Frank Graham (voice actor)
Encyclopedia
Frank Lee Graham was an American radio announcer and cartoon voice actor.
He attended the University of California
for one year and left to begin his acting career in Seattle, both on the stage and in radio. He was brought to Hollywood in 1937 to join KNX
Radio. He had been married two years before to Dorothy Jack of Seattle. He was the star of Night Car Yarns over CBS
from 1938 through 1942 and was the announcer of dozens of programs, including the Ginny Simms
, Rudy Vallee
and Nelson Eddy
shows. He also starred in The Jeff Regan Show and co-developed the radio drama Satan’s Watin’ with Van Des Autels.
Graham created the voices of a number of cartoon characters in animated films for Walt Disney
, MGM, Columbia
and Warner Bros.
studios. He was the voice of the wolf in several Tex Avery
cartoons as well as the mouse in King Size Canary at Metro. He provided the voices of both the Fox and Crow in the eponymous-named shorts at Columbia.
He was found dead at age 35 in his convertible in the carport of his home in Los Angeles on September 2, 1950. A coroner declared he had committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning
.
Biography
Graham was born in Michigan to Frank L. Graham and opera singer Ethel Briggs Graham and travelled with his mother on tour.He attended the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
for one year and left to begin his acting career in Seattle, both on the stage and in radio. He was brought to Hollywood in 1937 to join KNX
KNX (AM)
KNX is an all-news radio station in Los Angeles, California, USA. The station operates on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio. KNX broadcasts from facilities shared with sister stations KFWB, KCBS-FM, KTWV, and KAMP on Los Angeles' Miracle Mile...
Radio. He had been married two years before to Dorothy Jack of Seattle. He was the star of Night Car Yarns over CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from 1938 through 1942 and was the announcer of dozens of programs, including the Ginny Simms
Ginny Simms
Ginny Simms was an American Popular Singer and film actress. She labeled with Dinah Shore, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Jo Stafford and others. Born in San Antonio, Texas, she sang with big bands and worked as MGM contract player film actress.She appeared in 11 movies from 1939 to 1951, when she...
, Rudy Vallee
Rudy Vallée
Rudy Vallée was an American singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer.-Early life:Born Hubert Prior Vallée in Island Pond, Vermont, the son of Charles Alphonse and Catherine Lynch Vallée...
and Nelson Eddy
Nelson Eddy
Nelson Ackerman Eddy was an American singer and actor who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in opera and on the concert stage, radio, television, and in nightclubs. A classically trained baritone, he is best remembered for the eight films in which he costarred...
shows. He also starred in The Jeff Regan Show and co-developed the radio drama Satan’s Watin’ with Van Des Autels.
Graham created the voices of a number of cartoon characters in animated films for Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
, MGM, Columbia
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
and Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
studios. He was the voice of the wolf in several Tex Avery
Tex Avery
Frederick Bean "Fred/Tex" Avery was an American animator, cartoonist, voice actor and director, famous for producing animated cartoons during The Golden Age of Hollywood animation. He did his most significant work for the Warner Bros...
cartoons as well as the mouse in King Size Canary at Metro. He provided the voices of both the Fox and Crow in the eponymous-named shorts at Columbia.
He was found dead at age 35 in his convertible in the carport of his home in Los Angeles on September 2, 1950. A coroner declared he had committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs after enough inhalation of carbon monoxide . Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and initially non-irritating, it is very difficult for people to detect...
.