John Fiedler, voice of Piglet, dies

CNN.Com ^ | 6-27-2005 | Staff

[Red Badger]

Monday, June 27, 2005; Posted: 8:02 a.m. EDT (12:02 RELATED • Paul Winchell, voice of Tigger, dies YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Obituaries (Entertainment) Bob Newhart or Create Your Own Manage Alerts | What Is This? NEW YORK (AP) -- John Fiedler, a stage actor who won fame as the voice of Piglet in Walt Disney's Winnie-the-Pooh films, died Saturday, The New York Times reported in Monday editions. He was 80. Fiedler served in the Navy during World War II before beginning a stage career in New York. He performed in supporting roles alongside Sidney Poitier on Broadway, John Wayne in Hollywood and Bob Newhart on television. With Newhart, on "The Bob Newhart Show," he was Mr. Peterson, the meek patient who was often a target for Jack Riley's sarcastic Mr. Carlin. Fiedler also appeared in the films "12 Angry Men," "The Odd Couple," "True Grit," "The Fortune" and "Sharky's Machine," and was a cast member on the TV show "Buffalo Bill." But he was best known for the squeaky voice of the ever-worrying Piglet that he landed when someone noticed his naturally high-pitched voice. "Walt Disney heard it on a program and said, 'That's Piglet,' " his brother James Fiedler told The Times. In addition to his brother, Fiedler is survived by a sister, Mary Dean, The Times reported. The newspaper did not report the cause or location of his death.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Nah, Hal Smith played Owl, and he died back in 94. I'm leaning towards Clint Howard (he played Roo) or Jon Walmsley (Christopher Robin). Walmsley though - he may be trying to make a come back some how.

[ArmedNReady]

It seems a lot of voices have been dying lately.

[Red Badger]

Almost all of these actors were in their 80's. Maybe it helps to live longer to make funny sounds.........

[nonsporting]

He was in a Star Trek episode too. I believe played some kind of madman.

He played Mr. Hengist, the chief law enforcement officer on Orgelius, in the episode "A Wolf in the Fold" who also happened to be "possessed" by an entity which feeds on fear.

I have never understood his "nod" to the third victim who has just beamed down to do a "pyscho-tricorder" (or something like that) to get a trace of recent events from Scotty's unconscious mind.

[SaveTheChief]

He was Mr. Peterson on the Bob Newhart Show?

Brilliant!

That show is one of my favorites of all time. Bob certainly did have some characters on his couch, and Mr. Peterson was a good one.

Rest in peace, Mr. Fiedler, and thanks for the memories.

[Keltik]

>>>
Well technically....the 1957 film version of 12AM. The original was a 1953 TV play the tape of which is now lost.
<<<

Actually it was 1954, and a kinescope was recently discovered. I don't know if it's available for public viewing yet.

TAM was deinitely Fiedler's best role, and he has one of the film's greatest moments, finally standing up to blowhard Lee J. Cobb: "You said we could throw out all the other evidence!"

[Dumb_Ox]

Last night, I remarked that Fiedler was about the only Pooh voice still around. Ah, well. RIP.

I watched Twelve Angry Men for the first time last year, and I knew Fiedler from his voice but couldn't place him as Piglet until an internest search.

[DJ MacWoW]

ping

[lunarbicep]

That's 3 gone in about a month
But weren't we the blessed ones? Think of the endless hours of just plain old good entertainment these gentlemen gave us.

The passing of such a wonderful actor is saddening and I extend condolences to the Fiedler family. I also extend prayers of gratitude to God for sharing such a gifted person with us.

[Fitzcarraldo]

An occasional member of the cast in the first couple years of the show [Tom Corbett, Space Cadet], Cadet Alfie Higgins was aptly played by a young John Fiedler. Alfie was assigned by Commander Arkwright to tutor Astro, who was always having problems maintaining passing grades in his studies. This was a critical situation, as the Polaris unit was graded as a team, using the average of the grades scored by all three cadets.

John Fiedler developed into a fine character actor, who went on to play a plethora of roles in film, stage, and television. You may remember him as "Mr. Peterson" on the original Bob Newhart show.

[Fitzcarraldo]

This scene from a Space Academy classroom introduces a new character to Volume 1 of the Photo Album. Science Cadet Alfie "The Brain" Higgins, played by John Fiedler, (left), was introduced into the Polaris unit to tutor the academically-challenged Astro. Astro was the best power deck jockey in the Academy, but he choked up at exam time and had difficulty maintaining passing grades. Alfie played a minor role throughout the 1950 - 52 seasons of the program, and, like the others, John Fiedler was a fine character actor. Judging from the drawing on the chalkboard, Alfie is giving a lesson in orbital mechanics to Tom, Roger, and Astro. Photos of Alfie are rare. (Alfie plans to return to a future volume of the Tom Corbett photo album, so stay tuned.)

[T Lady]

Mr. Fiedler, Paul Winchell, Henry Corden, and Howard Morris were all members of one of the greatest generations of entertainers to ever pass through Hollywood. With their combined talents they gave millions of children all over the world gifts of joy that can never be replaced...specifically the vocal talents of Mr. Winchell, Mr. Corden, and Mr. Morris. Like Mel Blanc, Paul Frees, Don Messick and Daws Butler, they possessed a rather unique and special gift: the ability to bring so many different characters to life.

...Too bad we'll never see the likes of these performers again in our lifetimes...may Mr. Fiedler rest in peace.