Clarence Nash
Biography
Clarence Nash was an American impressionist and voice actor, best known as the original voice of Donald Duck. Born in Watonga, Oklahoma, he became known in the late 1920s as an impressionist on KHJ's The Merrymakers. In 1932 he stopped at the Disney Studio and was asked to audition; his duck voice led to The Wise Little Hen (1934). He voiced Donald for 51 years and appeared in over 120 shorts and films, with his final film voice in Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983). Nash also voiced Huey, Dewey and Louie, Daisy in Mr. Duck Steps Out, and Mickey Mouse in The Dognapper, and supplied animal sounds such as Figaro's meows in Pinocchio, bird whistles in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), a bullfrog in Bambi (1942), and Mr. Bluebird in Song of the South (1946). He appeared as himself in The Reluctant Dragon (1941) and was posthumously named a Disney Legend in 1993.
80years old at death
- Born Watonga
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Movie Career
- Films
- 32
- Career span
- 27 years1932 to 1959
Genres
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Getting ready for a role
Nash achieved Donald Duck's voice with buccal speech, an alaryngeal vocalization that makes sound using the inner cheek rather than the larynx. He found the technique when he attempted to imitate his pet goat Mary.
Big break
Nash got his Disney audition in 1932 after leaving his Adohr publicity sheet with the studio receptionist; Walt Disney had been impressed by his vocal skills on The Merrymakers.
Languages
To keep Donald Duck's voice consistent worldwide, Nash voiced the character in every language the Disney shorts were translated into, working with the phonetic alphabet.
A first
Nash gave one of his last performances in Mickey's Christmas Carol, released in 1983. In that film, Donald was the only character voiced by his original actor.
Clarence Nash movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Clyde Geronimi directed seven of these films, Ben Sharpsteen five and Jack Hannah five. Pinto Colvig appears in sixteen of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Pinto Colvig's page
Walt Disney's page
James MacDonald's page
Billy Bletcher's page
Marion Darlington4 films together, 1932 to 1948
Marion Darlington's page
Sterling Holloway's page
Clyde GeronimiDirector, 7 films, 1939 to 1953
All films by Clyde Geronimi
Ben SharpsteenDirector, 5 films, 1935 to 1938
All films by Ben Sharpsteen
Jack HannahDirector, 5 films, 1947 to 1953
All films by Jack Hannah
Also three films together4 more actors
- Luana PattenSo Dear to My Heart (1948), Fun and Fancy Free (1947) and Song of the South (1946)
- Marcellite GarnerBoat Builders (1938), Hawaiian Holiday (1937) and On Ice (1935)
- Dessie FlynnPluto's Christmas Tree (1952), Winter Storage (1949) and Chip an' Dale (1947)
- Jud Conlon's RhythmairesThe Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949), The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949) and So Dear to My Heart (1948)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Clarence Nash's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$529 million
6 of the 32 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 32 films: 6 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 25 figure not found.
- 6Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 25Figure not found
Top grosser
Highest grossing
The six biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$267M50.5% of the total
- 2$185M34.9% of the total
- 3$65M12.3% of the total
- 4$6.7M1.3% of the total
- 5$3.2M0.6% of the total
- 6$2.0M0.4% of the total
Awards
Two awards and honors from 1978 to 1993.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1993 | Disney Legends (posthumous) | Honored | |
| 1978 | Inkpot Award | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.