Highest rated as cast or director
Biography
Solomon Hersh Frees (June 22, 1920 – November 2, 1986), known professionally as Paul Frees, was an American actor, voice actor, impressionist and screenwriter. He is best known for his voice work in cartoons during the Golden Age of Animation. Like Mel Blanc, he was sometimes referred to as "The Man of a Thousand Voices". Born in Chicago, Illinois, Frees started his entertainment career as a vaudeville impressionist and in 1942 began working on Hollywood radio series. After being drafted into the U.S. Army in World War II, he was wounded in action and eventually resumed his work in radio upon his return to the states. Frees appeared in over 250 films, cartoons and TV episodes, although he had few on-screen appearances and often went uncredited. He was also frequently enlisted to re-dub actors' performances, such as Tony Curtis' dialogue as Josephine in the 1959 film Some Like it Hot. That same year, Frees co-wrote and directed the film The Beatniks, his only feature film. Frees had a long career with Walt Disney Studios, providing the voice for Ludwig Von Drake and other characters, narrating short films, and supplying many voices for Disney theme park attractions, most notably the Ghost Host in The Haunted Mansion, various voices in Pirates of the Caribbean, and the narrator for both Adventure Thru Innerspace and Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln. On TV, Frees worked with Jay Ward Productions, providing the voice of Boris Badenov and other characters in various series, and also supplied many voices for Rankin/Bass cartoon specials. He also appeared in TV commercials and was the original voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy and the second voice of Froot Loops mascot Toucan Sam (after Mel Blanc). Frees was married five times and had two children via his third wife, voice actress Joyce Schultz. In his later years, Frees suffered from multiple health issues. He died in Tiburon, California, on November 2, 1986, at age 66, from an overdose of pain medication. He was cremated and his remains were scattered over the Pacific Ocean.
Acted in 197
2020s
- 2025
Pirates of the Caribbean | Disneyland Resort
Auctioneer (voice) / Pirate Skull (voice)
2010s
- 2015
3-D Rarities
(archive footage)
2000s
- 2007
Tex Avery's Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection
Joe Wolf (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
- 2004
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
Ludwig Von Drake / Herman (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
- 2003
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.3
True Spirit of Adventure / Narrator / Creature (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
1980s
- 1987
- 1986
Disney's DTV Valentine
Ludwig Von Drake / Announcer (voice)
- 1983
The Wind in the Willows
Wayfarer (voice)
What's Up, Hideous Sun Demon
Trailer Announcer
- 1982
The Flight of Dragons
Solarius / Antiquity (voice)
Woody Woodpecker and Friends
Various Voices
- 1980
1970s
- 1979
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
Winterbolt / Jack Frost / Policeman (voice)
- 1978
The Stingiest Man in Town
Ghost of Christmas Past / Ghost of Christmas Present (voice)
- 1977
Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
Santa Claus / Olaf / Donkey Dealer (voice)
Fantastic Animation Festival
Opening Narration
- 1976
Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Santa Claus / Aeon / General Ticker / Seventeen Seventy Six
Frosty's Winter Wonderland
Jack Frost
The First Easter Rabbit
Zero / Santa (voice)
- 1975
- 1972
Willie Mays and the Say-Hey Kid
Iguana (voice)
The Osmonds
TV
Unlucky Potluck
Charlie Beary / Junior Beary / Boss (voice)
- 1971
The Jackson 5ive
(voice) · 23 episodes
- 1970
The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians
W.C. Fields / Chico Marx / Zeppo Marx / Announcer (voice)
1960s
- 1969
It's Tough to Be a Bird
Leif Erikson
The Comic
Newsreel Narrator / Commerical Announcer / Man in Restaurant (voice)
The Dudley Do-Right Show
TV
- 1968
The Mouse on the Mayflower
(voice)
Pacifically Peeking
Moby Duck
The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
TV
Arabian Knights
Bakaar (voice) · 18 episodes
The Magic Pear Tree
Jean Navarro
- 1967
Cricket on the Hearth
Messenger / Uriah / Captain / Toy Elephant (voice)
The Fantastic Four
The Thing (voice) · 20 episodes
Tom Slick
Baron Otto Matic · 17 episodes
Super Chicken
Fred · 17 episodes
Le Escape Goat
Commissioner (voice)
Bomb Voyage
Commissioner (voice)
Le Quiet Squad
Commissioner / Doctor (voice)
Sacré Bleu Cross
Hassan the Assassin (voice)
George of the Jungle
Alistair · 17 episodes
- 1966
Unsafe and Seine
Commissioner / Pub Waiter / Patrons (voice)
That's No Lady, That's Notre Dame
Commissioner (voice)
The Impossibles
TV
The Pique Poquette of Paris
Spider Pierre (voice)
The Man Called Flintstone
Rock Slag / Green Goose / Triple X (voice)
Ape Suzette
Cockney Sailor (voice)
Cock-A-Doodle Deux Deux
Commissioner (voice)
Plastered in Paris
Commissioner (voice)
Cirrhosis of the Louvre
Commissioner (voice)
Reaux, Reaux, Reaux Your Boat
Captain Clamity / Crab Louie (voice)
- 1965
The Great De Gaulle Stone Operation
Weft / Wight / Wong (voice)
The Inspector
The Commissioner (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
The Beatles
John Lennon / George Harrison (voice) (uncredited) · 39 episodes
Pink Panzer
Neighbor / Devil (voice)
Once a Thief
Voice of Luke (Uncredited)
Sink Pink
Hunter / Native Bearer (voice)
E Flat Elephants
Charlie, Ape
Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict, Fred, Cop
- 1964
The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo
TV
Rendezvous in Space
Mr. Space / Astronaut (voice)
The Incredible Mr. Limpet
Crusty (voice)
- 1963
Fly With Von Drake
Ludwig Von Drake (voice)
The Thrill of It All
TV Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
The Secret Weapon
Voices
Fractured Flickers
TV
- 1962
A Symposium on Popular Songs
Ludwig Von Drake
Corny Concerto
Doc (voice)
Hoppity Hooper
TV
Punchy Pooch
Doc (voice)
Keeping Up with Krazy
Ignatz Mouse / Officer Pupp (voice) (uncredited)
Krazy Kat
Ignatz Mouse / Offissa Pupp (voice) · 50 episodes
The Hunting Instinct
Ludwig Von Drake (voice)
The Beary Family
Charlie / Junior Beary · 28 episodes
Pest of Show
Doc (voice)
- 1961
Famous Ghost Stories
Frank Hubbard (uncredited voice) (segment 'Tormented')
Doc's Last Stand
Doc / Indians / Narrator (voice)
Kids Is Kids
Ludwig Von Drake (voice)
Tin Can Concert
Doc (voice)
Calvin and the Colonel
TV
Clash and Carry
Wally Walrus (voice)
- 1960
Fowled Up Falcon
(voice)
The Adventures of Sam Space
Voice
Bats in the Belfry
(voice)
Freeloading Feline
(voices)
Tale of a Wolf
Barnyard Dog (voice)
Goliath II
The Mouse
Aesop and Son
Additional Voices (Voice) · 39 episodes
Ballyhooey
(voice)
1950s
- 1959
Mouse Trapped
Doc (voice)
Noah's Ark
Noah / God
Space Mouse
Doc (voice)
Donald in Mathmagic Land
The True Spirit of Adventure / Narrator (voice)
The Beatniks
Additional Voices (voice) (uncredited)
Gigantis, the Fire Monster
Commander / Father / Convict (voice) (uncredited)
Witty Kitty
Doc / Cat (voice)
- 1958
- 1957
Rodan! The Flying Monster
Nishimura / Suda / Dr. Tanaka / Air Force officer / Kitahara (voice)
- 1956
Blue Cat Blues
Jerry's Thoughts (voice) (uncredited)
Down Beat Bear
Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Francis in the Haunted House
Francis (voice)
- 1955
Cellbound
The Prisoner / George the Warden / The Little Wife (voice) (uncredited)
Jump Into Hell
TV News Broadcaster (voice)
- 1954
Sleepy-Time Squirrel
Barney Bear / Jimmy Squirrel (voice) (uncredited)
The Impossible Possum
Barney Bear (voice) (uncredited)
- 1953
Half-Pint Palomino
Barney Bear (voice) (uncredited)
Wee-Willie Wildcat
Barney Bear / William Wildcat (voice) (uncredited)
Heir Bear
Barney Bear / Gopher / Tax Collector (voice) (uncredited)
Cobs and Robbers
Barney Bear / Joe Scarecrow / Crows (voice) (uncredited)
General Electric Theater
TV
Barney's Hungry Cousin
Barney Bear (voice) (uncredited)
The Missing Mouse
Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
- 1952
Busybody Bear
Barney Bear / Buck Beaver (voice) (uncredited)
Cruise Cat
Ship's Captain (voice) (uncredited)
Assignment: Paris
Radio Budapest Announcer (uncredited)
Magical Maestro
Additional Voices
The Las Vegas Story
District Attorney (uncredited)
- 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Bailiff · 1 episode
His Mouse Friday
Jerry / Cannibals (voice) (uncredited)
Sleepy-Time Tom
Lightning (voice) (uncredited)
Jerry's Cousin
Muscles / Muscle Cat (voice) (uncredited)
- 1950
Hunt the Man Down
Packard 'Packy' Collins (uncredited)
1940s
- 1949
- 1947
Should Husbands Marry?
Radio announcer
Mickey and the Beanstalk
Ludwig Von Drake (voice) (uncredited)
Crazy with the Heat
Oasis Soda Fountain Proprietor (voice) (uncredited)
Uncle Tom's Cabaña
Uncle Tom (voice) (uncredited)
- 1946
The Hick Chick
Bull (voice) (uncredited)
- 1945
Wild and Woolfy
Joe Wolf / Bar Patrons (voice) (uncredited)
- 1943
A-Hunting We Won't Go
Crow (voice) (uncredited)
Sound 2
1960s
- 1965
The Inspector
Vocals
1950s
- 1959
The Beatniks
Songs
Directed 1
1950s
- 1959
The Beatniks
Director
Wrote 1
1950s
- 1959
The Beatniks
Writer
Produced 1
1950s
- 1959
The Beatniks
Executive Producer
Appearances43
1990s
- 1992
Larry Harmon's Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown
Narrator
1980s
- 1986
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
Self / Narrator (voice)
- 1983
Twice Upon a Time
Narrator / Chef of State / Judges / Bailiff (voice)
- 1982
The Case of Dashiell Hammett
Narrator (voice)
Routes of Exile: A Moroccan Jewish Odyssey
Narrator (voice)
- 1980
1970s
- 1978
Hardware Wars
Narrator
- 1976
The Milpitas Monster
Narrator (voice)
Casey at the Bat
Narrator
- 1974
Run, Joe, Run
Narrator · 26 episodes
1960s
- 1968
- 1967
The Bear That Wasn't
Narrator / Bear / Additional Voices (voice)
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
A Salute to Alaska
Narrator
Mr. Terrific
Narrator · 17 episodes
- 1965
The War Lord
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Goofy's Freeway Troubles
Narrator (voice)
Pinkfinger
Narrator (voice)
The Sword of Ali Baba
Narrator (voice)
Freewayphobia
Narrator (voice)
- 1964
The Night Walker
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Everybody Loves It
Narrator (voice) (uncredited), Narrator
- 1962
The World's Greatest Sinner
Narrator
A Public Affair
Narrator (voice)
- 1961
- 1960
Where the Boys Are
Narrator (uncredited)
1950s
- 1959
Attack of the Jungle Women
Narrator
Eyes in Outer Space
Narrator (voice)
Duck Flies Coop
Narrator / Newsreader (voice)
- 1957
- 1955
The Scarlet Coat
Narrator (voice)
- 1954
The Farm of Tomorrow
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Casey Bats Again
Narrator (voice)
- 1953
T.V. of Tomorrow
Narrator (voice)
- 1951
- 1950
The Toast of New Orleans
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1940s
- 1945
The Shooting of Dan McGoo
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)