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Jean Vander Pyl
Publicity Photo of Jean Vander Pyl.jpg
Publicity photo of Jean Vander Pyl
Born
Jean Thurston Vander Pyl

(1919-10-11)October 11, 1919
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died April 10, 1999(1999-04-10) (aged 79)
Dana Point, California, U.S.
Other names Jean Vanderpyl
Occupation Voice actress
Years active 1939–1997
Spouse(s)
Carroll G. O'Meara
​
​
(m. 1939; died 1962)​

Roger Wells DeWitt
​
​
(m. 1963; died 1992)​
Children 4

Jean Thurston Vander Pyl (born October 11, 1919 – died April 10, 1999) was a talented American voice actress. She worked for many years in radio and television. Jean Vander Pyl is best known for her role as the voice of Wilma Flintstone. Wilma was a main character in the popular Hanna-Barbera cartoon The Flintstones.

Besides Wilma Flintstone, she also voiced other famous characters. These included Pebbles Flintstone, Wilma's daughter. She was also Rosie the robot maid on The Jetsons. Other voices she did were Goldie and Lola Glamour in Top Cat, Winsome Witch on The Secret Squirrel Show, and Ogee on The Magilla Gorilla Show.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Jean Vander Pyl was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her parents were John Howard and Kathleen Hale Vander Pyl. Her family had roots in the Netherlands.

By 1939, Jean had already started her career. She worked as an actress on radio shows. She was heard on programs like The Halls of Ivy and Father Knows Best. On Father Knows Best, she played Margaret Anderson.

Jean Vander Pyl also appeared in many TV shows as an actress. Some of these shows were Leave It to Beaver, The Donna Reed Show, and The Beverly Hillbillies. She even had a small part in the 1994 live-action movie The Flintstones. In the movie, she played Mrs. Feldspar.

Her Amazing Voice Work

Jean Vander Pyl's most famous role was Wilma Flintstone. She was the voice of Wilma in the original Flintstones cartoon series. The show was very popular and ran for many years.

Most of her voice acting work was for the Hanna-Barbera studio. She started there in 1958. Her first voice role was on The Huckleberry Hound Show. She also did many other voices on shows like The Quick Draw McGraw Show and The Yogi Bear Show.

In the early 1960s, she voiced characters on Top Cat. In 1962, she took on another memorable role. She became the voice of Rosie, the helpful robot maid from The Jetsons. She returned to voice Rosie again when the show came back in 1985.

Later, she voiced Maw Rugg and Floral Rugg on The Hillbilly Bears. She also voiced Winsome Witch. Both of these shows were part of The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show. Jean Vander Pyl was also the voice of Little Ogee on The Magilla Gorilla Show. In 1969, she was a guest voice on the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! episode "Foul Play in Funland."

In the 1970s, she continued her voice work. She was Marge Huddles on Where's Huddles?. This role was similar to Wilma Flintstone. She also voiced Mrs. Finkerton on Inch High, Private Eye. You could hear her voice in Hong Kong Phooey and Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels.

In the 1980s and 1990s, she kept busy. She did voices for Mister T and Snorks. She also voiced Mrs. Slaghoople on The Flintstone Kids. Jean often returned to voice Wilma Flintstone in many spin-off shows and movies. These included The Flintstone Comedy Hour and The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones. She also voiced Wilma in I Yabba-Dabba Do! and A Flintstones Christmas Carol.

Her very last roles were as Wilma Flintstone. She voiced Wilma in a What a Cartoon! episode in 1995. She also voiced her in A Flintstone Family Christmas in 1996. Her final appearance was on The Weird Al Show in 1997.

Personal Life

Jean Vander Pyl was married two times. Her first husband was Carroll G. O'Meara. They got married in 1939 and had three children together. After Carroll passed away in 1962, she married Roger Wells DeWitt in 1963. They had one son. Roger passed away in 1992.

Later Years and Passing

Jean Vander Pyl was the last original voice actor from The Flintstones to pass away. She died on April 10, 1999, at her home in Dana Point, California. She was 79 years old. Jean Vander Pyl was buried in Ascension Cemetery in Lake Forest, California.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

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