Paul Winchell the voice of Gargamel and Dick Dastardly

Paul Winchell was multifaceted

Thanks to the Internet, Cartoon Network, METV, and the Boomerang channel, classic animated television shows can still be enjoyed. I’ve found that as I am watching these cartoons decades later I notice things that I had not before. I had noticed decades ago the similarities between the voices of cartoon characters Dick Dastardly, (Wacky Races, Dick Dastardly and Mutley Show) and Gargamel (The Smurfs). I now know there is a very good reason why.

Both of these animated icons were originally voiced by Paul Winchell, (December 21, 1922-June 24, 2005). In addition to being a voice artist, Winchell was also a comedian, ventriloquist, actor, and inventor. Winchell, who had received medical training, was the first person to build and patent an artificial mechanical heart, that was implantable inside the chest cavity. Just think of that for a moment. The man who was the voice of two of the most wacky villains in animation had the brains to build an artificial heart.

This multifaceted entertainer was also honored for his work in television with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and he was the host of the Paul Winchell Show from 1950 to 1954. He also appeared on award-winning television programs like Perry Mason, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Donna Reed Show. These are some pretty impressive accomplishments and displays an extreme diversity in the talents of this one man.

Life does not always imitate art

Many times, cartoon characters look similar to the people who lend their voices. I used to imagine that the man behind Dick Dastardly had dark hair, a handlebar mustache, and a long nose. I actually found a photo where Winchell did look like his iconic character. When I made the connection between Dastardly and Gargamel, I assumed the actor was now older, slouching and balding but I was wrong. It seems Paul Winchell never took on the characteristics of the man who agitated the Smurfs.

Additional popular animated character voices

In addition to the two villains, Paul Winchell voiced quite a few other cartoon characters. These include Zuni Gummi from the Gummi Bears, Fleagle from the Banana Spits, Shun gun from The Aristocats and Bubi Bear from The Hair Bear Bunch. You cannot see Paul Winchel’s likeness in any of these characters.

Tigger- T-I double grrr

Neither did Winchell have the features of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. Yes, Paul Winchell also had the distinction of being the original voice of this beloved bouncing character as well. Just think about it for a moment. A man who had the scientific genius to construct an artificial heart, also had enough kid in him to croon the Tigger song and give us that “ Whoo, who who whoooo”!

Dick Dastardly had his dog Mutley as a sidekick and when things went south Dick’s trademark mantra would be “Curses foiled again.” Mutley had a very distinctive snicker and most often it was at the expense of his master. Mutely was voiced by Don Messick who was also the voice of Sebastian the cat on Josie and the Pussycats. If you listen you can tell the snickers between the two cartoon animals are similar. Sebastian, like Mutley had the most laughs on behalf of his master, Alexandra, who like Duck Dastardly was always up to no good.

If this has you now wondering if Messick also was the voice behind Azrael the cat on the Smurfs he was not. That honor goes to Frank Weilker who has been voicing Freddie Jones on the Scooby-Doo cartoons for over 50 years. Azrael, like the other two disloyal pets, also had a special snicker whenever the Smurfs get the best of her owner Gargamel.

Paul Winchell was not widely known for all of his accomplishments but his voice lives on in animation. Think of him the next time you watch original episodes of The Smurf’s, Wacky Races, The Dastardly and Mutley Show, and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too. Paul Winchell is the man who warmed the heart through his characters and also created a mechanical ticker that saves lives.