Jackson Beck, "a master of voice-over", has died at the age of 92. Beck introduced each episode of the Superman radio show with the now famous phrase "It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!" and voiced Bluto in more than 300 Popeye cartoons. He went on to work in The Batman/Superman Hour and The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure during the 1960's and was the narrator for the G.I. Joe series in the 1980's.Click read more for a note form Jerry Beck of CartoonResearch
Source: Animated-News
My favorite Jackson Beck performance is that of the suburbanite who brings home a man-eating cannibal from a jungle expedition in Famous Studio's 1958 cartoon CHEW CHEW BABY. He narrates the entire cartoon as good 'ol boy who shows "Chew Chew" all around Cincinnatti, blissfully unaware that the cannibal is eating all his friends around him. I also enjoyed Beck's many roles on the Superman radio show - from narrator, to gangsters to office boy "Beanie", Beck was the true star of that show.
I met him once, in his apartment, where he threw a party for Sid Raymond (this was in 1995). Because we shared last names we discussed the possibility of being related, but I was happy just to meet the man and tell him how much I enjoyed his work. He was a gentleman and a wonderful guy.
