FROM 2007
TONY ANSELMO
talks about how he became the voice of Donald Duck

by Scott Wolf

Here's one of the few people in Disney history who has the distinction of actually animating a character he provides the voice for.

Tony Anselmo's animation career is as fascinating as his role as the voice of Donald Duck. I am grateful that he was willing to sit down and talk with me about his fascinating dual career. I found his stories fascinating and it delights me to be able to share them with you.

Scott Wolf: When did your relationship begin with Clarence Nash (the original voice of Donald Duck)? When did you meet him?

Tony Anselmo: The first day. But, when I started in Feature Animation there were only like 65 people in the department. It was very small and we did a picture every three to four years. Everybody knew everybody and it really honestly was like a family.

Clarence was on the lot every day. Our first day they gave us an orientation tour and we all went in to the Archives and “Ducky” was there with Dave Smith. He introduced himself and did the “duck speak.” That was when I met him.

He had a ventriloquist doll of Donald that he used to carry around with him. He did his whole act and we were all very impressed because it was like meeting a movie star.

He was always there and we became friends just like I had become friends with everyone, but he and I kind of hit it off and he would stop in my room where I was animating a lot and we would just talk small talk.

Donald was never anything I intended to do. It was not a goal of mine. I did incidental voices on everybody’s films at Cal Arts and a couple at the studio, nothing notable.

Donald was a voice I couldn’t do so I asked him how to do it, not intending to ever do it professionally, just for fun, and he showed me how, but I couldn’t do it.

SW: It’s something you can actually teach somebody to do?

TA: Oh yeah. It’s elaborate. It’s very complex and it took two or three years and it still got better. Even with Ducky himself, if you look at his initial work on “The Wise Little Hen” and the early 30s stuff, it’s not half as clear as “Three Caballeros or “Mickey and the Beanstalk” which is pristine.

If I hear my early stuff there’s the same kind of curve. You kind of get better knowing the tricks of the trade and how to do it and practice and developing the muscles that it takes to do it.

So anyway I asked him how to do it for fun and he showed me and I couldn’t do it. So I played with the voice in the car and then one day it kind of kicked in a little bit. Then the next time he came in to say hello I said, “Is this it?” and he said, “Yeah, that’s it.”

I didn’t quite know what to make of it at the time but he started to spend more time with me on it. He’d say, “What would Donald say if he were in this situation?” Or, “How would you say this?” or “Try this word.” I’d think, “Gee, he must be bored.”

But, he was such a great guy. He was sweet, down to Earth, generous with his time… but what I didn’t know was that he had leukemia.

It wasn’t until Donald’s 50th year when Clarence was 80 and Donald was 50 and he finally got the recognition that I think he deserved by going on “The Tonight Show” and the Academy Awards and putting his hand and footprints in the forecourt of the Chinese Theatre as well as going on a national tour which was great for him.

At the end of that year he was supposed to be the Grand Marshall of the Rose Parade and I went with my family to see the parade and he wasn’t there. The next day his wife Margie called me and said Clarence is in St. Joseph’s (Medical Center) and wants to talk to you.

I went over to see how he was doing and he said, “I have leukemia.” It was the kind that elderly people get. He said, “I don’t have that much time but I've already worked it out that you’ll do Donald’s voice when I’m gone.”

This was not happy news for me because he was telling me that he was sick and I was shocked.

That was the first time anything was actually said officially. I didn’t really get a lot of time to ask him things that I would have liked to because I didn’t know that’s what he had in mind. But, he was spending a lot of time with me and in hindsight that’s what that was all about.

More from Tony:
His career as a Disney animator

See other interviews

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in the interviews are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mouse Clubhouse. Mouse Clubhouse accepts no legal liability or responsibility for any claims made or opinions expressed within.