Voice of 'Gumby,' Dick Beals Dies at 85

The Huffington Post reports that voice actor Dick Beals, who voiced the animated character Gumby, has died in Southern California at the age of 85.

In addition to Gumby, the radio and television voice-over star was the voice behind many memorable characters including Speedy Alka-Seltzer and the first Davey in the early 1960s television series "Davey and Goliath." He was also the pitchman for more than 3,000 commercials including ads for Oscar Mayer and Campbell's Soup.

Ron Simon, curator of TV and radio at the Paley Center for Media, told the LA Times, "He was one of the great voice actors of all time. He was one of those anonymous people who pioneered what animation would become today."

Beals first voiced the green stick figure star of "The Gumby Show" in the late 1950s. According to the report, he was often chosen by industry execs because his voice had a child-like quality to it. The actor suffered from a glandular condition which prevented his voice from maturing past childhood. 

Photo credit: Charles Hillinger