Val Bettin
Encyclopedia
Val Bettin is an American
voice actor
, known for using a British
accent in all of his roles.
. In 1948, he went to England
, to enter the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and graduated in 1950. There he met his wife Hildy, and the two married that same year. They returned to the United States, in order for him to become a drama teacher in Iowa
. He has been using a British accent in theatre, radio and TV roles since 1953.
He got his first film role in the movie Somewhere in Time
, which was filmed in 1978-1979. He later became a voice actor, with his first role as Dr. David Q. Dawson in the 1986 Disney film The Great Mouse Detective
. He has been credited in Shrek
, Gargoyles
and Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series. He voices Matt's grandfather Herbert in W.I.T.C.H.
. He voiced the Sultan in the Aladdin
TV series and sequels after Douglas Seale
stepped down from the role.
His wife Hildy died in 2007, aged 83.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
voice actor
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
, known for using a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
accent in all of his roles.
Early life and career
He was born Valentin Bettin in La Crosse, WisconsinLa Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
. In 1948, he went to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to enter the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and graduated in 1950. There he met his wife Hildy, and the two married that same year. They returned to the United States, in order for him to become a drama teacher in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. He has been using a British accent in theatre, radio and TV roles since 1953.
He got his first film role in the movie Somewhere in Time
Somewhere in Time (film)
Somewhere in Time is a 1980 romantic science fiction film directed by Jeannot Szwarc. It is a film adaptation of the 1975 novel Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson, who also wrote the screenplay...
, which was filmed in 1978-1979. He later became a voice actor, with his first role as Dr. David Q. Dawson in the 1986 Disney film The Great Mouse Detective
The Great Mouse Detective
The Great Mouse Detective is a 1986 animated feature produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, originally released to movie theaters on July 2, 1986 by Walt Disney Pictures...
. He has been credited in Shrek
Shrek
Shrek is a 2001 American computer-animated fantasy comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, featuring the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. Loosely based on William Steig's 1990 fairy tale picture book Shrek!...
, Gargoyles
Gargoyles (TV series)
Gargoyles is an American animated series created by Greg Weisman. It was produced by Greg Weisman and Frank Paur and aired from October 24, 1994 to February 15, 1997. Gargoyles is known for its dark tone, complex story arcs and melodrama...
and Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series. He voices Matt's grandfather Herbert in W.I.T.C.H.
W.I.T.C.H. (TV series)
W.I.T.C.H. is an animated television series based on the Italian comic book series of the same name produced by SIP Animation in association and participation by France 3, Jetix Europe, CNC, , - AGICOA, the Poitou-Charentes region and the Charente department. Despite their acronym, the five main...
. He voiced the Sultan in the Aladdin
Aladdin (TV series)
Aladdin is an animated television series made by Walt Disney Television which aired from 1994 to 1995, based on the original 1992 feature. Coming on the heels of the direct-to-video sequel The Return of Jafar, the series picked up where that installment left off, with Aladdin now living in the...
TV series and sequels after Douglas Seale
Douglas Seale
Douglas Seale was a British stage and film actor.He provided the voice of Krebbs in The Rescuers Down Under . Two years later, Seale voiced the Sultan in Aladdin. He also appeared in several movies including Amadeus and Ernest Saves Christmas...
stepped down from the role.
His wife Hildy died in 2007, aged 83.
Animated Roles
- The Great Mouse DetectiveThe Great Mouse DetectiveThe Great Mouse Detective is a 1986 animated feature produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, originally released to movie theaters on July 2, 1986 by Walt Disney Pictures...
- Dr. Dawson/Thug Guard - The Return of JafarThe Return of JafarThe Return of Jafar is a 1994 American animated film that is a direct-to-video sequel to the 1992 animated film Aladdin, both produced by The Walt Disney Company. The film was released on May 20, 1994 and serves as the origin of the Aladdin animated series...
- Sultan - Aladdin (TV series)Aladdin (TV series)Aladdin is an animated television series made by Walt Disney Television which aired from 1994 to 1995, based on the original 1992 feature. Coming on the heels of the direct-to-video sequel The Return of Jafar, the series picked up where that installment left off, with Aladdin now living in the...
- Sultan - Aladdin and the King of ThievesAladdin and the King of ThievesAladdin and the King of Thieves is a 1996 animated film that is the second direct-to-video sequel to the Disney animated feature Aladdin...
- Sultan - ShrekShrekShrek is a 2001 American computer-animated fantasy comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, featuring the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. Loosely based on William Steig's 1990 fairy tale picture book Shrek!...
- Bishop - The Mork & Mindy / Laverne & Shirley / Fonz HourThe Mork & Mindy / Laverne & Shirley / Fonz HourMork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour is a 1982 cartoon series produced by Hanna-Barbera and Ruby-Spears Productions, featuring animated versions of characters from Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley, and Happy Days...
- Additional Voices - Hercules - King Tivius
- GargoylesGargoyles (TV series)Gargoyles is an American animated series created by Greg Weisman. It was produced by Greg Weisman and Frank Paur and aired from October 24, 1994 to February 15, 1997. Gargoyles is known for its dark tone, complex story arcs and melodrama...
- Egon Pax - Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles - Egon Pax
- WebsterWebster (TV series)Webster is an American situation comedy that premiered on ABC on September 16, 1983, and ran on that network until September 11, 1987, but continued in first-run syndication until 1989...
- Erwin - Mighty Ducks - Sarks
- W.I.T.C.H.W.I.T.C.H.W.I.T.C.H. is an Italian fantasy/Magical girl comic series created by Elisabetta Gnone, Alessandro Barbucci and Barbara Canepa. It tells the story of five teenage girls who are chosen to be the new Guardians of Kandrakar, protectors of the center of the universe from people and creatures who wish...
- Herbert Olsen
Video game Roles
- Tarzan - Professor Porter
- Zork: Grand Inquisitor - Sneffle/Flickering Torch
Live-Action Roles
- WebsterWebster (TV series)Webster is an American situation comedy that premiered on ABC on September 16, 1983, and ran on that network until September 11, 1987, but continued in first-run syndication until 1989...
- Edwin - American MastersAmerican MastersAmerican Masters is a PBS television show which produces biographies on the artists, actors and writers of the United States who have left a profound impact on the nation's popular culture. It is produced by WNET in New York City...
- John Latrobe - Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day StoryEntertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day StoryEntertaining Angels: the Dorothy Day Story is a 1996 independent film about the life of Dorothy Day, the journalist turned social activist and founder of the Catholic Worker newspaper. The film stars Moira Kelly as Day, Heather Graham, Lenny Von Dohlen and Martin Sheen.Both Kelly and Sheen are also...
- Mr. Breen - Somewhere in TimeSomewhere in Time (film)Somewhere in Time is a 1980 romantic science fiction film directed by Jeannot Szwarc. It is a film adaptation of the 1975 novel Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson, who also wrote the screenplay...
- Director, in 1912 - Triplecross - Winslow
- Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi ChaseVoices Within: The Lives of Truddi ChaseVoices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase is an ABC-Network miniseries based on When Rabbit Howls, the autobiography of Truddi Chase, a woman who after being sexually abused as a child, copes by developing 90 personalities. The four-hour miniseries, which was directed by Lamont Johnson stars Emmy...
- Playwright - The Man Who Wasn't There - Monocle