Will Ryan
Known for

Acting

Credits

81

Gender

Man

Birthday

21 May 1949

Day of death

19 Nov 2021 (72)

Place of birth

Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Also known as
Wil Ryan
William Z. Ryan
William Frank Ryan

Will Ryan

Biography

William Frank Ryan (May 21, 1949 – November 19, 2021) was an American voice actor and producer–writer–composer, well-known for singing about the American West. In the late seventies he teamed up with Phil Baron as Willio and Phillio.  They had regular gigs on television, radio and comedy clubs and universities throughout the US. Ryan and Baron later paired up again voicing characters of best friends Teddy Ruxpin (Baron) and Grubby the Octopede (Ryan) in the Teddy Ruxpin book and tape series as well as the 1987 television show The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin. The Willio and Phillio act brought Ryan back into music and after moving to California, he began to write and record songs for Disney. He provided the voice of Rabbit, Tigger, and Eeyore in the Disney Channel's long-running series Welcome to Pooh Corner and in many other Pooh cartoons. He also provided the voice of Barnaby the Dog on the popular series Dumbo's Circus. Since 1987, Ryan has been a fixture of the radio drama Adventures in Odyssey, playing Eugene Meltsner, Harlow Doyle, David Harley, Patrick O'Ryan and hundreds of one-shot characters. He also voiced Rabbit in Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore after the death of Junius Matthews. Ryan also voiced the character Digit in the 1986 animated film An American Tail. Ryan had also provided the original voice of Petrie in the 1988 animated film The Land Before Time. He appears in the film The Wizard of Speed and Time as several different motion picture union representatives. He is the current voice of Elmo Aardvark. He can be heard as the character, called Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective and in several Elmo Aardvark CDs. Ryan is the current voice of Willie the Giant. He started voicing the character from Mickey's Christmas Carol. Ryan's youthful involvement in pop music has continued alongside his animation career. Will Ryan compositions have been recorded by artists such as Patti LaBelle, Diane Schuur, Victoria Jackson, The Pointer Sisters and Joanie Sommers (whom he also produced). With Andrew J. Lederer and Michael Rosenberg (Jackie Diamond), Ryan performed in the '20s-style music and comedy trio, The Merry Metronomes. He and Lederer also appeared from time to time as a duo, usually under the name The Natty Nabobs. His latest musical incarnation is as leader of Los Angeles-based Will Ryan and the Cactus County Cowboys, a cross between the Marx Brothers and The Sons of the Pioneers. His variety show, Will Ryan's Cactus County Round-Up, has been a staple in Southern California since 2008. It regularly plays at several venues, including the Steve Allen Theatre in Hollywood. Ryan continues to do voice work. In 2009 he was working on the third season of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the 21st season of Adventures in Odyssey, and the new radio series of Will Ryan's Cactus County Round-Up. Description above from the Wikipedia article Will Ryan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia .

Known for
Acting roles
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
2021Mickey Mouse FunhouseWillie the Giant (voice)
2019The Little Mermaid Live!Herald (voice)
2015The Adventures of Biffle and ShoosterSam Shooster
2014I Know That VoiceSelf
2013Get a Horse!Peg-Leg Pete (voice)
2013The One and Only June ForayHimself
2007Mickey's Great Clubhouse HuntWillie the Giant (voice)
2004Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi
2003Looney Tunes: Back in ActionPapa Bear (voice)
2002Adventures in Odyssey: The Caves of QumranEugene Meltsner
2001Disney's House of MouseWillie the Giant
2001Adventures in Odyssey: Escape from the Forbidden MatrixEugene Meltsner
2000Adventures in Odyssey: The Last Days of Eugene MeltsnerEugene Meltsner
1999Family GuyWinnie the Pooh (voice)
1999Courage the Cowardly DogThe Duck Brothers
1998Adventures in Odyssey: A Stranger Among UsEugene Meltsner
1998Adventures in Odyssey: Baby DazeEugene Meltsner
1997Adventures in Odyssey: In Harm's WayEugene Meltsner
1997Adventures in Odyssey: A Twist In TimeEugene Meltsner
1995The Pebble and the PenguinRoyal / Tika (voice)
1995Adventures in Odyssey: Go West Young Man!Eugene Meltsner
1994ThumbelinaHero / Reverend Rat (voice)
1994A Troll in Central ParkBoss (voice)
1994Adventures in Odyssey: Once Upon an AvalancheEugene Meltsner
1993Morris Has a ColdMorris (voice)
1993Adventures in Odyssey: Star QuestEugene Meltsner
1993Mouse SoupWeasel
1991Rock-A-DoodleStuey (voice)
1991Ralph S. MouseMouse (voice)
1991Uncle ElephantUncle (voice)
1991Benny's Biggest BattleBoogwart (voice)
1990Bobby's World
1990Jack and the BeanstalkBean Seller (voice) (uncredited)
1990The Clean Club
1989The Little MermaidSeahorse (voice)
1989Chip 'n' Dale Rescue RangersDale (singing voice)
1989The Wizard of Speed and TimeAll the Unions / Mr. President (voice) (as William Z. Ryan)
1989Stanley and the DinosaursVoice
1988The Land Before TimePetrie (voice)
1988Totally MinnieGoofy (voice)
1988Cap'n O.G Readmore's Puss in BootsWordsy (voice)
1987DuckTalesCaptain Pietro (voice)
1987DuckTalesRoman Knight (voice)
1987DuckTalesCaptain Blackheart (voice)
1987DuckTalesDogface Pete (voice)
1987DuckTalesSharkey (voice)
1987DuckTalesThe Micro Ducks (voice)
1987DuckTalesWeasels (voice)
1987DuckTales
1987DuckTalesDangerous Dan (voice)
1987Sport Goofy in SoccermaniaScrooge McDuck / The Beagle Boys / Gyro Gearloose (voice)
1987Alice Through the Looking GlassThe Paper Man (voice)
1987Down and Out with Donald DuckPete / Goofy (voice)
1987The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
1987Frog and Toad TogetherFrog
1986An American TailDigit (voice)
1986Care Bears Movie II: A New GenerationStars and Hearts (voice)
1986Teen WolfChubs (voice)
1986Disney's DTV ValentinePongo / Goofy (voice)
1986Gummi Bears: A New BeginningUnwin / Ogres (voice)
1986Cap'n O.G. Readmore Meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeWordsy (voice)
1986Pooh's Great School Bus AdventureTigger (voice)
1986Pooh's Great School Bus AdventureRabbit (voice)
1985Disney's Adventures of the Gummi BearsUnwin / Ogres (voice)
1985Frog and Toad Are FriendsFrog
1985Dumbo's Circus
1985Too Smart for StrangersRabbit / Tigger (voice)
1985The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin(voice)
1985Cap'n O.G. Readmore's Jack and the BeanstalkWordsy (voice)
1984The Making of Mickey's Christmas CarolSelf
1984Fitness and Me: Why Exercise?Voice
1983Mickey's Christmas CarolCollector for the Poor #2 / Ghost of Christmas Present (Willie the Giant) / Ghost of Christmas Future (Pete) / Santa Claus (Big Bad Wolf) / Weasel #2 (voice)
1983G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
1983Winnie the Pooh and a Day for EeyoreRabbit (voice)
1977WizardsGuards (uncredited)
1960The FlintstonesNephew Ned (voice)
Credits
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
1996The Wubbulous World of Dr. SeussProducer
1996The Wubbulous World of Dr. SeussTeleplay
1996The Wubbulous World of Dr. SeussWriter
1996The Wubbulous World of Dr. SeussStory
1993Mouse SoupAssociate Producer