McKennon, voice of animated stars, dies

RAYMOND, Wash., July 19 (UPI) -- Actor Dallas McKennon, who offered his voice to animated film characters, has died in Raymond, Wash., at the age of 89, his daughter Barbara Porter says.

The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday McKennon died of age-related causes at the Willapa Harbor Care Center, ending a career in which his voice was featured in movies such as "Lady and the Tramp," "101 Dalmatians" and "Mary Poppins."

Fellow voice actor Will Ryan remembered McKennon, who died Tuesday, as an actor capable of lending enthusiastic personalities to animated characters.

"He had a gift for mimicry, but there's that spirit behind it ... . It wasn't so much that he could do different voices, but that he could enthusiastically do different personalities," Ryan said.

In addition to his voice acting parts, McKennon appeared in the movies "The Birds," "Bend of the River" and "Clambake."

Among his TV credits were roles in series like "Bonanza," "Gunsmoke," "Wagon Train" and "The Virginian."

The Times said McKennon is survived by his wife Betty, eight children, 21 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.