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Tony Pope
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Anthony J. Pope (March 22, 1947 – February 11, 2004) was an American voice actor. He appeared in over 100 titles during his three-decade career, including as the voice of Goofy from 1979 to 1988. His anime roles include Colonel Shikishima in the Streamline Pictures dub of Akira (1988) and Shunsaku Ban in Metropolis (2001). Pope also provided the voice for the Tiger Electronics toy Furby.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Anthony J. Pope was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 22, 1947, to Thomas and Katherine Pope (née Mozdy).[1][2][3]
Career
[edit]After graduating from college, Pope moved to Los Angeles, California in 1973 where he officially began his career as a voice actor.[2] His mentor was Daws Butler who was best known as the voice of Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound.[4] Pope was known for providing the voice of Furby in English and five other languages.[5] He was also the voice of Goofy for 11 years, garnering 17 Gold and Platinum records.[2][5] His voice is prominent at Disneyland on several rides, as well as in the JumpStart products by Knowledge Adventure.[2][5]
Personal life
[edit]Pope married actress Patricia Lentz in 1984 and had three children together.[2]
Death
[edit]Pope died on February 11, 2004, from complications of leg surgery at the age of 56 in Burbank, California.[2] He was buried at Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery.
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | The Adventures of Pinocchio | Candlewick, Boy | English dub |
| 1980 | Hurray for Betty Boop | Coffee Shop Boss, Mirror, Ringmaster | [6] |
| 1981 | The Little Fox | Karak | English dub |
| 1985 | Back to the Future | Radio Announcer | Uncredited |
| 1987 | Sport Goofy in Soccermania | Goofy | |
| 1988 | Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here | Alien | |
| 1988 | Who Framed Roger Rabbit | Goofy, Big Bad Wolf | Role of Goofy shared with Bill Farmer[6][7] |
| 1988 | Akira | Colonel Shikishima, Yamagata, Nezu | Credited as Anthony Mozdy |
| 1990 | Spaced Invaders | Lieutenant Giggywig | |
| 1990 | Watchers II | Outsider | |
| 1997 | Cats Don't Dance | Alligator | |
| 1999 | The King and I | Burmese Emissary | [6] |
| 2001 | Metropolis | Shunsaku Ban | |
| 2001 | Marco Polo: Return to Xanadu | Babu, Foo-Long, Reginald | |
| 2002 | Muhammad: The Last Prophet | Salman | |
| 2003 | Leap Frog: The Letter Factory | Professor Quigley | [8] |
| 2003 | Leap Frog: The Talking Word Factory | ||
| 2004 | The Nutcracker and the Mouse King | Father, Old General | Posthumously release; Final role[6] |
Anime
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Mobile Suit Gundam | General Revil | |
| 1981 | Mobile Suit Gundam: Soldiers of Sorrow | General Revil | |
| 1982 | Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space | General Revil | |
| 1987 | Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise | Majaho | |
| 1991 | Mobile Suit Gundam F91 | Leslie Arno | |
| 1992 | Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama | Sage Vishvamitra | |
| 1996 | Apocalypse Zero | Oboro Hagakure | |
| 1996 | Fake | Chief, Jaco | |
| 1996–1999 | Rurouni Kenshin | Kaishu Katsu | |
| 1998 | Vampire Princess Miyu | Tonbi | |
| 1998–2003 | The Adventures of Mini-Goddess | Gan-chan | |
| 1999 | The Big O | Gisang | |
| 1999 | Hello Kitty's Paradise | Papa | |
| 2001 | Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School | Tessai Onizuka | |
| 2001 | S-CRY-ed | Chief | |
| 2002 | Cyborg 009 | Commander, Dr. Herschel | |
| 2002 | Digimon Tamers | Zhuqiaomon | |
| 2002 | Ai Yori Aoshi | Kaoru's Grandfather, Fish Vendor | |
| 2002 | Ground Defense Force! Mao-chan | Sorajirou Tsukishima | Credited as Anthony Mozdy |
| 2002 | Heat Guy J | Mauro | Later replaced by Steve Kramer |
Animation
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Spider-Man | Joshua | Episode: "The Incredible Shrinking Spider-Man" |
| 1986–1987 | The Transformers | Wreck-Gar, additional voices | 7 episodes |
| 1992 | Tiny Toon Adventures | God | Episode: "It's a Wonderful Tiny Toons Christmas Special"[6] |
| 1993 | SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron | Sergeant | Episode: "Rise of the Dark Kat" |
| 1994–1995 | Creepy Crawlers | Professor Googengrime, Tom Lockjaw, Hocus Locus | 24 episodes |
| 1995 | What a Cartoon! | Junior | 2 episodes[6] |
| 1997 | I Am Weasel | Jacques Cousteau, Boy | Episode: "Deep Sea Tour" |
| 1998 | Pinky and the Brain | Waiter | Episode: "Beach Blanket Brain"[6] |
| 1998 | Superman: The Animated Series | Scientist | Episode: "New Kids in Town"[6] |
| 2001–2003 | House of Mouse | Geppetto | 2 episodes |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Sam & Max Hit the Road | Various characters | [6] |
| 1993 | Star Wars: Rebel Assault | C-3PO, Gamma Base Communications Officer | |
| 1994 | JumpStart Kindergarten | Mr. Hopsalot | |
| 1994 | Ace Ventura: The Case of the Serial Shaver | Shickadance, Doctor | [6] |
| 1995 | JumpStart 1st Grade | Frankie | |
| 1996 | JumpStart Adventures 3rd Grade: Mystery Mountain | Professor Sparks | |
| 1996 | JumpStart Adventures 4th Grade: Haunted Island | Flap | |
| 1996 | JumpStart 2nd Grade | Edison | [6] |
| 1997 | JumpStart 1st Grade Math | Frankie, Bookworm | [6] |
| 1998 | JumpStart Kindergarten Reading | Mr. Hopsalot | |
| 1998 | JumpStart Math | Edison | |
| 1998 | Star Wars Trilogy Arcade | C-3PO, Rebel | [6] |
| 1998 | Star Wars: Rebellion | C-3PO, Yoda, Death Star Commander | [6] |
| 1999 | Disney's Villains' Revenge | Out | [6] |
| 2000 | Diablo II | Elzix, Guard | [6] |
| 2000 | JumpStart 1st Grade Reading | Frankie | |
| 2002 | Kingdom Hearts | Geppetto | |
| 2002 | Monopoly Party | Mr. Monopoly | [6] |
Other
[edit]- Disney Discovery Series (1984–1987, read-along recordings) – Goofy, Ludwig Von Drake
- Teddy Ruxpin (1986, read-along recordings) – Newton Gimmick, L.B. the Bounder
- Robbery on the Overland Express: A Whoodunit Mickey Mystery (1993, Disney's Storyteller Series) – Heinrich Schniffengraul
- The Lion King: The Brightest Star (1994) – Cheetah (read-along cassette story recording)
- The Emperor's New Groove (2000, Disney's Storyteller Series) – Narrator
- Furby (1998) – Voice of the Furby toy
References
[edit]- ^ "Katherine Pope Obituary (2003) - Willoughby, OH - The Plain Dealer". Legacy.com. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Anthony J. "Tony" Pope". The News-Herald. February 22, 2004.
- ^ "Tony Pope". Variety. February 16, 2004.
- ^ "Tony Pope, R.I.P. – News From ME". www.newsfromme.com. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c "He's Proud to Be the Talk of the Toy World". Los Angeles Times. January 1, 1999.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Tony Pope (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors (A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information). Retrieved June 27, 2021.
- ^ "2011 Disneyana Fan Club Convention Highlight: Voice Panel" (Video). YouTube. August 24, 2011. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
- ^ "Tony Pope".
External links
[edit]- Tony Pope at IMDb
- Tony Pope at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Tony Pope at Find a Grave
Tony Pope
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Anthony J. "Tony" Pope (March 22, 1947 – February 11, 2004) was an American voice actor renowned for providing the voice of Goofy for The Walt Disney Company for over eleven years and for his prolific contributions to animation, film, television, and commercials across a three-decade career spanning more than 100 titles.[1][2]
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Pope relocated to Los Angeles in 1973, where he built a diverse portfolio that included voicing characters in major films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) and Back to the Future (1985), as well as dubbing roles like Colonel Shikishima in the English version of Akira (1988).[1][2][3]
Beyond screen work, Pope lent his voice to Disneyland attractions, including revisions for the Cheshire Cat and King of Hearts in the Alice in Wonderland ride, and provided audio for toys from companies like Mattel and Fisher-Price, notably the interactive Furby doll.[1] He was married to actress Patricia Lentz and was survived by two daughters, one son, and four siblings at the time of his death from an arterial rupture during heart surgery in Burbank, California.[1][2]
These selections illustrate Pope's sustained presence in anime localization, from pioneering theatrical releases to syndicated TV series, where his voice work often filled critical supporting positions that enriched world-building without overshadowing leads.[14]
Biography
Early life
Anthony J. Pope, known professionally as Tony Pope, was born on March 22, 1947, in Cleveland, Ohio.[2][4] He grew up in Cleveland during his formative years, part of a Midwestern family that included siblings Tom, Jay, Kelly, and Kappy, which shaped his early experiences in a working-class industrial city known for its strong community ties and cultural influences.[5] In 1973, at the age of 26, Pope relocated to Los Angeles, driven by aspirations to enter the entertainment industry and capitalize on the city's vibrant opportunities in acting and voice-over work.[1][6] Following the move, Pope encountered the typical hurdles of establishing himself in a highly competitive field, including building connections and honing his skills amid the fast-paced Hollywood environment.[5]Personal life
Pope married voice actress Patricia Lentz on July 21, 1984.[7] The couple, both active in the voice acting industry, shared professional overlaps through their shared work in animation and dubbing projects.[2] Together, they had three children: daughters Melissa and Marcella Lentz-Pope, and son Alex; Marcella followed in her parents' footsteps as a voice actress known for roles in video games and animation.[8][5] The family resided in Burbank, California, where Pope balanced his demanding career with family responsibilities.[1] Pope's career often required extensive time in recording studios, which occasionally impacted family schedules, though he prioritized home life in the Los Angeles area.[2] He was an avid fan of the Cleveland Indians and Browns, enjoyed playing sports, and coached a Girls' Softball League.[5]Career
Beginnings and training
Pope moved to the Los Angeles area in 1973, marking the start of his professional career in voice acting, where he began pursuing initial auditions and securing small roles in commercials and animation projects.[6] Upon arrival, he immersed himself in the local industry, taking on entry-level opportunities that allowed him to hone his skills through practical experience in various media formats.[6] Early in his career, Pope built foundational expertise through work in radio, including commercials, jingles, narration, announcing, and looping for live-action films, often in non-credited capacities that emphasized versatility and quick adaptation.[9] These projects provided essential training in timing, delivery, and audience engagement, helping him transition from general acting pursuits to a specialization in voice-over work throughout the 1970s.[9] A pivotal influence came from his mentorship under veteran voice actor Daws Butler, beginning with Butler's acting workshop launched in 1975, which Pope attended alongside emerging talents like Nancy Cartwright and Corey Burton.[9] Under Butler's guidance, Pope learned key techniques such as treating voices as fully realized characters rather than mere imitations, emphasizing physicality in performance to evoke a character's age, size, and personality, and delivering lines as spontaneous thoughts with natural energy flow.[10] Butler also encouraged experimentation, advising students like Pope to reinterpret stories in varied dialects and personas to foster innovation and risk-taking in character development.[10] This training profoundly shaped Pope's style, instilling a focus on emotional authenticity and creative contrasts—such as pairing fast and slow pacing or loud and soft tones for comedic effect—that became hallmarks of his approach.[10]Notable roles and contributions
One of Tony Pope's most enduring contributions to voice acting was his portrayal of Goofy for Disney from the late 1970s through 1988, spanning over a decade and including appearances in animated shorts, albums, and films such as Sport Goofy in Soccermania (1987) and Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).[11] During this period, Pope's energetic and comedic delivery evolved the character's bumbling charm, building on Hal Smith's prior work while infusing a fresh, impressionistic flair that aligned with his early training in versatile vocal styles. His Goofy voice also featured prominently in Disneyland Records projects, contributing to the character's prominence in theme park attractions and merchandise.[12] Pope's voice work extended to commercial advertising, where he earned 17 Gold and Platinum records for jingles and voiceovers, showcasing his skill in crafting memorable, versatile impressions for brands and products.[12] This advertising success highlighted his broad range, from humorous character voices to authoritative narration, which became a hallmark of his career and influenced his later animation roles. In the realm of toys, Pope provided the voice for the blockbuster Furby interactive doll launched by Tiger Electronics in 1998, recording lines in English as well as French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish to support its global release.[13] The Furby's playful, gibberish-speaking persona, brought to life by Pope's whimsical intonations, fueled its status as a cultural phenomenon, with more than 40 million units sold during the three years of its original production and sparking widespread media attention as a must-have holiday toy.[13] Pope played a significant role in early anime dubbing efforts in the United States, contributing to Streamline Pictures' influential 1988 English adaptation of Akira, where he voiced Colonel Shikishima and several supporting characters like Nezu and the bartender.[14] This dub was pivotal in introducing high-profile Japanese animation to American audiences through theatrical releases and VHS, helping to establish anime's foothold beyond niche markets. Later, in the 2001 film Metropolis, Pope voiced the detective Shunsaku Ban, adding depth to the character's grizzled wisdom in a production that further bridged Osamu Tezuka's manga legacy with Western viewers. His anime contributions, marked by adaptive and expressive performances, supported the genre's growing popularity in the U.S. during the 1980s and 1990s.[14]Death and legacy
Death
Tony Pope died on February 11, 2004, at the age of 56 in Burbank, California, from complications following leg surgery at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center.[6] The surgery was intended to address a leg issue, though specific prior health conditions prompting the procedure were not publicly detailed.[9] Pope's family, including his wife Patricia Lentz and their three children—Melissa, Alex, and Marcella Lentz-Pope—issued a public announcement through an obituary in the Los Angeles Times shortly after his passing, expressing gratitude for the support from his professional community.[5] Industry peers and outlets quickly acknowledged the loss, with Animation World Network reporting the news and highlighting his extensive voice work in animation, while Variety noted the sudden nature of his death during the procedure.[6][1] A memorial service was held on February 14, 2004, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills, featuring a visitation period from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. followed by a graveside service at 3:00 p.m., where Pope was subsequently buried.[6][5] The family requested donations to the Tony Pope Memorial Fund at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Foundation in lieu of flowers.[1]Legacy
Tony Pope's contributions to early English-language anime dubbing in the 1980s and 1990s earned him recognition as part of the foundational efforts that introduced Japanese animation to American audiences. He provided voices for key roles in pioneering projects, such as Colonel Shikishima in Streamline Pictures' 1988 dub of Akira, a landmark release that helped establish professional dubbing standards and influenced later voice actors in the genre. His work in other early dubs, including Shunsaku Ban in the 2001 English version of Metropolis, exemplified the versatile, character-driven performances that became hallmarks of U.S. anime localization during that era. Pope's portrayals of Goofy for Disney from 1977 to 1988 and the original Furby toy in 1998 remain enduringly popular, frequently featured in retrospectives on classic animation and toy culture. The Goofy voice, heard in various Disney productions and Disneyland attractions, continues to be celebrated for its warm, comedic energy, with fans appreciating its role in bridging generations of Disney storytelling.[15] Similarly, his "cute little voice" for Furby—drawing from mentor Daws Butler's techniques—powered the toy's Furbish language and contributed to its massive success, with over 58 million units sold worldwide, cementing its place in 1990s pop culture nostalgia.[16] Post-2004 tributes from industry colleagues highlighted Pope's impact, as noted in contemporary obituaries that praised his three-decade career spanning over 100 titles. His legacy persists through his family, with wife Patricia Lentz and daughter Marcella Lentz-Pope both active voice actresses; Marcella, who began working at age 8 inspired by her parents, has voiced characters in projects like League of Legends and the Fire Emblem series, carrying forward the family's tradition in the field.[1][17] While documentation of Pope's commercial jingle work remains limited, his broader influence endures in fan communities revisiting his anime roles via modern streaming platforms, where early dubs like Akira have seen renewed availability and appreciation in the 2020s.[2]Filmography
Films
Tony Pope contributed voices to a variety of feature films, spanning both live-action and animated productions, often providing character voices, additional dialogue, or ADR loop group work for theatrical releases. His roles highlighted his versatility in bringing animated characters to life or enhancing soundscapes in major Hollywood films.[2]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Back to the Future | 1985 Radio Announcer (voice)[18] |
| 1988 | Who Framed Roger Rabbit | Goofy / Big Bad Wolf (voice)[19] |
| 1997 | Cats Don't Dance | Alligator / Additional Voices (voice)[20] |
| 1999 | The King and I | Burmese Emissary (voice) |
| 2001 | Shrek | ADR Loop Group / Additional Voices |
| 2001 | Marco Polo: Return to Xanadu | Babu / Foo-Ling / Reginald the Seagull (voice)[21] |
| 2004 | Dawn of the Dead | ADR Loop Group |
Anime
Tony Pope was a key figure in the English dubbing of Japanese anime from the 1980s to the early 2000s, frequently credited as Anthony Mozdy or Tony Mozdy, and his performances helped bridge anime to Western audiences through early localization efforts by studios like Streamline Pictures and ADV Films.[14] His roles often featured grizzled authority figures, soldiers, and eccentric supporting characters, reflecting the diverse demands of anime's narrative styles during a formative era for the medium's international adaptation.[15] A breakthrough role came in Streamline Pictures' influential 1988 dub of the cyberpunk classic Akira, where Pope provided voices for the Bartender, Colonel Shikishima, Nezu, Resistance Member, and Yamagata, contributing to one of the first major anime releases to gain cult status in North America.[14] This dub, known for its straightforward adaptation approach, marked a pivotal moment in anime localization, and Pope's gravelly delivery enhanced the film's tense, dystopian atmosphere.[14] Pope's most extensive anime work spanned the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, where he voiced dozens of characters in key entries from the late 1980s to early 2000s, underscoring his reliability in mecha anime dubs. In the Mobile Suit Gundam movie trilogy (1981–1982, dubbed 2000s), he portrayed General Revil, Kycilia's Subordinate A, and various federation officers and soldiers, capturing the military hierarchy's stoic demeanor.[14] He reprised similar authoritative parts in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (1991 OVA, dubbed 2002) as Axis General and Dry's Messenger, and in Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (1991 film, dubbed 2004) as the antagonist Leslie Arno, aiding the franchise's complex political storytelling in English.[14] In the science fiction film Metropolis (2001), Pope voiced Shunsaku Ban, the inventive detective and moral anchor who guides the protagonists through the city's underbelly, his warm yet world-weary tone adding emotional depth to the Osamu Tezuka-inspired narrative.[22] This role in Sony Pictures' high-profile dub highlighted Pope's adaptability to blend human elements with futuristic settings.[22] Beyond these highlights, Pope's anime credits encompassed a broad range of series and OVAs, often in ensemble casts that supported the expansion of anime on U.S. television and home video. The following table summarizes selected representative roles, focusing on diverse genres and dub eras:| Title | Year (Original/Japanese Release) | Character(s) Voiced | Dub Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Express 999 (film) | 1979 | Cpt. Warlock, Olaf | New World Pictures dub (1980s)[14] |
| Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise (film) | 1987 | Cdt. Majaho, Guy Washing Clothes, Tekatta Vendor | Streamline Pictures dub (1990s)[14] |
| Vampire Princess Miyu (TV) | 1988 | Black Kite, Music Man (ep. 22) | Early 1990s dub[14] |
| Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal (OVA) / TV series | 1996/1999 | Boss (ep. 2), Governor (ep. 15), Katsu (eps. 79–82), Tani, Ujiki | ADV Films dub (2000s)[14] |
| Trigun (TV) | 1998 | City Hall Clerk (ep. 14, uncredited), E.G. Mine (ep. 16, uncredited) | Pioneer Entertainment dub (1990s)[14] |
| Digimon Tamers (TV) | 2001 | Zhuqiaomon | Saban Entertainment dub (2002)[14] |
| Heat Guy J (TV) | 2002 | Petrov (ep. 21), City Director (ep. 23) | ADV Films dub (2003)[14] |