Gary Owens
Biography
Gary Owens, born Gary Bernard Altman on May 10, 1934 in Mitchell, South Dakota, was an American disc jockey, voice actor, radio announcer and personality. He died on February 12, 2015 at the age of 80. Owens was noted for his polished baritone speaking voice and dead‑pan delivery of nonsensical lines, a style he displayed as the announcer on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh‑In. He was also frequently heard on television, radio and in commercials. In animation, Owens provided the voice of the titular superhero on Space Ghost and voiced Blue Falcon in Dynomutt, Dog Wonder. He appeared as himself in a cameo on Space Ghost Coast to Coa. His acting credits total 106.
Career overview
Gary Owens, born Gary Bernard Altman on May 10 1934 in Mitchell, South Dakota, built a career as a disc jockey, radio announcer, and voice actor noted for his polished baritone and dead‑pan delivery of absurd material. His vocal style became a signature element of the 1960s television comedy program Rowan & Martin’s Laugh‑In, where he served as the show’s announcer, delivering straight‑forward yet whimsical introductions that highlighted his ability to blend seriousness with silliness. Owens’s voice was also a frequent presence in television and radio commercials, further establishing his reputation as a versatile broadcast personality.
In addition to his work on Laugh‑In, Owens is remembered for providing the voice of the titular superhero on the animated series Space Ghost and for portraying Blue Falcon in the cartoon Dynomutt, Dog Wonder. These roles showcased his talent for bringing animated heroes to life through vocal performance. He also appeared as himself in a cameo on Space Ghost Coast to Coast, underscoring his association with the franchise. Over the span of his career, Owens accumulated more than one hundred acting credits, reflecting a broad range of voice‑over and on‑screen contributions that left a lasting imprint on American television and radio entertainment. He passed away on February 12 2015 at the age of 80.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- I Know That Voice (2014) as Self
- Lunch (2012) as Himself
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008) as Space Ghost (voice)
- Mel Blanc: The Man of a Thousand Voices (2008) as Himself
- Forging the Frame: The Roots of Animation, 1921-1930 (2008) as Self
- Garfield and Friends: Dreams & Schemes (2007) as Voice 5 (voice)
- Forging the Frame: The Roots of Animation, 1900-1920 (2007) as Himself
- The Aristocrats (2005) as Self
- The Making of the Tortoise & the Hare (2005)
- Comic Book: The Movie (2004) as Gary Owens
- Jane White Is Sick & Twisted (2002) as TV Announcer
- The Story of The Tortoise & the Hare (2002) as Narrator (voice)
- Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000) as Opening Narration (voice) (uncredited)
- Muppets from Space (1999) as UFO Mania Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
- The Making of a Mobster: 'Mickey Blue Eyes' (1999) as Narrator
- That '70s Show (1998) as Announcer
- That '70s Show (1998) as Narrator (voice)
- Border to Border (1998) as Mr. Kirby
- Johnny Bravo (1997) as Blue Falcon (voice)
- 101 Dalmatians Series (1997)
- The New Batman Adventures (1997) as 50's Batman (voice)
- Dexter's Laboratory (1996) as Blue Falcon (voice)
- Dexter's Laboratory (1996) as TV Announcer (voice)
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996) as Guy Who Thinks He's Gary Owens
- What a Cartoon! (1995) as Announcer / Commander (voice)
- The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat (1995) as (voice)
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994) as Announcer (voice)
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994) as Gary (voice)
- Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (1994)
- Fantastic Four (1994) as Gary Owens (voice)
- Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad: The Glitch That Stole Christmas (1994) as Opening Narrator (voice)
- Ed Wood: Look Back in Angora (1994) as Narrator
- 2 Stupid Dogs (1993)
- SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron (1993) as Commander Feral (voice)
- The Return of Dinosaurs (1993) as Himself
- Gone Fish'n (1993)
- The Wondrous World of Weird Animals (1993) as Self
- Mad About You (1992) as Gary Owens
- Goof Troop (1992) as Mr. Hammerhead (voice)
- Love & War (1992)
- Raw Toonage (1992) as Badly Animated Man (voice)
- Defenders of Dynatron City (1992) as Announcer (voice)
- Dinosaurs (1991) as Narrator (voice)
- The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991) as Powdered Toast Man (voice)
- Tom & Jerry Kids Show (1990) as Narrator (voice)
- Bobby's World (1990)
- Bobby's World (1990) as Captain Squash (voice)
- Kill Crazy (1990) as The Sheriff
- Diggin' Up Business (1990) as Minister
- The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (1989)
- How I Got Into College (1989) as Sports Announcer
- Son of Dinosaurs (1989) as Self
- 50 Years of Television: A Golden Celebration (1989) as Self - Announcer (voice)
- Prehistoric World (1989) as Himself
- Garfield and Friends (1988)
- I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) as Gary Owens
- The Volcano Show (1988) as Himself
- Square One Television (1987) as Lt. Dirk Niblick (voice)
- DTV: Monster Hits (1987) as Announcer (voice)
- Sledge Hammer! (1986)
- National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) as "Pig in a Poke" Announcer (uncredited)
- Yogi's Treasure Hunt (1985) as Narrator
- Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs (1985) as Himself
- Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs (1985) Writer
- All-Star Rock 'N' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular (1985) as Self
- More Dinosaurs (1985) as Self / Host
- Night Court (1984) as Bobby Baumgarner
- Mighty Orbots (1984) as Narrator (voice)
- Dinosaurs (KABC Special) (1984) as Self / Host
- The Roots of Goofy (1984) as Himself
- Aliens, Dragons, Monsters & Me (1983) as Narrator
- Hysterical (1982) as TV announcer
- Simon & Simon (1981)
- The Fall Guy (1981)
- Space Stars (1981) as Space Ghost (voice)
- Superbman: The Other Movie (1981) as Narrator
- Galactica 1980 (1980) as Cy (voice)
- Legends of the Superheroes (1979) as Narrator (voice)
- The Muppets Go Hollywood (1979) as Self
- Legends of the Super Heroes (1979) as Narrator
- Yogi's Space Race (1978)
- Return from Witch Mountain (1978) as Newscaster (voice) (uncredited)
- Loose Shoes (1978) as Narrator (voice)
- Mickey's 50 (1978) as Self
- Scooby's All-Stars (1977)
- Man from Atlantis (1977) as Blaise Mullen
- The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour (1976) as Blue Falcon (voice)
- Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (1976)
- The Gong Show (1976)
- The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975) as Radio Newscaster (voice) (uncredited)
- It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman! (1975) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Out to Lunch (1974) as Announcer
- Barnaby Jones (1973) as Gary Michaels
- Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- The Perils of Penelope Pitstop (1969)
- Sesame Street Pitch Reel (1969) as (voice)
- Letters to Laugh-In (1969) as Host
- Sam the Snake (1969) as Hubert The Snowman
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Regular Performer - Announcer
- The Love Bug (1968) as Race Announcer
- The Love Bug (1968) as Announcer
- Batman (1966) as TV Announcer
- Batman (1966) as Voice on Radio (voice) (uncredited)
- The Green Hornet (1966) as Commentator
- The Green Hornet (1966) as Newscaster
- Space Ghost and Dino Boy (1966) as Space Ghost (voice)
- Space Ghost & Dino Boy (1966) as Space Ghost (Voice)
- Dino Boy in the Lost Valley (1966) Vocals
- I Dream of Jeannie (1965) as Gary Owens
- The Munsters (1964)
- McHale's Navy (1962) as The Photographer
- The Naked Witch (1960) as Narrator (uncredited)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Self - Announcer
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Self
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Announcer
- Pigs Is Pigs (1954) as Narrator (voice)