June Foray

June Foray was a pioneering voice actress whose remarkable career spanned over seven decades, transforming the landscape of animation and radio broadcasting. Known as the "First Lady of Voice Acting," Foray became an iconic figure who brought countless animated characters to life and significantly influenced the entertainment industry.

Early Life and Radio Beginnings

Born June Lucille Forer on September 18, 1917, in Springfield, Massachusetts, Foray discovered her vocal talents at an early age. Initially aspiring to be a dancer, she was forced to abandon those dreams due to a health issue. However, this setback proved fortuitous, as her voice would become her greatest asset. By age 12, she had her first radio broadcast, and by 15, she was regularly performing voice work. Her early radio career took off when she joined the Players and soon starred in her own radio series, Lady Make Believe, in the late 1930s. Foray quickly became a sought-after voice actress, appearing on coast-to-coast network shows and establishing herself as a versatile vocal talent.

Pioneering Voice Work in Radio and Animation

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Foray expanded her repertoire across multiple media platforms. On radio, she voiced characters like Midnight the Cat and Old Grandie the Piano on various programs. Her ability to create distinctive voices made her invaluable in radio, animation, and even dubbing work for films and television. Foray's most famous roles came in animation, where she voiced iconic characters like Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Natasha Fatale from The Bullwinkle Show. Her talent was so remarkable that Mel Blanc himself was quoted as saying, "June Foray is not the female Mel Blanc. Mel Blanc was the male June Foray."

Advocacy and Industry Impact

Beyond her voice acting, Foray was a passionate advocate for animation. In the mid-1960s, she became dedicated to preserving and promoting the art form. She was instrumental in founding ASIFA-Hollywood, an animation society, and created the Annie Awards in 1972 to celebrate achievements in animation. Her commitment to the industry was recognized through numerous awards, including the Inkpot Award and the Annie Award. In 1995, ASIFA-Hollywood even established the June Foray Award, honoring individuals who make significant charitable contributions to animation.

Personal Life and Legacy

Married twice - first to Bernard Barondess and later to Hobart Donovan - Foray had no children. Her personal life was as colorful as her professional one, even landing on Nixon's Enemies List in 1973 after organizing a meat boycott. Foray passed away on July 26, 2017, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 99, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy in voice acting. Her contributions transformed how the world viewed voice acting, elevating it from a mere technical skill to a respected art form.

Works and Appearances

Radio

• Lady Make Believe (late 1930s)
• The Buster Brown Program
• Various network shows

Animation Voice Work

• Rocky the Flying Squirrel in The Bullwinkle Show
• Natasha Fatale in The Bullwinkle Show
• Grammi Gummi in Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears

Film Dubbing

• Various roles in multiple films and television shows

Awards

• Inkpot Award (1974)
• Annie Awards (1996, 1997)
• Daytime Emmy Award (2012)

June Foray's extraordinary career demonstrates that voice can transcend physical appearance, creating memorable characters that live on in the hearts of generations.