Bill Scott
Bill Scott – Life, Career & Legacy
Full Name: William John Scott
Born: August 2, 1920, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: November 29, 1985, Tujunga, Los Angeles, California, U.S. (heart attack)
Occupation(s): Voice actor, writer, producer (animation)
Years active: 1945-1985
Spouse: Dorothy Scott
Children: 3
Early Life & Education
-
Bill Scott was born in Philadelphia but spent part of his youth in Trenton, New Jersey.
-
Around age 15, he contracted tuberculosis, and his family moved to Denver, Colorado in 1936 for treatment and climate reasons.
-
In Denver, his father worked as a machinist and his mother had jobs in service (such as a waitress) at local establishments.
-
Scott graduated from South High School in Denver, then studied at the University of Denver, receiving a degree (major in Theater & Dramatic Art, minor in English) in 1941.
-
After college, he briefly tried teaching, but decided to pursue performance and writing instead.
Career
Early Career & War Service
-
During World War II, Scott served in the U.S. Army’s First Motion Picture Unit, under which he worked with animators and was part of producing training and morale films.
-
After the war, he entered animation writing and story work—starting in roles such as a “story man” at Warner Bros. and then moving into United Productions of America (UPA).
-
At UPA, he was part of writing for Gerald McBoing-Boing (an adaptation of Dr. Seuss) and also involvement in adapting Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart.
Work with Jay Ward Productions & Voice Roles
-
Scott’s most famous work came with Jay Ward Productions, where he was head writer, co-producer, and voice actor.
-
Some of his major voice roles included:
• Bullwinkle (from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show / Rocky & His Friends)
• Mr. Peabody
• Dudley Do-Right -
He also wrote commercials (notably for General Mills and Quaker Oats / Cap’n Crunch cereal), which were often tied into the shows he worked on.
-
As a behind-the-scenes contributor, he often did not receive on-screen credit for his voice roles in Ward’s productions, despite being the voice of key characters.
Later Work
-
Near the end of his career, Scott contributed to Disney animation and voiced characters in series such as The Wuzzles (as “Moosel”) and Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears (as Gruffi Gummi, Sir Tuxford, Toadwart) until his death.
-
He also participated in live-action and theatrical work: for example, he appeared in The Duck Factory (a television show), and in local theatre productions (in Tujunga) with groups like the Foothill Curtain Raisers.
-
Scott was musically inclined and participated in church theater and choir activities at his local church in Tujunga.
Style, Influence & Reputation
-
Scott was known for combining sharp wit, comedic timing, and a warm but quirky vocal presence.
-
As a writer and producer, he shaped much of the tone and humor of mid-20th-century American television cartoons, especially through Jay Ward’s works.
-
His willingness to “do many jobs” (writing, producing, voicing) made him a versatile creative force in animation.
-
He was also one of the founding members of ASIFA-Hollywood (International Animated Film Society’s Hollywood branch).
-
He held leadership roles in industry organizations: he served as President of the Screen Cartoonist’s Guild (in 1952) and was involved with the Screen Actors Guild and Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences governance.
Death & Legacy
-
On November 29, 1985, Bill Scott passed away from a heart attack at the age of 65 in Tujunga, Los Angeles County.
-
His ashes were scattered in the Santa Barbara Channel off Ventura, California.
-
His influence continues through enduring popularity of Rocky & Bullwinkle, Dudley Do-Right, and related cartoons.
-
Many voice actors, animators, and writers cite the Jay Ward / Scott era of cartoons as formative in shaping comedic animation in the U.S.