Alan Young
The gentle-voiced actor who gave life to a talking horse's best friend and became the definitive voice of a Disney miser.
1919–2016 (age 97)·British actor·Birthday: November 19·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Alan Young's career was a masterclass in likable, understated comedy. Born in England and raised in Canada, he found early success on radio with 'The Alan Young Show,' which seamlessly transitioned to television and won him an Emmy. His everyman charm was perfectly suited for the role of Wilbur Post, the bemused architect who shared his home with a loquacious palomino in the 1960s sitcom 'Mister Ed.' Young played the straight man with such genuine warmth that the show's central gag never wore thin. His second, even more enduring claim to fame came through his voice. In 1974, he first grumbled and squawked as Scrooge McDuck for a Disney record, a role he would inhabit for over four decades. He brought a surprising depth to the character—not just a caricature of greed, but a being with vulnerability and a hidden heart, most notably in the beloved short 'Mickey's Christmas Carol.' Young's legacy is one of two iconic, generations-spanning characters, both defined by his unassuming and utterly sincere talent.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Alan was born in 1919, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1919
Alan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1919Born
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Started school
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1932Became a teenager
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Could drive
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1937Could vote
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Turned 21
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1949Turned 30
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 40
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 50
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 60
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 70
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 80
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2016Died at 97
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
Key Achievements
- Starred as Wilbur Post in the classic television sitcom 'Mister Ed' for all six seasons.
- Served as the official voice of Scrooge McDuck for Disney for over 40 years, starting in 1974.
- Won an Emmy Award in 1950 for 'The Alan Young Show,' a variety program he created and starred in.
- Reprised his role as Scrooge McDuck in the acclaimed video game series 'DuckTales Remastered' in 2013.
Did You Know?
He was a conscientious objector during World War II and served with the American Field Service as an ambulance driver.
He was considered for the role of Ensign Parker in the film 'Mister Roberts' before it went to Jack Lemmon.
He wrote several episodes of 'Mister Ed' under a pseudonym.
He was an accomplished watercolor painter and held several exhibitions of his work.
““I've been very lucky. I've had two characters that have become a part of people's lives.””
