Donald Earl "Don" Messick (September 7, 1926 – October 24, 1997) was an American voice actor whose career spanned radio and television animation. He is best remembered for giving distinctive voices to a number of popular cartoon characters across several decades.
Notable roles
- the timid but lovable Great Dane in Scooby-Doo
- Bamm-Bamm Rubble in The Flintstones
- Astro, the family dog in The Jetsons
- Muttley, the wheezy-snorting dog in Wacky Races
- Papa Smurf in The Smurfs
- Dr. Benton Quest in the adventure series Jonny Quest
Early life
Messick was born on September 7, 1926, in Buffalo, New York. Details of his childhood and early work included stints in radio and local broadcasting before he moved into voice work for animated programs.
Career
Over many years Messick became a familiar presence in animated television, often supplying multiple character voices for the same show. He worked extensively with the studios that produced much of mid-20th-century American television animation, contributing both lead characters and supporting voices that became widely recognized.
Personal life and death
Messick married Helen Marie McHugh in 1949; the couple remained together until his death. He died on October 24, 1997, in Salinas, California at the age of 71 after suffering a stroke.