This is an entry to Mark Evanier's list of the twenty top voice actors in American animated cartoons between 1928 and 1968. For more on this list, read this. To see all the listings posted to date, click here.
Most Famous Role: Tigger.
Other Notable Roles: Dick Dastardly, Fleegle of the Banana Splits, Gargamel (on The Smurfs), Goober of Goober and the Ghost Chasers and many more.
What He Did Besides Cartoon Voices: Paul was one of the greatest ventriloquists ever and a true superstar of early television. He was also an accomplished inventor holding dozens of patents including one for a prototype artificial heart that he built in his home workshop. In the sixties, he was a frequent actor in live-action comedy shows including The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Lucy Show.
Why He's On This List: Paul brought to cartoon voicing the same skills for characterization that he brought to his famous ventriloquist figures, Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smif. In recording sessions, he would sometimes forget himself and deliver his lines without moving his lips. This unnerved other actors in the session.
Fun Fact: Paul's daughter April has followed in one of the family businesses, becoming one of the most in-demand voice actresses these days. She got interested in the field accompanying her father to recording sessions at Hanna-Barbera and other studios.