Net Worth Ranker
What Is Mel Blanc’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death on July 10, 1989, Mel Blanc, the legendary voice actor and comedian, had a net worth equivalent to $25 million after adjusting for inflation. This substantial net worth reflects a career spanning over six decades, during which he became known as “The Man of a Thousand Voices” for his work in radio and animation. He is considered one of the most prolific voice actors in the history of entertainment.
Mel Blanc’s Early Career and Rise to Fame
Mel Blanc, born Melvin Jerome Blank on May 30, 1908, in San Francisco, California, began cultivating his talent for voices and dialects at a young age. His parents, Eva and Frederick Blank, encouraged his pursuits. Growing up in San Francisco’s Western Addition neighborhood, he later moved with his family to Portland, Oregon. There, he attended Lincoln High School, graduating in 1927. It was during these formative years that his passion for voice acting took root.
Blanc’s professional career began in 1927, at the age of 19, when he landed a role on the KGW program “The Hoot Owls.” His knack for creating unique voices for multiple characters quickly caught the attention of the show’s producers. In 1933, he moved to KEX to produce and co-host his own show, “Cobweb and Nuts,” which aired Monday through Saturday. During this period, Blanc also showcased his musical talents, working as a conductor and performing in vaudeville shows across Washington, Oregon, and Northern California.
Blanc’s move to Los Angeles in 1935 marked a significant turning point in his career. He joined Warner Bros., where he became a regular on “The Jack Benny Program” on the NBC Red Network. His work on “The Jack Benny Program” led to his own radio show, “The Mel Blanc Show,” which aired from 1946 to 1947.
Blanc’s Voice Acting Career
In December 1936, Blanc joined Leon Schlesinger Productions, which produced short theatrical cartoons for Warner Bros. His first cartoon was “Picador Porky” in 1937. He voiced Porky Pig in “Porky’s Duck Hunt” which was also the debut of Daffy Duck. Blanc became a prominent vocal artist for Warner Bros., voicing a wide variety of “Looney Tunes” characters.
Blanc debuted the character of Bugs Bunny in “A Wild Hare” in 1940, popularizing the catchphrase, “Eh, what’s up, doc?” He also developed the voice and laugh of Woody Woodpecker. However, he signed an exclusive contract with Warner Bros. and stopped voicing the character.
Blanc took measures to protect the rights to his voice characterizations. His contract with Warner Bros. required that he receive credit, which was rare at the time for voice actors. His iconic voices include Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Marvin the Martian, Pepe Le Pew, Speedy Gonzales, Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner, Barney Rubble, Dino, Mr. Spacely, and Heathcliff.
In 1960, Blanc’s exclusive contract with Warner Bros. expired, and he continued to work with the company. He began to provide voices for cartoons produced by Hanna-Barbera. His roles during this time included voicing Barney Rubble in “The Flintstones” and Cosmo Spacely in “The Jetsons.” He voiced the characters of Dino the Dinosaur, Secret Squirrel, Speed Buggy, and Captain Caveman.
Blanc worked with former “Looney Tunes” director Chuck Jones. He provided the vocal effects for the “Tom and Jerry” series from 1963 to 1967. He was the first voice of Toucan Sam in the Froot Loops commercials.
In the late 1960s, Blanc reprised his Warner Bros. characters. The studio contracted him to make new theatrical cartoons. He performed a number of his “Looney Tunes” characters for compilation films of Golden Age-era Warner Bros. cartoons.
Later Career and Business Ventures
In 1962, Blanc and his son formed Blanc Communications Corporation. This media company produced over 5,000 public service announcements and commercials. Blanc received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the radio industry. Bugs Bunny was awarded a star in 1985.
Personal Life and Death
In January 1933, Blanc married Estelle Rosenbaum. Together, they had a son named Noel, who followed in his father’s footsteps to become a voice actor. Mel and Estelle remained married until Blanc’s death in 1989.
Blanc began smoking cigarettes at the age of nine and continued his pack-a-day habit until the age of 77. He was diagnosed with emphysema. In May 1989, his family checked him into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after they noticed he had developed a bad cough. He was expected to recover, but then the doctors discovered he had advanced coronary artery disease. After spending two months in the hospital, Blanc died on July 10, 1989, at the age of 81. He is interred in Hollywood Forever Cemetery. His gravestone reads “That’s All Folks.”
The impressive net worth of Mel Blanc at the time of his death reflects the culmination of a remarkable career. His contributions to radio, animation, and voice acting have left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry. His iconic characters and memorable voices continue to entertain audiences of all ages.
