Peter Fernandez (January 29, 1927 – July 15, 2010) was an American actor, voice director, and writer. Despite a career extending from the 1930s, he is probably best known for his roles in the 1967 anime ''

Speed Racer ''Speed Racer'', also known as , is a Japanese media franchise about Auto racing, automobile racing. ''Mach GoGoGo'' was originally serialized in print in Shueisha's 1966 ''Shōnen Book''. It was released in tankōbon book form by Sun W ...

''. Fernandez co-wrote the scripts, was the voice director, and translated the English-language version of the theme song. He was instrumental in introducing many Japanese

anime is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...

series to English-speaking audiences. He is also the narrator in the audio version of '' It Looked Like Spilt Milk''.

Life and career

Born in Manhattan, New York, one of three children to Pedro and Edna Fernandez. His two siblings were Edward and Jacqueline. He was of

Cuban Cuban may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean * Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent ** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof * Cuban citizen, a pers ...

, Irish, and

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

descent. Fernandez was a child model for the John Robert Power Agency to support his family during the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

. He then appeared on both radio and Broadway, appearing in

Lillian Hellman Lillian Florence Hellman (June 20, 1905 – June 30, 1984) was an American playwright, prose writer, memoirist and screenwriter known for her success on Broadway, as well as her communist sympathies and political activism. She was blacklisted aft ...

's '' Watch on the Rhine'' in 1941. He was drafted into the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...

at age 18, late in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. His radio appearances included roles on ''Mr. District Attorney'', ''Let's Pretend'', ''Gangbusters'', ''My Best Girls'', ''Superman'', and ''Suspense'', as well as soap operas. After his discharge from the Army in 1946, he became a prolific writer for both radio and pulp fiction. He authored the children's book, ''Bedtime Stories from the Bible''. Fernandez is known for his voice work, and has been heard in English adaptions of many foreign films. Fernandez is best known as the American voice of the title character—and his brother, Racer X—in the 1967 anime series ''

''. Besides acting in Speed Racer, he was the lyricist of English version of that show's theme song. He returned in the 2008 animated series '' Speed Racer: The Next Generation'' to play a middle-aged Headmaster Spritle. In the live-action 2008 film ''

'', Fernandez had a small part as a racing announcer. The rapid-fire delivery of dialogue made famous by ''Speed Racer'' was devised by Fernandez and his American voice co-stars in order to make the dialogue jibe with the original Japanese mouth movements. He provided the voice for Benton Tarantella, a resurrected film director for ''

Courage the Cowardly Dog ''Courage the Cowardly Dog'' is an American animated comedy horror television series created by John R. Dilworth for Cartoon Network and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television. It was produced by Dilworth's animation studio, Stretch Fil ...

'', which he has said was his favorite. He made cameos credited as "additional characters" in several episodes, besides his role as the voice of Robot Randy. He was a voice director for Robert Mandell's ''

Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers ''The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers'' is an American animated space Western television series created by Robert Mandell and Gaylord Entertainment Company. It was broadcast in syndication between 1986 and 1989. The series combines sci-fi sto ...

'' and ''

Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders ''Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders'' also known outside of North America as ''Starla & the Jewel Riders'' (and sometimes spelled as the more traditionally Arthurian "Guinevere") is a 1995–1996 American comic fantasy-themed girl audiences ...

''. Additional voice acting credits include in such dubbed anime titles as ''

Astro Boy ''Astro Boy'', known in Japan by its original name , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka. It was serialized in Kobunsha's ''Shōnen'' from 1952 to 1968. The 112 chapters were collected into 23 '' tankōbon'' ...

'', ''

Gigantor is a 1963 anime adaptation of ''Tetsujin 28-go'', a manga by Mitsuteru Yokoyama released in 1956. It debuted on US television in January 1966. As with ''Speed Racer'', the characters' original names were altered and the original series' viol ...

'', ''

Marine Boy ''Marine Boy'' was one of the first color anime cartoons to be shown in a dubbed form in the U.S., and later in Australia and the United Kingdom. It was originally produced in 1965 in Japan as by Minoru Adachi and animation company Japan ...

'', ''

Star Blazers ''Star Blazers'' is an American animated television series adaptation of the Japanese anime series . ''Star Blazers'' was first broadcast in the United States in 1979. It was the first popular English-translated anime that had an overarching plo ...

'' and ''

Superbook , also known as , is a Christian anime television series from the early 1980s, initially produced at Tatsunoko Productions and TV Tokyo in Japan in conjunction with the Christian Broadcasting Network in the United States, and rebooted in ...

''. In 2007, he was awarded The Special American Anime Award for Outstanding Achievement. Fernandez was interviewed in 2008 on his activities and voice over work. His last major public appearance was at the 2009 Seattle, Washington Sakura-Con.

Personal life and death

Peter Fernandez and his grandson in 2008

Fernandez lived in Pomona, New York with his wife, Noel Smith, whom he married in 1978; together they had three children. He died on July 15, 2010, after a battle with

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma (since about 98–99% of all lung cancers are carcinomas), is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas derive from transformed, mali ...

at the age of 83.

Filmography

Live-action

*'' Captain Video and His Video Rangers'' *''

City Across the River ''City Across the River'' is a 1949 American film noir crime film directed by Maxwell Shane and starring Stephen McNally, Thelma Ritter, Sue England, Barbara Whiting, Luis Van Rooten and Jeff Corey. The screenplay is based on the novel ''The Ambo ...

'' – Frank Cusack *'' Pulitzer Prize Playhouse'' *''

Suspense Suspense is a state of mental uncertainty, anxiety, being Decision-making, undecided, or being Doubt, doubtful. In a Drama, dramatic work, suspense is the anticipation of the wikt:outcome, outcome of a plot (narrative), plot or of the solution t ...

'' – Miguel *''Leave It to Papa'' – Son *''

Armstrong Circle Theatre ''Armstrong Circle Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series which ran from June 6, 1950, to June 25, 1957, on NBC, and from October 2, 1957, to August 28, 1963, on CBS. It alternated weekly with '' The U.S. Steel Hour''. It fi ...

'' *''

'' – Race Commentator *'' Kraft Theatre'' – Harry *''

Joseph Schildkraut Presents ''Joseph Schildkraut Presents'' is an anthology television series that originally aired on the DuMont Television Network starring stage and screen actor Joseph Schildkraut. Broadcast history The series aired from October 28, 1953, to January 21, 1 ...

'' *''

Macbeth ''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...

'' – Donalbain *''Crunch and Des'' *''

I Spy I spy is a guessing game where one player (the ''spy'' or ''it'') chooses an object within sight and announces to the other players that "I spy with my little eye something beginning with...", naming the first letter of the object. Other players a ...

Japanese animation dubbing

* ''

'' * ''

'' – Buttons Brilliant, Johnny * '' Kuro Kami: the Animation'' – Ryuujin Nagamine * ''

'' – Dr. Mariner, Piper * ''

'' –

, Racer X, Additional Voices * ''

: The Bolar Wars'' – Mark Venture * ''

'' – Additional Voices * '' Thunderbirds 2086'' – Additional Voices

American animation

* '' Ace Ventura: Pet Detective'' – Additional Voices * ''

'' – Benton Tarantella, Robot Randy, the Magic Tree of Nowhere * ''

Kenny the Shark ''Kenny the Shark'' is an American animated television series produced by Discovery Kids. The series was first premiered on Discovery Kids' Saturday morning block on NBC on November 1, 2003, and ended with the last episode on February 19, 2005. S ...

'' – Additional Voices * ''

'' – Max, Grimm the Dragon * '' Speed Racer: The Next Generation'' – Headmaster Spritle, Speed Racer Sr.

Film

* ''

Alakazam the Great ''Alakazam the Great'', known in Japan as , is a 1960 Japanese anime musical film, based on the 16th-century Chinese novel ''Journey to the West''. It was one of the earliest anime films to be released in the United States. Osamu Tezuka was named ...

'' – Alakazam (speaking voice) * '' The Enchanted Journey'' * '' Godzilla versus the Sea Monster'' – Ryota * ''Plan Bee'' – Bellza * '' Planet of Storms'' * ''

Planet of the Vampires ''Planet of the Vampires'' ( it, Terrore nello Spazio, lit=Terror in Space) is a 1965 Italian-Spanish science fiction horror film, produced by Fulvio Lucisano, directed by Mario Bava, that stars Barry Sullivan and Norma Bengell. The screenplay ...

'' * ''

Son of Godzilla is a 1967 Japanese Kaiju, ''kaiju'' film directed by Jun Fukuda, with special effects by Sadamasa Arikawa, under the supervision of Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho, Toho Co., Ltd, it is the eighth film in the Godzilla (franchise ...

'' – Goro * '' Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' – Yukio * ''Spider's Web: A Pig's Tale'' – Noiman Ja Rahr * ''

What's Eating Gilbert Grape ''What's Eating Gilbert Grape'' is a 1993 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis and Darlene Cates. It follows 25-year-old Gilbert (Depp), a grocery store cle ...

'' – ADR Voice

Video games

* ''

The Longest Journey ''The Longest Journey'' ( nb, Den Lengste Reisen) is a magical realist point-and-click adventure video game developed by Norwegian studio Funcom for Microsoft Windows and released in 1999. The game was a commercial success, with sales in ex ...

'' – Elder Banda, Minstrum Yerin, Old Alatien man

Other works

* ''Peter Absolute on the Erie Canal'' (Audio Book Serial) * ''

'' (Theme Song Lyrics) * ''X-Minus One'' (Radio Series) * ''Baby Animals Just Want to Have Fun'' (VHS) * '' It Looked Like Spilt Milk'' (Audio Book on Cassette and Disc)

Staff

Dialogue direction

* ''Blood Link'' (1982) * ''Bonheur d'occasion'' (1983) * '' A Question of Silence'' (1982) * '' Infra-Man'' (1976) * '' Ingenjör Andrées luftfärd'' (1982) * ''

'' (TV series, 2003, episodes 1-13) * '' La Diagonale du fou'' (1984) * ''

Ultraman ''Ultraman'', also known as the , is the collective name for all media produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad monsters. Debuting with ''Ultra Q'' and then ''Ultraman'' in 1966, the series is one ...

'' (1966) * ''

Strange Shadows in an Empty Room ''Strange Shadows in an Empty Room'' ( it, Una magnum special per Tony Saitta) is a 1976 film starring Stuart Whitman as a tough ''Dirty Harry'' type who sets out to discover his sister's killer. Plot A tough cop learns that his sister was poisone ...

'' (1976)

Direction

* '' Coup de tête'' (1979, uncredited) * ' (TV, 1999, uncredited) * '' The Enchanted Journey'' (1984, uncredited)

Dubbing direction

* ''Nattens engel'' (1998)

Voice direction

* '' 2019, After the Fall of New York'' (1983) * '' Ace Ventura: Pet Detective'' (TV series, 1996, episodes 27-41) * ''

Al Andalus Al-Andalus translit. ; an, al-Andalus; ast, al-Ándalus; eu, al-Andalus; ber, ⴰⵏⴷⴰⵍⵓⵙ, label= Berber, translit=Andalus; ca, al-Àndalus; gl, al-Andalus; oc, Al Andalús; pt, al-Ândalus; es, al-Ándalus () was the Mu ...

'' (1989) * '' The Antichrist'' (1974) * ''

Assassination in Rome ''Assassination in Rome'' ( it, Assassinio made in Italy, link=no) is a 1965 Italian thriller film of the giallo genre directed by Silvio Amadio. Cast *Hugh O'Brian ... Dick Sherman *Cyd Charisse ... Shelley North * Eleonora Rossi Drago ... ...

'' (1965) * '' Au nom de tous les miens'' (1983) * '' Au nom de tous les miens'' (TV miniseries, 1985) * '' Bidaya wa nihaya'' (1960) * ''

The Black Corsair ''The Black Corsair'' is an 1898 adventure novel written by Italian novelist Emilio Salgari. Set in the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy, the novel narrates the exploits of Emilio Roccanera, Lord of Ventimiglia and his attempts to ave ...

'' (1976) * ''Bordella'' (1976, uncredited) * ''

Choice of Arms ''Choice of Arms'' (French: ''Le Choix des armes'') is a 1981 French crime film directed by Alain Corneau. The main roles are played by Yves Montand, Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu. Although in structure a crime film, it is as much a c ...

'' (1981) * ''Christmas in Cartoontown'' (UAV, 1996) * ''

Ciske de Rat ''Ciske de Rat'' ("Ciske the Rat") is the first part of a trilogy by Dutch author Piet Bakker. It is part of the Ciske trilogy which was written between 1941 (publication was however delayed by paper shortages until 1942) and 1946. The book was p ...

'' (1984, uncredited) * ''

Coup de torchon ''Coup de Torchon'' (also known as ''Clean Slate'') is a 1981 French crime film directed by Bertrand Tavernier and adapted from Jim Thompson's 1964 novel '' Pop. 1280''. The film changes the novel's setting from an American Southern town to a sm ...

'' (1981) * ''

'' (TV series, 1999) * ''

The Desert of the Tartars ''The Desert of the Tartars'' ( it, Il deserto dei Tartari) is a 1976 Italian film by director Valerio Zurlini with an international cast including Jacques Perrin, Vittorio Gassman, Max von Sydow, Francisco Rabal, Philippe Noiret, Fernando Re ...

'' (1976) * '' Dogs of Hell'' (1982) * ''Fei zhou chao ren'' (1994) * '' Gandahar'' (1988) * ''

Goha ''Goha'' is a 1958 French-Tunisian film. It starred Omar Sharif and it was the cinema debut of Claudia Cardinale. At the 1958 Cannes Film Festival it was awarded with the Jury Prize and it had been nominated for the Palme d'Or. It was shown as pa ...

'' (1958) * ''Gojira-Ebira-Mosura: Nankai no daiketto'' (1966, Eng. title: ''Godzilla versus the Sea Monster'') * '' Infra-Man'' (1976) * ''Jalna (TV miniseries), Jalna'' (TV miniseries, 1994) * ''Jung-Gwok chiu-yan'' (1975) * ''Kokusai himitsu keisatsu: Zettai zetsumi'' (1967) * ''Le Grand pardon'' (1982) * '' Love and Anarchy'' (1973) * '' Les Chevaliers du ciel'' (TV series, 1967) * ''The Magic Snowman'' (1988) * '' Mimì metallurgico ferito nell'onore'' (1972, uncredited) * '' The Nest'' (1979) * ''

Nuovo cinema Paradiso ''Cinema Paradiso'' ( it, Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, , literally "New Paradise Cinema") is a 1988 coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. Set in a small Sicilian town, the film centers on the friendship between a young bo ...

'' (1989) * '' Onna hissatsu ken'' (1974) * ''

Piedone a Hong Kong ''Flatfoot in Hong Kong'' (original title: ''Piedone a Hong Kong'' and also known as ''Flatfoot Goes East'' and ''Le Cogneur'') is a 1975 Crime fiction, crime comedy film directed by Steno (director), Steno and starring Bud Spencer. It is the seco ...

'' (1975) * ''

'' (TV series, 1995) * ''Puss 'N Boots Travels Around the World'' (1976) * ''Satsujin ken 2'' (1974) * ''

Shaka Shaka kaSenzangakhona ( – 22 September 1828), also known as Shaka Zulu () and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. One of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu, he ordered wide-reaching reforms that ...

'' (1961) * '' Stavisky...'' (1974, uncredited) * '' That Man from Rio'' (1964) * ''

The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers ''The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers'' is an American animated space Western television series created by Robert Mandell and Gaylord Entertainment Company. It was broadcast in syndication between 1986 and 1989. The series combines sci-fi s ...

'' (TV series, 1986) * '' The Secret of Anastasia'' (OAV, 1997) * ''

The Secret of Mulan ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (OAV, 1998) * ''

The Space Giants is the title and protagonist of a manga and tokusatsu TV series created by Osamu Tezuka. The TV series, produced by P Productions, Norway Productions and Krantz Films, was aired on Fuji TV from July 4, 1966, to June 26, 1967, lasting a total ...

'' (TV series, 1967) * ''Topâzu'' (1992) * ''Tutto a posto e niente in ordine'' (1973) * '' Un amour de Swann'' (1984) * ''Un moment d'égarement'' (1977) * '' Une histoire simple'' (1978) * '' Vabank'' (1981)

Writing

* ''2019 – Dopo la caduta di New York'' (1983, uncredited) * ''

'' (1989, uncredited) * '' Au nom de tous les miens'' (1983, uncredited) * ''

'' (1984, uncredited) * '' Coup de tête'' (1979, uncredited) * ''Coup de tchon'' (1981, uncredited) * '' El Nido'' (1979, uncredited) * ''Faire l'amur – Emmanuelle et ses soeurs"'' (1971) * ''Fei zhou chao ren'' (1994, uncredited) * '' Gandahar'' (1988, uncredited) * ''Gojira-Ebira-Mosura: Nankai no daiketto'' (1966, Eng. title: ''Godzilla versus the Sea Monster'', uncredited) * '' Infra-Man'' (1976) * ''Il Deserto dei Tartari'' (1976, uncredited) * '' Ingenjör Andrées luftfärd'' (1982, uncredited) * ''Jalna'' (TV miniseries, 1994, uncredited) * ''Le Choix des armes'' (1981, uncredited) * ''Le Grand prdon'' (1982, uncredited) * '' Les Chevaliers du ciel'' (TV series, 1967, uncredited) * ''

Mélodie en sous-sol ''Any Number Can Win'' (french: Mélodie en sous-sol) is a 1963 French crime drama film directed by Henri Verneuil. The film is based on the novel ''The Big Grab'' by . Plot Charles comes out of prison after serving five years for attempted robb ...

'' (1963, uncredited) * '' Mimì metallurgico ferito nell'onore'' (1972, uncredited) * ''Nattens engel'' (1998, uncredited) * '' Onna hissatsu ken'' (1974, uncredited) * ''Puss 'N Boots Travels Around the World'' (1976) * ''Satsujin ken 2'' (1974, uncredited) * ' (TV, 1999, uncredited) * '' Stavisky...'' (1974, uncredited) * ''Tatsu no ko Tarô'' (1979, uncredited) * ''The Alley Cats'' (1968) * ''The Dirty Girls'' (1964) * '' The Enchanted Journey'' (1984) * ''The Mad Doctor Hump'' (1969) * '' The Night the Animals Talked'' (1970) * ''

'' (TV series, 1967, uncredited) * ''Topâzu'' (1992, uncredited) * ''

'' (TV series, 1966) * '' Une histoire simple'' * ''Un moment d'égarement'' * '' Un amour de Swann'' * '' Woof!'' (1989)

References

External links

Recent commercial voice work by Fernandez
* *
Peter Fernandez's interview at Otakon 2008
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernandez, Peter 1927 births 2010 deaths American child models American male child actors American male radio actors American male screenwriters American male stage actors American male television writers American male video game actors American male voice actors American male writers American people of Cuban descent American people of French descent American people of Irish descent Deaths from lung cancer in New York (state) Hispanic and Latino American male actors Male actors from New York City People from Pomona, New York Screenwriters from New York (state) United States Army personnel of World War II American voice directors