Daws Butler Tributes

 On the 18th of May, 1988, Daws Butler passed away following a heart attack. His passing left a huge impact on Hanna-Barbera. I think Walker Edmiston, another fellow voice actor, put it best when he said that Daws' death forced the studio to hire around a dozen new actors to fill his most famous roles. 

Beyond continuing the legacy of characters he helped create, Hanna-Barbera also put out several tributes celebrating Daws Butler and his many contributions to the studio. This first one is a trade magazine ad, and features a great illustration of Daws. The second one I am not quite sure about in regards to its origins, but it focuses on the dozens of characters Butler voiced for the studio, as they mourn the loss of the man who gave them their voices.

And so ends this short celebration of one of voice-actings most unsung heroes, Daws Butler. But, of course, I've barely scratched the surface when it comes to Daws and his accomplishments. Perhaps I'll do this again come this time next year, but until then, I have to recommend you check out the book Daws Butler, Characters Actor if you want to learn even more about his life. I've mentioned this book several times here in the past, and I cannot recommend it enough. Whether your interest is in classic cartoons, Hanna-Barbera cartoons, or voice actors, this book is a must-read, and more than worth your time! With all that being said, I'll be signing off until next week, and thank you Daws Butler for everything. Animation in general wouldn't be the same without him, but Hanna-Barbera is especially indebted to him. To quote William Hanna, "Without Daws, there might not have even been a Hanna-Barbera!"