![]() Although Questel was not picked by Hanna-Barbera, she still had a contract with King Features.When Hanna-Barbera began making new Popeye cartoons for television in 1978, Questel auditioned for the role of Olive Oyl, and lost out to Marilyn Schreffler. ![]() When new Popeye cartoons aired on TV from 1960-1962 in syndication, Questel provided the voices of Olive Oyl, Swee'Pea, Deezil Oyl, and the Sea Hag. She also filled in for Jack Mercer, the voice of Popeye, for a small number of cartoons made when Mercer was temporarily drawn into war service. Questel returned as the voice of Olive Oyl when Paramount Pictures moved the former Fleischer Studios - which became Famous Studios - back to New York. Questel refused to move to Miami, Florida when Fleischer Studios relocated there in 1938, so Margie Hines took over during the Miami years. She based Olive's nasal vocal style, and expressions like "Oh, dear!" on the persona of the legendary character actress ZaSu Pitts, and ultimately played the role for more than 20 years. Popeye (When Mercer was temporarily drawn into war service 1945-1946)īeginning in 1933, Questel also provided the voice for Olive Oyl and Swee'Pea in Fleischer's Popeye animated shorts.Along with her voice work and occasional on-camera appearance in Paramount shorts, Questel also attended Columbia University, where she studied drama. She began as one of a number of actresses providing the character's voice, but soon took over the role exclusively, essaying it in more than 150 animated shorts. Questel's "Boop-oop-a-doop" routine, done in a style similar to that of the song's originator, Helen Kane, while at the same time evoking something of the naughty allure of film star Clara Bow, was exactly what Fleischer wanted, and he hired Questel in 1931. She was seen by animator Max Fleischer, who was looking for an actress to provide the voice for his Betty Boop character. Billed as "Mae Questel - Personality Singer of Personality Songs," she did Marlene Dietrich, Eddie Cantor, Mae West and others, as well as animal imitations. She was signed by an agent and began performing in vaudeville as an impressionist. Nevertheless, at the age of 17, Questel won a talent contest held at the RKO Fordham Theatre in the Bronx, by imitating Helen Kane. Although she wanted to be an entertainer, her parents, who were Orthodox Jews, actively discouraged her from doing so. She began in vaudeville, and played occasional small roles in films and television later in her career.īorn as Mae Kwestel in New York City to Simon and Freida Kwestel, she studied acting at the American Theatre Wing and with the Theatre Guild. Hollywood on Parade No.Mae Questel (Septem– January 4, 1998) was an American actress and vocal artist, best known for providing the voices for the animated characters Betty Boop and Olive Oyl. ![]() Poe died from complications connected to pneumonia on October 16, 1993, the day after her 81st birthday. Poe also portrayed Betty Boop in an on-camera live action short. Poe was the initial voice for the character Olive Oyl in that studio's series of Popeye. In 1933, Poe was a voice actress for Betty Boop, including voicing her on a few episodes of an NBC radio special called Betty Boop Fables A-8, performing a skit with Bela Lugosi providing a portrayal of Count Dracula. She voiced her in a live-action segment on the special Hollywood on Parade No. Bonnie Poe (Octo– October 16, 1993) was an American actress and voice artist, best known for providing the voice for the Fleischer Studios animated character Betty Boop beginning in 1933, starting with the Popeye the Sailor series and featuring in a dozen cartoons.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |