'Tony the Tiger' Voice Dead at 64

One of America's most iconic voices is no more. Lee Marshall, who began voicing Tony the Tiger in Kellogg's Frosted Flakes ads in 1999, has died of esophageal cancer at the age of 64. Marshall "spoke in deep, rich, practically evangelical tones," the Los Angeles Times writes in an obituary, noting that Marshall also worked as a rock and roll DJ, newscaster, and wrestling announcer in a long and varied career. He started taking over Tony the Tiger from the original Tony, Thurl Ravenscroft, when the latter actor was in his 80s.

Marshall could also often be heard as a cartoon villain. "I would just once like to be the guy who saves Scooby-Doo," he once complained to his agent, only to be told, "You'll always be the guy who tries to kill Scooby-Doo." A former colleague at KRTH-101 in Los Angeles says Marshall was happy to oblige when people wanted him to do the Tony voice, but not when there were kids around. "We are saddened by the loss of Lee Marshall," a Kellogg spokesperson tells the Huffington Post. "His talent and warmth helped bring Tony the Tiger to life and will always be fondly remembered." (More Lee Marshall stories.)