March 11, 2020

SATURDAY MORNING MASTERS: FRANK WELKER


FRANK WELKER
(March 12, 1946- )

Notable Roles: Fred Jones, Scooby-Doo, Pudge, Wheelie, Chopper, Jabberjaw, Wonderbug, Dynomutt, Buford, Nugget Nose, H.E.R.B.I.E., Impossible Man, Crazy Legs Crane Jr., Dragonfly, Toyman, Dinky Dog, Shmooo, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Droopy Dog, Dingbat, Rockjaw, Dollar, Cosmo, Blip, Mr. Cool, Dirty Dawg, Hefty Smurf, Poet Smurf, Smurfberry Bird, Timber, Wild Bill, Rock ‘n Roll, Marvin, Wonder Dog, Fangface, Donkey Kong Jr., Flash the dog, the General Lee, Smokey, Iceman/Bobby Drake, Flash Thompson, Darkseid, Kalibak, The Joker, Dr. Claw, Brain, Uni, Scoooter, Blaster, Rest-Q, Cap’n O.G. Readmore, Megatron, Soundwave, Skywarp, Dr. Ray Stantz, Slimer, Foofur, Catgut, Tooter Shelby, Occy, Bigtime Beagle, Baggy Beagle, Bubba the Caveduck, Toto, Kermit the Frog, Skeeter, Beaker, Abu, Gogo Dodo, Furball, Barney Rubble, Fall-Apart Rabbit, Dr. Viper, Bo, Booker, Sheldon, Bronx, Ralph the Security Guard, Krypto the Superdog, Father Time


When Welker moved to California, he attended Santa Monica College where he majored in theatrical arts. He received honors for his performance as the Cowardly Lion in the school’s 1966 production of The Wizard of Oz. His career officially started on stage as a stand-up comedian and impressionist, landing his first voice-over role in a Friskies commercial. The producer’s girlfriend encouraged him to audition for Hanna-Barbera while they were casting for Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! He auditioned for Scooby-Doo and Shaggy but ended up with the role of Fred Jones, which he has played in almost every incarnation of the franchise since (he did eventually get the role of Scooby after original actor Don Messick retired). Welker has since led a prolific voice acting career, spanning television shows and films. Along with Scooby, he’s most associated with the Transformers franchise; voicing several characters including primary antagonist, Megatron. Notable for his creature and animal sound effects, Welker is often cast as monsters, ghosts, animals or other inhuman characters. A good range of his vocal effects can be heard with the character Tooter from Snorks, who only communicated via sounds. He has done work for all the major animation studios, including Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, Ruby-Spears, Marvel Productions, DiC Entertainment, Warner Bros., Disney and others. Though rare, Welker has made on-camera appearances in films and television shows. His first on-screen role was as a kid who befriended Elvis Presley in 1969’s The Trouble with Girls. He also appeared in The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and its sequel, How to Frame a Figg and Dirty Little Billy. On television, he’s appeared on Laugh-In, Love, American Style, The Patridge Family, Catch-22 and others. Welker made an on-camera appearance in CBS’ 1984 Saturday morning preview special, which showcased his recording an episode of Muppet BabiesIn 2016, he was honored with a lifetime achievement Emmy Award.


Saturday Credits:
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
The Barkleys
The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie
The New Scooby-Doo Movies
Super Friends (1973)
Bailey’s Comets
Valley of the Dinosaurs
Hong Kong Phooey
Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch
The New Tom & Jerry Show
The Oddball Couple
Jabberjaw
Wonderbug
The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour
Dynomutt, Dog Wonder
What’s New, Mr. Magoo?
The Skatebirds
Scooby’s Laff-A-Lympics
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
Fred Flintstone and Friends
The Robonic Stooges
The All-New Popeye Hour
Fangface
Yogi’s Space Race
The Fantastic Four (1978)
The All-New Pink Panther Show
Challenge of the Superfriends
Dinky Dog
The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle and Jeckle
Fred and Barney Meet the Shmoo
The New Shmoo
Casper and the Angels
The World’s Greatest Superfriends
The Super Globetrotters
The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show
The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show
The Tarzan/Lone Ranger/Zorro Adventure Hour
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979)
Heathcliff (1980)
Super Friends (1980)
The Flintstone Comedy Show
The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show
Richie Rich
Space Stars
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang
Trollkins
Blackstar
The Kwicky Koala Show
The Smurfs
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Shirt Tales
The Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Puppy Hour
The Puppy’s Further Adventures
Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour
Pac Preview Party
Pac-Man
Inspector Gadget
Dungeons & Dragons
Monchichis
Saturday Supercade
The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show
The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries
ABC Weekend Specials (episodes)
The Dukes
Alvin & The Chipmunks (1983)
The Littles
SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show
Snorks
The Get Along Gang
Turbo Teen
Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies
Pink Panther and Sons
Back to Next Saturday
Jim Henson’s Little Muppet Monsters
Punky Brewster
Robotix
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo
The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians
The Wuzzles
Challenge of the GoBots
There Berenstain Bears
Galtar and the Golden Lance
Pound Puppies (1986)
The Real Ghostbusters
Scooby’s Mystery Funhouse
Kissyfur
Teen Wolf
CBS Storybreak
Wildfire
Foofur
Lazer Tag and Academy
DuckTales (1987)
Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears
The Flintstone Kids
Popeye and Son
Yogi’s Treasure Hunt
The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley
Superman (1988)
Garfield and Friends
The New Yogi Bear Show
Dino-Riders
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo
Dink, the Little Dinosaur
Pryde of the X-Men
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue
The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera
The Wizard of Oz
Rick Moranis in Gravedale High
Captain N: The Game Master
Where’s Waldo? (1991)
Yo Yogi!
Tom & Jerry Kids Show
Tiny Toon Adventures
Bobby’s World
The Plucky Duck Show
Darkwing Duck
The Pirates of Dark Water
Goof Troop
The Addams Family (1992)
Batman: The Animated Series
The Little Mermaid: The Animated Series
Marsupilami
Sonic the Hedgehog (1993)
Cro
Animaniacs
Droopy: Master Detective
Gargoyles
Freakazoid!
The Savage Dragon
The Mask: The Animated Series
Pinky and the Brain
Timon & Pumbaa
The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries
Mighty Ducks
Casper
101 Dalmatians: The Series
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Road Rovers
Jungle Cubs
The Legend of Calamity Jane
Waynehead
Superman: The Animated Series
Cave Kids
The Secret Files of the SpyDogs
Hercules: The Animated Series
Histeria!
Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain
Xyber9: New Dawn
Mickey Mouse Works

No comments: