Paul Herlinger
Encyclopedia
Paul Herlinger was an American
voice actor
, best known for his role as John Avery "Whit" Whittaker on the radio drama, Adventures in Odyssey
(1996–2008). He began in that role soon after Hal Smith
died in 1994, and has also voiced Whit on the Adventures in Odyssey video series and Adventures in Odyssey video games. In 2008, he retired due to health conditions, and Focus on the Family
got Andre Stojka
to replace the voice of "Whit". Herlinger has also done voice work for dozens of PBS
documentaries
, commercials
and films.
He began his career in radio production via an all-city, three-day-a-week program in 1945 while attending Stuyvesant High School
in New York. After two years at New York University
, Paul served in the United States Marine Corps. This was followed by his completion of a Master of Arts at the University of Michigan
where he met Ilona Planken, whom he married on September 1, 1956. He spent 25 years in commercial television before working for public television where he was able to produce and narrate documentaries which aired locally and nationally.
Herlinger was a voice actor for Adventures in Odyssey
for 12 years. His major role on the show was the voice of John Avery Whittaker from 1996 to 2008. He died on February 2, 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
voice actor
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
, best known for his role as John Avery "Whit" Whittaker on the radio drama, Adventures in Odyssey
Adventures in Odyssey
Adventures in Odyssey , or simply Odyssey, is an Evangelical Christian-themed radio drama/comedy series created by Focus on the Family in 1987. The show's daily audience averages around 1.2 million within North America. The Odyssey series also includes several spin-off items, including a home-video...
(1996–2008). He began in that role soon after Hal Smith
Hal Smith (actor)
Harold John "Hal" Smith was an American character actor and voice actor. Smith is best known as Otis Campbell, the town drunk on The Andy Griffith Show, and was the voice of many characters on various animated cartoon shorts...
died in 1994, and has also voiced Whit on the Adventures in Odyssey video series and Adventures in Odyssey video games. In 2008, he retired due to health conditions, and Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family is an American evangelical Christian tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1977 by psychologist James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the 1980s...
got Andre Stojka
Andre Stojka
Andre Stojka is an American voice actor. He is best known for his role as Owl in Winnie-the-Pooh projects beginning with The New Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh, inheriting the role from Hal Smith. He was also the voice of the horse Starlite in all of the animated Rainbow Brite productions...
to replace the voice of "Whit". Herlinger has also done voice work for dozens of PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
documentaries
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, commercials
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
and films.
He began his career in radio production via an all-city, three-day-a-week program in 1945 while attending Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School , commonly referred to as Stuy , is a New York City public high school that specializes in mathematics and science. The school opened in 1904 on Manhattan's East Side and moved to a new building in Battery Park City in 1992. Stuyvesant is noted for its strong academic...
in New York. After two years at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, Paul served in the United States Marine Corps. This was followed by his completion of a Master of Arts at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
where he met Ilona Planken, whom he married on September 1, 1956. He spent 25 years in commercial television before working for public television where he was able to produce and narrate documentaries which aired locally and nationally.
Herlinger was a voice actor for Adventures in Odyssey
Adventures in Odyssey
Adventures in Odyssey , or simply Odyssey, is an Evangelical Christian-themed radio drama/comedy series created by Focus on the Family in 1987. The show's daily audience averages around 1.2 million within North America. The Odyssey series also includes several spin-off items, including a home-video...
for 12 years. His major role on the show was the voice of John Avery Whittaker from 1996 to 2008. He died on February 2, 2010.
External links
- Paul Herlinger at The Soda Fountain