Len Carlson (September 2, 1937 – January 26, 2006) was a Canadian voice actor who voiced various characters on many animated television series from the 1960s to the 2000s, an occasional live-action TV actor, and a Kraft Canada TV pitchman during the 1970s and 1980s. He was a native of Edmonton and a former professional athlete, playing baseball for a San Francisco Giants farm team before his acting career.
Career He was the voice of Big Boss, Sundown and Mace on C.O.P.S., Senator Robert Kelly and the Supreme Intelligence on X-Men (1992), Bert Raccoon and Pigs Two and Three in The Raccoons (and a voice director for the show from 1990 to 1991), Putter from Popples, Mr. Frumble, Mr. Gronkle, and Mayor Fox in The Busy World of Richard Scarry, Professor Coldheart in Care Bears (1985), and Rocket Robin Hood in some of the third-season episodes. He was also the voice of Allo and Quackpot on the TV series, Dinosaucers and he was the original voice of the Green Goblin in Spider-Man (1967), the voice of Ganon in The Legend of Zelda segments of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, and the voice of Buzz in the show Cyberchase (2002). Also, he was the voice of Sterling Überbucks, his brother Carling, his great grandfather Sterling Überrucks and his nephew Stewie on RoboRoach (2002) and the title character in the short-lived Swamp Thing (1991) animated series.
He also voiced all the male characters in two animated 1970s series (The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo and The Toothbrush Family), was the voice of Ace the Seagull and Sharkey Shark in the children's TV series The Waterville Gang and did voices for movies including The Nutcracker Prince, Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot, The Great Defender of Fun, and reindeer voices in the live-action feature Blizzard.
In addition to numerous contributions to animated television, Carlson was the voice of Kraft Canada advertisements for decades, as well as being the voice of the Jolly Green Giant, Canadian Tire, Kelloggs, and more. Carlson also contributed to creative projects, dramatically opening Canadian musician Lawrence Gowan's 1985 music video "A Criminal Mind".
In his last years, Carlson was a regular on Nelvana-produced shows such as Rolie Polie Olie, Cyberchase, Pecola, Donkey Kong Country, Medabots, Beetlejuice, and Beyblade as the main antagonist Gideon (season two).
Death Carlson died of a heart attack in Keswick, Ontario, at the age of 68 on January 26, 2006. The Atomic Betty episode "Takes One to Know One", the Cyberchase episode "EcoHaven Ooze", and the Bigfoot Presents: Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks episode "Space Rangers" were dedicated to his memory.
Filmography + Year Title Role Notes1966 The Marvel Super HeroesLoki, Odin A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.1967–1969Spider-ManGreen Goblin, Additional voices1975 The Undersea Adventures of Captain NemoCaptain Mark Nemo, Dr. MacPherson1977 The Toothbrush FamilyTom, Toby, Gramps, Additional voices1980 The Christmas Raccoons Bert Raccoon 1981 The Raccoons on Ice Bert Raccoon The Trolls and the Christmas Express Additional voices 1983 The Raccoons and the Lost StarBert Raccoon, Pig General 1984 The Raccoons: Let's Dance!Bert Raccoon 1985Care BearsProfessor Coldheart, Strato NefariousDIC version1985–1986Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors Herc Stormsailor 1985–1991 The RaccoonsBert Raccoon, additional voices 1987DinosaucersAllo, Quackpot Sylvanian FamiliesPackbat, Wade Waters, Cliff Babblebrook, Rocky Babblebrook 1987–1989ALF: The Animated SeriesColonel Cantfayl, Sargent Staff 1988–1989C.O.P.S.Brandon 'Big Boss' Babel, Sgt. Colt 'Mace' Howard, Walker 'Sundown' Calhoun Police AcademyCaptain Harris, Additional voices 1989 The Legend of ZeldaGanon, Moblins1989–1991BeetlejuiceThe Monster Across the Street, Additional voices 1990–1991Swamp ThingSwamp Thing 1990 The Nutcracker PrinceKing, Mouse, Court Attendant, Band Member #2, Spectator, Soldier 1992–1996X-Men: The Animated SeriesSenator Robert Kelly, additional voices 1994–1996 The Busy World of Richard ScarryMr. Frumble, Mr. Gronkle, Mayor Fox, additional voices 1995–1996 The Neverending StoryVermin, various voices1996–2003Monster by MistakeGorgool, Morgool1997–1999 The Mr. Men ShowAdditional voicesUS version1997–2000Donkey Kong CountryKrusha 1998Pippi LongstockingThunder-Karlsson1998–2004Rolie Polie OliePappy Polie, Additional voices 1998–2000Flying Rhino Junior HighPrincipal Mulligan 1999Street Fighter III: 3rd StrikeHugo, QNew Tales from the CryptkeeperInjun Joe, Visiting Leader2000–2001CorduroyBuckaroo 2001–2002PecolaOfficer KumadaEnglish version2002Rolie Polie Olie: The Great Defender of FunPappy Polie, TV Announcer 2002–2003Beyblade V-ForceGideon 2002–2006CyberchaseBuzz (seasons 1-5) 2003BlizzardAdditional reindeer voices 2004Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lotPhilo 2004–2006KidsWorld SportsPAL Atomic BettyMinimus P.U., Greenbeard, B-1, Spindly Tam Kanushu (seasons 1 and 2) 2005Time Warp TrioGrimEpisode: "Viking It and Liking It" 2006Captain FlamingoVarious voicesPosthumous release; Final roleBigfoot Presents: Meteor and the Mighty Monster TrucksCosmo Starfinder
References
External links
Eulogy by Kevin Gillis