Owens, Gary 1936-

PERSONAL

Original name, Gary Altman; born May 10, 1936, in Mitchell, SD; son of Bernard Joseph (a country treasurer and sheriff) and Venetta (a county auditor and educator; maiden name, Clark) Owens; married Arleta Lee Markell; children: Scott Michael, Christopher Dane (a producer). Education: Attended Dakota Wesleyan University, 1956, and Minneapolis Art Institute.

Addresses:

Agent—Kazarian, Spencer and Associates, 11969 Ventura Blvd., 3rd Floor, Box 7409, Studio City, CA 91604; (voice work) TGMD Talent Agency, 6767 Forest Lawn Dr., Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90068.

Career:

Actor, voice artist, television and radio personality, and writer. Mitchell Daily Republic, Mitchell, SD, reporter, 1952-56; staff member at KOIL-Radio, Omaha, NE, 1956-57, WNOE-Radio, New Orleans, LA, 1957-58, KTSA-Radio, Houston, TX, 1958, WIL-Radio, St. Louis, MO, 1958-59, and KEWB-Radio, San Francisco, CA, 1959-62; KMPC-Radio and Television, Los Angeles, announcer, 1962-82; KPRZ-Radio, Los Angeles, announcer, 1982—. Jay Ward Productions, writer, 1961-62; Golden West Broadcasters, national creative director and vice president, 1981-82; Gannett Broadcasting, vice president of creative services, beginning 1985; Foonman and Sons, Inc., president, beginning 1987. Appeared on more than 600 television shows; featured voice for more than 1,000 animated television programs; announcer for more than 400 commercial advertisements each year; EPCOT Center, FL, ride narrator for World of Motion. Pasadena City College, member of advisory board, beginning 1969; University of Southern California, member of radio advisory board, beginning 1980. Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation, member; Multiple Sclerosis Drive of Los Angeles, chair, 1972; Southern California Diabetes Drive, chair and grand marshal, 1974-80; participant in telethons for cerebral palsy, 1980, and the DARE and SANE programs; Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, member of National Miracle Committee, beginning 1981, and member of national committee for Carousel Ball; Goodwill Industries, honorary chair of Sporting Goods Drive, 1986.

Member:

National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (member of board of governors of Grammy Awards, beginning 1968), National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (member of board of governors, 1972), Cartoonists and Artists Professional Association, National Cartoonists Society, Northern California Cartoonists Association (honorary member), Southern California Cartoonists Association.

Awards, Honors:

Named radio personality of the year, Gavin Poll and Billboard, ten times, 1965-79; Distinguished Service Award, Hollywood Jayvees, 1966; Emmy Award, 1968, for Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In; named man of the year, Los Angeles All-City Employees Association, 1968; named top radio personality in the world, International Radio Forum, 1977; David Award, 1978; inducted into Hollywood Hall of Fame, 1978; received star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1980; American Award, Cypress College, 1981; honored by U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1985; Emmy Award, 1986, for More Dinosaurs; named top radio broadcaster, National Association of Broadcasters, and radio man of the year, both 1986; Carbon Mike Award, Pacific Broadcasters, 1987; honored by American Diabetes Association and Variety Clubs International, both 1990; inducted into National Broadcasters Hall of Fame and Radio Hall of Fame, both 1994, and National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, 1995; received five Grammy Award nominations, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; named honorary mayor of Encino, CA, and Woodland Hills, CA, and honorary sheriff of Encino.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Voice of Roger Ramjet, Roger Ramjet (animated), syndicated, 1965.

Television newscaster, The Green Hornet (also known as The Kato Show), ABC, 1966-67.

Narrator and voice of Space Ghost, Space Ghost and Dino Boy (animated), CBS, 1966.

Announcer, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (also known as Laugh-In), NBC, 1968-73.

Host, Letters to Laugh-In (also known as Love Letters to Laugh-In), NBC, 1969-70.

Narrator, The Perils of Penelope Pitstop (animated), CBS, 1969-71.

Announcer, Sesame Street, PBS, beginning 1969.

Announcer, The Hudson Brothers Show (also known as The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show), CBS, 1974.

Voice, Dynomutt (animated), ABC, 1975.

Host, Monty Python's Flying Circus, 1975.

Host, The Gong Show, animated, 1976-77.

Voice of Blue Falcon, Scooby's All-Star Laff-a-Lympics (animated; also known as Laff-a-Lympics, Scooby's All Stars, and Scooby's Laff-a-Lympics), ABC, 1977-78.

Announcer and voice of Radley Crowne/The Blue Falcon, Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (animated), 1978.

Announcer, Yogi's Space Race (animated), NBC, 1978-79.

Narrator, Godzilla's Power Hour (animated), 1979.

Announcer, Games People Play, NBC, 1980-81.

Voice of Space Ghost, Space Stars (animated; included the segments Space Ghost, Teen Force, The Herculoids, and Astro and the Space Mutts), NBC, 1981-82.

No Soap, Radio, ABC, 1982.

Announcer, Breakaway, syndicated, 1983.

Narrator, Mighty Orbots (animated), ABC, 1984.

The World's Greatest Adventures, 1986.

Voice of Lieutenant Dirk Niblick, Square One (also known as Square One TV), 1987.

Voice of announcer and additional voices, Garfield and Friends (animated), CBS, 1988-94.

Cops, 1990.

Captain Squash, Bobby's World (animated), 1990.

Voice of Powdered Toast Man, The Ren and Stimpy Show (animated), 1991.

Voice of Commander Ulysses Feral, SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron (animated), TBS, 1993.

Narrator, Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad (animated; also known as SSSS and Superhuman Samurai), 1994.

Announcer, Love & War, CBS, 1994-95.

Narrator, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (animated), ABC, then UPN and syndicated, 2000.

Voice of Crandall's grandfather, a recurring role, Disney's Teamo Supremo, ABC, 2002.

Also appeared as announcer for The Banana Splits (animated), Bewitched, and Ding Song School; voice of Principal Schneider, Nightmare Ned (animated); other appearances include Alice in Wonderland; Bill and Ted's Great Adventure; Bonkers; Chip 'n' Dale; The Count of Monte Cristo; Donald Duck; Goofy; Mickey Mouse; The Three Musketeers; Tom and Jerry, Jr.; and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Narrator, It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (also known as Superman the Musical), ABC, 1975.

Mickey's 50, 1978.

Announcer, Mickey Mouse's 50th Birthday, 1979.

Announcer, The Muppets Go Hollywood, 1979.

Narrator, Legends of the Superheroes, 1979.

Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope for President, NBC, 1980.

Rock 'n' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular, CBS, 1985.

Announcer, Walt Disney World's 15th Anniversary Celebration, 1986.

The American Comedy Awards, annually, 1986-94.

TV's Greatest Bits, 1987.

Announcer, Las Vegas: An All-Star 75th Anniversary, ABC, 1987.

Announcer, Game Show Biz, syndicated, 1987.

Announcer, Disney's DTV Monster Hits (animated), NBC, 1987.

NBC Investigates Bob Hope, NBC, 1987.

Mancini and Friends, PBS, 1987.

Showtime Presents: Jonathan Winters and Friends, Showtime, 1989.

Announcer, Stand-Up Comics Take a Stand!, The Family Channel, 1990.

Voice, Eek! The Cat Christmas Special (animated), Fox, 1993.

(In archive footage) Laugh-In Past Christmas Present, 1993.

Jonathan Winters: Spaced Out, Showtime, 1993.

(In archive footage) Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In 25th Anniversary, NBC, 1993.

Host, The Wondrous World of Weird Animals, Disney Channel, 1995.

Salute to the Stooges, The Family Channel, 1996.

Bob Crane: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 1998.

Narrator, The Making of a Mobster: "Mickey Blue Eyes," 1999.

Tiny Tim: The EQ True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

Paul Lynde: Off Center, Arts and Entertainment, 2001.

Announcer, That '70s Show Special, Fox, 2002.

The Gong Show: The EQ True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2003.

Voice, The Alan Brady Show, TV Land, 2003.

The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special, NBC, 2003.

TV Land Convention Special, TV Land, 2004.

Also appeared in America's Choice; The Battle of Beverly Hills; CBS's Fifty Years; Flip Wilson Specials; as announcer, Garfield's Halloween Adventure (animated); in The Gary Owens All-Nonsense News Network; Like Hep; NBC's Fifty Years; Perry Como Visits Hollywood; and Saturday Night at the Superbowl.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Man from Alphabet, Sesame Street, PBS, 1969.

Announcer, The Sunday Games, NBC, 1980.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

War correspondent, McHale's Navy, 1963.

Dick Willet, "Will Success Spoil Herman Munster?," The Munsters, 1965.

Zombo's announcer, "Zombo," The Munsters, 1966.

Henry, "McNab's Lab" (premiere episode), Summer Fun, ABC, 1966.

"I Can't Fly," Mr. Terrific, 1967.

Himself, It's Happening (also known as Happening '68), 1968.

Himself, "The Biggest Star in Hollywood," I Dream of Jeannie, 1969.

Voice (in archive footage), "130," Sesame Street, PBS, 1970.

Gary Michaels, "Twenty Million Alibis," Barnaby Jones, 1973.

Himself, Rhyme and Reason, 1975.

Television reporter, "Murder on High C," Get Christie Love, 1975.

Voice of Radley Crowne/Blue Falcon, "High Rise Hair Raiser/Everyone Hyde!," The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour (animated; also known as The Scooby-Doo Show), ABC, 1977.

Narrator, "Playing Footsie with Bigfoot," Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, 1977.

Announcer, "Man O'War," Man from Atlantis, 1977.

Himself, "223," The Electric Company, 1979.

Voice of Cy, "The Return of Starbuck," Galactica 1980 (also known as Battlestar Galactica), 1980.

Sanfred Thompson, "Down-Home Country Blues," Simon & Simon, 1985.

Himself, "Split Image," The Fall Guy, 1985.

Narrator, "A Clockwork Hammer," Sledge Hammer! (also known as Sledge Hammer: The Early Years), 1987.

Voice, "The Binky Show," Garfield and Friends (animated), 1988.

The Wonderfully Wacky Willy White, "Home Radio," The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (animated; also known as Club Mario), 1989.

Voice, "It Must Be True!," Garfield and Friends (animated), 1989.

Bobby Baumgarner, "Auntie Maim," Night Court, NBC, 1990.

Narrator, "Employee of the Month," Dinosaurs, 1991.

Narrator, "When Food Goes Bad," Dinosaurs, 1991.

Narrator, "Nuts to War; Part 2," Dinosaurs, 1992.

Voice of Powdered Toast man, "In the Army/Powdered Toastman," The Ren & Stimpy Show (animated; also known as VH-1 Ren and Stimpy Rocks), 1992.

Voice of badly animated man, "Badly Animated Man," Raw Toonage (animated), 1992.

Voice of Principal Schneider, "Let's Make a Right Price," 2 Stupid Dogs, 1993.

Voice of Principal Schneider, "Show and Tell," 2 Stupid Dogs, 1993.

Voice of Principal Schneider, "Substitute Teacher," 2 Stupid Dogs, 1993.

Voice, "Origin of the Fantastic Four: Parts 1 & 2" (also known as "Fantastic Four"), Marvel Action Hour, syndicated, 1994.

Announcer, "Late Show," Space Ghost Coast to Coast (also known as SGC2C), Cartoon Network, 1996.

Himself, "Dream Weaver," Mad About You, NBC, 1996.

50s Batman, "Legend of the Dark Knight," Batman: Gotham Knights (animated), The WB, 1998.

Himself, "Warren," Space Ghost Coast to Coast (also known as SGC2C), Cartoon Network, 1998.

Voice of Blue Falcon, "Dyno-Might/LABretto," Dexter's Laboratory (animated; also known as Dexter's Lab and Dexter de Shiyanshi), 1998.

Voice of Fifties Batman, "Legends of the Dark Knight," The New Batman Adventures (animated), 1998.

Guy who thinks he's Gary Owens, "Good Will Haunting," Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (also known as Sabrina and Sabrina Goes to College), ABC, 1998.

Announcer, "The Pill," That '70s Show, Fox, 1999.

Narrator, "Water Tower," That '70s Show, Fox, 1999.

Announcer, "The Good Son," That '70s Show, Fox, 1999.

Contestant, Street Smarts, 2003.

Voice of Blue Falcon, "Johnny Makeover/Back on Shaq," Johnny Bravo (animated), Cartoon Network, 2004.

Also appeared as broadcaster and clown, "Krumm Rises to the Top," Aaahh! Real Monsters (animated), Nickel- odeon; in Ashley (animated), Cartoon Network; in Droopy Master Detective (animated); narrator, "Really Mighty Ducks," Quack Pack (animated); Charlie, The Wayans Bros, The WB.

Television Appearances; Other:

Announcer (in archive footage), The Love Bug (movie), 1979.

Announcer, Defenders of Dynatron City, 1992.

Television Work; Additional Voices; Animated Series:

Tom and Jerry Kids Show, Fox, 1980.

Eek! the Cat (also known as Eek! and the Terrible Thunderlizards and Eek!stravaganza), Fox, 1992.

Skeleton Warriors, 1994.

The Twisted Adventures of Felix the Cat (also known as The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat), CBS, 1995.

Batman: Gotham Knights (also known as The New Adventures of Batman), The WB, 1997.

Also provided additional voices for Mask.

Film Appearances:

(Uncredited) Narrator, Pigs Is Pigs, 1954.

Naval officer, McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force, Universal, 1963.

(Uncredited) Narrator of prologue, The Naked Witch, 1964.

The Green Hornet, 1966.

Narrator for re-release, The Batman (also known as An Evening with Batman and Robin), 1966.

(Uncredited) Voice, The Last of the Secret Agents?, 1966.

Announcer, The Love Bug, Buena Vista, 1969.

(Uncredited) Narrator, Dr. Phibes Rises Again, 1972.

(Uncredited) voice of newscaster, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Warner Bros., 1975.

Narrator, Loose Shoes (also known as Coming Attractions and Quackers), 1980.

Narrator, Superbman: The Other Movie, 1981.

Television newscaster, Hysterical, 1983.

(Uncredited) Pig in a Poke announcer, European Vacation (also known as National Lampoon's "European Vacation"), 1985.

Narrator, Aliens, Dragons, Monsters and Me, 1986.

Himself, I'm Gonna Get You Sucka, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1988.

Game show announcer, Destroyer (also known as The Edison Effect and Shadow of Death), 1988.

Sports announcer, How I Got into College, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1989.

Minister, Diggin' Up Business (also known as Say Bye Bye), 1990.

Sheriff, Kill Crazy, 1990.

Himself, Gone Fish'n, 1993.

Narrator, Ed Wood: Look Back in Angora, Rhino Video, 1994.

Master of ceremonies for Rancor Extortion video, Spy Hard, Buena Vista, 1996.

Mr. Kirby, Border to Border, Independent Artist, 1998.

Narrator, Major Damage, 2001.

Television announcer, Jane White Is Sick & Twisted, Artist View Entertainment, 2002.

Narrator, The Story of "The Tortoise & the Hare" (animated; also known as The Tortoise & the Hare), Screen Novelties, 2002.

Announcer, Frank McKlusky, C.I., Buena Vista, 2002.

Himself, Comic Book: The Movie, Miramax Home Entertainment, 2004.

Himself, The Aristocrats (also known as The @r!$t*(r@t$), ThinkFilm, 2005.

Himself, Certifiably Jonathan, 2007.

Radio Appearances:

The Gary Owens Special Report, syndicated, beginning 1969.

Soundtrack of the 60s, syndicated, beginning 1981.

Biff Owens Sports Exclusive, beginning 1981.

USA Today, Mutual Broadcasting System, 1982-83.

Gary Owens Supertracks, syndicated, 1984.

Gary Owens Music Weekend, Lorimar, 1987.

Host, The Music of Your Life, syndicated, 2003.

RECORDINGS

Albums:

Sunday Morning with the Comics, Reprise, 1970.

The Marx Brothers, Decca, 1970.

Gary Owens's Put Your Head on My Finger, MGM-Pride, 1973.

The Presidents, 1973.

The Wit and Wisdom of Dan Quayle, 1989.

The Cosby Wit, 1990.

Recorded numerous other albums, including Gary Owens Presents the Funny Side of Bonnie and Clyde and Themes Like Old Times.

Videos:

More Dinosaurs, 1986.

Narrator, Space Quest 4: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers (video game), 1991.

Prehistoric World, 1993.

The World's Greatest Dinosaur Video, 1993.

Narrator, Look Back, Rhino Home Video, 1994.

Narrator, Space Quest VI: The Spinal Frontier (video game), 1995.

Narrator of video release introduction, Jerks of All Trades, 1999.

Host, TV Land Presents Blast from the Past (video game), 2001.

Other videos include Dinosaurs; How to Collect Comic Books; Son of Dinosaurs; and TV's Greatest Bits.

WRITINGS

Books:

Elephants, Grapes, and Pickles (humor), Price, Stern, 1963.

The Gary Owens "What to Do While Holding the Phone Book" (humor), J. P. Tarcher, 1973.

A Gary Owens Chrestomathy of Silliness, Harte-Hanks, 1980.

The Gary Owens Encyclopedia of Broadcasting, Harte-Hanks, 1981.

Other:

Author of the unproduced screenplay "Three Caraway Seeds and an Author's Agent," 1979. Author of the syndicated column "Sounding Off with Gary Owens," 1967-68; author of "Gary Owens, Gary Owens," a column in Radio and Records Weekly, beginning 1978; columnist for Hollywood Citizen-News, 1965-67, and Hollywood, beginning 1983. Contributor to magazines, newspapers, and wire services, including Associated Press.