
Will Ryan
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1949-05-21
Day of Death
2021-11-19 (72 years old)
Place of Birth
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Will Ryan
Biography
William Frank Ryan (May 21, 1949 – November 19, 2021) was an American voice actor and producer–writer–composer, well-known for singing about the American West. In the late seventies he teamed up with Phil Baron as Willio and Phillio. They had regular gigs on television, radio and comedy clubs and universities throughout the US. Ryan and Baron later paired up again voicing characters of best friends Teddy Ruxpin (Baron) and Grubby the Octopede (Ryan) in the Teddy Ruxpin book and tape series as well as the 1987 television show The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin.
The Willio and Phillio act brought Ryan back into music and after moving to California, he began to write and record songs for Disney. He provided the voice of Rabbit, Tigger, and Eeyore in the Disney Channel's long-running series Welcome to Pooh Corner and in many other Pooh cartoons. He also provided the voice of Barnaby the Dog on the popular series Dumbo's Circus.
Since 1987, Ryan has been a fixture of the radio drama Adventures in Odyssey, playing Eugene Meltsner, Harlow Doyle, David Harley, Patrick O'Ryan and hundreds of one-shot characters.
He also voiced Rabbit in Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore after the death of Junius Matthews.
Ryan also voiced the character Digit in the 1986 animated film An American Tail.
Ryan had also provided the original voice of Petrie in the 1988 animated film The Land Before Time.
He appears in the film The Wizard of Speed and Time as several different motion picture union representatives.
He is the current voice of Elmo Aardvark. He can be heard as the character, called Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective and in several Elmo Aardvark CDs.
Ryan is the current voice of Willie the Giant. He started voicing the character from Mickey's Christmas Carol.
Ryan's youthful involvement in pop music has continued alongside his animation career. Will Ryan compositions have been recorded by artists such as Patti LaBelle, Diane Schuur, Victoria Jackson, The Pointer Sisters and Joanie Sommers (whom he also produced).
With Andrew J. Lederer and Michael Rosenberg (Jackie Diamond), Ryan performed in the '20s-style music and comedy trio, The Merry Metronomes. He and Lederer also appeared from time to time as a duo, usually under the name The Natty Nabobs.
His latest musical incarnation is as leader of Los Angeles-based Will Ryan and the Cactus County Cowboys, a cross between the Marx Brothers and The Sons of the Pioneers. His variety show, Will Ryan's Cactus County Round-Up, has been a staple in Southern California since 2008. It regularly plays at several venues, including the Steve Allen Theatre in Hollywood.
Ryan continues to do voice work. In 2009 he was working on the third season of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the 21st season of Adventures in Odyssey, and the new radio series of Will Ryan's Cactus County Round-Up.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Will Ryan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia .
Known For
Acting
Swabbies
as Pete / Beagle Boys
(2019)
The Little Mermaid Live!
as Herald (voice)
(2015)
The Adventures of Biffle and Shooster
as Sam Shooster
(2014)
I Know That Voice
as Self
(2013)
Get a Horse!
as Peg-Leg Pete (voice)
(2013)
The One and Only June Foray
as Self
(2007)
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Great Clubhouse Hunt
as Willie the Giant (voice)
(2003)
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
as Papa Bear (voice)
(2002)
Adventures in Odyssey: The Caves of Qumran
as Eugene Meltsner
(2001)
Adventures in Odyssey: Escape from the Forbidden Matrix
as Eugene Meltsner
(2000)
Adventures in Odyssey: The Last Days of Eugene Meltsner
as Eugene Meltsner
(2000)
(1998)
Adventures in Odyssey: A Stranger Among Us
as Eugene Meltsner
(1998)
Adventures in Odyssey: Baby Daze
as Eugene Meltsner
(1997)
Adventures in Odyssey: A Twist In Time
as Eugene Meltsner
(1997)
Adventures in Odyssey: In Harm's Way
as Eugene Meltsner
(1995)
The Pebble and the Penguin
as Royal / Tika (voice)
(1995)
Adventures in Odyssey: Go West Young Man!
as Eugene Meltsner
(1994)
Thumbelina
as Hero / Reverend Rat (voice)
(1994)
A Troll in Central Park
as Boss (voice)
(1994)
Adventures in Odyssey: Once Upon an Avalanche
as Eugene Meltsner
(1993)
Mouse Soup
as Weasel
(1993)
Morris Has a Cold
as Morris (voice)
(1993)
Adventures in Odyssey: Star Quest
as Eugene Meltsner
(1991)
Rock-A-Doodle
as Stuey (voice)
(1991)
Ralph S. Mouse
as Mouse (voice)
(1991)
Uncle Elephant
as Uncle (voice)
(1991)
Benny's Biggest Battle
as Boogwart (voice)
(1990)
Jack and the Beanstalk
as Bean Seller (voice) (uncredited)
(1990)
(1989)
The Little Mermaid
as Seahorse (voice)
(1989)
The Wizard of Speed and Time
as All the Unions / Mr. President (voice) (as William Z. Ryan)
(1989)
Stanley and the Dinosaurs
as Voice
(1988)
The Land Before Time
as Petrie (voice)
(1988)
Totally Minnie
as Goofy (voice)
(1988)
Cap'n O.G Readmore's Puss in Boots
as Wordsy (voice)
(1987)
Alice Through the Looking Glass
as The Paper Man (voice)
(1987)
Sport Goofy in Soccermania
as Scrooge McDuck / The Beagle Boys / Gyro Gearloose (voice)
(1987)
Frog and Toad Together
as Frog (voice)
(1987)
Down and Out with Donald Duck
as Pete / Goofy (voice)
(1986)
An American Tail
as Digit (voice)
(1986)
Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation
as Stars and Hearts (voice)
(1986)
Gummi Bears: A New Beginning
as Unwin / Ogres (voice)
(1986)
Disney's DTV Valentine
as Pongo / Goofy (voice)
(1986)
Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
as Wordsy (voice)
(1986)
Pooh's Great School Bus Adventure
as Rabbit (voice)
(1986)
Pooh's Great School Bus Adventure
as Tigger (voice)
(1985)
Frog and Toad Are Friends
as Frog (voice)
(1985)
Too Smart for Strangers
as Rabbit / Tigger (voice)
(1985)
The Bollo Caper
as (voice)
(1985)
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
as (voice)
(1985)
Cap'n O.G. Readmore's Jack and the Beanstalk
as Wordsy (voice)
(1984)
(1984)
Fitness and Me: Why Exercise?
as Voice
(1983)
Mickey's Christmas Carol
as Collector for the Poor #2 / Ghost of Christmas Present (Willie the Giant) / Ghost of Christmas Future (Pete) / Santa Claus (Big Bad Wolf) / Weasel #2 (voice)
(1983)
Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore
as Rabbit (voice)
(1977)
Wizards
as Guards (uncredited)
Crew
(1993)
Mouse Soup
Associate Producer