Comments on: Allen Swift (1924-2010)

By: Mimi Cozzens

Mimi Cozzens — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:02:15 +0000

About noon every day Allen Swift would sit on the edge of my desk at WPIX-TV in the mid 1950’s. I was fresh out of college and working as a PA for the Club House Gang Comedies and the Popeye Show with Capt. Allen followed ours. Week days I would see the bearded Captain in pea coat and Navy cap coming into the studio a little before our show ended. It must have been as least 3 months after I met Allen that I finally asked him what he did at the station, not realizing he was that bearded Captain Allen. I’m afraid he was a bit deflated at the time but never stopped teasing me about the experience over the many years of our friendship. Many a time I would visit he and Lenore in NYC or Long Island and he would tease me about my naivete of that time. I think it was a tribute to his acting ability. I am now in CA and just heard of his passing, and it saddens me. He was a wonderful and talented man and I will miss him greatly.

By: Scott Gordon

Scott Gordon — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 15:27:53 +0000

The silence of this loss will be overwhelming. Allen taught me much and there would have been no “Cinema International” or “Day In The Life Of A Food” without that knowledge. —Scott Gordon, “The Uncle Floyd Show”

By: Barry I. Grauman

Barry I. Grauman — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 07:11:52 +0000

It WAS Swift, Tim. I recognized that same “kindly old professor” voice he once used for several “Underdog” episodes….

By: Barry I. Grauman

Barry I. Grauman — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:13:03 +0000

Allen was also a talented impressionist as well. He used that gift to “channel” the voices of most of his ’60s cartoon characters. What was “Simon Barsinister” was actually his take on Lionel Barrymore’s “Dr. Gillespie”. Same with “Odie Cologne” ["Ronald Colman"]. “Riff Raff”? “Sheldon Leonard” as a gangster. Like Daws Butler and Paul Frees, Swift knew which “classic voices” to use for his own interpretations….another great talent gone.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:51:01 +0000

Allen Swift was only a passing acquaintance from the occasional age-irrelevant vo audition, but he is on a very short list of voice actors whose talent was greatly respected by impressionable young actors trying to support a theatre habit with commercial work. It was genuinely inspiring to run into pros like Swift, Henry Morgan, Sandy Becker, Lloyd Moss, Bob Kaliban, Harry Goz and others. and learn what they already knew – over time, work will go to those who are not just talented and inspired, but to those who also define the term “professional” in so many ways.
Ken Roberts, Jackson Beck, Allen Swift et al – Many Thanks

By: Howard Luloff

Howard Luloff — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:52:54 +0000

Allen Swift was one of the most prolific cartoon voice actors of all time, bring characters such as Simon Bar Sinister and Odie Cologne to life. Another great voice has been silenced. May he rest in peace.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 03:45:36 +0000

Didn’t Allen Swift also do the voices of Gaston Le Crayon and John Doormat, two other Gene Deitch-era Terrytoons characters?

By: Leirin

Leirin — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:41:11 +0000

Depressed to hear this. It sort of just struck me without warning. He will be remembered as one of the best.