Yahoo News Legendary voice actress June Foray dies, aged 99
June Foray, a legendary voice actress who had been working in the business since the 1950s, has sadly died at the age of 99, less than two months before she would have turned 100.
A close friend of the star confirmed the news on his Facebook, writing that "she is resting peacefully now with her beloved sister Geri and Sam her brother-in-law".
Foray was perhaps best known for her role as Rocky the Flying Squirrel in the Rocky and Bullwinkle franchise, beginning with a cartoon series that first aired in 1959.
She also voiced the character in the 2000 movie The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, which combined classic animation, CGI and live-action, and starred Robert De Niro. She played Rocky as recently as a 2014 short that accompanied Mr Peabody and Sherman on the home release.
Rocky wasn't the only character Foray was known for: she also voiced Tweety's Granny and Witch Hazel in Looney Tunes from the '50s right up to 2014, Cindy Lu Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Lucifer the Cat in Cinderella, Magica De Spell in DuckTales, a different Witch Hazel in a Donald Duck cartoon, Grandma Fa in Disney's Mulan and its sequel, and Grammi Gummi in Gummi Bears.
Multiple stars from the world of animation have paid tribute to the late icon via their Twitter accounts.
Digimon: Digital Monsters and Naruto: Shippuden actor Neil Kaplan said: "Too many people are referred to as a legend. But sometimes for folks like June Foray, legend is far [too] passive a title. She was royalty."
Too many people are referred to as a legend. But sometimes for folks like June Foray, legend is far to passive a title. She was royalty #RIP https://t.co/2MEfOQJHpL
- (((Neil Kaplan))) (@NeKap) July 27, 2017
We've lost one of the true GIANTS of the VO world. Thank you for all you gave us, June.#RIPJuneForay https://t.co/hMBxb2GlFu
- Bob Joles (@BobJolesVO) July 27, 2017
Fellow Warner Bros voice actor Bob Bergen shared a photo of himself with Foray, calling her "the Granny to my Tweety".
RIP June Foray. My sweet friend. The Granny to my Tweety! A legend in the world of animation. xoxoxo!! #heartbroken pic.twitter.com/knTQaqrKPc
- Bob Bergen (@BobBergen) July 27, 2017
June Foray - Voice of so many amazing characters...so inspired by her... RIP ..Love and blessings xxEG
#voiceactress #RockyandBullwinkle pic.twitter.com/Ra9gTUgUar- RealEGDaily (@RealEGDaily) July 27, 2017
Wreck-It Ralph director Rich Moore also tweeted: "How did they pack so much talent into one person?" while Final Fantasy, Batman: Arkham series and Fairly OddParents actress Tara Strong changed her profile picture to Rocky in tribute:
How did they pack so much talent into one person? RIP #JuneForay, one of my favorite people in the animation industry.
- Rich Moore (@_rich_moore) July 27, 2017
Fly Squirrel #JuneForay pic.twitter.com/AJn7qzZ1fF
- tara strong (@tarastrong) July 27, 2017
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