Billie Mae Richards (née Dinsmore, November 21, 1921 â€" September
10, 2010) was a Canadian voice actress, and singer who also appeared
onstage and on television. She was the voice of Rankin/Bass' version
of the character Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from 1964 to
1979,[1][2] and of the Kid in the radio series Jake and the
Kid.Richards was born Billy Mae Dinsmore, in Toronto. Enrolled by her
ambitious father in dancing lessons as a toddler, by the age of five
she was in a stage show with WW1 veterans.[3] She enlisted in the
Royal Canadian Navy and performed in the show Meet the Navy that
travelled across Canada and in Europe. She attended the Lorne Greene
Academy of Radio Arts in Toronto.[4]Richards worked at the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation, speaking and singing in radio dramas. From
1950 to 1956, she was the voice of the Kid in the ongoing radio series
Jake and the Kid.[5][6]As well has her portrayal of Rudolph, Richards
also voiced Tenderheart Bear in the first two Care Bears movies, as
well as the DIC-produced television series (credited as "Billie Mae
Richard"), and Brightheart Raccoon in the Nelvana-produced Care Bears
television series.[3]
10, 2010) was a Canadian voice actress, and singer who also appeared
onstage and on television. She was the voice of Rankin/Bass' version
of the character Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from 1964 to
1979,[1][2] and of the Kid in the radio series Jake and the
Kid.Richards was born Billy Mae Dinsmore, in Toronto. Enrolled by her
ambitious father in dancing lessons as a toddler, by the age of five
she was in a stage show with WW1 veterans.[3] She enlisted in the
Royal Canadian Navy and performed in the show Meet the Navy that
travelled across Canada and in Europe. She attended the Lorne Greene
Academy of Radio Arts in Toronto.[4]Richards worked at the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation, speaking and singing in radio dramas. From
1950 to 1956, she was the voice of the Kid in the ongoing radio series
Jake and the Kid.[5][6]As well has her portrayal of Rudolph, Richards
also voiced Tenderheart Bear in the first two Care Bears movies, as
well as the DIC-produced television series (credited as "Billie Mae
Richard"), and Brightheart Raccoon in the Nelvana-produced Care Bears
television series.[3]
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