Lee Marshall, Better Known As Tony The Tiger, Is Dead At 64

Lee Marshall, best known to wrestling fans as a longtime WCW announcer and best known to everyone else as the voice of Tony The Tiger, passed away a few weeks ago. The 64-year-old was in the midst of a battle with esophageal cancer. He fought courageously, but the disease ultimately took his life inside Santa Monica Hospital on April 26.

Always fascinated by radio, Lee Marshall began helping out around his local radio station before he was in middle school. At the age of 14, he hilariously secured a full time job with a radio station in Phoenix. He played music from 7 to midnight. The listeners had no idea he was a teenager. A few years later, he started reading the news and broadcasting at the city’s most popular rock station. From there, he moved on to Detroit and Los Angeles, talking about sports, music or even straight up news. Eventually, he started working on the side for various wrestling promotions. He conducted interviews, did play-by-play and helped move the stories along. In 2005, he was officially hired as Tony The Tiger, following the passing of Thurl Ravenscroft.

You can check him out in action below…

It’s all about that voice. It’s so distinct, deep and gravely. There’s almost something villainous about it, which is probably why Marshall was able to make a second career as a voice actor over the years. He played more than a few villains on shows like Scooby Doo. According to The Los Angeles Times, hearing his voice led longtime Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda to once joke Marshall is the man God would choose to read his speeches.

Apart from his professional life, Marshall was a family man. He was married and is survived by his wife Judie, as well as a son, a stepdaughter and a granddaughter. Pop Blend’s sincerest well-wishes go out to them during this time of need.