Gregory Lewis Burson (August 15, 1949 – July 22, 2008) was an American voice actor. He was best known for being one of the many successors to voice actors Daws Butler (who was also Burson's mentor) and Mel Blanc following their deaths in 1988 and 1989 respectively.
Career One of Burson's earliest jobs, which did not pay well but got him lots of attention, was doing the voiceover for a Dianetics commercial for Scientology. He was trained by Daws Butler, who was his acting mentor and one of his influences. Following Butler's death, Burson inherited most of his characters, starting with Yogi Bear on The New Yogi Bear Show and many other characters in Hanna-Barbera-related shows. Burson based his Yogi voice on Butler's portrayal in the earlier Yogi Bear episodes, due to having grown up watching them as a child. He also inherited the role of Mr. Magoo in the animated segments of the live action feature film of the same name in 1997 (after Jim Backus died in 1989).
Burson was also one of the successors to Mel Blanc, and voiced many of his characters as well, including Bugs Bunny, for whom he was given the responsibility of voicing in 1995's Carrotblanca, a well-received 8-minute Looney Tunes cartoon originally shown in cinemas alongside The Amazing Panda Adventure (USA and Canada) and The Pebble and the Penguin (non-US). It has since then released on video, packaged with older Looney Tunes cartoons, and was even included in the special edition DVD release of Casablanca, of which it is both a parody and a homage. Burson found Bugs' voice difficult to get right, eventually basing it on Blanc's portrayal in the 1950s.
Burson also voiced Bugs in the 1997 short From Hare to Eternity, which is notable for being dedicated to Friz Freleng (who had died in 1995). It was also notable for being the final Looney Tunes cartoon that Chuck Jones had directed before his death in 2002. Burson also provided Bugs' voice in new animation for Bugs 'n' Daffy, which ran on Kids' WB from 1995 to 1998. Alternating with Jeff Bergman, Bob Bergen, Joe Alaskey, Jim Cummings, Maurice LaMarche, and Billy West, he also voiced several other Looney Tunes characters including Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Sylvester, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Marvin the Martian, Tasmanian Devil, Pepé Le Pew, Speedy Gonzales, and Foghorn Leghorn on various Warner Bros. animated television series, films, toys, and video games.
His other voice work includes shows such as CatDog, Batman: The Animated Series, All-New Dennis the Menace, Mother Goose and Grimm, The Angry Beavers, Johnny Bravo, Samurai Jack, The Smurfs, Super Friends, The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat and Garfield and Friends, the feature film Jurassic Park and the three Star Wars video games The Phantom Menace, Jedi Power Battles, and The Gungan Frontier.
In 1995, at the height of the popularity of R. L. Stine's Goosebumps book and television series, though not known at the time, and his only performance in it, he was also the voice behind one version of the commercial that promoted the "Goosebumps Fan Club" in some of the old VHS tapes of the television show of the same name, while Tony Jay recorded a second version of the same promo. Burson also lent his voice to several promos for Fox Kids.
Legal issues In May 2004, Burson was arrested by detectives after barricading himself inside his home in Tujunga for six hours before surrendering. Initial reports claimed that an armed S.W.A.T. team had responded to a call from two of his female roommates that he was drunk, armed and holding a third female roommate hostage. Officers later discovered that he had a collection of guns in his home. Burson also screamed a stream of nonsensical words at the police when they were alerted to his home; one officer said, "He was so drunk, we couldn't tell if he was trying to do one of his voices or was just slurring his words." Officer Rudy Villarreal confirmed that all three women involved in the incident lived with Burson, but none of them were harmed. The incident resulted in Burson being blacklisted for the rest of his life.
Death After losing voice-over work, Burson struggled with depression and alcoholism. On July 22, 2008, he died as a result of complications from diabetes and arteriosclerosis. He was 58 years old.
Filmography
Film +List of voice performances in feature and direct-to-video filmsYearTitleRoleNotes1989Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland Flap and Nemo's FatherAsterix and the Big FightChief Bombastix, Franksinatrix, Sergeant NoodlesEnglish American dubD.A.R.E. Bear YogiYogi Bear, Doggie Daddy, Captain CavemanPublic service announcementSix Flags Magic Mountain: The Ultimate AdventureNarratorSouvenir video for Six Flags Magic Mountain1991Yakety Yak, Take It BackBugs BunnyMusic videoRappin' N' RhyminYogi Bear1992Tom and Jerry: The Movie Moving Man1993Jurassic ParkMr. DNAI Yabba-Dabba Do! Additional VoicesTelevision filmThe D.A.R.E. Report: The Land of Decisions and ChoicesTommy's Grandfather, Puppy, Iggy, Joint, Additional Voices1994Scooby-Doo! in Arabian Nights Yogi Bear and Royal ChefTelevision filmYogi the Easter Bear Yogi BearTelevision film1995CarrotblancaBugs Bunny, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew and Airport PA Announcer1996Space Jam Elmer Fudd (two scenes) and Foghorn Leghorn (some lines)Uncredited1997From Hare to Eternity Bugs BunnyMr. MagooMr. Quincy Magoo (animated form), Window Cleaner, Henry2003Looney Tunes: Stranger than FictionFoghorn Leghorn, Barnyard Dawg, and Pepé Le PewDirect-to-videoLooney Tunes: Reality CheckFoghorn LeghornDirect-to-video2004My Generation G...G... Gap Security Guard, Commercial Announcer2005Hanna-Barbera Presents: Mr. B in Happy Birthday to You! Yogi Bear, Snagglepuss Final role appearance
Television + List of voice performances in television shows Year Title Role Notes1981Super FriendsKeelhaul Kelly, Additional Voices1 episode1982The SmurfsAdditional Voices1 episode1987–1990 The Real GhostbustersDib Devlin, Casey Jones, Gorgar3 episodes1988The New Yogi Bear ShowYogi Bear1988–1990Fantastic Max Additional Voices1989A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration: 50 Years of Hanna-BarberaYogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, Snuffles, SnagglepussTelevision special1990Wake, Rattle, and Roll Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, Snagglepuss1990–1992Tiny Toon Adventures Elmer Fudd, Pepé Le Pew, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tasmanian Devil, Foghorn Leghorn1991–1992Mother Goose and GrimmAttila1991Yo Yogi! Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, Snagglepuss, Officer Smith, Mr. Jinks, Loopy De Loop, Lippy the Lion, Peter Potamus, Uncle UndercoverTom & Jerry KidsNefarious Wolf, Chase School Teacher1 episode1992–1994Garfield and Friends Additional Voices12 episodes1993All-New Dennis the Menace Mr. WilsonBatman: The Animated SeriesMad Dog2 episodesDroopy, Master DetectiveAdditional VoicesTaz-ManiaBugs Bunny, Tony Tortoise, Foghorn Leghorn2 episodes1993–1997AnimaniacsBugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Foghorn Leghorn, Yosemite Sam3 episodes1995The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat Additional Voices2 episodes1995–1996The Baby Huey ShowThe FoxSeason 2 only1995–1998The Sylvester & Tweety MysteriesElmer Fudd, Pepé Le Pew, Cot Martin, Ed McMuffin4 episodesBugs 'n' DaffyBugs BunnyMain theme only1996The Real Adventures of Jonny QuestCorbin, Sanderson1 episode1997Johnny BravoThe Ghostly Gardener1 episode1997–1998Channel Umptee—3Professor I. Revelent1998CatDog Barry the Baboon 1 episode1999A Day in the Life of Ranger SmithYogi Bear, Squirrel GirlTelevision specialThe Angry Beavers Judge Otter, Otter #11 episode2002Samurai Jack Quick Draw McGraw1 episode
Video games YearTitleRoleNotes1990Bugs Bunny's Birthday Ball Bugs Bunny (speaking), Daffy Duck, Sylvester (spitting), Tasmanian Devil, Foghorn LeghornPinball machine1993Taz-Mania Tasmanian DevilSuper NES version1993Daffy Duck: The Marvin Missions Duck DodgersSuper NES version1994Bugs Bunny: Rabbit Rampage Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian, Tasmanian Devil, Nasty Canasta, Toro the Bull, The Crusher, Bird1994Acme Animation Factory Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Speedy Gonzales, Marvin the Martian1995Looney Tunes B-Ball Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Sylvester, Marvin the Martian, Tasmanian Devil, Director1995Speedy Gonzales: Los Gatos Bandidos Speedy Gonzales1995Porky Pig's Haunted Holiday Porky Pig1999Star Wars Episode I: The Gungan Frontier Boss Rugor Nass, Gungan Librarian1999Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Boss Rugor Nass, Guard Door, Injured Soldier #1, Jabba's Porter, Shop Owner2000Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles Boss Rugor Nass, Peck2000 Wacky Races Red Max, Sergeant Blast, Peter Perfect, Rufus Ruffcut2000Star Wars: Jar Jar's Journey Adventure BookBoss Nass, Tower Announcer2001 Sheep, Dog, 'n' Wolf Elmer Fudd, Phantoms2015 Lego Jurassic World Mr. DNA(archive footage)
Theme parks YearTitleRoleNotes1990The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera Yogi Bear1991Looney Tunes River RideBugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew, Narrator1992Yosemite Sam and the Gold River Adventure!Bugs Bunny, Elmer FuddBugs Bunny Goin' HollywoodBugs Bunny, Foghorn Leghorn1993The Toonite Show Starring Bugs BunnyBugs Bunny, Sylvester, Tasmanian Devil, Pepé Le PewMickey's Starland ShowD.U.D.E (fourth version)1995The Bugs Bunny Wacky World GamesBugs Bunny, Marvin the Martian1997Warner Bros. Kids ClubBugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, Tweety, Sylvester, Tasmanian Devil1999Looney Tunes: What's Up, Rock?Bugs Bunny, Foghorn Leghorn
Radio YearTitleRoleNotes1990–1994Mrs. Bush's Story Time Bugs Bunny, Yogi Bear
Discography YearTitleRoleNotes1987Network Sound Effects DemoNewscaster, Announcer1992Bugs Bunny: Stowaway Bugs BunnyBugs Bunny and the Pink FlamingosBugs BunnyDaffy Duck in Duck Troop to the RescueBugs Bunny1993This Land is Our Land: The Yogi Bear Environmental AlbumYogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, Quick Draw McGraw, George Jetson1994Have Yourself a Looney Tunes ChristmasBugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew1995Bugs Bunny in CarrotblancaBugs Bunny, Foghorn Leghorn1996The Looney WestBugs Bunny (speaking), Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew1997Bugs and Friends Sing ElvisFoghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew
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