Don Messick

Don Messick was an American voice actor, best known for his work in animated cartoons. He was born in Buffalo, New York on June 26, 1926 and first got into acting as a child, appearing in local radio shows. He then went on to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

Messick was best known for voicing Scooby-Doo, one of the most iconic animated characters of all time. He first voiced Scooby in the 1969 Saturday morning series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! and continued to voice him until his death in 1997. In addition to Scooby-Doo, Messick also provided the voices of Astro in The Jetsons, Muttley in Wacky Races, and Papa Smurf in The Smurfs. He was also the voice of several characters in Hanna-Barbera's Yogi Bear series, including Boo-Boo Bear, Ranger Smith, and Augie Doggie.

Messick was also the voice of many other characters in animated cartoons, including Papa Mousekewitz in An American Tail, Dr. Benton Quest in Jonny Quest, and Wolfman Jack in the animated version of The Wolfman. He also provided the voice of the titular character in the animated series Heathcliff.

Messick's work as a voice actor earned him several awards, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice Acting in an Animated Series for his work in The Smurfs. He was also nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for his work in The Jetsons.

Messick passed away on October 24, 1997, at the age of 71. He was remembered for his many contributions to the world of animation, and for bringing to life some of the most beloved animated characters of all time. His work continues to be enjoyed by children and adults alike.