Bill Thompson
'''Bill Thompson''' (July 8, 1913 – July 15, 1971) was an American voice actor and radio performer known for his iconic work in animated cartoons and Disney films during the mid-20th century. He created the distinctive laid-back voice and signature "Hello-o-o-o" for Droopy the Dog in MGM's classic cartoon series, as well as providing voices for numerous other characters in those shorts. Thompson also contributed memorable performances to Walt Disney Productions, including the White Rabbit and the Dodo in Alice in Wonderland (1951) and Jock in Lady and the Tramp (1955).
His career began in radio during the 1930s, where he gained popularity as Wallace Wimple on the Fibber McGee and Molly show, a role that showcased his talent for eccentric character voices. This led to opportunities in animation, where his versatility allowed him to portray a wide range of personalities from slow-talking dogs to frantic rabbits. Thompson's contributions helped define the sound of Golden Age animation, blending comedic timing with distinctive vocal characterizations that became staples of the era.
Thompson continued working in voice acting and occasional on-screen roles until his death in 1971, leaving a lasting legacy in animation history through his enduring character voices.
William H. Thompson, professionally known as Bill Thompson, was born on July 8, 1913, in Terre Haute, Indiana, to parents who were performers in vaudeville and musical comedies. This theatrical family background provided him with early exposure to entertainment, and as a child he displayed a notable talent for mimicry. He made his first professional appearance on stage at the age of two, and by five he was performing in vaudeville alongside his parents. During World War I, he participated in entertaining wounded and sick soldiers and sailors.
The family later moved to Chicago, where Thompson attended high school and became actively involved in theater by organizing clubs, writing plays, and directing productions. These early experiences in performance and stagecraft set the foundation for his transition to radio work in Chicago.
Bill Thompson began his radio career in Chicago during the 1930s, establishing himself as a versatile performer known for his dialect work and comedic timing. ) He became a regular on Don McNeill's Breakfast Club in 1934, originating a meek, mush-mouthed character that publicity sometimes referred to as Mr. Wimple. )
Around 1936, Thompson joined the cast of the popular radio comedy Fibber McGee and Molly, where he served as a featured comedian and demonstrated his range by portraying multiple recurring characters. His most notable role was Wallace Wimple, a timid, mild-mannered birdwatcher nicknamed "Wimp," who was perpetually intimidated by his domineering wife "Sweetie Face" and spoke in a distinctive high-pitched, hesitant voice that Thompson had first developed on The Breakfast Club. ) He also voiced The Old Timer, a garrulous elderly man who called Fibber "Johnny" and frequently responded to stories with the catchphrase "That's pretty good, Johnny, but that ain't the way I heerd it!" introduced in 1937. )
In addition to these, Thompson played Horatio K. Boomer, a boisterous con man with a W. C. Fields-inspired delivery, and Nick Depopulis, a Greek restaurant owner given to malapropisms. His ability to shift between various accents, vocal timbres, and personality types highlighted his expertise in multiple character voices, which became a hallmark of his work on the series. ) This period in Chicago radio honed the skills that later proved instrumental in his postwar voice acting career.
Bill Thompson served in the United States Navy during World War II. This military service interrupted his thriving radio career, which had featured prominent roles on shows such as Fibber McGee and Molly. Details of his specific duties, rank, or exact enlistment and discharge dates are not documented in major sources.
