Lee Marshall, voice of Tony the Tiger, dies at 64

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 8 (UPI) -- Lee Marshall, the actor who voiced Kellogg's Frosted Flakes character Tony the Tiger, died in a Santa Monica hospital at the age of 64.

Marshall's son Jason Marshall VanVorssum told the LA Times the voice actor died of esophageal cancer on April 26.

Marshall lent his voice to the cereal's character since 1999. He went on to fully replace the original voice of Tony, Thurl Ravenscroft, after his death in 2005.

Before voicing the signature “They’re grrrrrreat!” catchphrase Marshall was a radio DJ, a news anchor and a sports broadcaster.

“We are saddened by the loss of Lee Marshall. His talent and warmth helped bring Tony the Tiger to life and will always be fondly remembered," a spokesperson for Kellogg told The Huffington Post.

The voice actor is survived by his wife, his son Jason, his stepdaughter and a granddaughter.