Dan Hennessey, a voice actor and director for animated shows, has died. He was 82.
Hennessey is best known for voicing Braveheart Lion in the Care Bears animated series from the 1980s, Chief Quimby in Inspector Gadget (1983), and the voice director for the X-Men animated TV series from the 1990s.
According to TMZ, Hennessey died on Wednesday, November 13 in his home while he was sleeping due to complications associated with Parkinson’s disease.
“We are so touched by all those letting us know how he impacted them through his craft, from stage to voice acting and direction. We are warmed by the fact that he provided comfort to a generation of kids around the world by giving voice to beloved animated characters like Braveheart Lion and Fatherbear, who were the personification of his kind and exuberant personality,” the family said in a statement.
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Hennessey is survived by his wife Patricia and daughters Skye and Eden.
The actor voiced many different characters over the years, including Father Bear from Little Bear, Chef Truffles in Babar, Roy “Bully” Koopa in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros., and Ruckus in X-Men: The Animated Series.
Other animated shows where Hennessey lent his voice included RoboCop, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, ALF: The Animated Series, Beetlejuice, C.O.P.S., Dog City, My Pet Monster, Rescue Heroes, Ultraforce, Dinosaucers, Dog City, Mythic Warriors, The Raccoons, and The Adventures of Tintin (1991) among many others.
Adrian Hough, who voiced Nightcrawler in X-Men: The Animated Series, paid tribute to Hennessey after news of his death.
“This is very sad news. RIP to Dan Hennessey, the man who was such a huge part of not only my entry into the world of the Xmen , but of the whole Xmen animated series. We all mourn,” Hough shared on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
This is very sad news. RIP to Dan Hennessey, the man who was such a huge part of not only my entry into the world of the Xmen , but of the whole Xmen animated series. We all mourn https://t.co/HupEBds27r
— Adrian Hough (@Adey800) November 19, 2024
Remember Hennessey with a scene from Care Bears featuring Braveheart Lion in the scene below.