# Robert Ridgely

Robert Ridgely (December 24, 1931 – February 8, 1997) was an American actor, known for both on-camera roles and extensive voice-over work.

## Early life

Ridgely was born in Teaneck, New Jersey. Before becoming an actor, he worked as a cabaret entertainer.

## Career

He served as a talk show host with Woody Woodbury. Ridgely appeared in commercials, including a classic McDonald's commercial, staged as a Broadway production number, where he sings "there is nothin' so clean – as my burger machine". He guest starred in TV series such as Sea Hunt and the Warner Bros. Television series Maverick, Lawman, and Surfside 6. He landed a regular role as Lieutenant Kimbro in the short-lived World War II series The Gallant Men. After the series was cancelled, he made guest appearances in shows, including Bonanza, WKRP in Cincinnati, Coach, Night Court, Wings, and Designing Women.
He appeared in various films, including two productions directed by Robert Altman early in his career, Nightmare in Chicago and Countdown. He also appeared in several Mel Brooks productions, including Blazing Saddles (1974), High Anxiety (1977), Life Stinks (1991) and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993). Ridgley starred in other films, including Something Wild (1986), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), Philadelphia (1993), and Boogie Nights (1997). He put his strong voice to use in voice-over roles in films like Down and Dirty Duck (1974) and television specials such as Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz (aka Dorothy in the Land of Oz) (1980). He did a great deal of voice work in animated series as well, including the titular heroes in Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, The New Adventures of Flash Gordon, and Thundarr the Barbarian. From 1985 to 1996, Ridgely was one of ABC's main primetime promo announcers. He also voiced the Peculiar Purple Pieman in the 1980s Strawberry Shortcake specials, Rex Charger in The Centurions, Thunderbolt Ross in The Incredible Hulk (1982), Finch in Daisy-Head Mayzie, and Commander Chief in Dexter's Laboratory.

## Death

Ridgely died of cancer on February 8, 1997, at his home in the Toluca Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1964 | Nightmare in Chicago | Dan McVeay | |
| 1971 | Chrome and Hot Leather | Sergeant Mack | |
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles | Boris, the hangman | |
| 1974 | The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat | The Devil (voice) | |
| 1974 | Down and Dirty Duck | Car Salesman (voice) | |
| 1977 | High Anxiety | Flasher | |
| 1977 | American Raspberry | Celebrity Sportsman Host | |
| 1977 | Mouse and His Child | Jack-in-the-Box (voice) | |
| 1980 | Melvin and Howard | Wally 'Mr. Love' Williams | |
| 1983 | Heart Like a Wheel | Bob Morton, 'Sportsline' | |
| 1984 | The Wild Life | Craig Davis | |
| 1986 | Something Wild | Richard Graves | |
| 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop II | Mayor Ted Egan | |
| 1988 | The Dirk Diggler Story | Jack Horner | Short film |
| 1993 | Philadelphia | Walter Kenton | |
| 1993 | Robin Hood: Men in Tights | Hangman | |
| 1994 | The Ref | Bob Burley | |
| 1996 | Hard Eight | Keno Bar Manager | |
| 1996 | Multiplicity | Laura's Father | |
| 1996 | That Thing You Do! | Hollywood Showcase Announcer | |
| 1997 | Fire Down Below | Simon | Posthumous release |
| 1997 | Boogie Nights | Colonel James | Posthumous release; final film role |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1976-1979 | Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle | Tarzan (voice) | Main role |
| 1978 | Puff the Magic Dragon | Pirate, Pieman, Sneeze (voice) | Television special |
| 1979–1982 | The New Adventures of Flash Gordon | Flash Gordon (voice) | Main role |
| 1980 | Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz | Jack Pumpkinhead, Tyron (voice) | Television special |
| 1980–1981 | Thundarr the Barbarian | Thundarr (voice) | Main role |
| 1981 | Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends | Kraven the Hunter (voice) | Episode: "The Crime of All Centuries" |
| 1982–1983 | The Incredible Hulk | Thunderbolt Ross (voice) | Main cast |
| 1987 | DuckTales | RipCord McQuack (voice) | Episode: "Top Duck" |
| 1989 | Denver, the Last Dinosaur | Douggie (voice) | Episode: "Party Time" |
| 1990 | TaleSpin | C.V. (voice) | Episode: "A Star Is Torn" |
| 1992 | Fish Police | Bob Sharks (voice) | Episode: "Beauty's Only Fin Deep" |
| 1992 | Goof Troop | Great Garbonzo (voice) | Episode: "Talent to the Max" |
| 1992 | Batman: The Animated Series | Madman (voice) | Episode: "Appointment in Crime Alley" |
| 1995 | Daisy-Head Mayzie | Finch (voice) | Television film |
| 1995 | Dumb and Dumber | Various voices | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Dexter's Laboratory | Various voices | 4 episodes |