People
Paul Frees
Acting · follow into films and chains
Biography
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.
Notable films
Where to start
Highlights from credits and KinoChain journeys.
The Manchurian Candidate
Appears in a KinoChain journey
The Time Machine
As Talking Rings (voice) (uncredited)
The Harder They Fall
As Priest (uncredited)
Colossus: The Forbin Project
As Colossus (voice) (uncredited)
Breakheart Pass
As Levi Calhoun (voice) (uncredited)
The Thing from Another World
As Prof. Voorhees
A Place in the Sun
As Reverend Morrison
Frosty the Snowman
As Santa Claus / Traffic Cop / Additional Voices (voice)
Chains
KinoChain journeys
Public chains that pass through their films — or name them as a bridge.
Topics
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Related people
Collaborators & neighbours
Acted
The Puppetoon Movie
1987 · Arnie the Dinosaur / Pillsbury Doughboy (voice)
Jack Frost
1979 · Kubla Kraus / Father Winter (voices)
Breakheart Pass
1975 · Levi Calhoun (voice) (uncredited)
Moochin' Pooch
1971 · Charlie Beary (voice)
Here Comes Peter Cottontail
1971 · Colonel Wellington's Assistant / Santa Claus / Rooster (voice)
The Point
1971 · Oblio's Father / Pointed Man's Right Head / King / Leaf Man / Villagers (voice)
Colossus: The Forbin Project
1970 · Colossus (voice) (uncredited)
Frosty the Snowman
1969 · Santa Claus / Traffic Cop / Additional Voices (voice)
The Incredible Mr. Limpet
1964 · Crusty (voice)
The Manchurian Candidate
1962 · Narrator (voice)
The Magic Sword
1962 · Sir Ulrich of Germany (voice)
The Time Machine
1960 · Talking Rings (voice) (uncredited)
The Harder They Fall
1956 · Priest (uncredited)
A Place in the Sun
1951 · Reverend Morrison
The Thing from Another World
1951 · Prof. Voorhees