Mel Blanc

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Noel Blanc's career was defined by deep collaboration with his father, Mel. After Mel's death in 1989, Noel took on the responsibility of voicing iconic characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, the Tasmanian Devil, Porky Pig, and Tweety for projects like Tiny Toon Adventures and a series of You Rang? answering machine messages. Warner Bros. adopted a strategy of splitting voice roles among several successors to prevent any single actor from being the sole heir; alongside Noel, this group included Jeff Bergman, Joe Alaskey, Bob Bergen, Greg Burson, Maurice LaMarche, Billy West, and most recently Eric Bauza. Noel also contributed voice work to Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story. A significant turning point in his professional life occurred in February 1991 during a helicopter incident above Santa Paula Airport. His aircraft collided with a small plane, resulting in injuries for Noel, including multiple fractures to his right leg, five broken ribs, a bruised lung, and a bruised kidney. Kirk Douglas was also injured in the crash, while two people in the other plane were killed.

In Their Own Story

In early 1962, Noel and Mel Blanc formalized their partnership by founding the Blanc Communications Corporation on January 29. This venture became a powerhouse for media production, churning out more than 5,000 public service announcements and commercials over the years. The company's roster of talent was star-studded, featuring appearances with icons such as Kirk Douglas, Lucille Ball, Vincent Price, Phyllis Diller, Liberace, and The Who. Kirk Douglas's son, Joel, served as an executive at the corporation, helping to develop and produce commercials until the late 1980s. Decades later, after Mel passed away in 1989, Noel found himself one of several voices chosen to continue his father's legacy. He voiced a wide array of characters for Tiny Toon Adventures and created memorable answering machine messages as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, the Tasmanian Devil, Porky Pig, and Tweety. His journey continued into the 21st century with contributions to Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story, proving his versatility extended far beyond the classic era.

Reader's Guide

Noel Blanc has been married three times. His first marriage was to Larraine Zax in 1967, which ended in divorce in 1972. He then married actress Martha Smith in 1977; this union lasted nine years before they divorced in 1986. On June 3, 1998, at the Warner Bros. Studios, he wed his third wife, Katherine Hushaw. His voice acting credits include specific roles across various media: in Bugs Bunny's Birthday Ball, he provided vocal effects for Bugs Bunny and lines for Daffy Duck ('Happy Birthday, Bugs!'), alongside Yosemite Sam, Sylvester, Speedy Gonzales, Barnyard Dawg, and Chickens. In theme park attractions like The Looney Tunes Revue, he voiced Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Pepé Le Pew, Yosemite Sam, Sylvester, Sylvester Jr., Tweety, Speedy Gonzales, Foghorn Leghorn, Henery Hawk, and the Tasmanian Devil. His discography features multiple 'You Rang?' albums where he voiced various combinations of these classic characters.

Did You Know?

• Noel Blanc performed his father's voices uncredited in 1961 after Mel was injured in a car crash.
• He and Mel formed the Blanc Communications Corporation on January 29, 1962, which produced over 5,000 commercials and PSAs.
• In February 1991, Noel suffered multiple fractures to his right leg and five broken ribs after a helicopter collided with a small plane above Santa Paula Airport.
• Kirk Douglas's son, Joel, served as an executive at Blanc Communications Corporation until the late 1980s.
• Noel voiced Elmer Fudd, a role originally performed by Arthur Q. Bryan and later inherited by Mel Blanc.