Shortly after we learned thatAlfstarMinhaly “Michu” Meszaroshaspassed away, another 1980s TV icon has passed.Janet Waldo, who provided the voice for Judy Jetson in the hit animated seriesThe Jetsons, has also passed away at the age of 96. The actress' death was confirmed by her daughter,Lucy Lee, who revealed that her mother passed on Sunday afternoon.
Lucy Leeconfirmed toABC Newsthat her mother had been diagnosed with a benign yet inoperable brain tumor five years ago.Janet Waldowas born in Yakima, Washington in 1920, and she was studying at the University of Washington when she was discovered by movie starBing Crosby, who encouraged her to try out for a talent competition which she won. She was cast in a number of small roles inBing Crosby’s films, such asSing, You SinnersandThe Star-Maker, before setting her sights on radio productions in 1943.
She became a household name by voicing the teenager inMeet Corliss Archer, and also performed in radio productionsOne Man’s Family,The Gallant HeartandStar Playhouse. She went on to play characters Janet, Emmy Lou, Ann and others inThe Adventures of Ozzie and Harrietin the 1950s, before landing the role of Judy Jetson in the 1962 seriesThe Jetsons. While the show only lasted one 24-episode season between 1962 and 1963, it was revived in 1985, to run in syndication along with the first season of theanimated series.
She also voiced a number of different characters like Mrs. Slaghoople inThe Flintstones, Josie in the 1970 animated seriesJosie and the Pussycatsand voiced Morticia Addams on the animated version ofThe Addams Family.Janet Waldoalso voiced a number of characters onAlvin and the Chipmunks, along with Hogatha onThe Smurfsand Mrs. Tobbis on an episode ofKing of the Hill. Her last credit was voicing Penelope Pitstop in the 2000 video gameWacky Races.
Janet Waldoalso voiced Judy Jetson inRockin' With Judy Jetson, an animatedTV movieand in the 1990 animated feature filmJetsons: The Movie. We reported back in January 2015 that Warner Bros. was developing an animatedJetsons movie, after the studio scrapped their initial plans to make a live action project. We haven’t heard anything about the project since then, so we’re not sure how far along it is in development.
