The dreaded Coronavirus has claimed another victim. Julie Bennett, the voice of Yogi Bear’s friend Cindy Bear, succumbed to complications of Covid-19 at the age of 88. She passed away March 31, 2020 of complications from COVID-19 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
Julie Bennett was born January 24, 1932 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Her family moved to California when she was young, where she attended Beverly Hills High School. Returning to New York City, she became a radio and theater actress, also appearing in early television, including the the sci-fi/horror show, Lights Out.
Bennett was perhaps best known throughout her long career as a voice actress, first on “Fractured Fairy Tales” on Rocky and his Friends, then 1961 to 1988, as the voice of Cindy Bear in various Yogi Bear cartoons. She was the voice of Lois Lane in the 1967 The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, and had even appeared in the live-action George Reeves Adventures of Superman as a guest star,
She kept herself busy She also did voices in The Huckleberry Hound Show, Quick Draw McGraw, and several Chuck Jones cartoons, including the full-length movie Gay Purr-ee. She did various voices in The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo. She dubbed some of the female voices in the English version of the 1967 King Kong Escapes. In The Banana Splits Adventure Hour she provided the voices of both D’Artagnan’s sweetheart Lady Constance and Queen Anne in “The Three Musketeers” cartoon. She also did voicework in the Jeannie cartoon that starred a young Mark Hamill before his Star Wars success. In the 1997 Spider-Man: The Animated Series she played Aunt May.
Ms. Bennett, of course, also appeared before the camera, appearing as an occasional guest in Get Smart, Moonlighting, Love, American Style, and Gunsmoke. She appeared in the PBS shows Square One and Mathnet and in the movie Goliath Awaits.
Julie Bennett was married to writer/producer Jerry Bredouw from 1965-1971. She also worked as a realtor and as an agent and personal manager for other actors, Donations can be made in her memory to The Actors Fund.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
