Paul Frees
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.
Photos
Movies (230)
Pirates of the Caribbean | Disneyland Resort
2025 · Auctioneer (voice) / Pirate Skull (voice)
3-D Rarities
2015 · (archive footage)
Tex Avery's Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
2007 · Joe Wolf (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
2004 · Ludwig Von Drake / Herman (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.3
2003 · True Spirit of Adventure / Narrator / Creature (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
Larry Harmon's Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown
1992 · Narrator
Disney’s Coyote Tales
1991 · Mouse (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
The Puppetoon Movie
1987 · Arnie the Dinosaur / Pillsbury Doughboy (voice)
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
1986 · Self / Narrator (voice)
Disney's DTV Valentine
1986 · Ludwig Von Drake / Announcer (voice)
The Wind in the Willows
1983 · Wayfarer (voice)
Twice Upon a Time
1983 · Narrator / Chef of State / Judges / Bailiff (voice)
What's Up, Hideous Sun Demon
1983 · Trailer Announcer
The Last Unicorn
1982 · Mabruk (voice)
The Case of Dashiell Hammett
1982 · Narrator (voice)
The Flight of Dragons
1982 · Solarius / Antiquity (voice)
Woody Woodpecker and Friends
1982 · Various Voices
Routes of Exile: A Moroccan Jewish Odyssey
1982 · Narrator (voice)
The Day After Trinity
1980 · Self - Narrator (voice)
The Return of the King
1980 · Orc / Uruk-Hai / Capt. Shagrat / Lt. Snaga / Lord Elrond (voice)
Jack Frost
1979 · Kubla Kraus / Father Winter (voices)
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
1979 · Winterbolt / Jack Frost / Policeman (voice)
The Stingiest Man in Town
1978 · Ghost of Christmas Past / Ghost of Christmas Present (voice)
The Ghost of Flight 401
1978 · Narrator / Additional Voices (voice) (uncredited)
Hardware Wars
1978 · Narrator
Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
1977 · Santa Claus / Olaf / Donkey Dealer (voice)
The Hobbit
1977 · Bombur/Troll #1 (voice)
Fantastic Animation Festival
1977 · Opening Narration
Rudolph's Shiny New Year
1976 · Santa Claus / Aeon / General Ticker / Seventeen Seventy Six
Frosty's Winter Wonderland
1976 · Jack Frost
The Milpitas Monster
1976 · Narrator (voice)
The First Easter Rabbit
1976 · Zero / Santa (voice)
Casey at the Bat
1976 · Narrator
Breakheart Pass
1975 · Levi Calhoun (voice) (uncredited)
Willie Mays and the Say-Hey Kid
1972 · Iguana (voice)
Rain Rain, Go Away
1972 · Charlie Beary / Junior (voice)
Unlucky Potluck
1972 · Charlie Beary / Junior Beary / Boss (voice)
Let Charlie Do It
1972 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
A Fish Story
1972 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
Pillsbury's Magic Circus
1971 · The Pillsbury Doughboy
Charlie the Rainmaker
1971 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
The Bungling Builder
1971 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
Moochin' Pooch
1971 · Charlie Beary (voice)
Here Comes Peter Cottontail
1971 · Colonel Wellington's Assistant / Santa Claus / Rooster (voice)
The Abominable Dr. Phibes
1971 · Singer of 'The Darktown Strutters' Ball' (voice)
The Point
1971 · Oblio's Father / Pointed Man's Right Head / King / Leaf Man / Villagers (voice)
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
1970 · Burgermeister Meisterburger / Grimsley (voice)
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
1970 · Ending Voiceover (uncredited) (voice)
Colossus: The Forbin Project
1970 · Colossus (voice) (uncredited)
The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians
1970 · W.C. Fields / Chico Marx / Zeppo Marx / Announcer (voice)
Tora! Tora! Tora!
1970 · Japanese Ambassador Kichisaburo Nomura (voice) (uncredited)
Patton
1970 · Voice (uncredited)
Charlie's Golf Classic
1970 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
Charlie in Hot Water
1970 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
It's Tough to Be a Bird
1969 · Leif Erikson
Frosty the Snowman
1969 · Santa Claus / Traffic Cop / Additional Voices (voice)
The Comic
1969 · Newsreel Narrator / Commerical Announcer / Man in Restaurant (voice)
Charlie's Campout
1969 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
Cool It, Charlie
1969 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
Gopher Broke
1969 · Charlie Beary (voice)
The Little Drummer Boy
1968 · Aaron's Father / Magi / Samson / Joshua / Baba / Others (voice)
The Mouse on the Mayflower
1968 · (voice)
Pacifically Peeking
1968 · Moby Duck
Jerky Turkey
1968 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice) (uncredited)
Wild in the Streets
1968 · Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Bugged in a Rug
1968 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
The Magic Pear Tree
1968 · Jean Navarro
The Bear That Wasn't
1967 · Narrator / Bear / Additional Voices (voice)
Cricket on the Hearth
1967 · Messenger / Uriah / Captain / Toy Elephant (voice)
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre
1967 · Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Le Escape Goat
1967 · Commissioner (voice)
Bomb Voyage
1967 · Commissioner (voice)
Le Quiet Squad
1967 · Commissioner / Doctor (voice)
A Salute to Alaska
1967 · Narrator
Sacré Bleu Cross
1967 · Hassan the Assassin (voice)
Mouse in the House
1967 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
Window Pains
1967 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
Grand Prix
1966 · Izo Yamura (voice) (uncredited)
Unsafe and Seine
1966 · Commissioner / Pub Waiter / Patrons (voice)
That's No Lady, That's Notre Dame
1966 · Commissioner (voice)
Dimension 5
1966 · Big Buddha (voice) (uncredited)
The Pique Poquette of Paris
1966 · Spider Pierre (voice)
The Man Called Flintstone
1966 · Rock Slag / Green Goose / Triple X (voice)
Ape Suzette
1966 · Cockney Sailor (voice)
Cock-A-Doodle Deux Deux
1966 · Commissioner (voice)
Plastered in Paris
1966 · Commissioner (voice)
Cirrhosis of the Louvre
1966 · Commissioner (voice)
Reaux, Reaux, Reaux Your Boat
1966 · Captain Clamity / Crab Louie (voice)
Foot Brawl
1966 · Charlie Beary / Junior Beary (voice)
The Great De Gaulle Stone Operation
1965 · Weft / Wight / Wong (voice)
The Inspector
1965 · The Commissioner (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
The War Lord
1965 · Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Goofy's Freeway Troubles
1965 · Narrator (voice)
Pink Panzer
1965 · Neighbor / Devil (voice)
Davey Cricket
1965 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
Pinkfinger
1965 · Narrator (voice)
Once a Thief
1965 · Voice of Luke (Uncredited)
Sink Pink
1965 · Hunter / Native Bearer (voice)
The Sword of Ali Baba
1965 · Narrator (voice)
Freewayphobia
1965 · Narrator (voice)
Guest Who?
1965 · Charlie Beary (voice)
Eggs Benedict
1965 · Eggs Benedict, Fred, Cop
E Flat Elephants
1965 · Charlie, Ape
The Night Walker
1964 · Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Roof-Top Razzle Dazzle
1964 · Charlie Beary (voice)
Rendezvous in Space
1964 · Mr. Space / Astronaut (voice)
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964 · Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Rah Rah Ruckus
1964 · Charlie Beary/Junior Beary (voice)
Everybody Loves It
1964 · Narrator (voice) (uncredited), Narrator
The Carpetbaggers
1964 · Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
The Incredible Mr. Limpet
1964 · Crusty (voice)
Blood and Black Lace
1964 · Various character voices (uncredited, English version)
The Goose Is Wild
1963 · Charlie Beary (voice)
Fly With Von Drake
1963 · Ludwig Von Drake (voice)
Goose in the Rough
1963 · Charlie Beary (voice)
The Thrill of It All
1963 · TV Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Charlie's Mother-in-Law
1963 · Charlie Beary / Pete / Police Officer (voice)
The Secret Weapon
1963 · Voices
A Symposium on Popular Songs
1962 · Ludwig Von Drake
Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol
1962 · Stage Director / Charity Man / Fezziwig / Eyepatch Man / Tall Tophat Man (voice)
Taras Bulba
1962 · Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Mouse Blanche
1962 · Ignatz Mouse / Officer Pupp
Corny Concerto
1962 · Doc (voice)
Gay Purr-ee
1962 · Meowrice (voice)
The Manchurian Candidate
1962 · Narrator (voice)
Take Me To Your Gen'rul
1962
Punchy Pooch
1962 · Doc (voice)
Keeping Up with Krazy
1962 · Ignatz Mouse / Officer Pupp (voice) (uncredited)
The Hunting Instinct
1962 · Ludwig Von Drake (voice)
The Hat
1962
Mother's Little Helper
1962 · Charlie Beary (voice)
The World's Greatest Sinner
1962 · Narrator
Night of the Eagle
1962 · Prologue Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
The Magic Sword
1962 · Sir Ulrich of Germany (voice)
Fowled-Up Birthday
1962 · Charlie Beary (voice)
A Public Affair
1962 · Narrator (voice)
Pest of Show
1962 · Doc (voice)
Famous Ghost Stories
1961 · Frank Hubbard (uncredited voice) (segment 'Tormented')
Doc's Last Stand
1961 · Doc / Indians / Narrator (voice)
Kids Is Kids
1961 · Ludwig Von Drake (voice)
Tin Can Concert
1961 · Doc (voice)
Tricky Trout
1961 · Wally Walrus (voice)
Atlantis: The Lost Continent
1961 · Narrator / Multiple Voices (voice)
Clash and Carry
1961 · Wally Walrus (voice)
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
1961 · Dirty Dawson (voice)
The Absent-Minded Professor
1961 · PA Man / Air Force Dispatcher (voice) (uncredited)
Where the Boys Are
1960 · Narrator (uncredited)
Fowled Up Falcon
1960 · (voice)
Tormented
1960 · Frank Hubbard (uncredited voice)
The Adventures of Sam Space
1960 · Voice
Bats in the Belfry
1960 · (voice)
Freeloading Feline
1960 · (voices)
The Time Machine
1960 · Talking Rings (voice) (uncredited)
Pollyanna
1960 · Barker (Voice) (Uncredited)
Tale of a Wolf
1960 · Barnyard Dog (voice)
Goliath II
1960 · The Mouse
Ballyhooey
1960 · (voice)
Mouse Trapped
1959 · Doc (voice)
Operation Petticoat
1959 · Colonel in Jeep on Cebu (voice) (uncredited)
Noah's Ark
1959 · Noah / God
Space Mouse
1959 · Doc (voice)
Attack of the Jungle Women
1959 · Narrator
Donald in Mathmagic Land
1959 · The True Spirit of Adventure / Narrator (voice)
Eyes in Outer Space
1959 · Narrator (voice)
The Beatniks
1959 · Additional Voices (voice) (uncredited), Writer, Director, Executive Producer, Songs
Gigantis, the Fire Monster
1959 · Commander / Father / Convict (voice) (uncredited)
Some Like It Hot
1959 · Funeral Director / Waiter / Josephine (voice) (uncredited)
Duck Flies Coop
1959 · Narrator / Newsreader (voice)
Witty Kitty
1959 · Doc / Cat (voice)
Space Master X-7
1958 · Dr. Charles T. Pommer
Mars and Beyond
1957 · Narrator
Rodan! The Flying Monster
1957 · Nishimura / Suda / Dr. Tanaka / Air Force officer / Kitahara (voice)
Jet Pilot
1957
Beginning of the End
1957 · Helicopter Pilot (voice)
The 27th Day
1957 · Radio Newscaster Ward Mason
Blue Cat Blues
1956 · Jerry's Thoughts (voice) (uncredited)
Down Beat Bear
1956 · Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Francis in the Haunted House
1956 · Francis (voice)
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers
1956 · Alien (voice) (uncredited), Alien (voice)
The Harder They Fall
1956 · Priest (uncredited)
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
1956 · Unidentified Character (voice) (uncredited)
Cellbound
1955 · The Prisoner / George the Warden / The Little Wife (voice) (uncredited)
The Scarlet Coat
1955 · Narrator (voice)
Jump Into Hell
1955 · TV News Broadcaster (voice)
Social Lion
1954 · Various Voices
The Farm of Tomorrow
1954 · Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Suddenly
1954 · Benny Conklin
Homesteader Droopy
1954 · narrator
Sleepy-Time Squirrel
1954 · Barney Bear / Jimmy Squirrel (voice) (uncredited)
Casey Bats Again
1954 · Narrator (voice)
The Impossible Possum
1954 · Barney Bear (voice) (uncredited)
Riot in Cell Block 11
1954 · Guard Monroe
Half-Pint Palomino
1953 · Barney Bear (voice) (uncredited)
Wee-Willie Wildcat
1953 · Barney Bear / William Wildcat (voice) (uncredited)
T.V. of Tomorrow
1953 · Narrator (voice)
Heir Bear
1953 · Barney Bear / Gopher / Tax Collector (voice) (uncredited)
The War of the Worlds
1953 · Second Radio Reporter / Opening Announcer
Cobs and Robbers
1953 · Barney Bear / Joe Scarecrow / Crows (voice) (uncredited)
Barney's Hungry Cousin
1953 · Barney Bear (voice) (uncredited)
The Missing Mouse
1953 · Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Busybody Bear
1952 · Barney Bear / Buck Beaver (voice) (uncredited)
The Star
1952 · Richard Stanley
Cruise Cat
1952 · Ship's Captain (voice) (uncredited)
Assignment: Paris
1952 · Radio Budapest Announcer (uncredited)
Magical Maestro
1952 · Additional Voices
The Las Vegas Story
1952 · District Attorney (uncredited)
A Case for Hypnosis
1952 · Doc Tweedle
Robinson Crusoeland
1951 · Antoine (voice) (uncredited)
When Worlds Collide
1951 · Narrator/U.S. President (voice)
His Kind of Woman
1951 · Corley (uncredited)
His Mouse Friday
1951 · Jerry / Cannibals (voice) (uncredited)
A Place in the Sun
1951 · Reverend Morrison
Sleepy-Time Tom
1951 · Lightning (voice) (uncredited)
Jerry's Cousin
1951 · Muscles / Muscle Cat (voice) (uncredited)
The Thing from Another World
1951 · Prof. Voorhees
The Company She Keeps
1951 · Judge's Clerk (uncredited)
Inside India
1951 · Professor Lightskull
Hunt the Man Down
1950 · Packard 'Packy' Collins (uncredited)
Force of Evil
1950 · Elevator operator
The Toast of New Orleans
1950 · Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Blondie's Hero
1950 · Radio Narrator (uncredited)
Red Light
1949 · Bellhop (uncredited)
Should Husbands Marry?
1947 · Radio announcer
Mickey and the Beanstalk
1947 · Ludwig Von Drake (voice) (uncredited)
Crazy with the Heat
1947 · Oasis Soda Fountain Proprietor (voice) (uncredited)
Uncle Tom's Cabaña
1947 · Uncle Tom (voice) (uncredited)
The Hick Chick
1946 · Bull (voice) (uncredited)
Wild and Woolfy
1945 · Joe Wolf / Bar Patrons (voice) (uncredited)
The Shooting of Dan McGoo
1945 · Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
A-Hunting We Won't Go
1943 · Crow (voice) (uncredited)
TV shows (45)
Knight Rider
1982 · K.A.R.R.
Run, Joe, Run
1974 · Narrator
The Osmonds
1972
The Jackson 5ive
1971 · (voice)
The Dudley Do-Right Show
1969
The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
1968
Arabian Knights
1968 · Bakaar (voice)
Super President
1967 · James Norcross (voice)
The Fantastic Four
1967 · The Thing (voice)
Tom Slick
1967 · Baron Otto Matic
Super Chicken
1967 · Fred
Mr. Terrific
1967 · Narrator
George of the Jungle
1967 · Alistair
Frankenstein, Jr. and The Impossibles
1966
The Impossibles
1966
The Inspector
1965 · Vocals
The Secret Squirrel Show
1965 · Double Q (voice), Double-Q
The Beatles
1965 · John Lennon / George Harrison (voice) (uncredited)
Get Smart
1965 · Greenstreet Character / Lorre Character (voice) (uncredited)
The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo
1964
Fractured Flickers
1963
Hoppity Hooper
1962
Krazy Kat
1962 · Ignatz Mouse / Offissa Pupp (voice)
The Beary Family
1962 · Charlie / Junior Beary
Calvin and the Colonel
1961
Top Cat
1961
The Wonderful World of Disney
1961
The Mr. Magoo Show
1960
The Flintstones
1960 · Mr. Granite / TV Announcer (voice), Mr. Rockenschpeel / Mr. Bedrock / TV Announcer (voice)
Aesop and Son
1960 · Additional Voices (Voice)
The Bullwinkle Show
1959 · Boris Badenov (voice)
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
1959 · Boris Badenov (voice)
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
1956
The Gumby Show
1956 · (voice)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955 · Swanson (voice) (uncredited), Mary's Father (voice) (uncredited), Train Station Announcer (voice) (uncredited), Radio Announcer (uncredited)
The Millionaire
1955 · Martin B. Martin / John Beresford Tipton, John Beresford Tipton
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954 · Narrator (voice), Carnival Barker (voice) (uncredited)
Studio 57
1954
The Whistler
1954
City Detective
1953
General Electric Theater
1953
Dangerous Assignment
1952
Dragnet
1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951 · Bailiff
Lux Video Theatre
1950