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June Foray

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June Foray was a legendary American voice actress and radio personality.

She spent her career bringing hundreds of animated characters to life. Her work spanned radio, theatrical shorts, feature films, television, and video games. She even provided voices for talking toys and recorded children's albums. Foray was so skilled that director Chuck Jones compared her to Mel Blanc. He famously stated that Foray was the female version of Blanc. Her immense influence earned her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Foray's career relied on her ability to transform her vocal tone. She could portray various ages, genders, and personalities through sound alone. This mechanism allowed her to play everything from tiny creatures to powerful witches. For example, she voiced the male lead Rocky the Flying Squirrel. She also voiced the villainous Natasha Fatale in the same series. In the film Cinderella, she used her voice to portray Lucifer the cat. This versatility made her a vital asset to major studios like Disney and Warner Bros.

Her roles can be categorized into several distinct types of media. In animation, she voiced iconic characters like Granny from the Looney Tunes cartoons. She also played Cindy Lou Who in the classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas. In the realm of television, she worked extensively with Hanna-Barbera. There, she voiced characters on popular shows like Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! and The Jetsons. She also worked in live-action dubbing, known as ADR. This involved providing voices for characters in films like Jaws and Twilight Zone episodes.

June Lucille Forer was born on September 18, 1917, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Her father, Morris Forer, was an engineer from the Russian Empire. Her mother, Ida, had Lithuanian Jewish and French Canadian ancestry. As a child, Foray originally trained as a dancer. However, she had to stop her lessons due to pneumonia. Her vocal career began early when she performed in radio dramas at age 12. By age 15, she was performing regular radio voice work. At age 17, she moved to Los Angeles with her family.

Foray's impact on the animation industry was profound and measurable. She was a founding member of ASIFA-Hollywood, a society for animation professionals. In 1972, she conceived the idea for the Annie Awards. These awards were created because she noticed animation lacked its own celebrations. In 1995, ASIFA-Hollywood established the June Foray Award. This honor recognizes individuals who make a significant impact on the animation industry. Foray was the very first person to receive this prestigious award.

She also spent decades lobbying for professional recognition of animated films. Foray petitioned the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for many years. Her efforts were successful when the Academy created the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2001.

41st Annie Awards, June Foray-2
41st Annie Awards, June Foray-2

Her dedication helped elevate the artistic standards of the entire field. She also contributed to the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Project in 2007. This work helped preserve the history of the medium she loved.

Foray's legacy connects to the broader history of modern entertainment. Her work on the original pilot of The Flintstones showed her early involvement in television history. Even though she was not cast as Betty Rubble, she later appeared in the series. Her voice lives on through many modern remakes and homages. For instance, The Simpsons has used character types that pay tribute to her style. Her career serves as a bridge between the golden age of radio and the digital age of video games.

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File:41st Annie Awards, June Foray-2.jpg
41st Annie Awards, June Foray-2.jpg
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