Bob McFadden in the 1950s
Bob McFadden (1923-2000) was a New York-based voice actor known for his work in Rankin/Bass projects, commercials, and comedy records. He was heard in Sesame Street animated inserts, notably as the goat in "Mad Goat Song." He was also heard in the John Paratore-produced segments "Z-Zebra Zoo" (as a W. C. Fields-style ringmaster) and "Wet/Dry Rain." (First: Episode 0344)
McFadden began his career as an impressionist in clubs, doing Cary Grant, Jack Benny, Boris Karloff, and others. In 1959, he teamed with poet Rod McKuen on the novelty single "The Mummy" and other tracks capitalizing on the monster craze, and began his earliest cartoon voice work in theatrical shorts for Famous Studios and later Terrytoons (including Oscar Mild, Sad Cat, and Luno the White Stallion). He was heard in comedy concept albums, often political, including The First Family, You Don't Have to Be Jewish But It Helps, The New First Family (as Jack Benny, Karloff, and others), Richard Nixon Superstar, and Richard the 37th: The Agony and the Ecstasy (this time as Richard Nixon himself, with Pat Bright as Pat Nixon). Other recording work included children's records, such as narrating Make Way for Ducklings.
He was a regular on Linus the Lionhearted as Rory Raccoon, Lovable Truly, and So-Hi, voicing the latter in Post cereal commercials as well. Other commercial gigs included Frankenberry for General Mills, the ring around the collar parrot for Wisk, and the Cavity Creeps and Cresty the dog in 1980s Crest spots. He was the voice of NY TV cartoon characters Cool McCool (doing Jack Benny) and Milton the Monster and was heard extensively in Rankin/Bass productions from 1967 through 1989, including Jasper in The Emperor's New Clothes (with Danny Kaye), Jingle in The Year Without a Santa Claus, and Snarf, Slythe, and others on Thundercats. Animated features included I Go Pogo (as Howland Owl) and Rankin/Bass's The Wacky World of Mother Goose (as various nursery rhyme figures).