Hobart Donavan was a screenwriter and the second husband of legendary, award winning voice actress, June Foray. Best know for giving life to animated and iconic characters such as Grandmother Fa in Mulan –Foray passed on July 26, 2017 aged 99; little over a month from her 100th birthday.
Born September 18, 1917; the Springfield, Massachusetts native began her acting career in radio at a young age. As a young adult she branched out into animated films and television shows.
June is responsible for providing the voices for characters including Rocky the Squirrel and Witch Hazel. Her work appears in many classic Disney, Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera productions.
Following her high school graduation, she moved with her family to Los Angeles, California. Her talent in the West Coast soon made her a regular act on national series. She also provided the voices of Midnight the Cat and Old Grandie the Piano, characters on The Buster Brown Program, between 1944 and 1952.
During the decade of the 40’s she really began making a name for herself in the film industry. She played Lucifer the Cat in the Walt Disney Film Cinderella and a mermaid in Peter Pan. She also contributed to Woody Woodpecker cartoons and played the role of Granny in the Tweety and Sylvester series.
Her participation in the Hanna-Barbera shows, include The Flintstones, Tom and Jerry and The Jetsons. She played Rocky and Natasha, two of the leading roles, on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. Other notable parts include Mother Nature on The Smurfs and Cindy Lou Who. Foray also provided the voice of the original “Chatty Cathy” doll.
There’s no doubt June’s work makes for a huge part in the lives of baby boomers and all those who enjoy such classics.
The June Foray Away, given to “individuals who have made a significant and benevolent or charitable impact on the art and industry of animation” –is named after her.
June Foray was first married to Bernard Barondess. The two were wedded in 1941 but their union ended in divorce in 1945.
She met her second husband, writer Hobart Donavan while working on radio. Hobart Donovan worked as the head writer, on The Buster Brown Program when he met June. The couple worked together on the show.
The couple tied the knot on January 19, 1955. Hobart Donavan and June Foray were married for 21 years before his passing in 1976 at age 71.
Henry Hobart Donavan was born August 25, 1905 in Jackson, Michigan He was a writer and director. Accoridng to this IMDb page, some of his work as a writer includes “Escape to Burma” (1955); “The Loretta Young Show” (1955); “This Man Dawson” (1960).
Donavan died on December 2, 1976 in Woodland Hills, L.A.
They couple didn’t have children to survive both Foray and Donovan.
