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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Remembering June Foray: The woman of a thousand voices who changed animation forever

Remembering June Foray: The woman of a thousand voices who changed animation forever

Published Jul 21, 2026 02:12 pm

At A Glance

  • Nine years after her passing, legendary voice actress June Foray continues to inspire generations through her unforgettable characters and groundbreaking contributions to the animation industry.

This July marks the ninth anniversary of the death of June Foray, widely celebrated as the "First Lady of Voice Acting."

She died on July 26, 2017, at the age of 99, capping an extraordinary career that stretched across more than 80 years and helped shape the history of animation.

Indeed, before generations knew the names behind their favorite animated characters, there was Foray, a performer whose remarkable talent gave life to some of the most beloved voices in television and film.

Nearly a decade after her passing, her legacy remains as vibrant as ever.

Whether voicing an innocent child, a cunning villain or a lovable grandmother, she could disappear completely into every role.

Among her most unforgettable performances were Rocky the Flying Squirrel and the seductive spy Natasha Fatale in "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show," Granny and Witch Hazel in Warner Bros.' "Looney Tunes," Cindy Lou Who in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!," Magica De Spell in Disney's "DuckTales," Grandmother Fa in "Mulan," and Grammi Gummi in "Adventures of the Gummi Bears."
Horror fans also remember her chilling turn as the voice of Talky Tina in the classic "The Twilight Zone" episode "Living Doll."

Her immense contribution earned the admiration of fellow animation legend Chuck Jones, who once remarked, "June Foray is not the female Mel Blanc. Mel Blanc was the male June Foray."

But Foray's influence extended far beyond the microphone.

She was instrumental in elevating animation as a respected art form. As one of the founding figures of ASIFA-Hollywood, she established the Annie Awards in 1972, which remain animation's premier honors.

She also spent years lobbying the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize animated features, efforts that ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2001.

Even in her 90s, Foray continued making history, becoming the oldest entertainer to win a Daytime Emmy Award at age 94 for her work on "The Garfield Show."

Nine years after her passing, Foray's thousand voices continue to echo through animation history, delighting audiences and inspiring generations of performers who followed in her footsteps.

Related Tags

June Foray June Foray anniversary June Foray death anniversary First Lady of Voice Acting voice acting animation Rocky and Bullwinkle Rocky the Flying Squirrel Natasha Fatale Looney Tunes Granny Witch Hazel How the Grinch Stole Christmas Cindy Lou Who DuckTales Magica De Spell Mulan Grandmother Fa Adventures of the Gummi Bears The Twilight Zone Talky Tina Chuck Jones Mel Blanc
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