RIP: Gary Owens, Voice of Space Ghost, Roger Ramjet and Powdered Toast Man

Gary Owens passed away on Thursday, February 12, at his home in Encino, California. He was 80 years old. A disk jockey, announcer, and actor, Owens also had a long career as a voiceover artist, appearing in thousands of animated TV episodes as a narrator or character.

Among the characters he voiced, Owens will be best remembered for a trio of superheroes: Hanna-Barbera’s Space Ghost, Pantomime Pictures’ Roger Ramjet, and Spumco’s Powdered Toast Man from Ren & Stimpy.

“Gary Owens made a career of being a funny straight man,” Ren & Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi once wrote on his blog. “His voice is straight, yet with a great natural timing and a kindly sarcasm. And an amazing tone and warmth.”