Dick Tufeld [Voice of the Robot] 1926-2012 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 01-24-2012, 06:11 PM

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For those of a certain age, he was always there to warn his human friend of "Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!" Now, Parkinson's disease and cancer survivor Dick Tufeld is gone at age 85.
For those old enough to remember the iconic 60's space opera "Lost in Space," there is one voice that clearly cuts through the fog of time.
"DANGER! DANGER WILL ROBINSON!"
We all knew it wasn't a real robot. What we didn't know the name of the person whose voice brought the "Rambler-Crane Series Robot" to life each week. An actor manipulated the robot's physical movements, but it was Dick Tufeld we heard each week, defending young Will from danger, matching wits with the evil, cowardly Dr. Smith, and just generally being of service to the Robinson family as they sought to find some way to get the "Jupiter II" back to planet Earth.
Dick Tufeld died Sunday, according to his friend Billy Mumy, who played young Will on the TV show that aired from 1965 until 1968. Mumy announced Tufeld's death on his Facebook page Monday morning.
While those of a certain age no doubt recall the robot's voice, you may not be aware that Tufeld was a nearly ubiquitous and unseen presence on many of your favorite action adventures in the 1960s. In his decades-long career, Tufeld was the was the voice of the Robot in the 1998 feature film "Lost in Space", and did the character voice on two episodes of the Simpsons, the last of which would prove to be his final screen credit in the episode "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore" in 2004, according to the Internet Movie Database.
Tufeld was a staple at Irwin Allen studios, doing voices for shows like "Space Patrol" in 1953. He was the voice of "Mission Control" in the TV series "Time Tunnel." He was the opening announcer in the epic series "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea." His work in cartoons included being the opening announcer of "The Fantastic Four" series, and other shows that evoke the taste of Saturday morning breakfast cereal like "Thundarr the Barbarian" and "Spider Man and his Amazing Friends."
TMZ reports that Tufeld's health took a turn for the worse after the recent death of his wife and "everything just caught up with him," Mumy said in his Facebook posting. ""He lost his wife a few years ago and lost his pep after that."
Tufeld died Sunday in an Los Angeles area hospital.

Zoneboy · 01-24-2012, 06:14 PM

Another voice from The Simpsons is now silent

Mr. Tufeld

Stuck In The '70's · 01-24-2012, 06:19 PM

As a longtime fan of Lost in Space, this is very sad news. He did bring the Robot to life on every episode and he will be missed. R.I.P. Dick.

Retro4Life · 01-24-2012, 07:42 PM

R.I.P. Dick. I can still hear his resonant, distinctive voice from my childhood days.

catlover79 · 01-24-2012, 11:09 PM

Edison · 01-25-2012, 12:12 AM

Found in Space...

comedyfreak · 02-15-2012, 06:02 AM

I was so sad to hear this I've wanted to meet him.

RIP Dick you were the Robot as much as Bob May.

01-24-2012, 06:11 PM	#1
Zoneboy Moderator Forum Veteran R.I.P. STEVE FORREST 1925-2013 Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: Carthage, NC Posts: 22,580	Dick Tufeld [Voice of the Robot] 1926-2012 Link For those of a certain age, he was always there to warn his human friend of "Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!" Now, Parkinson's disease and cancer survivor Dick Tufeld is gone at age 85. For those old enough to remember the iconic 60's space opera "Lost in Space," there is one voice that clearly cuts through the fog of time. "DANGER! DANGER WILL ROBINSON!" We all knew it wasn't a real robot. What we didn't know the name of the person whose voice brought the "Rambler-Crane Series Robot" to life each week. An actor manipulated the robot's physical movements, but it was Dick Tufeld we heard each week, defending young Will from danger, matching wits with the evil, cowardly Dr. Smith, and just generally being of service to the Robinson family as they sought to find some way to get the "Jupiter II" back to planet Earth. Dick Tufeld died Sunday, according to his friend Billy Mumy, who played young Will on the TV show that aired from 1965 until 1968. Mumy announced Tufeld's death on his Facebook page Monday morning. While those of a certain age no doubt recall the robot's voice, you may not be aware that Tufeld was a nearly ubiquitous and unseen presence on many of your favorite action adventures in the 1960s. In his decades-long career, Tufeld was the was the voice of the Robot in the 1998 feature film "Lost in Space", and did the character voice on two episodes of the Simpsons, the last of which would prove to be his final screen credit in the episode "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore" in 2004, according to the Internet Movie Database. Tufeld was a staple at Irwin Allen studios, doing voices for shows like "Space Patrol" in 1953. He was the voice of "Mission Control" in the TV series "Time Tunnel." He was the opening announcer in the epic series "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea." His work in cartoons included being the opening announcer of "The Fantastic Four" series, and other shows that evoke the taste of Saturday morning breakfast cereal like "Thundarr the Barbarian" and "Spider Man and his Amazing Friends." TMZ reports that Tufeld's health took a turn for the worse after the recent death of his wife and "everything just caught up with him," Mumy said in his Facebook posting. ""He lost his wife a few years ago and lost his pep after that." Tufeld died Sunday in an Los Angeles area hospital. __________________ *"It's the way things are. A big tree falls and a new one grows right out of the same ground. Old animals die and young ones take their places. Even people step aside when it's time."* (R.G. Armstrong as the Contractor in The Twilight Zone episode "Nothing in the Dark")

01-24-2012, 06:19 PM	#3
Stuck In The '70's Forum Legend Member Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: In Television Hell Posts: 56,772	As a longtime fan of Lost in Space, this is very sad news. He did bring the Robot to life on every episode and he will be missed. R.I.P. Dick. __________________ Sonny

01-24-2012, 07:42 PM	#4
Retro4Life Senior Member Accept No Substitutes Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 5,061	R.I.P. Dick. I can still hear his resonant, distinctive voice from my childhood days. __________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

01-24-2012, 11:09 PM	#5
catlover79 Moderator Forum Legend God Bless Val Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 67,665	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

01-25-2012, 12:12 AM	#6
Edison Frequent Poster Member Join Date: Oct 01, 2006 Posts: 160	Found in Space... Attached Images

01-24-2012, 06:14 PM	#2
Zoneboy Moderator Forum Veteran R.I.P. STEVE FORREST 1925-2013 Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: Carthage, NC Posts: 22,580	Another voice from The Simpsons is now silent Mr. Tufeld

02-15-2012, 06:02 AM	#7
comedyfreak Senior Member Where No One Has Gone Before Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 9,066	I was so sad to hear this I've wanted to meet him. RIP Dick you were the Robot as much as Bob May. __________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

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