Alan Oppenheimer

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Alan Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer at the 2015 Phoenix Comicon
Born (1930-04-23) April 23, 1930 (age 93)
OccupationActor
Years active1956–present
Spouses
  • Marianna Elliott
    (m. 1958; div. 19??;
    m. 1992; died 2003)
Marilyn Greenwood
(m. 1984; div. 1990)
Children3

Alan Oppenheimer (born April 23, 1930) is an American actor. He has performed numerous roles on live action television since the 1960s and he has had an active career doing voice work since the 1970s.

Early life[edit]

Oppenheimer was born in New York City on April 23, 1930, to Louis and Irene Oppenheimer. His father worked as a stockbroker.[1]

Career[edit]

Character roles[edit]

As a character actor, Oppenheimer has had diverse roles in popular American television programming, from playing a Nazi in Hogan's Heroes, to playing an Israeli secret agent as well as a double-agent KAOS scientist on Get Smart, to being the second actor to play Dr. Rudy Wells in The Six Million Dollar Man (Martin Balsam played the role in the pilot film). Oppenheimer took over as Rudy starting with the second pilot film, "Wine, Women and War" up until the introduction of The Bionic Woman in 1975, whereupon Martin E. Brooks took over as Wells up until cancellation. He was the original Mickey Malph (Ralph Malph's dad) on Happy Days. He played a recurring role during the first two seasons of St. Elsewhere as Helen Rosenthal's husband, Ira. He had a recurring role as Mayor Alvin B. Tutwiller on Mama's Family.

He then continued in science fiction genre in the 1973 cult classic Westworld, where he played the head IT technician. He has also appeared in three Star Trek series, always playing a different character. He appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Rightful Heir" as a Klingon cleric, Koroth, a primary instigator of the cloning of Kahless, on Deep Space Nine as a Starfleet Captain Declan Keogh in command of the USS Odyssey and as an alien ambassador in Voyager.

Oppenheimer also appeared as film director Cecil B. DeMille in the 1994 Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Blvd.[2]

Voice acting[edit]

Oppenheimer (left) with Jim Cummings (middle) and Loren Lester (right) in 2015

Oppenheimer has voiced many characters, often for Filmation in the 1970s and 1980s, such as Oil Can Harry, Swifty and the narrator on The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle, Ming the Merciless on Flash Gordon, the Overlord on BlackStar, Skeletor, Man-At-Arms and Mer-Man from Filmation's 1980s cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and the voice of Prime Evil in the 1986 TV series, Filmation's Ghostbusters.[3] Other notable voice roles include Thundarr the Barbarian, Vanity on The Smurfs, Rhinokey and Crock from The Wuzzles and Falkor, Gmork, and the Narrator from 1984's The NeverEnding Story. In the early 1990s, Oppenheimer was the voice of Merlin in The Legend of Prince Valiant. He also provided the voice of Barkerville in the Pound Puppies TV special. He also voiced Fraidy Cat on Fraidy Cat in 1975 and provided additional voices on Battle of the Planets in 1978.

Oppenheimer and Loren Lester posing for a 2015 photograph.

Oppenheimer worked on The Transformers, most notably as two contrasting characters, the pacifist Beachcomber and the bellicose Warpath. His rendition of Seaspray was remarkably similar to Mer-Man, including the gurgling effects. He took over the voice of Roger Smith's butler Norman Burg in the English dub of the second season of The Big O. He was the voice of the unseen Alistair Crane on the soap opera Passions up until 2004, when the character was made fully visible and played by David Bailey. More recently, he provided the voice of the scientist for the 2009 film 9 and Batman's butler Alfred Pennyworth in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.

Oppenheimer's repertoire also includes video games, voicing Dr. Piotr Ivanovich in Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix, Prometheus in God of War II and Jandor the Airship Captain in Nox. In Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, he spoke the part of Harold, an ancient mutated survivor of nuclear holocaust who has appeared in four of the Fallout games, and played the roles of The Chariot Master and Dyntos, God of the Forge, in Kid Icarus: Uprising. Oppenheimer also voiced the parts of a non-player character Soldier and the Wasteland Trader, and the NPC 'enemies' Cult Ghoul Thug and Kamikaze in Fallout: BoS. Also, in the Turbografx-16 port of Ys Book I and II, Oppenheimer voiced the roles of the Narrator and the game's lead antagonist, Darm.

In 2019, he guest-starred on the animated series Tigtone and in Toy Story 4 as Old Timer.[4]

Personal life[edit]

Oppenheimer married costume designer Marianna Elliott in 1958 and together they had three children.[5] The couple divorced, but wed again in 1992 and remained married up until her death in 2003.[5] In 1984, he wed professional tennis player Marilyn Greenwood. They divorced in 1990.[citation needed]

Filmography[edit]

Films[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1963 Office of Special Investigation U.S.A.F. instructor Uncredited
1966 Gammera the Invincible Dr. Contrare
1967 Gunn Whiteside Credited as Allan Oppenheimer
In the Heat of the Night Ted Appleton Uncredited
1968 How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life Everett Bauer
Star! Andre Charlot, Producer
Up Tight! Unctuous Man in Arcade
1969 The Maltese Bippy Adolph Springer
1970 Little Big Man Major
1972 The Groundstar Conspiracy General Hackett
1973 The Thief Who Came to Dinner Insurance Man
Westworld Chief Supervisor
1975 Win, Place or Steal Lt. Mannite
The Lives of Jenny Dolan Springfield
The Hindenburg Albert Breslau
1976 Helter Skelter Aaron Stovitz
Freaky Friday Mr. Joffert
1978 Record City Blind Man
1979 A Pleasure Doing Business Marvin
1980 Private Benjamin Rabbi
1981 Macbeth Duncan
1982 Mighty Mouse in the Great Space Chase Mighty Mouse Voice
1984 The NeverEnding Story Falkor Voice[6]
1985 The Secret of the Sword Skeletor, Man-At-Arms, Cringer / Battle Cat, Bald Rebel, Chef Alan
He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special Skeletor, Man-At-Arms, Zipper Voice
1988 BraveStarr: The Movie Handlebar, Outlaw Scuzz, Stampede
Moving Mr. Cadell
1989 Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland Oomp Voice[6]
1992 Love Field Announcer
1993 Invisible: The Chronicles of Benjamin Knight Dr. Knox
1994 Trancers 5: Sudden Deth Farr
1997 Culture
2008 Juan Frances: Live Mr. French
2009 The Secret Life of Bees Additional voices
9 The Scientist Voice[6]
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Alfred Pennyworth
2014 Foxcatcher Du Point Dynasty Narrator
2017 Best Fiends: Boot Camp[7] King Slug
2019 Toy Story 4 Old Timer Voice[6]
2022 Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers He-Man, Skeletor

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1964 The Defenders Dr. Frick
1966 The Felony Squad Ed Clark
The F.B.I. Ludovic Krols
1966–1967 I Spy Colonel Benkovsky
1967 It's About Time Pettijohn
He & She Murray Mouse
Judd for the Defense District Attorney Tom Rogers
Get Smart Agent 498
1967–1969 Hogan's Heroes Colonel Sitzer, Herman Freitag, Major Byron Buckles, Wilhelm
1968 The Andy Griffith Show Mr. Ruskin
The Name of the Game Harvey
Here Come the Brides Benet
1968–1971 The Mod Squad Bob Ross, Phil Norval
1969 Lancer Dan'l Drew
The Queen and I H.R. Martin
My Friend Tony Dr. Mink
The Bill Cosby Show Dwight McDevitt
Ironside Arnold Cane
The Mod Squad Phil Norval
1969–1970 That Girl Dr. Globe, Morgan Jerome, Mr. Katz, Stewart Hurly
Here Come the Brides Benet, Victor
1970 I Dream of Jeannie Congressman Farragut
Hastings Corner Dr. Byron Dorman
My World and Welcome to It The Principal
Three for Tahiti Cecil Barrett
The Governor & J.J. Mr. Federenko
The High Chaparral Sweets
The Bold Ones: The Lawyers George Hartnell
1971 The Partridge Family Wink Burgess
Love, American Style Captain Blodgett
Inside O.U.T. Edgar Winston
The Good Life Rolls Royce manager
McCloud Mervin Simmons
The Jimmy Stewart Show Prof. Lokacs
Nichols Averrel
1971–1972 The Courtship of Eddie's Father Sy Freeman
Bonanza Darius Dalrymple, Ernesto, Wentworth
Insight Marty, Sergeant Varron
The Doris Day Show Marvin Patterson, The Doctor
1972 The Paul Lynde Show Fletcher Lyons
Bewitched Blades Buckholtzer
Here's Lucy Dr. Parker, Herb Hinkley
1973 Butch Cassidy Additional voices
Goober and the Ghost Chasers
Speed Buggy
The New Scooby-Doo Movies Windmaker #4 Voice
Inch High, Private Eye Additional voices
Wait Till Your Father Gets Home
1973–1974 The Six Million Dollar Man Dr. Rudy Wells
1974, 1979 ABC Afterschool Special First Cadet, de Brigny, John Hocker Voice, 2 episodes
1974 Valley of the Dinosaurs Gorok Voice
Hong Kong Phooey Additional voices
1975 Uncle Croc's Block Fraidy Cat, Tinker, Dog Voice
Fraidy Cat
The Tom and Jerry Show Ringmaster, Sapstone Voice, 2 episodes
1976–1978 The Scooby-Doo Show Jim Rivets, Mr. Collins, Tarlof, Officer Oldfield, Squire Marley, Jean Pierre Baptiste, Chin Wong Sing Voice
1976–1979 Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle Tomos, Orbin, Phobeg
1977 Washington: Behind Closed Doors Simon Cappell
CB Bears Sidney Merciless Voice
Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics Additional voices
Space Sentinels Man-Wolf, Morpheus Voice, 2 episodes
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels Additional voices Episode: "The Mystery Mansion Mix-Up"
The All New Superfriends Hour Dr. Cranum (in "The Brain Machine"), (in "The Secret Four"), Hydronoid #2 (in "Invasion of the Hydronoids"), Doctor Fright (in "Doctor Fright"), Wolfman (in "The Man Beasts of Xra"), The Marsh Monster (in "The Marsh Monster"), Captain Shark (in "The Protector"), Gentleman Ghost (in "The Ghost"), Scientist (in "The Ghost") Voice, 7 episodes
Hawaii Five-O Bernie Fryer Episode: "The Friends of Joey Kalima"
1978 The Ghost of Flight 401 Barton
Peeping Times Miles Rathbourne
Battle of the Planets Additional voices
1978–1979 Fabulous Funnies Captain Katzenjammer, King Guzzle, Irwin, Grelber, Tumbleweeds Voice
Fangface Additional voices
1979 ABC Weekend Special 2 episodes
Blind Ambition George Simonson
1979–1980 The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle Mighty Mouse, Oil Can Harry, Swifty, Narrator
1979–1981 The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show Toyman, Half-Ape Voice
1979–1982 The New Adventures of Flash Gordon Ming the Merciless, Hans Zarkov, Gundar the Desert Hawk
1980 Drak Pack Count Dracula
The Lone Ranger Additional voices
1980–1981 Thundarr the Barbarian Mindok the Mind Menace, Muragg, Old Wizard Voice, 2 episodes
The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang Controller, Krolack Voice, episode: "Science Friction"; uncredited
1980–1982 Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Additional voices
1981 Blackstar Carpo, Overlord Voice
1981–1982 The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! Uncle Marvel, Doctor Sivana, Tawky Tawny, Shazam Voice[6]
Trollkins Sheriff Pudge Trollism Voice
Hero High Narrator, Mr. Sampson
1981–1989 The Smurfs Vanity Smurf, Father Time
1982 My Smurfy Valentine Vanity Smurf Voice, television film
Mama's Family Mayor Tutweller
The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour Additional voices
Richie Rich
The Smurfs Christmas Special Vanity Smurf Voice, television film
1982–1985 Knight Rider General Duncton, Joe Lewis
1983 The Smurfic Games Vanity Smurf Voice, television film
1983–1985 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Skeletor, Cringer / Battle Cat, Man-At-Arms, Mer-Man, Roboto Voice
1985 Challenge of the GoBots Mobius Voice, episode: "Genius and Son"
1985–1986 The Transformers Beachcomber, Breakdown, Seaspray, Warpath Voice
1985 The Wuzzles Rhinokey, Crocosaur, Mr. Packcat
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo Mirror Demon, Professor Fantazmo Voice, 2 episodes
1985–1987 She-Ra: Princess of Power Skeletor, Cringer / Battle Cat, Man-At-Arms Voice
1986 The Centurions Dr. Gates Voice
Ghostbusters Prime Evil, Fangster, Long John Scarechrome
Rambo: The Force of Freedom Sam Trautman
Karate Kommandos President
Strong Medicine Dr. Townsend
1987 Bionic Six Professor Amadeus Sharp, Metalhand Voice
Tis The Season To Be Smurfy Vanity Smurf Voice, television film
1987–1988 BraveStarr Handlebar, Outlaw Scuzz, Stampede Voice
Snorks Additional voices 4 episodes
1987–1990 DuckTales Colonel Beaureguard DuBark, All My Ducklings Actor, Von Doghausen Voice, 3 episodes
1988 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Additional voices Season 1
Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf Mummy, Swamp Thing Voice, television film
The New Yogi Bear Show Additional voices
Superman Jonathan Kent Voice
Matlock Dr. Linder Episode: "The Heiress"
1988–1989 Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters Goolem, Morris P. Grout Voice
Fantastic Max Additional voices
1989 Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers Plato, Aldrin Klordane, Captain Kernel Voice
X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men Blob, Colonel Chaffey Voice, television film
TUGS Top Hat, O.J., Hercules Voice, test US dub
1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dr. Polidorius Voice, episode: "Rebel Without a Fin"
The Wizard of Oz Wizard Voice
1991 TaleSpin Principal Ed Pomeroy Voice, episode: "Sheepskin Deep"
Captain Planet and the Planeteers Dr. Borzon Voice, episode: "Meltdown Syndrome"
Where's Waldo? Additional voices
James Bond Jr. The Chameleon Voice
Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter Arthur Lyons
1991–1993 The Legend of Prince Valiant Merlin Voice[6]
1992 Fish Police Additional voices Episode: "The Two Gils"
Tom & Jerry Kids 3 episodes
The Little Mermaid Episode: "The Evil Manta"
1993 Bonkers 2 episodes
I Yabba-Dabba Do! Television film
Star Trek: The Next Generation Koroth
1994 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Captain Keogh
Batman: The Animated Series Auctioneer Voice, episode: "Time Out of Joint"[6]
Fantastic Four Watcher, Firelord Voice, episode: "The Silver Surfer and the Coming of Galactus"
1994–1995 Phantom 2040 Professor Jack Archer Voice
1997 Star Trek: Voyager Nezu Ambassador
1997–1998 The New Adventures of Zorro Additional voices
1998 Diagnosis: Murder Leonard Gould
Invasion America Additional voices 3 episodes
Jumanji Ludwig Von Ritcher Voice, 2 episodes
2000 Rocket Power Television Announcer
2001–2004 Passions Alistair Crane
2003 The Big O Norman Burg Voice, English dub
2003, 2006 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Father Time, Mighty Moe Voice, 5 episodes
2004 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Laoban Voice, episode: "Red Data"
2005 Clifford's Puppy Days Mr. Solomon Voice, 2 episodes[6]
2007 'Til Death Mr. Wallach Episode: "Performance Anxiety"
2014 Adventure Time Darren the Ancient Sleeper, Sun Voice, episode: "Something Big"[6]
2019 Tigtone Beautiful Horse Head Voice, episode: "Tigtone and the Beautiful War"
Forky Asks a Question Old Timer Voice, episode: "What is Time?"
2020 JJ Villard's Fairy Tales Mirror Max, Roach, Flea Circus Voice, episode: "Snow White"
2021 Masters of the Universe: Revelation Moss Man Voice[6]
2022 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe King Grayskull Voice

Video games[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Gale. 1989. p. 292. ISBN 9780810320703.
  2. ^ Sunset Boulevard entry, broadwaymusicalhome.com; accessed May 9, 2015.
  3. ^ "Obscure Cartoon Spotlight Episode 6: Quackula". Anime Superhero News. Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  4. ^ Peter DeBruge (June 13, 2019). "Film Review: 'Toy Story 4'". Variety. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Gil, Billy (June 25, 2003). "Marianna Elliott".
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Alan Oppenheimer (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 15, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  7. ^ "Boot Camp - A Best Fiends Animation". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  8. ^ InXile Entertainment. The Bard's Tale. InXile Entertainment. Scene: Ending credits, 2:10:20 in, More Great Talent.

External links[edit]