Sterling Holloway

Sterling Price Holloway Jr. (born January 14, 1905 - died November 22, 1992) was an iconic American actor intensely recognized for his distinctive foggy voice. His acting career, spanning from 1925 to 1986, saw him appear in over 100 films and 40 television shows. Holloway earned fame for his commendable voice acting for The Walt Disney Company, lending his voice to countless beloved characters like Mr. Stork in Dumbo, Adult Flower in Bambi, the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, Kaa in The Jungle Book, Roquefort the Mouse in The Aristocats, and the titular character in Winnie the Pooh, among many others. He began his acting career in the theatre before moving to Hollywood in 1926, where he was cast in comedies because of his red hair and distinctive voice. During World War II, Holloway joined the United States Army at 37.

In his later life, Holloway continued to voice characters in animated films, performed on radio programs, appeared in television shows, and even recorded children's records. Holloway was recognized as a Disney Legend in 1991. Outside of his work, he was an avid collector of contemporary art. A dedicated bachelor, Holloway adopted a son, Richard Holloway. At 83, his last performance as Winnie the Pooh was in 1977's The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. He passed away from a heart attack in 1992, but his legacy continues to echo in the animation industry.