Facts About Mel Blanc, The Voice Behind Looney Tunes

Mel Blanc was nicknamed "The Man Of 1,000 Voices" and that moniker was not far off. The man thought of as America's greatest voice-over artist created hundreds of unique voices for radio, TV, movies, and some of the most beloved cartoon characters of all time. Blanc is perhaps best known for his work with Warner Bros. on their Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons.

#MelBlanc #LooneyTunes #WeirdHistory

[Rocanala]

Those cartoons are 60+ years old. I still watch them and laugh like I’ve never seen them before. An ICON

[pamelamays]

Daffy Duck did say "Sufferin' succotash!" in one Looney Tunes feature.
For a time I did believe the carrot allergy urban legend.
After Mel Blanc passed away a newspaper artist drew a picture of some of the Looney Tunes characters gathered around a lone microphone in a spotlight. The caption read "Speechless".

[howHumam]

Mel Blanc was awesome, but its kinda weird that one man was literally the voice of golden age cartoons.

[VoiceoverIsland]

Thanks so much for including a comment from me in your post! I'm Chuck McKibben, and I had the tremendous honor of being Mel's personal recording engineer starting in 1972. I'm delighted that you included my interview in doing your research. I was setting up Mel's mic at Mel Blanc Audiomedia (his own commercial production company in Beverly Hills) one day, when I decided to ask him about his "allergy" to carrots. As you've accurately stated here, he told me that was just an urban legend, and completely untrue. "I like them OK, especially cooked a little, " he responded. "But I couldn't say the next line with carrot chunks in my mouth, so I spit them out." I'm always bothered by people who repeat the "allergy" lie online as "an ironic fact, " when they never even met the man! Thank you for getting things right!

I'm 75 as of this writing in Dec. 2022, and therefore one of the last few surviving people to have known Mel on a first-name basis as a dear friend, mentor, and great employer. Working for the singular most-important voice actor of all time changed my life, and I went on to a long career as a producer/director in New York. If you don't mind, may I mention that I wrote a book about working with Mel, titled "Mel Blanc, the Voice of Bugs Bunny...and Me." It's only available online, but it's my way of paying an in-depth tribute to this great man. His life and fascinating career has only been documented in two other books, one of which is his autobiography, now out-of-print. Mel's very talented producer/director son, Noel Blanc (now 80) started writing a book, but it has gone unfinished. I'm proud to have had Noel's extensive help in writing my tribute. THANK YOU for letting me post this! Long live the memory of Mel Blanc, whose legacy was the gift of laughter!

[ZoeAlleyne]

I think a lot of old timey celebs aren't really as talented as nostalgia makes us think... That's really not the case for Mel. He voiced a whole catalogue of characters who sound nothing alike.

[_SimpleJack_]

Mel Blanc was my hero when I was a kid! What a legend

[lesbw]

Mel Blanc was my era. I loved his voices. I’m sure that teacher felt like dirt when she heard her former student made a BIG name for himself. Thank you Mel for giving me many years of laughter.

[ityler]

Can you do a video of the tomb of the unknown soldier? This Monday will be 100 years since the selection of the first soldier!

[NewMessage]

He was an amazing voice actor, but Th-Th-The, Th-Th-The, Th-Th... That's not all, folks!

[fontanai.e]

As a member of the Mexican delegation we love speedy Gonzalez

[fawzanfawzi]

You should do Tom Kenny as well. He's on every western cartoon you can think of.

[FelisThis]

I had no idea he did ALL the voices, what talent. Thank you Weird History, because of you it is true, you do learn something new every day.🥰

[MFGC-EmilyRose]

Mel Blanc was and is the greatest voice actor we ever had.

[SheilaRamseySoprano]

My dad taught me all about Mel Blanc when he and I used to watch Looney Tunes on Saturday mornings. He inspired my interest in voice acting as well as studying opera. I was a senior in high school when he passed, and I remember how sad it was that there will probably never be another one like him.

[catalinacurio]

I watch Looney Tunes with my nephew, we stay up all night (only on the weekend), then his mom goes mad at me just like one of the characters. ps If someone tells you that you will come to nothing, spend the rest of your life proving them wrong. 😊😊😊

[zach]

Man, this was something. He was one of a kind. No one else can match voices like him.

[magicvampirelver]

I love the looney tunes.. I have my son watching them too lol I think it's so stupid they took the skunk away smh

[ryankoehler]

He IS the greatest character voice ever.

[bobthabuilda]

Teachers were like that back then. A ton of my older relatives were openly mocked in front of class for their teeth, weight, handwriting, etc. Not surprised that happened to Blanc.

[User-ujnz]

Mel Blanc and Mel Brooks are why I will always stand up for the American Jew...the two best Mels we ever made.