Dan Hennessey, beloved voice actor in children’s classics, has died at 82

Dan Hennessey, legendary voice actor and director, has died at 82 years old.

Hennessey died in his sleep on November 13, 2024, at his home, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease, according to TMZ.

Known for his warm and distinctive voice, Hennessey brought life to iconic characters such as Braveheart Lion in The Care Bears, Chief Quimby in Inspector Gadget, and Father Bear in Little Bear.

His talent also extended behind the scenes as the voice director for the beloved 1990s X-Men animated series.

In a heartfelt statement, his family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and noted the comfort Hennessey brought to generations of children with his work.

They wrote: ‘We are so touched by all those letting us know how he impacted them through his craft, from stage to voice acting and direction.

‘We are warmed by the fact that he provided comfort to a generation of kids around the world by giving voice to beloved animated characters like Braveheart Lion and Fatherbear, who were the personification of his kind and exuberant personality.’

Over a career spanning decades, Hennessey voiced an impressive range of lesser-known characters, including Chef Truffles in Babar, Roy ‘Bully’ Koopa in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros., and Ruckus in X-Men.

He was also a key presence in numerous animated classics in which he voiced multiple roles, such as RoboCop, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, ALF: The Animated Series, Beetlejuice, The Raccoons, and Rescue Heroes.

Many fans are now taking to social media to remember the impact Dan had on their lives.

@SweetSheil wrote on X: ‘R. I. P. Dan Hennessey who brought so much joy to hearts of the children, young and old.’

@mckenzie_tab posted: ‘An iconic voice from my childhood. May he rest in peace.’

@DoctorWaddleDee agreed: ‘His voice was like a friendly grandpa to me. He will be surely missed a lot.’

@alysontheother posted: ‘Care Bears, My Pet Monster, Beetlejuice, X-Men, and Rescue Heroes. And so many more. Dan Hennessey impacted all of our lives in such a joyous way, whether you knew it or not. Heartbroken.’

Hennessey is survived by his wife Patricia and daughters Skye and Eden.

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