Top 5 Daws Butler Hanna-Barbera Roles

To say Daws Butler did a lot of voices for Hanna-Barbera would be the understatement of the century. One of the first-ever actors the studio employed, Butler worked alongside them until his passing in 1988, creating dozens of iconic characters in the process. But out of them all, which ones are among his best? 

Today, I bring you my picks for the top five Daws Butler-voiced Hanna-Barbera characters. I'm ranking them based on my enjoyment of the character, as well as their importance in both the history of Hanna-Barbera and Daws' career. Here goes nothin'!

Number 5: Elroy Jetson

The boy genius is a classic cartoon trope, and for my money, Elroy Jetson remains one of the best characters to use this archetype. Also my pick for the best character of the Jetsons household, Elroy's inventions and misadventures were always a highlight of the series, even in the much debated 1980s episodes. His relationship with Astro is also one of the best in the show, perfectly imitating a classic "boy and his dog" friendship, just in the future! Daws mentioned at one point that his four sons heavily influenced his performance as Elroy, and it was that creative decision that made Elroy such a memorable character. He acted like a real kid because he was based on some! To this day, it seems like most people pick Elroy as their favorite Jetson. Daws Butler's approach to the role is a big reason why. 

Number 4: Snagglepuss

When you step back and look at him, Snagglepuss is a pretty odd character, even for Hanna-Barbera. He's a feline who loves the theater and speaks in a style not unlike Shakespeare. Daws Butler not only made this character work, but work so well that people still remember him. He has all the makings of a classic cartoon character: an iconic design, memorable voice, classic lines, and a formula that always managed to entertain. The voice for Snagglepuss was heavily inspired by Bert Lahr, who actually threatened to sue out of fear that viewers would mistakenly believe he voiced the character. If that doesn't show Butler's imitation skills, I don't know what will. This actually caused Kellogg's to credit Butler in a commercial featuring Snagglepuss, making Butler probably the only voice actor to receive onscreen credit for an ad.

Number 3: Quick Draw McGraw

Out of all Daws' Hanna-Barbera roles, Quick Draw is probably my favorite. While he's not the greatest cowboy, Quick Draw's adventurous and heroic personality made him a character you could root for. He was a bit of an underdog, and you really can't go wrong with an underdog. It should be noted that Daws voiced not just Quick Draw, but also his faithful sidekick, Baba Looey. This is another great example of Butler's range. As a child, I had no idea they were voiced by the same person, so imagine my surprise when I found that out. Daws Butler, alongside his own faithful companion Don Messick, were Hanna-Barbera's most prolific actors in their early years, and for good reason. Either one could practically hold an entire cartoon on their own, and Quick Draw McGraw was proof of that.

Number 2: Huckleberry Hound

While Ruff and Reddy was the first Hanna-Barbera cartoon, it would be their follow-up, The Huckleberry Hound Show, that truly put them on the map. It also doubled as Daws' big moment in the spotlight. One of his personal favorite characters, Huckleberry Hound was laidback and cool, making him a great contrast to other, more ill-tempered characters. Whether he was a knight or a mailman, Huckleberry Hound always kept his cool, which often only added to the hilarity of the situation. Butler's sweet southern take on the character (which was, for the record, not influenced by Andy Griffith) was the finishing touch in making one of Hanna-Barbera's most beloved characters.

Number 1: Yogi Bear

When it comes to Daws Butler characters, there is no one more enduring, nor iconic, than Yogi Bear. Smarter than the average bear, Yogi is one of those cartoon characters it seems like we are born into this world knowing everything about. Just like Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse, we know how he sounds, his catchphrase, and what he does best. Or, in his case, what he'd like to do best. As you all know, Yogi started as a segment in Huckleberry Hound, but his popularity led him to get his own show. Nowadays, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who isn't familiar with him. It shows you that Daw really gave every role his all. Yogi Bear could have been just a segment inside another show and nothing more, but because of the life and warmth Butler gave the character, we're still talking about him, all these years later.

That's my personal list, but now, I open the floor to you. Who are your favorite HB characters portrayed by Daws Butler? Wally Gator? Cogswell? Dare I say, the Funky Phantom? I'm willing to hear them all!