Toon Talk Special: Disney Live Action Actors
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Sidekicks
They often stole the show.

Joanna Cassidy played Dolores in Who Framed Roger Rabbit with classic 40s dame toughness. And she had the best lines too: "Dabbling in water colors, Eddie?" "Is that a rabbit in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?" "I would have been here sooner, but I had to shake the weasels".

Buddy Ebsen's George Russell was as essential to the charm and success of the Davy Crockett television serial as coonskin caps. Episodes from the series were edited together and released as two features: Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier and Davy Crockett and the River Pirates. He also played the father of The One & Only, Genuine, Original Family Band. Ebsen was named a Disney Legend in 1993.

Tommy Steele in The Happiest Millionaire
(c) Disney

London musical theater favorite Tommy Steele unfortunately made only one film for Disney, The Happiest Millionaire. His energetic performance as the loyal butler John Lawless, including the songs "Fortuosity", "I'll Always Be Irish" and "Let's Have a Drink On It Now", is the highlight of the film.

Academy Award-winner Peter Ustinov played the title role of Blackbeard's Ghost for laughs; his infamous pirate was a mischievous spirit indeed. He is forced to aide Dean Jones' track team to a win in order to gain eternal rest.

Ed Wynn made several memorable turns in small but important roles in such Disney films as The Absent-Minded Professor, Son of Flubber, Those Calloways!, That Darn Cat! and The Gnome Mobile. But he'll always be remembered for his uproarious (and uplifting) Uncle Albert in Mary Poppins and his befuddled Toymaker in Babes in Toyland.

Mother Figures
These maternal women always have your best interests at heart.

Respected character actress Beulah Bondi portrayed the stern but caring Grandmother Kincaid in So Dear To My Heart. Years later, she returned to Disney to voice the female church mouse in Robin Hood, her final film role.

Preoccupied with her suffragette movement, Mary Poppins' Winnifred Banks may not be the ideal mother, but Glynis Johns gave a delightful performance. Johns also appeared in The Sword & the Rose and Rob Roy. Johns was named a Disney Legend in 1998.

Dorothy McGuire in Swiss Family Robinson
(c) Disney

An unsung Disney star, Dorothy McGuire gave superior performances as three very different mothers in the classics Old Yeller, Swiss Family Robinson and Summer Magic. She also appeared in such certified film classics as A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, Gentlemen's Agreement, Three Coins in the Fountain and Friendly Persuasion.

Also known for her roles in such film classics as Miracle on 34th Street and The Quiet Man, Maureen O'Hara came to Disney for the 1961 family comedy The Parent Trap. As Maggie McKendrick, she made everyone want a movie star for a mom.

Academy Award-winning actress Jane Wyman's Aunt Polly Harrington was the last to succumb to the charms of Hayley Mills' Pollyanna. Wyman, ex-Mrs. Reagan and ex-Angela Channing, also appeared in Disney's Bon Voyage! as Fred MacMurray's wife.

Father Figures
Fathers (and grandfathers and uncles) know best.

Three-time Oscar winner Walter Brennan made one of his last screen appearances as Grandpa Bower, a truly heartfelt performance, in The One & Only, Genuine, Original Family Band. He also starred in Those Calloways !and The Gnome-Mobile.

French film legend Maurice Chevalier sang "Enjoy It!" with Hayley Mills in the 1962 family adventure In Search of the Castaways. He also appeared in Monkeys, Go Home! and came out of retirement to sing the theme song to The Aristocats in honor of his late friend, Walt Disney.

Burl Ives made two memorable appearances in Disney films: as Uncle Hiram in So Dear To My Heart and as Osh Popham in Summer Magic. He sang the Academy Award nominated "Lavender Blue (Dilly, Dilly)" in the former, and "On the Front Porch" and "The Ugly Bug Ball" in the latter.

Brian Keith starred as Mitch Evers, the confused father duped by his twin daughters and torn between his beautiful ex-wife and his snooty fiancée, in The Parent Trap. He is also well known for his other father role, in the classic sitcom Family Affair.

British character actor supreme David Tomlinson starred as George Banks in Mary Poppins, Professor Emelius Brown in Bedknobs & Broomsticks and Peter Thorndyke in The Love Bug. Prior to Poppins, Tomlinson had never sung before. With all the layers he gave Mr. Banks, he deserved an Academy Award nomination for that role.