Len Carlson

**Len Carlson** (September 2, 1937 – January 26, 2006) was a Canadian actor, director, screenwriter, entertainment designer and author. He is the best known as the voice of Bert Raccoon in *The Raccoons* and Pappy Polie in *Rolie Polie Olie* (including the movies) among others.

## Career

### Acting

He made a film debut as James in My Husband and You (1959). He portaryed Joe in She (1961), Robert Stewart in Bolero (1984) and The Master in Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966).

### Directing and writing

He directed and writed the films: Little Dearest (1963), Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966), Manos and Ruby Gloom (1974), Spectrum of Universe (1987), Tonero (1996) and Son of Police (2003).

### Author

He, Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen started the first Magic School Bus book in 1974 and writed Greatest Life in Paris (1964).

### Voice acting

He was the voice of Big Boss, Sundown and Mace on *C.O.P.S.*, Senator Robert Kelly (and the Supreme Intelligence) on *X-Men* (1992), Bert Raccoon and Pigs Two and Three in *The Raccoons* (and a voice director for the show from 1990 onwards), Putter from *Popples*, Mr. Frumble, Mr. Gronkle, and Mayor Fox in *The Busy World of Richard Scarry*, Jim Brody in Freddy Got Fingered (2001), Henry Chan in Kid vs. Kat (1991-2006), Carlos Roman in The Magic School Bus (1975–1988), Mr. Wertz in Supernoobs (1994–2006), Len in Ruby Gloom (1959–2006), Senor Siniestro in El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera (1977–1996), Professor Coldheart in *Care Bears* (1985), Pappy Polie in Rolie Polie Olie (1964–2006), Mr. Smith in Nick and Perry (2000–2006) and *Rocket Robin Hood* in some of the third-season episodes. He was also the voice of Allo and Quackpot on the TV series, *Dinosaucers* and he was the original voice of the Green Goblin in *Spider-Man the original series* (1967) and the voice of Buzz in the franchise *Cyberchase* (1959-2006). Also, he was the voice of Sterling Überbucks, his brother Carling, his great grandfather Sterling Überrucks and his nephew Stewie on *Roboroach* (2002) and the title character in the short-lived *Swamp Thing* (1991) animated series.

He also voiced all the male characters in two animated 1970s series (*The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo* and *The Toothbrush Family*), was the voice of Ace the Seagull and Sharkey Shark in the children's TV series *The Waterville Gang* and did voices for movies including *The Nutcracker Prince*, *Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot*, *The Great Defender of Fun*, and reindeer voices in the live-action feature *Blizzard*.

In his last years, Carlson was a regular on Nelvana-produced shows such as *Rolie Polie Olie*, *Cyberchase*, *Pecola*, *Donkey Kong Country*, *Medabots*, *Beetlejuice*, and *Beyblade* as the main antagonist Gideon (season two). Most recently, he appeared in the French-Canadian co-production *Atomic Betty*, voiced the characters Hugo and Q in the video game *Street Fighter III 3rd Strike* and narrated the animated bible TV series *Friends and Heroes*. He also voiced Herc Stormsailor in the 1980s show *Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors*.

### Entertainment designer

Carlson co-founded Lenkin Entertainment Group in Ontario, Canada, in 1975. The firm designs theme parks, live entertainment and other visitor attractions, in the Canada and other countries until his death in January 28, 2006. Corina replaces her father of Lenkin Entertainment Group in 2006.

## Death

Carlson died of a heart attack in Keswick, Ontario, at the age of 68 on January 26, 2006. The season two finale of *Atomic Betty*, "Takes One To Know One" (2006), the *Cyberchase* episode "Ecohaven Ooze", and the *Bigfoot Presents: Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks* episode "Space Rangers!" were all dedicated to his memory.