animated films and TV shows. The original Rabbit, Junius Matthews, died in 1978. Rabbit was always worried by the honey-hunting Pooh and the playful Tigger.
“Nobody could keep count” of the number of voices he could offer, said his son Matt of Sandy, Utah. “But I think they’ve indicated he could do well over 250 voices.”
When he moved back home to Salt Lake City in 1992, he kept recording Rabbit from studios in Utah. Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, took over the role for the 2011 movie Winnie the Pooh.
Sansom voiced Rabbit in the movies Pooh’s Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin (1997), The Tigger Movie (2000), Piglet’s Big Movie (2003), Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie and Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (both 2005), and the 2007-09 series My Friends Tigger & Pooh, in addition to many direct-to-video films, including Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002) and Pooh’s Super Sleuth Christmas Movie (2007). He was also Rabbit in such specials as 1998’s A Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving.
In the 1988–91 series The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, he was not only Rabbit, but also Stan Woozle, the Piglet Look-Alike and the Store Clerk.
He was Hound and Dr. Paul Gates in 1984–85’s Transformers.
Sansom voiced Dr. Hunter, Milo and Peterson in the 1983 animated series The Littles, along with Ralph Throgmorton in 1990’s TaleSpin. He was Papa in the 1974 cartoon special Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus. In 2009, he voiced The Candleman in the half-hour stop-motion holiday special Spooky Bats and Scaredy Cats.
He provided additional voices in the TV series CB Bears and Skatebirds (both 1977), The All-New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show (1983), Snorks (1984), The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985), “Moondreamers” segments of My Little Pony and Friends (1986), Alvin & the Chipmunks (1986–87) and The Wizard of Oz (1990).
As well, he was in the voice casts of the 1973 NBC Children’s Theatre special All About Me, the 1979 TV short Banjo the Woodpile Cat and the 1982 TV-movie Bugs Bunny’s Mad World of Television, and the 1985 CBS Storybreak special Robbut: A Tale of Tails.
In movies, Sansom voiced Rosie, the female alley cat, in Shinbone Alley (1971), Magreb in Starchaser: The Legend of Orin (1985), and additional voices in The Chipmunk Adventure (1987). He was Thunk, the narrator of the 1984 cartoon movie Gallavants.
Sansom voiced Doc Dickory in the video shorts The Bible: The Amazing Book (1988) and The Amazing Children (1989).
Born Kenneth Sansom in Salt Lake City on April 2, 1927, he graduated from East High School in 1944. He joined the United States Navy immediately afterward, serving just under year during the Second World War before joining the reserves.
After a brief stint at the University of Utah, Sansom attended Brigham Young University, receiving a degree in broadcasting in 1949. Called up for Navy service during the Korean War, he entertained troops with the United Service Organizations.
A talented mimic, Sansom joined radio station KSL in 1957 with the show Sansom and Then Some, playing the host, guest and caller. In 1968, he moved to Los Angeles in 1968 to begin his screen career.
Sansom had roles in such live-action movies as The Sting, Herbie Rides Again, Airport 1975 and Funny Lady.
His colleagues in the broadcast industry inducted him into the Utah Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Ken Sansom is survived by his Carla, his wife since 1961; children Matthias, Melanie and Melissa; nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Funeral series are scheduled at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Brighton 8th Ward chapel, 2895 East Creek Road, Sandy, Utah. The family will greet guests from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, October 12 at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 Highland Drive, Salt Lake City.
Filmography
Actor (127 credits)
2011-2014 Mini
Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (TV Series short)
Rabbit
2010 Super Duper Super Sleuths (Video short)
Rabbit (voice)
2007-2009 My Friends
Tigger & Pooh (TV Series short)
Rabbit
2009 Spooky Bats and Scaredy Cats (TV Movie)
The Candleman
2009 Tigger &
Pooh and a Musical Too (Video)
Rabbit (voice)
2008 My Friends
Tigger and Pooh: The Hundred Acre Wood Haunt (Video)
Rabbit (voice)
2008 My Friends
Tigger & Pooh's Friendly Tails (Video)
Rabbit (voice)
2007 My Friends
Tigger and Pooh - Super Sleuth Christmas Movie (TV Short)
Rabbit (voice)
2007 The Light Before
Christmas (TV Movie)
The Candleman
2007 Kingdom Hearts
II: Final Mix+ (Video Game)
Rabbit (English version, voice)
2007 My Friends
Tigger and Pooh Super Sleuth Christmas Movie: 100 Acre Wood Downhill Challenge
(Video short)
Rabbit (voice)
2006 Winnie the Pooh:
Shapes & Sizes (Video short)
Rabbit (voice)
2006 Winnie the Pooh:
Wonderful Word Adventure (Video short)
Rabbit (voice)
2005 Kingdom Hearts
II (Video Game)
Rabbit (English version, voice)
2005 Pooh's Heffalump
Halloween Movie (Video)
Rabbit (voice)
2005 Pooh's Heffalump
Movie
Rabbit (voice)
2005 Winnie the
Pooh's Rumbly Tumbly Adventure (Video Game)
Rabbit (voice)
2005 Who Saves the Village?
(Video short)
Ol Blue
2004 Winnie the Pooh:
123s (Video short)
Rabbit (voice)
2003 Winnie the Pooh:
Springtime with Roo (Video)
Rabbit (voice)
2003 Piglet's Big
Game (Video Game)
Rabbit (voice)
2003 Piglet's Big
Movie
Rabbit (voice)
2002 Winnie the Pooh:
A Very Merry Pooh Year
Rabbit (voice)
2001-2002 The Book of
Pooh (TV Series short)
Rabbit
2001 The Book of Pooh: Stories from the Heart (Video)
Rabbit (voice)
2000 The Tigger Movie
Rabbit (voice)
1999 Winnie the Pooh:
Imagine That, Christopher Robin (Video short)
Rabbit (voice)
1999 Winnie the Pooh
Franken Pooh (Video short)
Rabbit (voice)
1999 Winnie the Pooh
Friendship: Clever Little Piglet (Video)
Rabbit (voice)
1999 Winnie the Pooh
Friendship: Pooh Wishes (Video short)
Rabbit (voice)
1999 Winnie the Pooh:
Seasons of Giving (Video)
Rabbit (voice)
1999 Winnie the Pooh:
A Valentine for You (TV Short)
Rabbit (voice)
1998 A Winnie the
Pooh Thanksgiving (Video short)
Rabbit (voice)
1998 Winnie the Pooh
Friendship: Three Cheers for Eeyore & Rabbit (Video short)
Rabbit (voice)
1997 Pooh's Grand
Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin (Video)
Rabbit (voice)
1996 Boo to You Too!
Winnie the Pooh (TV Short)
Rabbit (voice)
1995 Animated
StoryBook: Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (Video Game)
Rabbit (voice)
1995 Winnie the Pooh
Un-Valentine's Day (Video)
Rabbit (voice)
1994 Winnie the Pooh
Playtime: Detective Tigger (Video)
Rabbit (voice)
1991 Winnie the Pooh
& Christmas Too (TV Short)
Rabbit (voice)
1988-1991 The New
Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (TV Series)
Rabbit / Stan Woozle / The Judge / ...
1990 The Wizard of Oz (TV Series)
1990 TaleSpin (TV Series)
Ralph Throgmorton
1989 The Amazing Children (Video short)
Doc Dickory (voice)
1988 The Bible: The
Amazing Book (Video short)
Doc Dickory (voice)
1986-1987 Alvin &
the Chipmunks (TV Series short)
Additional Voices
1987 Jem (TV Series)
Ace O'Toole / John Montgomery
1984-1987 Newhart (TV Series)
Reunion Attendee / Guest
1987 The Chipmunk Adventure
Inspector Jamal (voice)
1987 Highway to
Heaven (TV Series)
Perkins
1987 The Popcorn Kid (TV Series)
- Pilot (1987)
1986 Moon Dreamers
(TV Series)
- Zodies on the Loose (1986) ... (voice)
1985-1986 Murder, She
Wrote (TV Series)
Bert / Man
1984-1985 The Transformers (TV Series)
Hound / Dr. Paul Gates
1985 Remington Steele (TV Series)
Rogers
1985 It's a Living (TV Series)
Customer #2
1985 Knots Landing (TV Series)
John Davis
1985 Snorks (TV Series)
1985 The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (TV Series)
Additional Voices
1985 Starchaser: The Legend of Orin
Magreb (voice)
1985 CBS Storybreak
(TV Series)
- Robbut: A Tale of Tails (1985) ... (voice)
1984 Gallavants
Thunk - Narrator (voice)
1983-1984 The Littles
(TV Series short)
Dr. Hunter / Peterson
1984 The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries (TV Series)
Codefinger
1984 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Niga ('Warriors of the Wind' dub) (English version, voice)
1983 Automan (TV
Series)
The Minister
1983 The Awakening of Candra (TV Movie)
Dr. Larsen
1983 Hart to Hart (TV
Series)
Jack Burke
1983 The Invisible Woman (TV Movie)
Lionel Gilbert
1982 Bugs Bunny's Mad
World of Television (TV Movie)
Additional Voices (voice)
1982 Code Red (TV
Series)
The Minister
1981 Quincy M.E. (TV Series)
Davidson
1981 CHiPs (TV Series)
Clerk
1981 The Waltons (TV Series)
Dr. Cole
1981 Stand by Your Man (TV Movie)
Dr. Pegram
1979-1981 Lou Grant
(TV Series)
Mr. Nelson / William Mills
1980 Eight Is Enough (TV Series)
Byron
1980 The White Shadow (TV Series)
Mr. Hyde
1979 Banjo the Woodpile Cat (TV Short)
Additional Voices (voice)
1979 Nutcracker
Fantasy
Chamberlain / The Poet Wiseman (voice)
1978 Teenage Father
(Short)
John's father
1978 The Small One
(Short)
Baker (voice, uncredited)
1978 The Clone Master
(TV Movie)
Wainer
1978 Chico and the
Man (TV Series)
Doctor Wilson
1978 Switch (TV Series)
Dr. Helmut Kronberg
1977 Baretta (TV Series)
Myers
1977 Welcome Back, Kotter (TV Series)
Expectant Father
1977 The Amazing Howard Hughes (TV Movie)
Hospital Administrator
1977 The Tony Randall
Show (TV Series)
Leonard
1976 Phyllis (TV Series)
Rawlings
1976 Days of Our Lives (TV Series)
Dr. Frederick Powell / Frederick Powell
1976 Charlie's Angels
(TV Series)
Clerk
1976 Griffin and Phoenix (TV Movie)
Dr. Harding
1976 Popi (TV Series)
1975 Conspiracy of Terror (TV Movie)
Medical Examiner
1975 Maude (TV
Series)
TV Interviewer
1975 S.W.A.T. (TV Series)
Salesman
1975 Funny Lady
Frederick Martin (Daddy)
1975 Harry O (TV
Series)
Mr. Hodges
1975 Cannon (TV Series)
Desk Clerk
1975 That's My Mama (TV Series)
Dr. Fairfax
1974 Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus (TV Short)
Papa (voice)
1974 Airport 1975
Gary
1974 Where Have All
the People Gone (TV Movie)
Jack McFadden
1974 Herbie Rides
Again
Lawyer - First Team
1974 Heidi in the
Mountains
Various (English version, voice)
1973 Bob & Carol
& Ted & Alice (TV Series)
Man
1973 The Sting
Western Union Executive
1973 Toma (TV Series)
Adrian Fellows
1973 Diana (TV Series)
Maitre D'
1973 Savage (TV Movie)
Clerk
1973 The Long Goodbye
Colony Guard
1973 Columbo (TV
Series)
Paul
1973 NBC Children's Theatre (TV Series)
- All About Me (1973) ... (voice)
1972 All in the
Family (TV Series)
IRS Agent
1972 Cade's County (TV Series)
Randell Newcomb
1972 The Jimmy Stewart Show (TV Series)
Captain Roy
1971 Two on a Bench (TV Movie)
Agent
1971 In Broad
Daylight (TV Movie)
Dr. Grant
1971 The Odd Couple
(TV Series)
Mr. Twitchell
1971 Dan August (TV Series)
1971 Julia (TV Series)
The Travel Agent
1971 Room 222 (TV Series)
Fred Beeman
1970-1971 Mayberry R.F.D. (TV Series)
Clarence / Mr. Ferguson
1971 The Brady Bunch (TV Series)
Stan Jacobsen
1970 Tales of Washington Irving (TV Movie)
Rip Van Winkle (voice, as Ken Samson)
1970 Shinbone Alley
Rosie the Cat (voice)
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