The man who inherited the voices of animation's greatest icons
In short: When the legendary Mel Blanc and Daws Butler passed away, they left behind a vacuum in the world of animation. Greg Burson stepped into that void, becoming the primary successor for some of history's most recognizable characters, from Yogi Bear to Bugs Bunny.
Greg Burson (1949–2008) became a cornerstone of modern voice acting by inheriting the legacies of two titans: Daws Butler and Mel Blanc. After Butler's death in 1988, Burson took over many Hanna-Barbera characters, most notably Yogi Bear. To achieve this, he meticulously modeled his performance on Butler’s earlier portrayals, which Burson had watched as a child.
Burson also took on the mantle of Mel Blanc's iconic roles following Blanc's death in 1989. This included voicing Bugs Bunny in the 1995 short 'Carrotblanca,' a parody and homage to Casablanca. While he found Bugs’ voice difficult to master, he eventually settled on a style based on Blanc’s work from the 1950s. He also voiced Mr. Magoo for the 1997 live-action film after Jim Backus died in 1989.
His career spanned diverse media, including 'Batman: The Animated Series,' 'Samurai Jack,' and even the 'Jurassic Park' feature film. However, his professional life took a tragic turn in May 2004. Following a six-hour standoff with police in Tujunga involving allegations of intoxication and weapons, Burson was blacklisted from voice-over work for the remainder of his career.
The loss of his livelihood led to a period of struggle with depression and alcoholism. Burson passed away on July 22, 2008, at age 58, due to complications from diabetes and arteriosclerosis. His legacy remains tied to the voices that defined generations of television and cinema.
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