Paul Frees
Known for: Acting
Solomon Hersh Frees (June 22, 1920 – November 2, 1986), known professionally as Paul Frees, was an American actor, voice actor, impressionist and screenwriter. He is best known for his voice work in cartoons during the Golden Age of Animation. Like Mel Blanc, he was sometimes referred to as "The Man of a Thousand Voices". Born in Chicago, Illinois, Frees started his entertainment career as a vaudeville impressionist and in 1942 began working on Hollywood radio series. After being drafted into the U.S. Army in World War II, he was wounded in action and eventually resumed his work in radio upon his return to the states. Frees appeared in over 250 films, cartoons and TV episodes, although he had few on-screen appearances and often went uncredited. He was also frequently enlisted to re-dub actors' performances, such as Tony Curtis' dialogue as Josephine in the 1959 film Some Like it Hot. That same year, Frees co-wrote and directed the film The Beatniks, his only feature film. Frees had a long career with Walt Disney Studios, providing the voice for Ludwig Von Drake and other characters, narrating short films, and supplying many voices for Disney theme park attractions, most notably the Ghost Host in The Haunted Mansion, various voices in Pirates of the Caribbean, and the narrator for both Adventure Thru Innerspace and Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln. On TV, Frees worked with Jay Ward Productions, providing the voice of Boris Badenov and other characters in various series, and also supplied many voices for Rankin/Bass cartoon specials. He also appeared in TV commercials and was the original voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy and the second voice of Froot Loops mascot Toucan Sam (after Mel Blanc). Frees was married five times and had two children via his third wife, voice actress Joyce Schultz. In his later years, Frees suffered from multiple health issues. He died in Tiburon, California, on November 2, 1986, at age 66, from an overdose of pain medication. He was cremated and his remains were scattered over the Pacific Ocean.
Filmography
Series
Knight Rider
K.A.R.R.
1982
Series
Get Smart
Greenstreet Character / Lorre Character (voice) (uncredited)
1965
Series
The Flintstones
Mr. Granite / TV Announcer (voice)
1960
Series
The Flintstones
Mr. Rockenschpeel / Mr. Bedrock / TV Announcer (voice)
1960
Series
Dragnet
1951
Series
The Bullwinkle Show
Boris Badenov (voice)
1959
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Mary's Father (voice) (uncredited)
1955
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Swanson (voice) (uncredited)
1955
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Train Station Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
1955
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Radio Announcer (uncredited)
1955
Series
The Millionaire
Martin B. Martin / John Beresford Tipton
1955
Series
The Millionaire
John Beresford Tipton
1955
Series
Studio 57
1954
Series
Top Cat
1961
Series
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
Boris Badenov (voice)
1959
Series
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
1956
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Film
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Dirty Dawson (voice)
1961
Film
Some Like It Hot
Funeral Director / Waiter / Josephine (voice) (uncredited)
1959
Series
The Mr. Magoo Show
1960
Series
The Gumby Show
(voice)
1956
Film
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Japanese Ambassador Kichisaburo Nomura (voice) (uncredited)
1970
Film
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Ending Voiceover (uncredited) (voice)
1970
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Narrator (voice)
1954
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Carnival Barker (voice) (uncredited)
1954
Series
City Detective
1953
Series
The Secret Squirrel Show
Double Q (voice)
1965
Series
The Secret Squirrel Show
Double-Q
1965
Series
Dangerous Assignment
1952
Series
The Jackson 5ive
(voice)
1971
Series
The Whistler
1954
Series
Frankenstein, Jr. and The Impossibles
1966
Film
The Last Unicorn
Mabruk (voice)
1982
Series
Mr. Terrific
Narrator
1967
Film
The Time Machine
Talking Rings (voice) (uncredited)
1960
Series
The Beatles
John Lennon / George Harrison (voice) (uncredited)
1965
Film
A Place in the Sun
Reverend Morrison
1951
Film
The Manchurian Candidate
Narrator (voice)
1962
Film
The War of the Worlds
Second Radio Reporter / Opening Announcer
1953
Series
The Impossibles
1966
Film
Patton
Voice (uncredited)
1970
Series
The Fantastic Four
The Thing (voice)
1967
Film
The Thing from Another World
Prof. Voorhees
1951
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
1961
Film
The 27th Day
Radio Newscaster Ward Mason
1957
Series
Run, Joe, Run
Narrator
1974
Film
Grand Prix
Izo Yamura (voice) (uncredited)
1966
Film
The Harder They Fall
Priest (uncredited)
1956
Series
The Dudley Do-Right Show
1969
Film
Breakheart Pass
Levi Calhoun (voice) (uncredited)
1975
Film
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
Unidentified Character (voice) (uncredited)
1956
Series
The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
1968
Series
The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo
1964
Series
George of the Jungle
Alistair
1967
Series
General Electric Theater
1953
Film
Lion Social
Various Voices
1954
Film
The Hobbit
Bombur/Troll #1 (voice)
1977
Film
Colossus: The Forbin Project
Colossus (voice) (uncredited)
1970
Film
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
Burgermeister Meisterburger / Grimsley (voice)
1970
Series
Krazy Kat
Ignatz Mouse / Offissa Pupp (voice)
1962
Series
Hoppity Hooper
1962
Film
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
1964
Series
The Beary Family
Charlie / Junior Beary
1962
Series
Arabian Knights
Bakaar (voice)
1968
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Bailiff
1951
Film
The Abominable Dr. Phibes
Singer of 'The Darktown Strutters' Ball' (voice)
1971
Film
The Flight of Dragons
Solarius / Antiquity (voice)
1982
Film
When Worlds Collide
Narrator/U.S. President (voice)
1951
Film
The Absent-Minded Professor
PA Man / Air Force Dispatcher (voice) (uncredited)
1961
Film
The Return of the King
Orc / Uruk-Hai / Capt. Shagrat / Lt. Snaga / Lord Elrond (voice)
1980
Film
Where the Boys Are
Narrator (uncredited)
1960
Film
The War Lord
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1965
Film
Blood and Black Lace
Various character voices (uncredited, English version)
1964
Film
His Kind of Woman
Corley (uncredited)
1951
Film
Operation Petticoat
Colonel in Jeep on Cebu (voice) (uncredited)
1959
Film
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers
Alien (voice) (uncredited)
1956
Film
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers
Alien (voice)
1956
Film
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1967
Film
Donald in Mathmagic Land
The True Spirit of Adventure / Narrator (voice)
1959
Series
The Osmonds
1972
Film
Gigantis, the Fire Monster
Commander / Father / Convict (voice) (uncredited)
1959
Film
Mickey and the Beanstalk
Ludwig Von Drake (voice) (uncredited)
1947
Series
Tom Slick
Baron Otto Matic
1967
Series
Fractured Flickers
1963
Film
Atlantis: The Lost Continent
Narrator / Multiple Voices (voice)
1961
Film
Pollyanna
Barker (Voice) (Uncredited)
1960
Film
Frosty the Snowman
Santa Claus / Traffic Cop / Additional Voices (voice)
1969
Film
The Little Drummer Boy
Aaron's Father / Magi / Samson / Joshua / Baba / Others (voice)
1968
Film
The Thrill of It All
TV Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
1963
Film
Freewayphobia
Narrator (voice)
1965
Film
Taras Bulba
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1962
Film
The Man Called Flintstone
Rock Slag / Green Goose / Triple X (voice)
1966
Series
Calvin and the Colonel
1961
Film
Suddenly
Benny Conklin
1954
Film
The Incredible Mr. Limpet
Crusty (voice)
1964
Film
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.3
True Spirit of Adventure / Narrator / Creature (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
2003
Film
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
Ludwig Von Drake / Herman (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
2004
Film
Riot in Cell Block 11
Guard Monroe
1954
Film
Once a Thief
Voice of Luke (Uncredited)
1965
Film
Jet Pilot
1957
Film
Rodan! The Flying Monster
Nishimura / Suda / Dr. Tanaka / Air Force officer / Kitahara (voice)
1957
Series
Super Chicken
Fred
1967
Film
Gay Purr-ee
Meowrice (voice)
1962
Film
Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Santa Claus / Aeon / General Ticker / Seventeen Seventy Six
1976
Film
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
Winterbolt / Jack Frost / Policeman (voice)
1979
Film
Pirates of the Caribbean | Disneyland Resort
Auctioneer (voice) / Pirate Skull (voice)
2025
Film
Force of Evil
Elevator operator
1950
Film
The Magic Sword
Sir Ulrich of Germany (voice)
1962
Film
The Las Vegas Story
District Attorney (uncredited)
1952
Film
Frosty's Winter Wonderland
Jack Frost
1976
Film
Twice Upon a Time
Narrator / Chef of State / Judges / Bailiff (voice)
1983
Film
Uncle Tom's Cabaña
Uncle Tom (voice) (uncredited)
1947
Film
The Toast of New Orleans
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1950
Film
The Wind in the Willows
Wayfarer (voice)
1983
Film
Night of the Eagle
Prologue Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1962
Film
Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol
Stage Director / Charity Man / Fezziwig / Eyepatch Man / Tall Tophat Man (voice)
1962
Film
The Ghost of Flight 401
Narrator / Additional Voices (voice) (uncredited)
1978
Film
Reaux, Reaux, Reaux Your Boat
Captain Clamity / Crab Louie (voice)
1966
Film
The Stingiest Man in Town
Ghost of Christmas Past / Ghost of Christmas Present (voice)
1978
Series
Aesop and Son
Additional Voices (Voice)
1960
Film
The Night Walker
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1964
Film
Beginning of the End
Helicopter Pilot (voice)
1957
Film
Robinson Crusoeland
Antoine (voice) (uncredited)
1951
Film
Jack Frost
Kubla Kraus / Father Winter (voices)
1979
Film
The Carpetbaggers
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1964
Film
The Scarlet Coat
Narrator (voice)
1955
Film
Sleepy-Time Tom
Lightning (voice) (uncredited)
1951
Film
Blue Cat Blues
Voices
1956
Film
The Company She Keeps
Judge's Clerk (uncredited)
1951
Film
The Bear That Wasn't
Narrator / Bear / Additional Voices (voice)
1967
Super President
James Norcross (voice)
1967
Film
Space Master X-7
Dr. Charles T. Pommer
1958
Film
Cruise Cat
Ship's Captain (voice) (uncredited)
1952
Film
Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
Santa Claus / Olaf / Donkey Dealer (voice)
1977
Mouse Blanche
Ignatz Mouse / Officer Pupp
1962
Film
Francis in the Haunted House
Francis (voice)
1956
Film
The Point
Oblio's Father / Pointed Man's Right Head / King / Leaf Man / Villagers (voice)
1971
Film
Wild in the Streets
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1968
Film
Hunt the Man Down
Packard 'Packy' Collins (uncredited)
1950
Film
Red Light
Bellhop (uncredited)
1949
Film
Here Comes Peter Cottontail
Colonel Wellington's Assistant / Santa Claus / Rooster (voice)
1971
Film
Tormented
Frank Hubbard (uncredited voice)
1960
Film
Cricket on the Hearth
Messenger / Uriah / Captain / Toy Elephant (voice)
1967
Film
Tale of a Wolf
Barnyard Dog (voice)
1960
Film
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
Self / Narrator (voice)
1986
Film
Assignment: Paris
Radio Budapest Announcer (uncredited)
1952
Film
Goliath II
The Mouse
1960
Film
It's Tough to Be a Bird
Leif Erikson
1969
Film
The First Easter Rabbit
Zero / Santa (voice)
1976
Film
Life with Tom
(voice) (uncredited)
1953
Film
Famous Ghost Stories
Frank Hubbard (uncredited voice) (segment 'Tormented')
1961
Film
The Comic
Newsreel Narrator / Commerical Announcer / Man in Restaurant (voice)
1969
Film
Rendezvous in Space
Mr. Space / Astronaut (voice)
1964
Film
Blondie's Hero
Radio Narrator (uncredited)
1950
Film
T.V. of Tomorrow
Narrator (voice)
1953
Film
His Mouse Friday
Jerry / Cannibals (voice) (uncredited)
1951
Film
Sacré Bleu Cross
Hassan the Assassin (voice)
1967
Film
Jerry's Cousin
Muscles / Muscle Cat (voice) (uncredited)
1951
Film
The Shooting of Dan McGoo
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1945
Film
The Missing Mouse
Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
1953
Film
Goofy's Freeway Troubles
Narrator (voice)
1965
Film
Tex Avery's Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
Joe Wolf (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
2007
Film
Crazy with the Heat
Oasis Soda Fountain Proprietor (voice) (uncredited)
1947
Film
Mars and Beyond
Narrator
1957
Film
The Mouse on the Mayflower
(voice)
1968
Film
The Inspector
The Commissioner (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
1965
Film
Routes of Exile: A Moroccan Jewish Odyssey
Narrator (voice)
1982
Film
Doc's Last Stand
Doc / Indians / Narrator (voice)
1961
Film
Jump Into Hell
TV News Broadcaster (voice)
1955
Film
Disney's DTV Valentine
Ludwig Von Drake / Announcer (voice)
1986
Film
Dimension 5
Big Buddha (voice) (uncredited)
1966
The Goose Is Wild
Charlie Beary (voice)
1963
Film
Willie Mays and the Say-Hey Kid
Iguana (voice)
1972
Film
Woody Woodpecker and Friends
Various Voices
1982
Take Me To Your Gen'rul
1962
Film
E Flat Elephants
Charlie, Ape
1965
Film
A Symposium on Popular Songs
Ludwig Von Drake
1962
Film
Down Beat Bear
1st Radio Announcer
1956
Film
The Sword of Ali Baba
Narrator (voice)
1965
Film
Pinkfinger
Narrator (voice)
1965
Film
The Great De Gaulle Stone Operation
Weft / Wight / Wong (voice)
1965
Film
Homesteader Droopy
narrator
1954
Film
The Farm of Tomorrow
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1954
Film
The Hick Chick
Bull (voice) (uncredited)
1946
Film
Cobs and Robbers
Barney Bear / Joe Scarecrow / Crows (voice) (uncredited)
1953
Film
The World's Greatest Sinner
Narrator
1962
Film
The Case of Dashiell Hammett
Narrator (voice)
1982
Film
Cock-A-Doodle Deux Deux
Commissioner (voice)
1966
Film
What's Up, Hideous Sun Demon
Trailer Announcer
1983
Film
Magical Maestro
Additional Voices
1952
Disney’s Coyote Tales
Mouse (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
1991
Film
The Puppetoon Movie
Arnie the Dinosaur / Pillsbury Doughboy (voice)
1987
Film
The Day After Trinity
Self - Narrator (voice)
1980
Let Charlie Do It
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1972
Pillsbury's Magic Circus
The Pillsbury Doughboy
1971
Film
3-D Rarities
(archive footage)
2015
Film
Heir Bear
Barney Bear / Gopher / Tax Collector (voice) (uncredited)
1953
Film
The Pique Poquette of Paris
Spider Pierre (voice)
1966
Film
A Public Affair
Narrator (voice)
1962
Film
Keeping Up with Krazy
Ignatz Mouse / Officer Pupp (voice) (uncredited)
1962
Film
The Adventures of Sam Space
Voice
1960
Film
Casey at the Bat
Narrator
1976
Film
Attack of the Jungle Women
Narrator
1959
Film
Half-Pint Palomino
Barney Bear (voice) (uncredited)
1953
Mouse in the House
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1967
Film
Unsafe and Seine
Commissioner / Pub Waiter / Patrons (voice)
1966
Film
Barney's Hungry Cousin
Barney Bear (voice) (uncredited)
1953
Film
The Magic Pear Tree
Jean Navarro
1968
Charlie's Mother-in-Law
Charlie Beary / Pete / Police Officer (voice)
1963
Film
Casey Bats Again
Narrator (voice)
1954
Inside India
Professor Lightskull
1951
Film
The Star
Richard Stanley
1952
Film
Eyes in Outer Space
Narrator (voice)
1959
Mother's Little Helper
Charlie Beary (voice)
1962
Rain Rain, Go Away
Charlie Beary / Junior (voice)
1972
Film
Bats in the Belfry
(voice)
1960
Film
Freeloading Feline
(voices)
1960
Film
Larry Harmon's Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown
Narrator
1992
Film
A Salute to Alaska
Narrator
1967
Bugged in a Rug
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1968
Film
Wild and Woolfy
Joe Wolf / Bar Patrons (voice) (uncredited)
1945
Film
Cirrhosis of the Louvre
Commissioner (voice)
1966
Roof-Top Razzle Dazzle
Charlie Beary (voice)
1964
Film
The Milpitas Monster
Narrator (voice)
1976
Film
Pink Panzer
Neighbor / Devil (voice)
1965
Film
Pest of Show
Doc (voice)
1962
Film
The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians
W.C. Fields / Chico Marx / Zeppo Marx / Announcer (voice)
1970
Film
A-Hunting We Won't Go
Crow (voice) (uncredited)
1943
Film
That's No Lady, That's Notre Dame
Commissioner (voice)
1966
Goose in the Rough
Charlie Beary (voice)
1963
Film
Corny Concerto
Doc (voice)
1962
Jerky Turkey
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice) (uncredited)
1968
Film
Wee-Willie Wildcat
Barney Bear / William Wildcat (voice) (uncredited)
1953
Film
Noah's Ark
Noah / God
1959
Film
Cellbound
The Prisoner / George the Warden / The Little Wife (voice) (uncredited)
1955
Charlie's Campout
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1969
Film
Ape Suzette
Cockney Sailor (voice)
1966
Film
Sink Pink
Hunter / Native Bearer (voice)
1965
Film
Sleepy-Time Squirrel
Barney Bear / Jimmy Squirrel (voice) (uncredited)
1954
Film
Fly With Von Drake
Ludwig Von Drake (voice)
1963
Film
Punchy Pooch
Doc (voice)
1962
Film
Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict, Fred, Cop
1965
Film
Mouse Trapped
Doc (voice)
1959
Film
Kids Is Kids
Ludwig Von Drake (voice)
1961
Charlie in Hot Water
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1970
Charlie's Golf Classic
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1970
Cool It, Charlie
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1969
The Bungling Builder
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1971
Film
Ballyhooey
(voice)
1960
Film
Duck Flies Coop
Narrator / Newsreader (voice)
1959
Film
Unlucky Potluck
Charlie Beary / Junior Beary / Boss (voice)
1972
Film
Tin Can Concert
Doc (voice)
1961
A Case for Hypnosis
Doc Tweedle
1952
Film
The Hunting Instinct
Ludwig Von Drake (voice)
1962
Film
Clash and Carry
Wally Walrus (voice)
1961
Fowled-Up Birthday
Charlie Beary (voice)
1962
Window Pains
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1967
Rah Rah Ruckus
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1964
Film
Le Quiet Squad
Commissioner / Doctor (voice)
1967
Film
The Beatniks
Additional Voices (voice) (uncredited)
1959
Film
Fantastic Animation Festival
Opening Narration
1977
Charlie the Rainmaker
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1971
Film
Fowled Up Falcon
(voice)
1960
Film
Bomb Voyage
Commissioner (voice)
1967
Film
The Impossible Possum
Barney Bear (voice) (uncredited)
1954
Film
Everybody Loves It
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1964
Film
Everybody Loves It
Narrator
1964
Film
Busybody Bear
Barney Bear / Buck Beaver (voice) (uncredited)
1952
Guest Who?
Charlie Beary (voice)
1965
Gopher Broke
Charlie Beary (voice)
1969
Film
Hardware Wars
Narrator
1978
Film
Should Husbands Marry?
Radio announcer
1947
Film
Pacifically Peeking
Moby Duck
1968
A Fish Story
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1972
The Hat
1962
Film
Plastered in Paris
Commissioner (voice)
1966
Film
Space Mouse
Doc (voice)
1959
Moochin' Pooch
Charlie Beary (voice)
1971
Tricky Trout
Wally Walrus (voice)
1961
Film
Le Escape Goat
Commissioner (voice)
1967
Film
Witty Kitty
Doc / Cat (voice)
1959
Film
The Secret Weapon
Voices
1963
Davey Cricket
Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
1965
Foot Brawl
Charlie Beary / Junior Beary (voice)
1966