LIKE FATHER, LIKE . . .
Th-th-that’s not just Mel Blanc’s voice coming from the lips (and beaks) of Porky Pig, Tweetie, Bugs Bunny and Sylvester: Blanc, 78, after performing their voices for 50 years, is gradually turning the cartoon menagerie over to his son Noel.
“I used to lie back in Dad’s lap every Sunday morning while he read the funnies to me--with him making up all the voices of Dick Tracy, Little Lulu and dozens of others,†said Noel, now prez of Blanc Communications.
He began mimicking such famous phrases as “I tawt I taw a puddy tat,†and in 1961, when dad was seriously injured in a car accident, Noel was rushed to Warner Bros. to loop a series of cartoons. He still pinch hits for pop, although “about 99% of what the public hears is my dad,†said Noel. “My voice is basically used in public service announcements and on Armed Forces broadcasts.â€
And an audio cassette to be released by Warner Audio next year in conjunction with Mel Blanc’s autobiography is 100% Mel.
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
