RIP John Erwin voice of He-Man from the 80's Cartoon

[Autbot_Benz]

John Erwin, the reclusive actor who provided the voices for the heroic title character in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and the vain frenemy Reggie Mantle in a series of Archie cartoons, has died. He was 88.

Erwin died of natural causes “around Dec. 20” in his home in Camarillo, California, his reps at the PR firm Celebworx announced.

For nearly a decade starting in 1969, Erwin was heard in dozens of TV commercials as the snarky Morris the Cat, the finicky orange tabby who would eat nothing but the 9Lives brand of cat food. The hugely successful campaign was created by the Leo Burnett advertising firm.

Earlier, Erwin was seen on camera when he recurred as the cattle driver Teddy on CBS’ Rawhide, starring Clint Eastwood.

For Filmmation, Erwin voiced the blond, muscular He-Man (and his alter ego, Prince Adam) on He-Man and the Masters of the Universe from 1983-85 and on She-Ra: Princess of Power from 1985-87. He also played the villain Beast Man and other secondary characters on the syndicated shows that were based on a line of Mattel toys.

“Working with John Erwin was a ballad of irreverence, professionalism and surprise,” Alan Oppenheimer, who starred as the evil Skeletor on He-Man, said in a statement. “He was a series actor, writer, performer of commercials, musician, painter and an all-around lovely gentleman, an indelible addition to my life.”

Added Melendy Britt, the voice of She-Ra (He-Man’s twin sister), “For 40 years, John Erwin was not only my brother onscreen, he was my friend.”

Born on Dec. 5, 1936, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, John Lee Erwin played various characters, including a paratrooper and chaplain, on the 1956-57 syndicated series Citizen Soldier.

He joined Rawhide in 1959 during its second season and went on to appear on 22 episodes of the Western through 1965. Meanwhile, he portrayed a soldier in the Civil War-set 13 Fighting Men, starring Grant Williams.

Erwin first voiced Reggie in 1968 on the Saturday morning CBS/Filmation cartoon The Archie Show and continued with that character on various other animated series, including Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, through 1978.

He worked on the cartoons Groovie Goolies, Foofur and Spacecats and in the film Babe (1995) and came out of retirement to voice He-Man one last time on a 2005 episode of Family Guy.

Erwin also served as an announcer/narrator on such TV shows as Here’s Lucy and Malcolm & Eddie and in films including Looker (1981), Everybody’s All-American (198 and Back to the Future Part II (1989).

Survivors include “his loving family of children and grandchildren,” his PR firm noted. His family did not want to provide a photograph of him.

Despite pleas from his fans over the years, Erwin never appeared publicly on the convention circuit to talk about his He-Man days, and Oppenheimer, speaking in 2014, said that was because he was “very shy.” He once asked his co-star to go on the road with him to London.

“I said to him, ‘If Skeletor and He-Man worked together, the line would be from London to Edinburgh,’” Oppenheimer recalled. “He just wouldn’t do it; he really likes his solitude. And he says, ‘I don’t even look like He-Man.’ I said, ‘I don’t look like Skeletor, and nobody cares.’ But I can’t get him out.”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv...or-1236123692/

[oldmanwinters]

I appreciated this tribute by cereal:greek's James Eatock:

Absolutely devastated to learn that John Erwin, the voice of He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe, has passed away.

It’s actually hard to put into words how much his performance as He-Man influenced and entertained an entire generation! The warmth that many associate with Filmation’s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe can be attributed to John’s performance as the titular character.

Like many talents of 1980s animation, he did not simply read lines from a page; each and every piece of He-Man’s dialogue was infused with a wealth of strength, warmth, kindness, and humor. John Erwin understood who He-Man was, and whatever emotion was required by the scene, he absolutely delivered.

It is widely known that, post-career, John Erwin maintained a low profile, stating that he wanted He-Man to only ever be recognized by the muscle-bound character on-screen, and not by the voice actor. He was invited to numerous conventions over the years, but always politely declined…something we all begrudgingly respected. I did hear from time to time that he was more than aware, and thankful, of how much people loved his work, especially in his role as He-Man.

I never got to meet the man myself, but my dear friend Lee Clevenger did, back in 2002, at a Filmation reunion. Lee said that John kept to himself, speaking to only a few people here and there. Lee approached John who was almost startled to be recognized! Lee praised his work, and John entertained him by performing his Prince Adam voice, “Cringer, we just ate!” Lee said that the actor had not missed a beat, and the voice was perfect. John was happy to take a photo with Lee, and that photo continues to be the most recent photo of John Erwin to be seen.

As I said, I never met the man, but that voice that continues to bring so much joy into my life makes me feel like I knew him, if only a little.

Rest in peace, John Erwin X
https://www.instagram.com/p/DFgJa3csKkg/?hl=en

[tmntpower1988]

RIP John Erwin, another legend from my childhood gone

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

[ZariusTwo]

James 'Cerealgeek' Eatock's own tribute