Thank you to Dolly Parton, Tim Curry and Peter Cullen
When it comes to celebrities passing away, there is always that sense of melancholy but also a sense of appreciation for their work. But during all that there is a sense of being able to weather it to a large extent. But when it came to the passing of these three, it really hit hard. Especially Tim and Peter in my case, who more than left an incredible mark on my childhood.
With Tim Curry - well, what can be said about this talented guy that hasn't already been said? Having first heard him in the show "Peter Pan and the Pirates" Curry's portrayal of Captain Hook made him stand out above even the heroes - something I would find in every project Curry would go on to do.
From Ferngully:
To Mighty Max:
Sonic The Hedgehog (SatAM):
And definitely Home Alone 2 and Muppet Treasure Island!
So even though I didn’t know anything about “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” until later, Curry was definitely a man of many talents. There was really no role he couldn’t play, especially villains in animation. And as someone who heard him in many animated shows/movies, his characters stole the show.
With Peter Cullen, it all started with this Disney show for me, surprisingly enough.
As Monterey Jack/Monty, Cullen gave us a character that had a big heart, wasn’t afraid to throw down in defense of his friends, and was someone who had traveled to many parts of the world if not all of it, and had quite a bit of knowledge as a result. Of course, like any mouse his one true weakness was cheese, and it didn’t matter what kind it was. While Jim Cummings would take over the role in later seasons, Peter did originate the voice of Monty, so to me he is the OG of that character.
But of course, shortly after that I discovered a show that solidified Peter Cullen in pop culture - The Transformers.
At the time the show was called “Generation 2”, or G2, so I didn’t know it was in syndication but either way it was a pretty cool show. And Peter Cullen's portrayal of Ironhide and Optimus Prime showed that these characters that could disguise themselves as vehicles were more than just a toy commercial come to life. These characters were bigger than life yet they had heart.
Then along came the Toonami promos on Cartoon Network and some movie trailers with his voice. And while I didn't realize it was him at the time, I was more than sold on some of those shows. Especially Batman Forever.
In the mid 2000s I then started hearing about a possible live-action Transformers movie - specifically from a re-release of the animated "Transformers: The Movie" on DVD, which had my attention given that Steven Spielberg was producing it. With Michael Bay I wasn't sure if he was the right choice for directing it though I liked Armageddon and Pearl Harbor. But then as time went by and it was revealed Peter Cullen was cast as Optimus Prime I then jumped on the bandwagon. And once I saw the movie on the big screen I was impressed. Namely from the movie's intro to when the character is finally revealed, Peter Cullen once again demonstrated why voice-actors just have that extra thing that few A-List Hollywood actors in live-action have.
Then later on when a new Transformers animated series was announced - with Peter Cullen reprising his most beloved role alongside Frank Welker as Megatron I wanted to check it out, and the multipart pilot for the series had me hooked. Though I couldn't watch the show when it aired, I did manage to get the DVD sets of Transformers Prime which were worth every penny.
When it comes to music - especially in the country music genre - there are very few as iconic as Dolly Parton herself.
While country music isn't my preferred genre, Parton was someone who transcended it to where everyone learned who she was and loved her music. Not only that but even with all the success she had, she genuinely and truly never lost her kindness over the decades. And she made it a point to spread that kindness around. One of them being a charity that gives out books for kids to read, and as someone who was an avid reader as a kid that means a lot. And it's something that every kid should have a chance to have.
In all, these were people who weren't just celebrities in some way, they were talented people whose craft - performing - could only be surpassed by their hearts towards other people, and in a time when that seems to be turning more rare, that is a gift that all of us fans were blessed to have.
If there are true life lessons that these three showed us, it is this: Never forget where you come from, use your talents to the full, and just as important, be strong enough to be gentle in this crazy world. You never know what impact those gifts and actions can have on other people who are watching/listening. And if they in turn become inspired and give to the world, then in many ways they, like all of us can find a horizon in a daily "9 to 5" grind, and become more than what meets the eye.
Also, check these out!
Comments