Shepard Menken
Encyclopedia
Shepard Menken was an American
voice actor and character actor
.
Menken began his career at the age of 11, when he started appearing on children's radio programs. After high school, Menken attended Columbia University
, and later studied performing arts at the Neighborhood Playhouse Theatre and the Juilliard School of Music.
Menken made his film debut in 1949 with a supporting role in The Red Menace
, and eventually appeared onscreen in 17 movies. He played a lead role in an episode of the anthology drama television series Police Call
, one of the top grossing television series released in 1955. Menken worked steadily as a television actor, appearing on such series as I Love Lucy
, I Spy, and The Wild Wild West
. He was also in demand as a voice talent, working on animated cartoons for Hanna-Barbara, UPA
, and Marvel Productions
, as well as advertising spots for StarKist Tuna and Mattel Toys; his was the voice intoning, "The only way to fly!" in Western Airlines
' spots in the 1960s. Menken also voiced the Clyde Crashcup
character in The Alvin Show
. He also voiced the Spelling Bee in the 1970
live-action/animated film
The Phantom Tollbooth
, and provided the voice for the titular character in Rikki-Tikki-Ravi. In 1963, Menken formed his own company, Malibu Films, which specialized in educational and industrial films.
Menken died of natural causes on January 2, 1999.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
voice actor and character actor
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
.
Menken began his career at the age of 11, when he started appearing on children's radio programs. After high school, Menken attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and later studied performing arts at the Neighborhood Playhouse Theatre and the Juilliard School of Music.
Menken made his film debut in 1949 with a supporting role in The Red Menace
The Red Menace (film)
The Red Menace is a 1949 anti-communist and anti-Soviet propaganda film released by Republic Pictures.An ex-GI named Bill Jones , who becomes involved with the Communist Party. While in training, Jones falls in love with one of his instructors...
, and eventually appeared onscreen in 17 movies. He played a lead role in an episode of the anthology drama television series Police Call
Police Call
Police Report is a weekend RTHK programme in Hong Kong, similar to Crimewatch in the UK or America's Most Wanted in the United States. It is broadcast in English and Cantonese versions , and each episode differ only in broadcast language and cast...
, one of the top grossing television series released in 1955. Menken worked steadily as a television actor, appearing on such series as I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
, I Spy, and The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West is an American television series that ran on CBS for four seasons from September 17, 1965 to April 4, 1969....
. He was also in demand as a voice talent, working on animated cartoons for Hanna-Barbara, UPA
United Productions of America
United Productions of America, better known as UPA, was an American animation studio of the 1940s through present day, beginning with industrial films and World War II training films. In the late 1940s, UPA produced theatrical shorts for Columbia Pictures, most notably the Mr. Magoo series. In...
, and Marvel Productions
Marvel Productions
Marvel Productions Ltd. , last called New World Animation, was a television and film studio subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment Group , based in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, then New World Entertainment and News Corporation/Fox...
, as well as advertising spots for StarKist Tuna and Mattel Toys; his was the voice intoning, "The only way to fly!" in Western Airlines
Western Airlines
Western Airlines was a large airline based in California, with operations throughout the Western United States, and hubs at Los Angeles International Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, and the former Stapleton International Airport in Denver...
' spots in the 1960s. Menken also voiced the Clyde Crashcup
Clyde Crashcup
Clyde Crashcup is a fictional character from the early-1960s animated television series The Alvin Show.-Fictional character biography:Clyde Crashcup is a scientist in a white coat whose experiments invariably failed...
character in The Alvin Show
The Alvin Show
The Alvin Show is an American animated television series. It was the first to feature the singing characters Alvin and the Chipmunks, although a series with a similar concept The Nutty Squirrels Present had aired a year earlier...
. He also voiced the Spelling Bee in the 1970
1970 in film
The year 1970 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 9 - Larry Fine, the second member of The Three Stooges, suffers a massive stroke, therefore ending his career....
live-action/animated film
Live-action/animated film
A live-action/animated film is a motion picture that features a combination of real actors or elements: live-action and animated elements, typically interacting.-History:...
The Phantom Tollbooth
The Phantom Tollbooth (film)
The Phantom Tollbooth is a 1970 American live-action/animated film based on Norton Juster's 1961 children's book The Phantom Tollbooth. This film was produced by Chuck Jones at MGM Animation/Visual Arts. Jones also directed the film, save for the live action bookends directed by fellow Warner Bros....
, and provided the voice for the titular character in Rikki-Tikki-Ravi. In 1963, Menken formed his own company, Malibu Films, which specialized in educational and industrial films.
Menken died of natural causes on January 2, 1999.