Pat Carroll, Emmy winner and voice of Ursula, dies at 95
Pat Carroll, a comedic television mainstay for decades, Emmy-winner for 'œCaesar's Hour'ť and the voice Ursula in 'œThe Little Mermaid,'ť has died. She was 95.
Her daughter Kerry Karsian, a casting agent, said Carroll died at her home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on Saturday. Her other daughter Tara Karsian wrote on Instagram that they want everyone to 'œhonor her by having a raucous laugh at absolutely anything today (and everyday forward) because besides her brilliant talent and love, she leaves my sister Kerry and I with the greatest gift of all, imbuing us with humor and the ability to laugh'¦even in the saddest of times.'ť
Carroll was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1927. Her family relocated to Los Angeles when she was 5 years old. Her first film role came in 1948 in 'œHometown Girl'ť but she found her stride in television. She won an Emmy for her work on the sketch comedy series 'œCaesar's Hour'ť in 1956, was a regular on 'œMake Room for Daddy'ť with Danny Thomas, a guest star on 'œThe DuPont Show with June Allyson'ť and a variety show regular stopping by 'œThe Danny Kaye Show,'ť 'œThe Red Skelton Show'ť and 'œThe Carol Burnett Show.'ť
She also played one of the wicked stepsisters in the 1965 television production of 'œRodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella'ť with Lesley Ann Warren.
She also played one of the wicked stepsisters in the 1965 television production of 'œRodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella'ť with Lesley Ann Warren. And she won a Grammy in 1980 for the recording of her one woman show 'œGertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein.'ť
A new generation would come to know and love her voice thanks to Disney's 'œThe Little Mermaid,'ť which came out in 1989. She was not the first choice of directors Ron Clements and John Musker or the musical team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who reportedly wanted Joan Collins or Bea Arthur to voice the sea witch. Elaine Stritch was even cast originally before Carroll got to audition. And her throaty rendition of 'œPoor Unfortunate Souls'ť would make her one of Disney's most memorable villains.
Carroll would often say that Ursula was one of her favorite roles. She said she saw her as an 'œEx-Shakespearean actress who now sold cars.'ť
'œShe's a mean old thing! I think people are fascinated by mean characters,'ť Carroll said in an interview. 'œThere's a fatal kind of distraction about the horrible mean characters of the world because we don't meet too many of them in real life. So when we have a chance, theatrically, to see one and this one, she's a biggie, it's kind of fascinating for us.'ť
She got the chance to reprise the role in several 'œLittle Mermaid'ť sequels, spinoffs and even theme park rides.
Carroll was also the voice of Granny in the English-language dub of Hayao Miyazaki's 'œMy Neighbor Totoro.'ť