Biography
Mel Blanc stands out through his long association with Bugs Bunny as the vocal presence behind one of the world's most recognized fictional figures. Warner Brothers once calculated that roughly 250 million listeners daily encountered and identified that voice. The deeper bond between performer and character emerges from the aftermath of a serious automobile collision that left Blanc comatose for an extended stretch and seemingly beyond recovery. A physician, noting the afternoon slot for classic Looney Tunes broadcasts, raised the volume so that Porky Pig and additional characters filled the room; Blanc immediately stirred, broke from unconsciousness, and launched into Bugs Bunny's delivery.
From his distinctive vocal range and humorous outlook Blanc built an expansive professional life that encompassed familiar animation assignments, guest spots on programs such as the Jack Benny Show, and numerous children's recordings that continue to appeal to enthusiasts of every age. His powerful vocal cords enabled sustained work on demanding parts, including the perpetually loud Yosemite Sam, regardless of prior exertion. Early signs of this aptitude appeared during adolescence when the raucous, high-pitched laugh later tied to Woody Woodpecker served as a deliberate classroom disruption. Blanc refined the effect through careful tests of hallway acoustics in his high school. Immediately after graduation he entered the entertainment field via music, mastering three instruments and performing first with the NBC Radio Orchestra before conducting the pit ensemble at Portland's Orpheum Theatre.
Following his marriage to fellow performer Estelle Rosenhaum the couple launched a daily sixty-minute radio program called Cobwebs and Nuts. Budget limits prevented hiring additional actors, prompting Blanc to generate enough distinct voices to populate an entire company. After two years his wife urged a move to Hollywood. Initial radio character work there preceded repeated attempts to reach Leon Schelesinger's animation unit responsible for the earliest Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts. A production supervisor rejected him three times before suddenly dying; the replacement gave Blanc an audition that began with a portrayal of an intoxicated bull. In 1937 he received the part of Porky Pig, remarking at first, "A fine thing to ask a Jewish kid," yet he refined the role through rhythmic stuttering and spontaneous lines that surpassed previous versions.
Bugs Bunny arrived the following year, conceived originally as the Happy Hare. Blanc reshaped the rabbit after writer Bugs Hardaway's hipster mannerisms, adopting a Brooklyn accent and phrases such as "What's cookin'?" and "What's up, Doc?" taken directly from Hardaway's speech. One technical complication required separate editing of every carrot bite because Blanc could not sustain the voice while chewing. He supplied at least ninety percent of the Warner Brothers cartoon voices and collaborated closely with directors Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, Robert McKimson, and Fritz Freleng. Freelance assignments included Walter Lantz productions that benefited from the same laughter research begun in school hallways, plus limited Disney contributions that survived only as a single hiccup from the minor feline character Giddy in Pinocchio. Blanc became the first voice specialist to receive above-the-title billing and grew closely identified with his creations, leading to radio appearances on Burns and Allen, Fibber McGee and Molly, and the Jack Benny program. On the latter he initially portrayed only the growling bear Carmichael guarding Benny's vault for six months before informing the comedian, "You know, Mr. Benny, I can talk," which yielded additional roles including Professor LeBlanc and the Mexican character Cy whose answers began with "Si."
During the 1960s Blanc shifted increasingly toward television animation and recorded for Capitol Records under worldwide distribution by Ziv International. Working with arrangers such as Billy May he revived characters from multiple studios on these releases, and he contributed original material including the song "I Taut I Taw a Puddy Tat," a ballad performed by Tweety. In the 1970s he voiced dissatisfaction with prevailing cartoon standards while showing no inclination to retire. Son Noel Blanc developed early skill at replicating the voices and substituted for his father after the car accident in the early 1960s. Following Blanc's death in 1989 Noel assumed the full range of roles, supplying voices for series such as Tiny Toon Adventures and for merchandise including talking wall clocks.
From his distinctive vocal range and humorous outlook Blanc built an expansive professional life that encompassed familiar animation assignments, guest spots on programs such as the Jack Benny Show, and numerous children's recordings that continue to appeal to enthusiasts of every age. His powerful vocal cords enabled sustained work on demanding parts, including the perpetually loud Yosemite Sam, regardless of prior exertion. Early signs of this aptitude appeared during adolescence when the raucous, high-pitched laugh later tied to Woody Woodpecker served as a deliberate classroom disruption. Blanc refined the effect through careful tests of hallway acoustics in his high school. Immediately after graduation he entered the entertainment field via music, mastering three instruments and performing first with the NBC Radio Orchestra before conducting the pit ensemble at Portland's Orpheum Theatre.
Following his marriage to fellow performer Estelle Rosenhaum the couple launched a daily sixty-minute radio program called Cobwebs and Nuts. Budget limits prevented hiring additional actors, prompting Blanc to generate enough distinct voices to populate an entire company. After two years his wife urged a move to Hollywood. Initial radio character work there preceded repeated attempts to reach Leon Schelesinger's animation unit responsible for the earliest Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts. A production supervisor rejected him three times before suddenly dying; the replacement gave Blanc an audition that began with a portrayal of an intoxicated bull. In 1937 he received the part of Porky Pig, remarking at first, "A fine thing to ask a Jewish kid," yet he refined the role through rhythmic stuttering and spontaneous lines that surpassed previous versions.
Bugs Bunny arrived the following year, conceived originally as the Happy Hare. Blanc reshaped the rabbit after writer Bugs Hardaway's hipster mannerisms, adopting a Brooklyn accent and phrases such as "What's cookin'?" and "What's up, Doc?" taken directly from Hardaway's speech. One technical complication required separate editing of every carrot bite because Blanc could not sustain the voice while chewing. He supplied at least ninety percent of the Warner Brothers cartoon voices and collaborated closely with directors Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, Robert McKimson, and Fritz Freleng. Freelance assignments included Walter Lantz productions that benefited from the same laughter research begun in school hallways, plus limited Disney contributions that survived only as a single hiccup from the minor feline character Giddy in Pinocchio. Blanc became the first voice specialist to receive above-the-title billing and grew closely identified with his creations, leading to radio appearances on Burns and Allen, Fibber McGee and Molly, and the Jack Benny program. On the latter he initially portrayed only the growling bear Carmichael guarding Benny's vault for six months before informing the comedian, "You know, Mr. Benny, I can talk," which yielded additional roles including Professor LeBlanc and the Mexican character Cy whose answers began with "Si."
During the 1960s Blanc shifted increasingly toward television animation and recorded for Capitol Records under worldwide distribution by Ziv International. Working with arrangers such as Billy May he revived characters from multiple studios on these releases, and he contributed original material including the song "I Taut I Taw a Puddy Tat," a ballad performed by Tweety. In the 1970s he voiced dissatisfaction with prevailing cartoon standards while showing no inclination to retire. Son Noel Blanc developed early skill at replicating the voices and substituted for his father after the car accident in the early 1960s. Following Blanc's death in 1989 Noel assumed the full range of roles, supplying voices for series such as Tiny Toon Adventures and for merchandise including talking wall clocks.
Albums