Bill Lee

Biography

Bill Lee was an American playback singer who supplied voices for film musicals and many Disney characters. Born in Johnson, Nebraska, and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, he first played trombone but turned to singing after college vocal groups. He moved to Hollywood and sang commercials for radio and television, and he took the lead in the 1953 record musical Seven Dreams. His best-known work was with the quartet The Mellomen, founded by Thurl Ravenscroft. Lee sang Shere Khan's line in The Jungle Book (1967). He recorded prolifically for Disney, singing as Bert and Mr. Banks on the million-selling second-cast Mary Poppins album, voicing Goofy on a 1965 children's LP, Children's Riddles and Game Songs, and supplying singing voices for Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music, John Kerr in South Pacific, and John Gavin in Thoroughly Modern Millie. He died in 1980.

64years old at death

Born August 21, 1916Johnson
Died November 15, 1980Los Angeles
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Also credited as William B. Lee and William Lee

Movie Career

Films: 8
Career span: 18 years1953 to 1971

Genres

Comedy63%, 5 films
Animation50%, 4 films
Adventure38%, 3 films
Family38%, 3 films
Romance38%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
Bill Lee, not Thurl Ravenscroft, sang Shere Khan's line in "That's What Friends Are For" from The Jungle Book, as Richard M. Sherman confirmed on the 2007 DVD commentary.
Beyond film
In 1953, Lee took the lead singing part in Seven Dreams, a musical that Gordon Jenkins created specifically to be released as a record.
Beyond film
Lee performs as Bert and Mr. Banks on the second-cast Disneyland album of Mary Poppins, which sold a million copies.
Beyond film
Lee also sang the theme song for the popular television series Bat Masterson, performing the song for the show itself.

Bill Lee movies on Netflix

The Beguiled1971IMDb rating 7.1as Singer
The Jungle Book1967IMDb rating 7.6as Shere Khan (singing) / Elephant Soldier (voice)
Cinderella1965IMDb rating 7.6as Father
Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!1964IMDb rating 6.5as Yogi Bear (singing voice)
Gay Purr-ee1962IMDb rating 6.7as Singing Hench Cat (voice)
Silk Stockings1957IMDb rating 6.8as Ivanov (singing)
Give a Girl a Break1953IMDb rating 6.3as Ted Sturgis (Singing)
Peter Pan1953IMDb rating 7.2as Pirate

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Jungle Book1967 Adventure, Animation, Comedyas Shere Khan (singing) / Elephant Soldiervoice
IMDb rating 7.6216K votes
Cinderella1965 Fantasy, Music, Romanceas Father
IMDb rating 7.63.8K votes
Peter Pan1953as Pirate
IMDb rating 7.2168K votes
Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!1964as Yogi Bear (singing voice)
IMDb rating 6.51.4K votes
Gay Purr-ee1962as Singing Hench Catvoice
IMDb rating 6.72.4K votes
Silk Stockings1957as Ivanov (singing)
IMDb rating 6.84.7K votes
The Beguiled1971as Singer
IMDb rating 7.121K votes
Give a Girl a Break1953as Ted Sturgis (Singing)
IMDb rating 6.3950 votes

Most often with

Six actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Mel Blanc

Hal Smith

Thurl Ravenscroft

J. Pat O'Malley

Darleen Carr

Julie Bennett

Films together

Mel Blanc2 films together, 1962 to 1964
Mel Blanc's page
- Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!1964IMDb rating 6.5Lee as Yogi Bear (singing voice)Blanc as Conductor Bear / Grifter Chizzling / Mugger the Dog (grumbling sounds)voice
- Gay Purr-ee1962IMDb rating 6.7Lee as Singing Hench CatvoiceBlanc as Bulldog…voice
Hal Smith2 films together, 1964 to 1967
Hal Smith's page
- The Jungle Book1967IMDb rating 7.6Lee as Shere Khan (singing) / Elephant SoldiervoiceSmith as Slob Elephant
- Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!1964IMDb rating 6.5Lee as Yogi Bear (singing voice)Smith as Corn Pone / Moosevoice
Thurl Ravenscroft2 films together, 1962 to 1964
Thurl Ravenscroft's page
- Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!1964IMDb rating 6.5Lee as Yogi Bear (singing voice)Ravenscroft as Policeman (voice, uncredited)
- Gay Purr-ee1962IMDb rating 6.7Lee as Singing Hench CatvoiceRavenscroft as Singing Hench Cat
J. Pat O'Malley2 films together, 1964 to 1967
J. Pat O'Malley's page
- The Jungle Book1967IMDb rating 7.6Lee as Shere Khan (singing) / Elephant SoldiervoiceO'Malley as Col. Hathi the Elephant / Buzzievoice
- Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!1964IMDb rating 6.5Lee as Yogi Bear (singing voice)O'Malley as Snively Chizzlingvoice
Darleen Carr2 films together, 1967 to 1971
Darleen Carr's page
- The Beguiled1971IMDb rating 7.1Lee as SingerCarr as Doris
- The Jungle Book1967IMDb rating 7.6Lee as Shere Khan (singing) / Elephant SoldiervoiceCarr as The Girlvoice
Julie Bennett2 films together, 1962 to 1964
Julie Bennett's page
- Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!1964IMDb rating 6.5Lee as Yogi Bear (singing voice)Bennett as Cindy Bearvoice
- Gay Purr-ee1962IMDb rating 6.7Lee as Singing Hench CatvoiceBennett as Lady From Provencevoice

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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