Daws Butler spent the majority of his career as a renowned voice-over actor in Hollywood, providing voices for a plethora of iconic characters, including Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Quick-Draw McGraw, Snagglepuss, Jinks the cat, Dixie the mouse, Augie Doggie, Peter Potamus, Wally Gator, Hokey Wolf, Super Snooper, Blabber Mouse, Cogswell Cogs, Elroy Jetson, and numerous others.
He was born in Toledo, Ohio, and spent his formative years in Oak Park, Illinois. Initially aspiring to be a cartoonist, Butler discovered his talent for vocal humor and mimicry, which led him to pursue an acting and performing career. He began appearing in Chicago theaters and nightclubs, eventually joining "The Three Short Waves" with two other impersonators.
After serving in the Navy during World War II, Butler settled in Hollywood, where he broke into radio, performing in both dramatic and comedic programs, and specializing in dialects and vocal characterizations.
In 1949, Butler co-starred in the television puppet show "Time for Beany" alongside Stan Freberg, for which they received two Emmy awards. The duo also co-wrote and co-voiced several comedy records, including "St. George and the Dragonet," which became the first comedy record to sell over a million copies.
Butler's most notable work came during his collaborations with Hanna-Barbera Productions, where he created his most famous cartoon characterizations, including Yogi Bear, Boo Boo, and Ranger Smith, among others.
In his later years, Butler established an actors' workshop in his home, training students in voice-over techniques and physical acting. One of his notable students was Nancy Cartwright, who later voiced Bart Simpson on "The Simpsons."
Daws Butler passed away on May 19, 1988, having just completed three Yogi Bear films and 15 new half-hour Yogi Bear cartoon shows. He lived to see the rebirth of The Jetsons for a new generation, voicing 30 of the new shows alongside the original cast.
Throughout his career, Butler performed in the neighborhood of 40 different characters, and his legacy continued to inspire new generations of voice actors and animators.
