Candy Candido
A basso profondo voice actor whose deep, rumbling tones brought life to Disney villains and sidekicks, most memorably the sinister Captain of the Guards in *Sleeping Beauty*.
1913–1999 (age 86)·American actor·Birthday: December 25·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Candy Candido's career was built on a voice that seemed to emerge from the depths of a cavern. Starting in radio as a singer and comic foil on Jimmy Durante's show, his signature mournful delivery of 'I'm feeling mighty low' became a national catchphrase. That unique instrument found its perfect home in animation. At Disney, he was a go-to for menacing and memorable vocal color. He gave us the grumbling, peg-legged pirate aboard Hook's ship in *Peter Pan*, the terrifyingly deep-voiced Captain of the Guards who orders Aurora's death in *Sleeping Beauty*, and the diminutive, grumpy old vulture in *Robin Hood*. His talents extended beyond speaking roles; he was a master of animal growls, snarls, and other sound effects, earning him the nickname 'The Man of a Thousand Voices.' Though often uncredited, Candido's contributions added a layer of rich, auditory texture to some of animation's most beloved classics, proving that a voice could be as distinctive and unforgettable as any face.
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.
Candy was born in 1913, 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 Candy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1913
Candy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1913Born
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Started school
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Became a teenager
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Could drive
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1931Could vote
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Turned 21
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1943Turned 30
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 40
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 50
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 60
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 70
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 80
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1999Died at 86
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
Key Achievements
- Voiced the Captain of the Guards in Disney's *Sleeping Beauty*, delivering the iconic line 'Now, here's a pretty kettle of fish!'
- Provided the voice for the pirate with a wooden leg in Disney's *Peter Pan*.
- Played the role of Tiny, the elderly vulture, in Disney's *Robin Hood*.
- Was a regular performer on *The Jimmy Durante Show*, where his deep-voiced catchphrase became famous.
Did You Know?
He stood only 3'11" tall.
Before voice acting, he was a bass player and vocalist for the bands of Ozzie Nelson and Horace Heidt.
He provided the monstrous roars for the title creature in the 1953 film *The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms*.
His final film role was providing additional voices for *The Rescuers Down Under* in 1990.
“I'm feeling mighty low.”
