Will Ryan
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 21, 1949
- Died
- Nov 19, 2021 (aged 72)
- Place of birth
- Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Credits
- 79
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.
Throughout his lifetime, Ryan voiced:
Rabbit (Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore) - after the death of Junius Matthews.
Digit (the 1986 animated film An American Tail)
Petrie (original voice, the 1988 animated film The Land Before Time)
Elmo Aardvark. (Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective) - and in several Elmo Aardvark CDs.
Willie the Giant (Mickey's Christmas Carol)
He appeared in the film The Wizard of Speed and Time as several different motion picture union representatives.
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). His musical incarnation was being the 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.
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.
In 2009, he was working on the third season of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the 21st season of Adventures in Odyssey, and a radio series called Will Ryan's Cactus County Round-Up.
On November 19, 2021, at the age of 72, Will Ryan died from complications related to pancreatic cancer.
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Known for
The Little Mermaid
1989Movie
Seahorse (voice)
Family Guy
1999TV
Winnie the Pooh (voice)
The Land Before Time
1988Movie
Petrie (voice)
Courage the Cowardly Dog
1999TV
The Duck Brothers
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
2003Movie
Papa Bear (voice)
An American Tail
1986Movie
Digit (voice)
Filmography
Mickey Mouse Funhouse
2021TV
Willie the Giant (voice), Wille the Giant (voice)
The Little Mermaid Live!
2019Movie
Herald (archive footage) (voice)
The Adventures of Biffle and Shooster
2015Movie
Sam Shooster
I Know That Voice
2014Movie
Self
Get a Horse!
2013Movie
Peg-Leg Pete (voice)
The One and Only June Foray
2013Movie
Self
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Great Clubhouse Hunt
2007Movie
Willie the Giant (voice)
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
2006TV
Willie the Giant (voice)
Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi
2004TV
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
2003Movie
Papa Bear (voice)
Adventures in Odyssey: The Caves of Qumran
2002Movie
Eugene Meltsner (voice)
Adventures in Odyssey: Escape from the Forbidden Matrix
2001Movie
Eugene Meltsner
Disney's House of Mouse
2001TV
Willie the Giant
Adventures in Odyssey: The Last Days of Eugene Meltsner
2000Movie
Eugene Meltsner
Little Dogs On The Prairie: Lyin' Cheatin' And A Hot Lollipop
2000Movie
Scout
Little Dogs On The Prairie: Pride Prejudice And Fudge
2000Movie
Scout
Little Dogs On The Prairie: A Lotta Love And A Little Off The Top
2000Movie
Scout
Courage the Cowardly Dog
1999TV
The Duck Brothers
Family Guy
1999TV
Winnie the Pooh (voice)
Adventures in Odyssey: Baby Daze
1998Movie
Eugene Meltsner
Adventures in Odyssey: A Stranger Among Us
1998Movie
Eugene Meltsner
Adventures in Odyssey: A Twist In Time
1997Movie
Eugene Meltsner
Adventures in Odyssey: In Harm's Way
1997Movie
Eugene Meltsner
The Story of Santa Claus
1996Movie
Additional Voices
Rotten Ralph - The Taming of the Ralph
1996Movie
(voice)
Adventures in Odyssey: Go West Young Man!
1995Movie
Eugene Meltsner
The Pebble and the Penguin
1995Movie
Royal / Tika (voice)
A Troll in Central Park
1994Movie
Boss (voice)
Three Little Pigs Sing A Gig
1994Movie
Lippy Pig (voice)
Adventures in Odyssey: Once Upon an Avalanche
1994Movie
Eugene Meltsner
Thumbelina
1994Movie
Hero / Reverend Rat (voice)
Adventures in Odyssey: Star Quest
1993Movie
Eugene Meltsner
Morris Has a Cold
1993Movie
Morris (voice)
Mouse Soup
1993Movie
Weasel
Adventures in Odyssey
1991TV
Eugene Meltsner (voice)
Rock-A-Doodle
1991Movie
Stuey (voice)
A Gnome Named Gnorm
1991Movie
Gnorm
Ralph S. Mouse
1991Movie
Mouse (voice)
Uncle Elephant
1991Movie
Uncle (voice)
Benny's Biggest Battle
1991Movie
Boogwart (voice)
Bobby's World
1990TV
Jack and the Beanstalk
1990Movie
Bean Seller (voice) (uncredited)
The Clean Club
1990Movie
The Little Mermaid
1989Movie
Seahorse (voice)
The Wizard of Speed and Time
1989Movie
All the Unions / Mr. President (voice) (as William Z. Ryan)
Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers
1989TV
Dale (singing voice)
Stanley and the Dinosaurs
1989Movie
Singing Dinosaurs (voice)
The Land Before Time
1988Movie
Petrie (voice)
Cap'n O.G Readmore's Puss in Boots
1988Movie
Wordsy (voice)
Totally Minnie
1988Movie
Goofy (voice)
DuckTales
1987TV
Sharkey (voice), Roman Knight (voice), Dogface Pete (voice), Captain Blackheart (voice), Captain Pietro (voice), Weasels (voice), The Micro Ducks (voice), Dangerous Dan (voice)
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
1987TV
Frog and Toad Together
1987Movie
Frog (voice)
Sport Goofy in Soccermania
1987Movie
Scrooge McDuck / The Beagle Boys / Gyro Gearloose (voice)
Down and Out with Donald Duck
1987Movie
Pete / Goofy (voice)
Alice Through the Looking Glass
1987Movie
The Paper Man (voice)
An American Tail
1986Movie
Digit (voice)
Pooh's Great School Bus Adventure
1986Movie
Tigger (voice), Rabbit (voice)
Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1986Movie
Wordsy (voice)
Teen Wolf
1986TV
Chubs (voice)
Gummi Bears: A New Beginning
1986Movie
Unwin / Ogres (voice)
Disney's DTV Valentine
1986Movie
Pongo / Goofy (voice)
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
1985Movie
(voice)
Swabbies
1985Movie
Pete / Beagle Boys
Cap'n O.G. Readmore's Jack and the Beanstalk
1985Movie
Wordsy (voice)
The Pyramid of Darkness: The Further Adventures of G.I. Joe
1985Movie
Footloose (voice)
Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears
1985TV
Unwin / Ogres (voice)
Too Smart for Strangers
1985Movie
Rabbit / Tigger (voice)
Frog and Toad Are Friends
1985Movie
Frog (voice)
Dumbo's Circus
1985TV
Barnaby (voice)
The Bollo Caper
1985Movie
(voice)
The Making of Mickey's Christmas Carol
1984Movie
Self
G.I. Joe: The Revenge of Cobra
1984Movie
Rock 'n Roll (voice)
Fitness and Me: Why Exercise?
1984Movie
Voice
Mickey's Christmas Carol
1983Movie
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)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
1983TV
Welcome to Pooh Corner
1983TV
Rabbit / Tigger (voice)
Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore
1983Movie
Rabbit (voice)
Wizards
1977Movie
Guards (uncredited)