If you grew up watching cartoons anytime in the last 50 years, you knew Jack Angel’s voice. Even if you didn’t know his name, Jack Angel provided voices for series like Superfriends, The Transformers, Voltron, and G.I. Joe among hundreds of other series and movies. Angel’s career as a voice actor touched on just about every major animated franchise at one point or another for over 40 years. Angel passed away yesterday, at the age of 90.
He is probably best remembered for the roles he voiced on the Transformers, including Astrotrain, Ramjet, and Omega Supreme. He took over the role of Ultra Magnus from Robert Stack after the movie. Angel returned to voice both Ultra Magnus and Ramjet in 2016 for Transformers: Project Nemesis. In G.I. Joe, he voiced Wet Suit. Other credits include voicing King Zarkon on Voltron and The Flash, Hawkman, and Samurai over various iterations of the Super Friends series. He could also be heard on The Smurfs, Ducktales, Jem, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Hey Arnold!, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ben10, Darkwing Duck, MASK, and countless others.
He also worked on movies, including Dreamworks, Disney and Pixar films like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Balto, A Bug’s Life, The Iron Giant, Monsters, Inc. Toy Story 3, Finding Nemo, and Lilo & Stitch. He also provided the voices for Teddy, the robotic toy from Steven Speilberg’s A.I., and the underworld preacher performing the wedding at the end of Beetlejuice.
Before his vast voice acting career, he worked 10 years as a promo announcer for NBC and 18 years as a disc jockey. He has also worked as a news anchor, weatherman, director, TV and movie actor, writer, and stage performer. Angel was also a US Army veteran who served in Korea.
Fans and industry shared their condolences on Twitter:
Heard that Veteran Voice Actor Jack Angel passed away today. Jack’s voices were definitely part of my childhood and I had the pleasure of meeting him years ago. Thank you for the memories Jack
Until all are one
10/24/1930-10/19/2021#voiceacting #RIP #JackAngel #transformers pic.twitter.com/e7MPmBsXzZ— RetroRama80s (@RetroRama80s) October 19, 2021
#JackAngel always had time to share a story, or a joke with this newbie every time we crossed paths. I was eager to listen, & learn, & laugh. He had more credits to his name than I ever will. Thank you for sharing your talent, but you’ll be missed for that, & more. #RIPJackAngel pic.twitter.com/UFhYTbOLmS
— Keith Silverstein Voice Artist (@SilverTalkie) October 20, 2021
Oh, my beloved King Zarkon…you always gave the Voltron Force what for. You always had the best insults for Lotor and always talked smack to Haggar and her cat in the most delightfully evil way. You were definitely a staple in my childhood good sir. RIP Jack Angel #jackangel pic.twitter.com/xWGgUilqV3
— 💀Kitty🔮Hate Machine🌹 (@Zora_The_Geek) October 20, 2021
We, at Geek Anything, offer our heartfelt condolences to Jack Angel’s family, friends, and fans.
Rest In Peace Jack Angel
1930-2021
