Peter Fernandez, voice of Speed Racer: 1927-2010
Cynopsis reports that Peter Fernandez, best known as the American voice of the title character in the Speed Racer television series from the 1960s, died last Thursday from lung cancer. He was 83.
Peter also was the voice for Speed’s brother Racer X and other characters for the Japanese anime series that was dubbed in English. He voiced other characters for Lupin III, Astro Boy, Gigantor and Marine Boy. Additionally, Peter made a cameo appearance in the Warner Bros.’ 2008 live-action Speed Racer film.
Born in New York City, Fernandez started as a child model for the John Robert
Power Agency. He then appeared on both radio and Broadway until he was drafted into
the Army at age 18, late in
World War II. His radio appearances included roles on “Superman”, “Mr. District
Attorney”, “Let’s Pretend”, “Gangbusters”, “My Best Girls”,
and “Suspense”, as well as on many soap operas. After his discharge from
the Army in 1946, he became a prolific writer for both radio and pulp
fiction.
In later years, he was the voice director for numerous animated series, including Adventures
of the Galaxy Rangers and Courage the Cowardly Dog, which he
has said was his favorite. He made cameos credited as “additional
characters” in several episodes, including his role as the voice of Robot
Randy.
We hope that his eulogy will be delivered in a very rapid yet perfectly understandable style.