April Winchell

**April Winchell** (born c. 1959/1960) is an American actress, writer, radio host and color commentator. She is known for voicing Clarabelle Cow in the Disney franchise since 1996. She was also the voice of Lana in *The Loud House* along with many frogs that appear, most namingly her pet Hops.

## Biography

### Early Life

Winchell was born between 1959 and 1960. She is the daughter of ventriloquist and comedian Paul Winchell (1922–2005), and his second wife, Nina Russel. In her weblog writings and appearances on radio, she describes her childhood with many references to the great talent of her father as well as the many disturbing incidents owing to his mental health issues.

### Career

#### Acting

Winchell's projects include the role of Sylvia in *Wander Over Yonder,* a Disney Channel animated series featuring Jack McBrayer in the title role. Created by *The Powerpuff Girls* producers Craig McCracken and Lauren Faust, the show chronicles the adventures of Wander and his trusty (and cynical) steed Sylvia, as they travel the universe. The series premiered on the Disney Channel in September 2013.

As a voice actress, she has been heard in hundreds of animated television series, such as *Goof Troop* (as Peg Pete), *Recess* (as Mrs. Muriel Finster), *Disney's House of Mouse* and *Mickey Mouse Clubhouse* (as Clarabelle Cow), *Bonkers* (as Lucky's wife, Dyl Piquel), *Pepper Ann* (as title character's mom, Lydia Pearson), and *Kids from Room 402* (as Miss Gracie Graves the school teacher, along with several other characters that appear on the show), *The Legend of Tarzan* (taking over for Rosie O'Donnell as Terk in the original film), *101 Dalmatians: The Series* (as Cruella De Vil), *SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron* (as Molly Mange), *Robot and Monster*, *Phineas & Ferb* and *Kim Possible*.

She has also voiced characters in numerous films, including *Antz*, *Who Framed Roger Rabbit*, *Monsters University* and Rob Zombie's *The Haunted World of El Superbeasto*. Winchell portrayed the "Glendale Federal Bank" lady – a cranky, cynical customer alleviated by the service at her new bank – in a series of radio commercials, which Winchell wrote and directed herself. The commercials caught the attention of [[Roseanne Barr], who hired her as a writer on Barr's eponymous sitcom.

#### Radio

Besides her many contributions to radio advertising as a director, writer, and performer, Winchell also hosted a radio talk show program on KFI, a Los Angeles radio station. This weekend program aired for three years, and enjoyed the fastest growth audience in the history of the station. Subsequent to the end of this program in November 2002, she appeared semi-regularly on the *Ask Mr. KABC* program, on KABC, an AM station also in Los Angeles – until the show ended in February 2007.

In 2005, Winchell signed a deal with U.S. pay-TV service HBO to develop and host a show on Sirius Satellite Radio. However, on her official website on May 3, 2006, she announced that negotiations had stalled out between HBO and Sirius, leaving her program in limbo.

On March 16, 2007, she returned to semi-regular radio appearances on *The Marc "Mr. K" Germain Show* on KTLK-AM (the new show hosted by the former Mr. KABC) and appeared twice a month. (Her appearances on Germain's show are available at her website in addition to KTLK's website.) During March, Winchell was "banned for life" from KABC (AM) in Los Angeles at the behest of ABC radio host Bill O'Reilly, over a retelling of an occurrence she dubbed "Croissantgate" (KABC provided Bill O'Reilly with croissants that were not fresh enough for his taste, causing a commotion at the station).

#### Theater

As a musical theater actor, she starred as *Ado Annie* in the Columbia Artists revival of *Oklahoma!*, and also appeared opposite Kevin Spacey in *Gypsy*.

Additionally, Winchell wrote and starred as "Sheila Sands" in her show at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles to sold out crowds. The show was produced by Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner, who discovered her at Cafe Largo in Hollywood. Winchell reprised the character to open for Brad Garrett at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 2013.

She has also been a frequent panelist on the live-stage version of *What's My Line* at the Acme Comedy Theatre in Hollywood.