Junius Matthews

Junius Matthews
Born Junius Conyers Matthews
(1890-06-12)June 12, 1890
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died January 18, 1978(1978-01-18) (aged 87)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery
Occupation Actor, voice actor
Years active 1917–1978
Known for Voice of Rabbit

Junius Conyers Matthews (June 12, 1890 – January 18, 1978) was an American actor and voice actor who was best known for his role as the original voice of Rabbit in the Winnie the Pooh franchise from 1966 to 1977.

Career

He was a private in World War I before becoming an actor, and determined to become a popular radio and television actor, his career began on stage where he got his first role in a silent film called The Silent Witness (1917). He later played the role of the Tin Woodsman on a radio version of The Wizard of Oz. His distinctive voice can be frequently heard in supporting roles in radio, particularly westerns where he was often cast as an old codger, miner, or master of the cook wagon. Matthews appeared on the short-lived series Luke Slaughter of Tombstone as Slaughter's sidekick, Wichita, and played Ling Wee, a Chinese waiter, in Gasoline Alley. He also made guest appearances on several television series in the 1950s and '60s.

Winnie the Pooh

It was not until the last ten years of his life that Matthews became widely known for his role as Rabbit in the Winnie the Pooh movies produced by the Disney studio from 1966 to 1977, including the featurettes Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966), Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968), and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too! (1974) as well as the feature-length compilation film The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977). He played other roles for Disney, most notably the owl, Archimedes, in Disney's The Sword in the Stone (1963).

Death

Matthews died in 1978 at age 87 and was buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1917 The Silent Witness Bud Morgan
1943 Seeds of Freedom Speaker
1946 Without Reservations Charlie Potter uncredited
Black Angel Dr. Courtney
I've Always Loved You Little Man uncredited
1947 The Shocking Miss Pilgrim Mr. Carter uncredited
1949 Chicken Every Sunday Deacon Wilson uncredited
1951 Half Angel Timid Man uncredited
1952 My Wife's Best Friend Rev. Dr. Smith uncredited
1955 Good Morning, Miss Dove Mr. Pruitt uncredited
1957 Jeanne Eagels Court Clerk uncredited
1958 The Lineup Jeffers uncredited
1959 A Summer Place Mr. Hamble uncredited
1963 The Sword in the Stone Archimedes, The Owl voice
1966 Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree Rabbit voice
1968 Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day Rabbit voice
1974 Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too! Rabbit voice
1977 The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Rabbit voice
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