Pat Carroll, original voice of Ursula in “La Sirenetta”, dies at 95.

Comedian Pat Carroll, who marked an era on American TV and was the original voice of Ursula in “The Little Mermaid”, died Saturday (7/30) of pneumonia at his home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts (USA), at the age of 95..

Patricia Ann Carroll was born on May 5, 1927 in Shreveport, Louisiana. When she was 5, she and her family moved to Los Angeles. At 20, she worked as an acting technician for the United States Army, writing, producing and directing soldier productions. But she only started acting professionally in 1947, when she starred in a regional production of “A Goose for a Gander” alongside star Gloria Swanson.

She was also a pioneer of cabaret, honing her comic skills by performing in nightclubs and resorts. After making her debut on the off-Broadway circuit in 1950, she began working on the first theaters of fledgling American TV.

For her first Broadway role in the music magazine “Catch a Star!” (1955), written by Danny and Neil Simon, earned a Tony nomination.

Her bubbly personality, outlandish wit and flawless timing have made her a sought-after actress for guest appearances on numerous comedy shows, enjoyed by stars such as Sid Caesar, Red Buttons, Jimmy Durante, Mickey Rooney, Steve Allen, Danny Thomas, Charley Weaver and even Mary Tyler Moore, who invited her to make their attractions more fun. Her antics in Sid Caesar’s “Hour of Caesar” earned her an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in 1957.

For nearly four decades, Pat Carroll has been seen weekly on American TV, switching from show to show. Among her most notable roles is Bunny Halper, the wife of nightclub owner Charley Halper (Sid Melton) in three seasons of “The Danny Thomas Show” (between 1961 and 1964), an irritable patient who shared a hospital room with Mary Richards. Mary Tyler Moore) in the series “Mary Tyler Moore” (in 1971), the mother of the character of Cindy Williams in “Laverne & Shirley” (in 1976), the businesswoman Hope Stinson, who shared ownership of a newspaper with the character of Ted Knight in “Too Close for Comfort, 1986-1987”, as well as appearing alongside Suzanne Somers in the two seasons of “She’s the Sheriff” (1987-1989).

When she wasn’t in a series, she could still be seen in game programs. Carroll participated in virtually every variety game that aired between the 1960s and 1980s.

In film, her first highlight was “There’s a Man in Mommy’s Bed” (1968), as Doris Day’s matchmaking sister. But Hollywood producers soon became interested in her voice, with her intonation. witty and her throaty laugh, which launched her in several animations.

She first entered a dubbing booth in 1966 for the animated series “Super 6”. But it was after the 80s that his voice acting career took off, thanks to her participation in “The Little Mermaid” (1989).

Evil Ursula was his most memorable character. And your favorite role too. “It was my lifelong ambition to make a Disney movie,” he confessed in Allan Neuwirth’s book “Makin ‘Toons: Inside the Most Popular Animated TV Shows and Movies”. Carroll’s enthusiasm transformed the creature with many arms (or legs) into one of Disney’s most famous villains. After the film, he went on to voice the character in several video games and a 1993 series, as well as voicing Morgana in the direct-to-video version of “The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea” (2000).

In addition to animation, she has also worked as an actress in famous films such as “Writers of Freedom” (2007) and “Mission Godmother of Marriage” (2011). And in 2000, she was nominated for a Spirit Awards (the independent Oscar) for her role in the drama “Song Collector”, about a musicologist who records the legacy of British folk in American music. The film ended up winning the Best Ensemble trophy at the Sundance Film Festival.

His latest works were voiceovers for Disney series: as a character in the cartoon “The Tangled Adventures of Rapunzel” (2017-2020) and in an episode of “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” in 2020, in which he said goodbye to acting giving voice to Ursula for the last time.

Source: Terra

Camila

Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.