Actors - Lou Scheimer

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	Actors - Lou Scheimer

Lou Scheimer was one of the original founders of Filmation animation company and also an executive producer of many of its cartoons (though only by name due to standardized crediting in most cartoons; Hal Sutherland received similar treatment).

Scheimer was most pro-active in the creation of the cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Aside from being the executive producer he also became a voice actor for the show, going under the pseudonym Erik Gunden. Scheimer's contribution to the cast was in fact most notable as he single-handedly voiced nearly all supporting characters including Orko (and other characters with a similar Smurfs-voice), Stratos, and King Randor. This was due to extreme budget-cutting of the show's animating. This animated series also pioneered a type of programming known as "first-run syndication." Also a first, was the storyline being based on an action figure toy. Prior to this time FCC regulations prohibited any type of children's programming being based on a toy. The first to approach Lou was Mattel, and their version of a graphically violent Conan the Barbarian. Lou transformed "Conan" into a pro-social He-Man, which each episode teaching a life lesson to impressionable viewers.

Lou's daughter Erika Scheimer also did supporting female voices and occasional voice-acting for young boys and would later star in the follow-up series She-Ra which Scheimer also produced.

Scheimer is considered a true-believer in the cartoon and actually attempted to revive it in the mid-90s.

In the late 90's, Lou entered the animation arena once again. A Dutch investment company, Dreamweavers, NV. came to Lou with a concept based on an off-kilter dutchmen's renderings of characters aimed at young adults. Scheimer went into production on a feature length film entitled, "Robin and the Dreamweavers." Robin, the first human ever born in cyberspace battled the evil siren "Triple XXX" who desired an earthly body and gained power through mankind's baser carnal desires. Unfortunate for 'Robin,' she was aided by the childlike 'Dreamweavers' which destroyed the stylishly mature film and confused market buyers both domestically and overseas. Sadly, 2 years and 1.5 million dollars later, the film was never distributed and relegated to the "eternal bit-bucket."

Shortly thereafter tragedy struck the Scheimer family. Lou was hit with a double whammy: a quadruple by-pass and a diagnosis of Parkinson's. Scheimer's daughter, Erika quickly took control of her father's company and closed its doors forever.

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