Actors - Gary Owens

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	Actors - Gary Owens

Gary Owens (born Gary Altman on May 10, 1936) is a disc jockey and voice actor born in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Owens was a journeyman DJ/announcer throughout the midwest and southern U.S. in the late 1950s, finally ending up at radio station KEWB, Oakland, California in 1959. He moved to its sister station KFWB in Los Angeles. From there, he joined the staff of KMPC in 1962, where he remained for the next two decades working the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. shift, Monday through Fridays. A gifted punster, Owens became known for his surrealistic humor. Among his trademarks were daily appearances by The Story Lady (played by Joan Gerber), the Rumor of the Day, myriad varieties of "The Nurney Song", and the introduction of the nonsense word "insegrevious", which was briefly included in the Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary.

During this period, Owens became more widely known as the voice of the TV cartoon characters Roger Ramjet and Space Ghost, and perhaps most importantly, as the announcer on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, all the while continuing his show on KMPC. He also hosted the daily game show "Letters to Laugh-In" during its brief run in 1969.

In 1976, Owens hosted the first season of the nighttime version of The Gong Show; he was replaced by the show's creator, Chuck Barris.

Owens has also provided the voice for

Powdered Toast Man of The Ren and Stimpy Show.
Captain Squash on Bobby's World
Dirk Niblick on PBS's Square One TV
Blue Falcon in Dynomutt, Dog Wonder
Badly Animated Man in Raw Toonage
Commander Ulysses Feral in SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron

He has narrated or announced dozens of other cartoons as well.

Gary currently hosts a weeknight show on the Music Of Your Life radio network.

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When appearing "in character" on camera as Gary Owens, the announcer, Owens holds his right hand up to his right ear while speaking into a gimbaled boom microphone. This is done in imitation of the announcers in the early days of radio, who had to rely upon the acoustic feedback of their cupped hand to hear how they sounded to the audience.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Gary Owens ]

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Actors - Gary Owens

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