Will Ryan
Born
May 21, 1949
Died
November 19, 2021 (72 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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
Mickey Mouse Funhouse
Willie the Giant (voice) · (1 episode)
2021
The Little Mermaid Live!
Herald (voice)
2019
The Adventures of Biffle and Shooster
Sam Shooster
2015
I Know That Voice
Self
2014
Get a Horse!
Peg-Leg Pete (voice)
2013
The One and Only June Foray
Self
2013
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Great Clubhouse Hunt
Willie the Giant (voice)
2007
Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi
(4 episodes)
2004
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Papa Bear (voice)
2003
Adventures in Odyssey: The Caves of Qumran
Eugene Meltsner
2002
Adventures in Odyssey: Escape from the Forbidden Matrix
Eugene Meltsner
2001
Disney's House of Mouse
Willie the Giant · (0 episode)
2001
Adventures in Odyssey: The Last Days of Eugene Meltsner
Eugene Meltsner
2000
Little Dogs On The Prairie: Pride Prejudice And Fudge
Scout
2000
Little Dogs On The Prairie: A Lotta Love And A Little Off The Top
Scout
2000
Courage the Cowardly Dog
The Duck Brothers · (1 episode)
1999
Family Guy
Winnie the Pooh (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
Adventures in Odyssey: Baby Daze
Eugene Meltsner
1998
Adventures in Odyssey: A Stranger Among Us
Eugene Meltsner
1998
Adventures in Odyssey: A Twist In Time
Eugene Meltsner
1997
Adventures in Odyssey: In Harm's Way
Eugene Meltsner
1997
Adventures in Odyssey: Go West Young Man!
Eugene Meltsner
1995
The Pebble and the Penguin
Royal / Tika (voice)
1995
A Troll in Central Park
Boss (voice)
1994
Adventures in Odyssey: Once Upon an Avalanche
Eugene Meltsner
1994
Thumbelina
Hero / Reverend Rat (voice)
1994
Adventures in Odyssey: Star Quest
Eugene Meltsner
1993
Morris Has a Cold
Morris (voice)
1993
Mouse Soup
Weasel
1993
Rock-A-Doodle
Stuey (voice)
1991
A Gnome Named Gnorm
Gnorm
1991
Ralph S. Mouse
Mouse (voice)
1991
Uncle Elephant
Uncle (voice)
1991
Benny's Biggest Battle
Boogwart (voice)
1991
Bobby's World
(1 episode)
1990
Jack and the Beanstalk
Bean Seller (voice) (uncredited)
1990
The Clean Club
1990
The Little Mermaid
Seahorse (voice)
1989
The Wizard of Speed and Time
All the Unions / Mr. President (voice) (as William Z. Ryan)
1989
Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers
Dale (singing voice) · (1 episode)
1989
Stanley and the Dinosaurs
Voice
1989
The Land Before Time
Petrie (voice)
1988
Cap'n O.G Readmore's Puss in Boots
Wordsy (voice)
1988
Totally Minnie
Goofy (voice)
1988
DuckTales
Sharkey (voice) · (1 episode)
1987
DuckTales
Roman Knight (voice) · (1 episode)
1987
DuckTales
Dogface Pete (voice) · (1 episode)
1987
DuckTales
Captain Blackheart (voice) · (1 episode)
1987
DuckTales
(1 episode)
1987
DuckTales
Captain Pietro (voice) · (1 episode)
1987
DuckTales
Weasels (voice) · (1 episode)
1987
DuckTales
The Micro Ducks (voice) · (1 episode)
1987
DuckTales
Dangerous Dan (voice) · (1 episode)
1987
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
(65 episodes)
1987
Frog and Toad Together
Frog (voice)
1987
Sport Goofy in Soccermania
Scrooge McDuck / The Beagle Boys / Gyro Gearloose (voice)
1987
Down and Out with Donald Duck
Pete / Goofy (voice)
1987
Alice Through the Looking Glass
The Paper Man (voice)
1987
An American Tail
Digit (voice)
1986
Pooh's Great School Bus Adventure
Rabbit (voice)
1986
Pooh's Great School Bus Adventure
Tigger (voice)
1986
Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Wordsy (voice)
1986
Teen Wolf
Chubs (voice) · (8 episodes)
1986
Gummi Bears: A New Beginning
Unwin / Ogres (voice)
1986
Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation
Stars and Hearts (voice)
1986
Disney's DTV Valentine
Pongo / Goofy (voice)
1986
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
(voice)
1985
Cap'n O.G. Readmore's Jack and the Beanstalk
Wordsy (voice)
1985
Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears
Unwin / Ogres (voice) · (95 episodes)
1985
Too Smart for Strangers
Rabbit / Tigger (voice)
1985
Frog and Toad Are Friends
Frog (voice)
1985
The Making of Mickey's Christmas Carol
Self
1984
Fitness and Me: Why Exercise?
Voice
1984
Mickey's Christmas Carol
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
Wizards
Guards (uncredited)
1977
Little Dogs On The Prairie: Lyin' Cheatin' And A Hot Lollipop
Scout
Swabbies
Pete / Beagle Boys
Dumbo's Circus
Barnaby (voice) · (99 episodes)
1985
The Bollo Caper
(voice)
1985
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
(2 episodes)
1983
Welcome to Pooh Corner
Rabbit / Tigger (voice) · (1 episode)
1983
Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore
Rabbit (voice)
1983