Robert Ridgely

Robert Ridgely was an American actor and voice artist, known for both on-camera roles and extensive voice-over work.

Robert Ridgely
Born	December 24, 1931 Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	February 8, 1997 Toluca Lake, California, U.S.
Other names	Bob Ridgley
Occupation	Actor, voice artist
Years active	1960–1997
Spouse(s)	Patricia Ridgely (19??–1997)

Life and career

Born in Teaneck, New Jersey, Ridgely worked as a cabaret entertainer.[1]

Ridgley began acting in the 1960s, serving 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".

Ridgley guest starred on 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 Warner Bros./ABC series The Gallant Men. After the series was cancelled, he made guest appearances on shows, including Bonanza, WKRP in Cincinnati, Coach, Night Court, Wings and Designing Women.

Ridgley 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).

Ridgely put his strong voice to use in voice-over roles in movies 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 on 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, General "Thunderbolt" Ross on The Incredible Hulk, Finch on Daisy-Head Mayzie, and Commander Chief in Dexter's Laboratory.[2]

Death

Ridgely died of cancer on February 8, 1997, in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles. He was 65 years old shortly before dying.[1]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1964	Nightmare in Chicago	Dan McVeay
1971	Chrome and Hot Leather	Sergeant Mack
1974	The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat		Voice
1977	High Anxiety	Flasher
1977	Raspberry	Celebrity Sportsman Host
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

References

1. Staff. "Robert Ridgely, 65, Film and TV Actor", The New York Times, February 16, 1997. Accessed December 4, 2013. "Mr. Ridgely, a native of Teaneck, N.J., began as a cabaret artist."
2. Robert Ridgely - Behind the Voice Actors.com

External links

• Robert Ridgely at IMDb
• TV.com page for Robert Ridgely
• New York Times movie page for Robert Ridgely
• Movie stills of Robert Ridgely
• Robert Ridgely at Find a Grave