Junius Matthews facts for kids

Junius Conyers Matthews (born June 12, 1890 – died January 18, 1978) was an American actor. He worked in movies, theater, radio, and television. Many people know him as the voice of Archimedes the Owl in Disney's The Sword in the Stone (1963). He was also the first voice for Rabbit in the Winnie the Pooh stories from 1966 to 1977.

Junius Matthews' Acting Journey

Junius Matthews started his acting career on Broadway in New York City. He appeared in plays like Young Wisdom in 1914. His first movie role was in a silent film called The Silent Witness in 1917. He paused his acting for a short time to serve in the military during World War I.

During the 1920s, he acted on stage and also on the radio. He even played the Tin Woodsman in a radio version of The Wizard of Oz. You could often hear his unique voice in many radio shows. He frequently played older characters, like miners, especially in Western stories. He also appeared in TV shows in the 1950s and 1960s.

Voice of Disney Characters

Junius Matthews became very famous later in his life for his voice acting. From 1966 to 1977, he was the voice of Rabbit in the Winnie the Pooh movies made by Disney.

These movies include:

• Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966)
• Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968)
• Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too! (1974)
• The full-length movie The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)

He also voiced other Disney characters. One of his most notable roles was Archimedes the Owl in The Sword in the Stone (1963). After he passed away in 1978, other actors took over the voice of Rabbit. These included Will Ryan and later Ken Sansom.

Later Life and Passing

Junius Matthews passed away on January 18, 1978. He was 87 years old. He was buried at Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery in California.

Voice Roles in Movies

Junius Matthews lent his voice to several well-known animated films. Here are some of his most famous voice roles: