Brian Bedford, the voice behind Disney’s animated film Robin Hood, has passed away at the age of 80.

A beloved stage actor, Brian had been battling with cancer for two years, and died on Wednesday at his home in California.

An integral part of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada, acting and directing in 27 seasons of the acclaimed festival, Brian received seven Tony nominations across his career and as Robin in the 1973 animation, Brian found a new generation of fans.


For Robin was, after all, possibly the first animated character that we all majorly crushed on.

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Born in West Yorkshire, Brian was acting from his early teens.

He joined the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in the early 1950s and became known for for his English-speaking interpretations of playwright Molière, including The School for Wives, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play.

Brian, fourth from left as Lady Bracknall, in The Importance Of Being Earnest in 2011 (Picture: Gary Gershoff/WireImage)

In a 2011 review the New York Times theatre critic called Brian ‘perhaps the finest English-language interpreter of classical comedy of his generation.

‘He seems to pick up a Tony nomination every time he steps on a Broadway stage,’ added Ben Brantley.

Brian was sadly forced to withdraw from festival production of The Merchant of Venice in 2013 and a touring production of The Last Confession in 2014 due to his ill health.

He is survived by Tim MacDonald, his partner since 1986 and husband since 2013.

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