Mary Kay Bergman
Encyclopedia
Mary Kay Bergman was an American voice actress and animation voice over teacher, who was the lead female voice actress on South Park
from the show's 1997 debut until her death and was best known as the official voice of Snow White
for the Walt Disney Company
starting in 1989 with the Snow White Book-on-Tape. Bergman's casting as Snow White marked her transition from aspiring voice actress to full time actress.
parents in Los Angeles, California
growing up on North Gower Street around the corner from the home of Adriana Caselotti, the original voice of Snow White. At an early age, she found herself drawn to fantasy entertainment ranging from science fiction
to anything Disney
. She was always proud of the fact that as a child she and her mother wrote letters to NBC
to help keep the original Star Trek
on the air for a third season. With regard to Disney, she regularly visited Disneyland and was once quoted as saying, "My one regret is that I never got to meet Walt Disney
."
' The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs
, in which she played a dog named Mitzy and also a number of other characters. She also voiced characters for South Park
and the 1999
feature film
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
. Her characters included Liane Cartman, Sheila Broflovski, Shelly Marsh, Sharon Marsh, Mrs. McCormick and Wendy Testaburger. Originally, Bergman was credited on South Park as Shannen Cassidy out of concerns regarding possible conflicts with her continued work as Disney
's official Snow White
voice. The South Park episode "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics
" was dedicated to her, as was the episode "Starvin' Marvin in Space
," the first episode to air after her death.
Another large role was her voice work in Captain Planet and the Planeteers
as Dr. Blight for five seasons with the show. She did the voice of Arista in the Little Mermaid TV series
.
Bergman's other voice credits included over 400 television commercials, including the voice of Mrs. Butterworth in Mrs. Butterworth's
syrup
commercials, as well as various Disney film
s - Beauty and the Beast
, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
, Hercules
, Mulan and the posthumously released Toy Story 2
where she provided the yodeling for Joan Cusack
's Jessie The Yodeling Cowgirl as well the voice of Jessie (both speaking and yodeling) for the entire line of Toy Story 2 talking toys and games. Video games include The Curse of Monkey Island
and the English version of Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins
, Jay Jay the Jet Plane
, Timmy Turner in Oh Yeah! Cartoons
, episodes of The Fairly OddParents
(when the pilot episodes were aired as actual episodes in 2001, Bergman's voice was overdubbed by Tara Strong
) and several female voices in The Tick
animated series. She also contributed vocals to the "Weird Al" Yankovic
song "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi
", alongside Tress MacNeille
. According to the IMDb
, her final film role was in Balto II: Wolf Quest
.
Bergman also carried on the Scooby Doo character Daphne Blake
in the following movies:
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
in 1998, Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost
in 1999 and Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders
in 2000, this last one being a posthumous dedicatory to her.
Bergman's final recording session was as Snow White
for a Disneyland radio commercial. Another of her last recording sessions was the voice for Timmy Turner for the Oh Yeah! Cartoons
short, "The Temp!".
and generalized anxiety disorder, which she hid from her family, friends, and co-stars. Bergman committed suicide in her West Los Angeles
, California apartment on November 11, 1999. She was 38 years old. Bergman's husband Dino Andrade
, along with a friend, discovered her body and suicide note and later established the Mary Kay Bergman Memorial Fund, which contributes to the operation of the Suicide Prevention Center at the Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center. She is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park
in the Hollywood Hills
under a uniquely commissioned grave marker designed personally by her husband.
After Bergman's death, voice actresses Eliza Schneider
(later April Stewart
) and Mona Marshall
took over her voice roles on South Park. Good friend Tara Strong
also took over her voice role of Batgirl
in Batman: The Animated Series
(Bergman had previously voiced the character in the movie SubZero
), as well as the role of Timmy Turner in The Fairly OddParents
.
, she enjoyed Star Trek conventions while continuing to visit Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris.
Bergman was a self-described "geek
," as she was an avid fan of science-fiction, horror, and fantasy.
Bergman was also good friends and teacher/mentor to voice actress Grey DeLisle
. Upon her death, DeLisle inherited Bergman's role of Daphne Blake
from the Scooby Doo franchise.
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
from the show's 1997 debut until her death and was best known as the official voice of Snow White
Snow White (Disney)
Snow White is a fictional character and the main protagonist from Walt Disney's first animated feature film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,...
for the Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
starting in 1989 with the Snow White Book-on-Tape. Bergman's casting as Snow White marked her transition from aspiring voice actress to full time actress.
Early life
Bergman was born to JewishJudaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
parents in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
growing up on North Gower Street around the corner from the home of Adriana Caselotti, the original voice of Snow White. At an early age, she found herself drawn to fantasy entertainment ranging from science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
to anything Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
. She was always proud of the fact that as a child she and her mother wrote letters to NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
to help keep the original Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
on the air for a third season. With regard to Disney, she regularly visited Disneyland and was once quoted as saying, "My one regret is that I never got to meet 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...
."
Career
Bergman was known for voicing most of the female characters in animated series such as Fox KidsFox Kids
Fox Kids was the Fox Broadcasting Company's American children's programming division and brand name from September 8, 1990 until September 7, 2002. It was owned by Fox Television Entertainment airing programming on Monday–Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.Depending on the show, the...
' The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs
The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs
The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs is a children's animated series, produced by Saban Entertainment, that aired on Fox Kids from 1998 until it was cancelled in 1999.-Plot:...
, in which she played a dog named Mitzy and also a number of other characters. She also voiced characters for South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
and the 1999
1999 in film
The year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep...
feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is a 1999 animated musical comedy film based on the animated television series South Park, created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker. The film was directed by Parker, who also stars along with the rest of the regular voice cast from the series, including Stone, Mary...
. Her characters included Liane Cartman, Sheila Broflovski, Shelly Marsh, Sharon Marsh, Mrs. McCormick and Wendy Testaburger. Originally, Bergman was credited on South Park as Shannen Cassidy out of concerns regarding possible conflicts with her continued work as Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
's official Snow White
Snow White (Disney)
Snow White is a fictional character and the main protagonist from Walt Disney's first animated feature film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,...
voice. The South Park episode "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics
Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics
"Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics" is episode 46 of Comedy Central's animated television series South Park. An album of comedic holiday songs, some featured in the episode, and others exclusive to the album, or featured in other episodes, was released the week prior to the episode's original air...
" was dedicated to her, as was the episode "Starvin' Marvin in Space
Starvin' Marvin in Space
"Starvin' Marvin in Space" is episode 42 of Comedy Central's animated series South Park. It originally aired on November 17, 1999. Like the episode "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics", the episode is dedicated to Mary Kay Bergman, who lent her voice to nearly all of South Park's female characters...
," the first episode to air after her death.
Another large role was her voice work in Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Captain Planet is the title character of the series. In the beginning of the series, Gaia assembles a modern-day team of "Planeteers" from several nations...
as Dr. Blight for five seasons with the show. She did the voice of Arista in the Little Mermaid TV series
The Little Mermaid (TV series)
The Little Mermaid is an American animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation based on the 1989 Disney film of the same name. It features the adventures of Ariel as a mermaid prior to the events of the film. This series is the first Disney television series to be spun...
.
Bergman's other voice credits included over 400 television commercials, including the voice of Mrs. Butterworth in Mrs. Butterworth's
Mrs. Butterworth's
Mrs. Butterworth's is a brand of pre-packaged syrups and pancake mixes owned by Pinnacle Foods. The syrups come in distinctive bottles shaped in the form of a matronly female, Mrs. Butterworth. The packages, originally glass, are now mostly plastic....
syrup
Syrup
In cooking, a syrup is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars but showing little tendency to deposit crystals...
commercials, as well as various Disney film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s - Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)
Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period...
, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 film)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1996 American animated drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released to theaters on June 21, 1996 by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirty-fourth animated feature in the Disney animated features canon, the film is inspired by Victor Hugo's novel of...
, Hercules
Hercules (1997 film)
Hercules is a 1997 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirty-fifth animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker...
, Mulan and the posthumously released Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2 is a 1999 American computer animated film directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Lee Unkrich and Ash Brannon. It is the sequel to the 1995 film Toy Story, released by Walt Disney Pictures and the third film to be produced by Pixar...
where she provided the yodeling for Joan Cusack
Joan Cusack
Joan Mary Cusack is an American film, stage and television actress. Throughout her career, Cusack has appeared in many films as well as appearing in stage productions....
's Jessie The Yodeling Cowgirl as well the voice of Jessie (both speaking and yodeling) for the entire line of Toy Story 2 talking toys and games. Video games include The Curse of Monkey Island
The Curse of Monkey Island
The Curse of Monkey Island is an adventure game developed and published by LucasArts, and the third game in the Monkey Island series. It was released in and followed the successful games The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge...
and the English version of Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins
Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins
Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins is a stealth game developed by Acquire and published by Activision in North America and Europe and Acquire in Japan for the PlayStation in 2000.-Plot:...
, Jay Jay the Jet Plane
Jay Jay the Jet Plane
Jay Jay the Jet Plane is an American CGI children's television series based at the fictional Tarrytown Airport. It has about 60 episodes and it is aimed at ages 2-6. The characters are talking airplanes, a helicopter, some humans, and two talking ground vehicles...
, Timmy Turner in Oh Yeah! Cartoons
Oh Yeah! Cartoons
Oh Yeah! Cartoons is an American animation showcase that appeared on the Nickelodeon cable channel. Oh Yeah! was an animation project guided by Fred Seibert, former Creative Director of MTV Networks and President of Hanna-Barbera...
, episodes of The Fairly OddParents
The Fairly OddParents
The Fairly OddParents is an American-Canadian animated television series created by Butch Hartman about the adventures of Timmy Turner, who is granted fairy godparents named Cosmo and Wanda. The series started out as cartoon segments that ran from September 4, 1998 to March 23, 2001 on Oh Yeah!...
(when the pilot episodes were aired as actual episodes in 2001, Bergman's voice was overdubbed by Tara Strong
Tara Strong
Tara Lyn Strong is a Canadian actress, voice-over artist, singer, who is best known for her voice work in cartoons.-Early life and career:...
) and several female voices in The Tick
The Tick
The Tick is a fictional character created by cartoonist Ben Edlund in 1986 as a newsletter mascot for the New England Comics chain of Boston area comic stores. He is an absurdist spoof of comic book superheroes. After its creation, the character spun off into an independent comic book series in...
animated series. She also contributed vocals to the "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
song "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi
Pretty Fly for a Rabbi
"Pretty Fly for a Rabbi" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "Pretty Fly " by The Offspring, and it was released from the 1999 album Running with Scissors. The song was released exclusively in Australia as a single.. Tress MacNeille performs the line "How ya doin' Bernie?"...
", alongside Tress MacNeille
Tress MacNeille
Tress MacNeille is an American voice actress best known for providing various voices on the animated series The Simpsons, Futurama, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, Disney's House of Mouse, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Rugrats, All Grown Up!, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, and Dave the...
. According to the IMDb
Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
, her final film role was in Balto II: Wolf Quest
Balto II: Wolf Quest
Balto II: Wolf Quest is a 2002 straight-to-DVD fictional sequel to Universal Studios' 1995 animated film Balto.-Plot:Balto and his mate Jenna have a new family of six puppies...
.
Bergman also carried on the Scooby Doo character Daphne Blake
Daphne Blake
Daphne Anne Blake is a fictional character in the long-running American animated series Scooby-Doo. Daphne, depicted as coming from a wealthy family, is noted for her red hair, her fashion sense, and her knack for getting into danger...
in the following movies:
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is a 1998 American animated comedy film based on the animated television series Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoon franchise...
in 1998, Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost
Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost
Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost is the second in a series of direct-to-video animated films based upon Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoons. It was released on October 5, 1999, and it was produced by Warner Bros. Animation starting in 1998. The Mystery, Inc...
in 1999 and Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders
Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders
Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders is the third of a series of direct-to-video animated films based upon the Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoons. It was released on October 3, 2000, and it was produced, starting in 1999, by Warner Bros. Animation...
in 2000, this last one being a posthumous dedicatory to her.
Bergman's final recording session was as Snow White
Snow White (Disney)
Snow White is a fictional character and the main protagonist from Walt Disney's first animated feature film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,...
for a Disneyland radio commercial. Another of her last recording sessions was the voice for Timmy Turner for the Oh Yeah! Cartoons
Oh Yeah! Cartoons
Oh Yeah! Cartoons is an American animation showcase that appeared on the Nickelodeon cable channel. Oh Yeah! was an animation project guided by Fred Seibert, former Creative Director of MTV Networks and President of Hanna-Barbera...
short, "The Temp!".
Death
Bergman had been suffering from bipolar disorderBipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
and generalized anxiety disorder, which she hid from her family, friends, and co-stars. Bergman committed suicide in her West Los Angeles
West Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
West Los Angeles is a district in Los Angeles, California, within a larger region known as the "Westside."-Geography and transportation:...
, California apartment on November 11, 1999. She was 38 years old. Bergman's husband Dino Andrade
Dino Andrade
Dino Andrade is an American veteran voice actor in video games and animated projects. He manages dual careers as both a voice actor and the Creator/Owner Operator of the geek dating/community website .-Early life:...
, along with a friend, discovered her body and suicide note and later established the Mary Kay Bergman Memorial Fund, which contributes to the operation of the Suicide Prevention Center at the Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center. She is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery is part of the Forest Lawn chain of Southern California cemeteries. It is at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, on the lower north slope at the far east end of the Santa Monica...
in the Hollywood Hills
Hollywood Hills
The Hollywood Hills is an affluent and exclusive neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, in the southeastern Santa Monica Mountains. It is bound by Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west, Vermont Avenue to the east, Mulholland Drive to the north, and Sunset Boulevard to the south.-Hollywood Hills...
under a uniquely commissioned grave marker designed personally by her husband.
After Bergman's death, voice actresses Eliza Schneider
Eliza Schneider
Elizabeth Jane "Eliza" Schneider is an American actress, singer-songwriter, playwright, dialect coach and dialectologist, historian, and voice artist.-Early life:...
(later April Stewart
April Stewart
April Stewart is an American voice actress. She is best known for providing the voices of several female characters on the animated cartoon TV series South Park alongside fellow voice actress Mona Marshall. Born and raised in Truckee, California, Stewart started acting at the age 12. Her father,...
) and Mona Marshall
Mona Marshall
Mona M. Ianotti is an American voice actress. She is often cast in the role of young boys. Her roles have included parts in not only Japanese anime, but also in American cartoons as well. Mona Marshall has recently lent her voice to the talking bear Koby the Study Buddy...
took over her voice roles on South Park. Good friend Tara Strong
Tara Strong
Tara Lyn Strong is a Canadian actress, voice-over artist, singer, who is best known for her voice work in cartoons.-Early life and career:...
also took over her voice role of Batgirl
Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and in related media, created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino...
in Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
(Bergman had previously voiced the character in the movie SubZero
Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero
Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero is a 1998 direct-to-video animated feature film based on Batman: The Animated Series and is a sequel to the episode Deep Freeze. It won the Annie Award for Best Home Video Animation. It was produced by Warner Bros...
), as well as the role of Timmy Turner in The Fairly OddParents
The Fairly OddParents
The Fairly OddParents is an American-Canadian animated television series created by Butch Hartman about the adventures of Timmy Turner, who is granted fairy godparents named Cosmo and Wanda. The series started out as cartoon segments that ran from September 4, 1998 to March 23, 2001 on Oh Yeah!...
.
Personal life
With her husband, Dino AndradeDino Andrade
Dino Andrade is an American veteran voice actor in video games and animated projects. He manages dual careers as both a voice actor and the Creator/Owner Operator of the geek dating/community website .-Early life:...
, she enjoyed Star Trek conventions while continuing to visit Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris.
Bergman was a self-described "geek
Geek
The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to...
," as she was an avid fan of science-fiction, horror, and fantasy.
Bergman was also good friends and teacher/mentor to voice actress Grey DeLisle
Grey DeLisle
Grey DeLisle is an American voice actress, singer-songwriter, and comedienne. To date, she has released four solo albums and has featured on the tribute album Anchored in Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash and film soundtrack of Loggerheads...
. Upon her death, DeLisle inherited Bergman's role of Daphne Blake
Daphne Blake
Daphne Anne Blake is a fictional character in the long-running American animated series Scooby-Doo. Daphne, depicted as coming from a wealthy family, is noted for her red hair, her fashion sense, and her knack for getting into danger...
from the Scooby Doo franchise.