Will Ryan, the veteran voice actor who lent his voice to numerous Disney projects, passed away Friday, November 19, 2021, after a short battle with cancer. He was 72.
Ryan was born May 21, 1949, and amassed more than 100 screen and TV credits in his nearly four-decade career.
He started voicing characters for Disney with 1983’s “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” where he voiced Willie the Giant, Peg-Leg Pete, Mole, Big Bad Wolf, and Weasel #2.
Willie the Giant was one of his most popular characters, one which Ryan last voiced in 2021’s “Mickey Mouse Funhouse” episode “Mickey and the Cornstalk/King Mickey” – this would also be his last performance.
In the years in between his Disney voice work included:
- “Welcome to Pooh Corner “– Rabbit, Tigger, Eeyore (singing) (1983-1997)
- “Dumbo’s Circus” – Barnaby (1985)
- “Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears” – Additional Voices (1985–1991)
- “Sport Goofy in Soccermania” – Scrooge McDuck, Beagle Boys, and Gyro
- DuckTales – Pete/Sharkey, Dangerous Dan (1987)
- “The Little Mermaid” – Herald the Seahorse (1989)
- “Sing Me a Story with Belle” (episode 9 “Problem Solving: Ingenuity” as Willie the Giant)(1995)
- “Disney’s House of Mouse” – Willie the Giant (2001–2003)
- “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” – Willie the Giant (2006–2016)
- “Get a Horse!” – Peg-Leg Pete (2013)
In late 1970s, he also teamed up with Phil Baron as Willio and Phillio, and wrote over 100 songs for Disney and the Jim Henson Company. His songs got recorded by Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and so many other characters.
Willio and Phillio even performed “I Wish it Could Be Christmas All Year Long” on a Disney Christmas album.
Ryan was not yet named a Disney Legend, but I hope the company recognizes him posthumously.
R.I.P. Mr. Will Ryan. Thank you for all the entertainment.