Alan Young

Actor

"I worked it out that you go to an audition feeling you’re going to give your concept of what this part is you're not going to try to get anything. If the producer likes it, whether you get the part or not, you’ve given. It takes away all the anxiety and the weight. That’s my best advice. Just give, and then trust."

About This Interview

Alan Young was interviewed for three hours in Studio City, CA. Young started the interview by discussing his Scottish and Canadian upbringing and the starting of his show business career as a teen on radio. He then progressed to “The Alan Young Show” radio program following the television version of the same thing (and his experiences doing a ‘live’ television series). He then talked about his movies with special effects wizard George Pal and his experience with Howard Hughes. Then of course he warmly discussed his experiences with the Mister Ed television series and his many animated voiceovers and television guest appearances afterwards. The interview was conducted by Jeff Abraham on February 6, 2001.

Highlights

Chapters

Shows

People

Ronald Reagan
- Alan Young on briefly working with Ronald Reagan (01m 52s)

Topics

Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
- Alan Young on the secret of how Mister Ed "talked" (01m 18s)
Pop Culture > TV Theme Songs
- Alan Young on the Mister Ed theme song (01m 09s)
TV’s Golden Age (1940s & ‘50s) > Drama
- Alan Young on appearing in the live Studio One teleplay "This Will Do Nicely" (airdate: April 2, 1956) (01m 06s)

Genres

Animation
- Alan Young on voicing characters in the animated series The Smurfs (00m 22s)
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
- Alan Young on his first TV show The Alan Young Show (18m 00s)

Submitted by Grace on Sat, 2012-02-04 21:33.

I am only 8, but I have been watching season 1 and season 2 of Mr. Ed on DVD. Mr. Young, you are the best!!

Submitted by monica miguez on Fri, 2012-02-03 17:12.

I love Alan Young. I am argentininan and I uses to watch Mr.Edd when i was a kid.

Submitted by sosweetsixteen on Fri, 2011-07-15 15:42.

I love all of your shows, Mr. Young. May God bless you always :)

Submitted by lonepretzel on Tue, 2011-07-05 23:13.

Mr Allen - Adventures in Odyssey

Submitted by MattDonaldson on Sat, 2011-06-11 05:13.

I grew up with watching that great show .. love em

Submitted by FreddyA64 on Thu, 2011-05-26 16:13.

I love this guy! Mr. Ed is a riot!!

Submitted by darkrevotion on Thu, 2011-03-03 21:50.

Ha, he's soooo kewool!!! I wanna shake his hand haha.
And have a conversation with that guy.

Submitted by grumpy1936 on Tue, 2011-03-01 17:03.

And for Haggis MacHaggis and farmer Smurf and miner Smurf and Haggis McMutton and Dr. Harris and Great Uncle Billy and Angus Post and Ranger Farley and Mr. Gravelberry...the list goes on forever

Submitted by combinownage on Sun, 2011-02-20 07:28.

Born a rock star, lives a voice actor.

Submitted by calcrough on Tue, 2011-02-08 06:24.

@TheDannyford (it sounds like the interviewer says the date is February 6th, 2001.)

Submitted by dggd on Thu, 2011-02-03 08:05.

Wonderful too see this interview. So glad it was done.

Submitted by Mandy101Pro on Sun, 2010-11-21 06:45.

I saw the same bit about the lady in the shoe store he's talking about @3:03 in a Harold Lloyd movie, I wonder who copied off of whom?

Submitted by 08030309961 on Tue, 2010-11-16 10:22.

Man I loved Alan in The Time Machine! God Bless, Mr. Young!!

Submitted by Boogonomotry on Tue, 2010-10-19 05:20.

scrooge mc duck is my fave character on ducktales i wish i could have my own darn money bin to swim in

Submitted by stanmirales on Sun, 2010-10-17 05:08.

his name is MR Ed

Submitted by Saturnstales on Wed, 2010-10-06 00:57.

I was very happy to hear his voice again in Birth by Sleep

Submitted by fantome17 on Sat, 2010-09-25 07:08.

Scrooge is my favorite Disney character. Thanks, Mr. Young!

Submitted by sonor23 on Sat, 2010-08-21 06:42.

He is mistaken about being born in the same town as Stan Laurel .

Capturing Television History, One Voice At A Time