Ken Sansom

Frank Kenneth "Ken" Sansom (April 2, 1927 – October 8, 2012) was an American actor and voice actor. Among his best known roles, Sansom voiced Rabbit in animated television series, television specials, and films for Disney's Winnie the Pooh from 1988 to 2010.

Early life
Sansom was born on April 2, 1927, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He enlisted in the United States Navy soon after graduating from East High School in Salt Lake City in 1944.

Sansom enrolled at the University of Utah following World War II, but did not complete his studies at that university. He transferred to Brigham Young University, where he received a bachelor's degree in radio broadcasting in 1949.

He was recalled by the U.S. Navy for service during the Korean War. He served as a member of the United Service Organizations, providing entertainment to American troops while in Korea.

Career
Sansom started his career with a radio show in Los Angeles called Sansom and Then Some. He began acting in the early 1968 when he moved to Los Angeles. His first role was in an episode of Mayberry R.F.D., a continuation of The Andy Griffith Show. He was best known for his role as Rabbit in the television series The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. He also voiced Stan, the Woozle in the series. He also voiced Rabbit in a number of TV specials and movies of Winnie the Pooh, taking over for original Rabbit voice Junius Matthews after his death in 1978.

In an interview with ABC 4, when asked about voicing Rabbit in the upcoming Winnie the Pooh film, he stated, "I'm not sure." Tom Kenny voiced Rabbit in the movie, although Sansom claimed he was still under contract. Ken was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Death
Sansom died on October 8, 2012 due to complications of a stroke at the age of 85. He had been residing in Sandy, Utah. He is survived by his wife and his three children.

Filmography

 * Shinbone Alley (1970) as Rosie the Cat (voice)
 * Mayberry R.F.D. (3 episodes, 1970–1971) as Clarence / Ferguson
 * The Brady Bunch (1 episode, 1971) as Stan Jacobsen
 * The Long Goodbye (1973) as Colony Guard
 * The Sting (1973) as Western Union Executive
 * Herbie Rides Again (1974) as Lawyer - First Team
 * Airport 1975 (1974) as Gary
 * Funny Lady (1975) as Frederick Martin (Daddy)
 * Charlie's Angels (1 episode, 1976) as Clerk
 * Days of Our Lives (1 episode, 1976) as Frederick Powell
 * Nutcracker Fantasy (1979) as Chamberlain / The Poet Wiseman (voice)
 * Banjo the Woodpile Cat (1979) as Additional Voice (voice)
 * The Littles (1983-1985) as Dr. Hunter and Peterson
 * The Transformers (20 episodes, 1984–1985) as Hound
 * Starchaser: The Legend of Orin (1985) as Magreb / Tactical Robot (voice)
 * Murder She Wrote (3 episodes, 1985–1986) as Bert / Man
 * The Chipmunk Adventure (1987) as Inspector Jamal (voice)
 * Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School (1988) as Ned (voice)
 * The Wizard of Oz (TV series, 1990) (voice)
 * The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (78 episodes, 1988–1991) as Rabbit / Stan Woozle / Piglet Look-Alike / Store Clerk (voice)
 * TaleSpin (1 episode, 1990) as Ralph Throgmorton (voice)
 * Boo to You Too! Winnie the Pooh (1996) as Rabbit (voice)
 * Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin (1997) as Rabbit (voice)
 * The Tigger Movie (2000) as Rabbit (voice)
 * Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year (2002) as Rabbit (voice)
 * Piglet's Big Movie (2003) as Rabbit (voice)
 * Pooh's Heffalump Movie (2005) as Rabbit (voice)
 * Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie (2005) as Rabbit (voice)
 * Kingdom Hearts II (video game, 2005) as Rabbit (voice)
 * Who Saves The Village? (2005) as Ol Blue
 * My Friends Tigger & Pooh (2007–2010) as Rabbit (voice)