Whatever happened to Noel Blanc?

[Fone Bone]

This probably isn't the right board for this but since Joe Alaskey and Bob Bergen frequent here I think it belongs here.

What happened to Noel Blanc? In the eighties when Mel Blanc was getting up there in years they always had the two of them together in interviews saying that Noel was going to take over voicing Loony Tunes characters from his father after he died. He did great impressions. But in stuff like Space Jam, Loony Tunes: Back in Action, The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries, Taz-Mania, Tiny Toon Adventures, and Duck Dodgers the Loony Tunes were voiced by the likes of Joe Alaskey, Bob Bergen, Billy West, and Jim Cummings. Did Warner Bros. have a falling out with Noel? Or did they just think the VO actors they got were better? Is Noel still alive?

[Bob Bergen]

Hey!!

That's a question I get practically everyday! Here's what I can tell you from my perspective. Like you I had seen Mel and Noel on many a talkshow promoting Noel as the one who would eventually take over his Dad's voices. In fact, if you check out the "cool clips" page on my website I have the audio from an early 1980's TV show called "That's My Line", where I first saw the 2 discuss Noel's vocal future. For many years the 2 made the talkshow circuit telling how Noel would take over for his Dad. Mel passed away in 1989, and I first did Porky and Tweety for Tiny Toons in 1990. Since then I've been one of a handful of actors to share the voices of The Looney Tunes, along with Joe Alaskey, Greg Burson, Billy West, and Maurice LaMarche, to name a few. Most people don't look at the credits of movies or TV shows, and commercials have no credits. This is why many still assume Noel is doing the characters. OH-and Noel is still very much alive!!!!! You might have seen him doing commercials for a Tweety/Sylvester talking clock, which used old recordings of his Dad. Plus a few years ago he could be heard before the start of movies at Pacific theaters.

[Fone Bone]

First off I love you guys. But do you know what the reason was Warner Bros went with you all and not Noel? Was he mad? He seemed like a really nice guy.

Edit: You forgot Jim Cummings as Taz!:D

[Bob Bergen]

I'm never involved in the hiring decisions, so I couldn't tell you the reasons why one of us is hired over another. I will say this: there will never be another Mel Blanc! He was an amazing talent who gave life to some of the best loved characters in the history of cinema. I do my darndest to keep Porky as close to Mel as I can, but I know I'll never come close to his genius. But I'm very fond of the pig! And yes, I left off Jim Cummings!! SO sorry, Jimmy!!!!!! He rocks!

[Fone Bone]

I'm never involved in the hiring decisions, so I couldn't tell you the reasons why one of us is hired over another. I will say this: there will never be another Mel Blanc! He was an amazing talent who gave life to some of the best loved characters in the history of cinema. I do my darndest to keep Porky as close to Mel as I can, but I know I'll never come close to his genius. But I'm very fond of the pig! And yes, I left off Jim Cummings!! SO sorry, Jimmy!!!!!! He rocks!I think you do just fine.:)

[Saotome2U]

Nice to meet'cha Bob. :) Been a fan of your work for many years.

I too wondered what happened to Noel Blanc. I do remember that commercial with him advertising that clock. I also remember my first time being exposed to Noel's talent from his father when they were being interviewed together for the release of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Like all of you, I was under the impression he would take over the voices after the sad passing of the ever loved Mel.

Then Tiny Toons came out, and I was sure that it would be Noel I saw in the credits, but it was Joe Alaskey, and you Bob. Then Taz-Mania with Jim Cummings (which at first I didn't think would work, but paid off very well). ^_^ The strange thing is, in the 2-3 Tiny Toons episodes where the "school principal" is in the cast, Noel is the voice of the Principal. I remember those 2 episodes very well, but I just never understood why that was. Oh well, Bob if you happen to find some info you can share with us on Noel, then I'm sure we'll all appreciate it. But nonetheless, you do a GREAT job with your voice reproductions, as well as Joe. It's hard for me to say if I like Mel's or Jim's version of Taz more since I've come to enjoy both in their own right. Keep up the good work. :D

[Bob Bergen]

Thanks for the nice note!! As for Tiny Toons, that was my first LT gig and I was hired to replace who they'd hired for Porky. I believe that was Noel, but I'm not 100% sure. FYI-Jeff Bergman did Bugs and Daffy those early post Mel days. He does amazing voices!!!!!!! Check out his website: insidejeffbergman.com I think he's curently doing George Jetson on those Jet Dry TV spots.

[Cullen]

I remember recently seeing Noel's name in the credits of the Family Guy movie. I think he did the voices of Bugs Bunny and Elmer.

I'm also wondering. Will Noel ever get to voice any new original characters in the future? So far, the only original character I've seen him voice was the scary principal on Tiny Toons.

[Red]

Hey, I know this is a thread where the great Bob Bergen has posted in, but please don't bump up old topics, especially two months old. Thanks!