Bob McFadden


Robert McFadden was an American singer, impressionist, and voice-over actor perhaps best known for his many contributions to animated cartoons.
His most popular television cartoon characters included Milton the Monster from the ABC series, The Milton The Monster Show; Cool McCool from the NBC series, Cool McCool; and Snarf from the syndicated series, ThunderCats.
McFadden was also the voice behind numerous radio and television commercial parts including Franken Berry in the animated commercials for the General Mills Franken Berry cereal as well as the pet parrot who cackled "ring around the collar" in the TV commercials for Wisk laundry detergent.

Musical career

While in the United States Navy during World War II, he began performing as a singer and impressionist. After the war, he went on to work at a steel mill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and continued performing nights as an opening act for artists such as Harry Belafonte. In 1959, he appeared as a singer with folk music artist Rod McKuen on the Brunswick Records album entitled Songs Our Mummy Taught Us which included the two tracks, "The Mummy" and "The Beat Generation", also released as a single. "The Beat Generation" was later used by Richard Hell as the basis for his song "Blank Generation".

Voice Acting

When McFadden moved to New York City after his work in Pittsburgh, he obtained extensive voice-over work in both commercials and animation. He was featured on the best-selling 1962 Vaughn Meader comedy LP The First Family
In 1963, McFadden released the Audio Fidelity Records parody album entitled Fast, Fast, Fast Relief From TV Commercials followed by the 1968 Columbia Records spoken-word album, The Medium Is the Massage. In 1977, McFadden voiced the "Steam engine" character, Chugs, in the animated Rankin/Bass Easter special, The Easter Bunny Is Comin' To Town.

Roles

Movies and TV specials

McFadden continued to work until the late 1980s until he was forced to retire due to failing health. On January 7, 2000, he died in Delray Beach, Florida, at the age of 76.