Cartoon fans are mourning the loss of John Erwin this morning, with the actor lent his voice to childhood favourites such as Morris the Cat, Reggie Mantle in the Archie cartoons, and He-Man.
The TV star died of natural causes aged 88, with his representative announcing his death which occurred “around December 20” in Camarillo.
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The actor, who was born on December 5, 1936, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, first began his career in live-action roles.
He played a paratrooper and chaplain on the TV series Citizen Soldier, which ran from 1956-1957, and starred alongside Clint Eastwood in western TV show Rawhide, appearing in 22 episodes over six years until 1965.
However, Erwin was very shy and moved his talents behind the camera as a voice actor. He first voiced the grumpy Reggie Mantle in The Archies in 1968 and was renowned for voicing Morris the Cat, the snarky star of the 9Lives brand of cat food who was one of the US’ favourite felines at the time.
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He landed the career-making role in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe in 1983, lending his voice for a number of projects including He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword, She-Ra: Princess of Power, and He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special, and She-Ra: Princess of Power, spending only four years total in the iconic role that has been enjoyed across generations to this day.
He finally retired the role after a special appearance on She-Ra: Princess of Power and finally retired the role after a special appearance on Family Guy in 2005.
He also had roles in animated series Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Groovie Goolies, Foofur and Spacecats and in the film Babe.
He played the role of an announcer or narrator in Here’s Lucy and Malcolm & Eddie, Looker, Everybody’s All-American and Back to the Future Part II (1989).
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His PR firm shared that survivors include “his loving family of children and grandchildren,” with his family not wanting to provide a photograph of the star, as per The Hollywood Reporter.
Hi co-stars have delivered touching tributes in the wake of his loss.
Alan Oppenheimer, who voiced the villain Skeletor on He-Man, said in a statement, “Working with John Erwin was a ballad of irreverence, professionalism and surprise.
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“He was a series actor, writer, performer of commercials, musician, painter and an all-around lovely gentleman, an indelible addition to my life.”
Melendy Britt, who voiced He-Man’s twin sister She-Ra also shared a lengthy statement on Instagram.
“To have ‘my brother’ pass on is a tremendous sorrow even though I know life is not infinite. The tears I have are because John was such a special quiet man and we shared a very special relationship in those roles as twin brother and sister,” she wrote in a “Letter to My Brother”.
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“Your body of work will live in the hearts of so many people to whom you gave love and strength and hope and laughter in times of difficulty…
“Now that you are gone and I cannot say hello anymore, my heart aches, and know you have lived your life the way you wanted to live it. I’m glad I have a few lines of your voice messages to me to listen to, and as well, watch as you portrayed He-Man and said ‘I have the power’! You did and still do.”
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