# Ed Gilbert

Ed Gilbert (born Edmund Francis Giesbert, June 29, 1931 – May 8, 1999) was an American actor, with extensive credits in both live-action roles and voice work in animation, although he was better known for the latter. He is also credited, under his birth name, with research in entomology and the discovery of new beetle species. He was known for voicing Baloo in TaleSpin.

## Early life and education

Gilbert was born in Chicago to Edmund Wilhelm Giesbert (1893-1971) and Frances Amelia Proudfoot (1895-1986). Gilbert graduated from the University of Chicago and fought in the Korean War.

## Career

During the 1960s, Gilbert appeared on television series such as The Gallant Men, Combat!, The Rogues, and Mannix. In 1966, he guest starred as Robert Cramer on four episodes of Ben Casey. He is known for his role as Fenton Hardy on the 1970s television series The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.
He provided the voices of Superion (originally voiced by Frank Welker), Thrust and Blitzwing in the second and third seasons of The Transformers, Kissyfur's father Gus in Kissyfur, Thirty-Thirty in BraveStarr, Baloo in the Disney animated series TaleSpin and Jungle Cubs, General Hawk in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Puggsy and Daddy Starling in Tom and Jerry: The Movie, Mr. Smee in Peter Pan and the Pirates, Phasir in Aladdin, Mandarin in the first season of Iron Man, and Dormammu in Spider-Man. He voiced minor characters in Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, and The New Batman Adventures. He also voiced the security guard Daryl in the computer game, Leisure Suit Larry 6: Shape Up or Slip Out!.

## Entomology

Gilbert, under his birth name Edmund Giesbert, also pursued the study of Coleoptera and described numerous beetle species and genera, particularly in the family Cerambycidae.

## Death

Gilbert died on May 8, 1999, of lung cancer in his home in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 67. He was survived by his wife Virgini and his daughter Dorian. His interment was at Eternal Valley Memorial Park and Mortuary in Newhall, California.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1964 | 36 Hours | Captain Abbott | |
| 1971 | Johnny Got His Gun | Priest | |
| 1973 | Howzer | Edward Carsell | |
| 1986 | The Transformers: The Movie | Blitzwing | Voice |
| 1987 | G.I. Joe: The Movie | General Hawk | Voice |
| 1988 | BraveStarr: The Movie | Thirty-Thirty, Shaman | Voice |
| 1988 | Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf | Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 1990 | The Rescuers Down Under | Francois | Voice |
| 1992 | Tom and Jerry: The Movie | Puggsy, Daddy Starling | Voice |
| 1994 | The Pagemaster | George Merry | Voice |
| 1996 | Father Frost | Robber Leader | |
| 1998 | Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island | Mr. Beeman | Voice, direct-to-video |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1973–1976 | Police Story | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1976 | Wonder Woman | Warden | Episode: "Wonder Woman Meets Baroness von Gunther" |
| 1977 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Fenton Hardy | 28 episodes |
| 1984–1987 | The Transformers | Blitzwing, Thrust, Superion | Voice, 27 episodes |
| 1985–1986 | G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero | General Hawk | Voice, 19 episodes |
| 1986 | Kissyfur | Gus | Voice, episode: "The Birds and the Bears " |
| 1989 | Asterix and the Big Fight | Bossa Nova, Fishstix | Voice, American dub |
| 1989 | TUGS | Warrior, Big Mac, Zorran | Voice Only in test US dub |
| 1990–1991 | TaleSpin | Baloo | Voice, main role |
| 1990–1991 | Fox's Peter Pan & the Pirates | Mr. Smee | Voice |
| 1990–1993 | The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda | Additional voices | Voice, 33 episodes |
| 1993 | Batman: The Animated Series | Jack Haly | Voice, episode: "Robin's Reckoning" |
| 1993–1994 | SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron | Katscracth Gang Member, Enforcer Sargent, Enforcer Commando, Tiger Conklin | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 1993–1996 | Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Looten Plunder, Pillage | Voice, 12 episodes |
| 1994 | Animaniacs | Neptune | Voice, episode: "Mermaid Mindy" |
| 1994 | Iron Man | Mandarin, Grey Gargoyle, Ultimo, Al Gore, Arnold Brock | Voice, 13 episodes |
| 1994–1995 | Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills | Emperor Gorganus | Voice, 40 episodes |
| 1994–1995 | Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Icki's Locker, Macho, Colombus | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1994–1996 | Gargoyles | Bodhe, Captain of the Guard | Voice, 7 episodes |
| 1994–1996 | The Tick | El Seed | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 1995 | The New Adventures of Peter Rabbit | Tommy Brock | Voice |
| 1995 | Black Scorpion | Breathtaker | Voice, television film |
| 1995–1996 | Freakazoid! | Professor Heiney, Unag | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 1996 | The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | Various roles | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 1996 | Dumb and Dumber | Bender, Clem | Voice, episode: "Brain, Brain, Go Away" |
| 1996 | Dexter's Laboratory | Hunter, Space Hick | Voice, episode: "Dial M for Monkey: Huntor" |
| 1996 | Road Rovers | Judge Fore | Voice, episode: "The Dog Who Knew Too Much" |
| 1996–1997 | Spider-Man | Dormammu, Phillip Watson | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Superman: The Animated Series | University Guard | Voice, episode: "The Hand of Fate" |
| 1997 | The New Batman Adventures | Photographer | Voice, episode: "Chemistry" |
| 1997–1998 | The New Adventures of Zorro | Additional voices | Voice, 26 episodes |
| 1998 | I Am Weasel | Announcer, Man #2, Man #8 | Voice, episode: "I.R. Role Model" |
| 1999 | The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries | Colonel Ambore | Voice, episode: "Son of Roswell That Ends Well" |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1993 | Leisure Suit Larry 6: Shape Up or Slip Out! | Art, Daryl |
| 1995 | Wanna Be a Dino Finder | Rock Hound |
| 1995 | Shannara | Balinor |