Dan Hennessey, the voice behind a host of beloved cartoon characters, has passed away at the age of 82. The Canadian voice actor died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, November 13, at his home, as reported by TMZ on Tuesday. He had been battling Parkinson's disease for some time and succumbed to complications related to the illness, his family revealed.
In a heartfelt statement, they said: "We are so touched by all those letting us know how he impacted them through his craft, from stage to voice acting and direction. "We are warmed by the fact that he provided comfort to a generation of kids around the world by giving voice to beloved animated characters like Braveheart Lion and Fatherbear, who were the personification of his kind and exuberant personality. "That his contributions to voice acting and contagious spirit live on in perpetuity is a unique gift to those who greatly mourn his loss,' they added.
"He truly was the bravest heart we knew." One of Hennessey's most popular characters was of course Braveheart Lion on the children's animated series Care Bears, and he also appeared in multiple films based on the children's series. The Care Bears Movie, released theatrically in 1985, was a hit that reportedly grossed $34 million against a $2 million budget.
The film inspired the TV show that it spawned from, and its massive tie-in campaign also laid the groundwork for future films inspired by toys. Hennessey was often recognised for voicing multiple supporting roles on a.