RIP Bill Cunningham! Original Voice of Barbie’s Ken Dead at 96

Updated On March 18, 2024 | Published By: Caitlin | In Career , Death

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Bill Cunningham was a former singer and Talent Agency.
He was best known for providing his voice for the character “Ken” of Barbie at Mattel during the early 1960s.
He died peacefully at his West Hollywood home on July 15 at the age of 96.

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Bill Cunningham passed away at the age of 96

Bill Cunningham is no longer alive among us! It is with sadness that we announce the passing of the original voice actor for the character “Ken”, the boyfriend of Barbie.

Bill Cunningham died peacefully at his West Hollywood home on July 15 at the age of 96.

His death was confirmed by his agency, CESD Talent Agency on Thursday, July 27 in an interview with Deadlines.

His CESD partners Ken Slevin and Paul Doherty remembered him as “among the great innovators and gentleman of the talent representation business.

They added,

“Bill set the template for client and customer service particularly in commercial, voice-over and print. He was a warm, gregarious, classy man who made a positive impact on all those he represented and employed.”
“It was our honor to know him and to learn from him.”

Bill Cunningham provided his voice for the character _Ken_ of Barbie at Mattel during the early 1960 (Source: PEOPLE.com)

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CESD Talent Agency has been founded for more than five decades. In 1963, he initially named his agency Pacific Artist Agency Hollywood.

In 1967 he changed the name to Cunningham & Associates, now known as CESD.

His beloved friend Peggy Taylor, a renowned singer and TV personality, forced him to establish a talent agency following his successful singing career. And as a result, it has now become the leading agency.

However, his death cause has yet to be disclosed.

He is survived by his nephews and nieces, Kirk, Kevin, Kristen, Janet, Barbara, and Debbie.

Looking back at Bill Cunningham’s life

Bill Cunnigham was the youngest of six children, born in San Francisco on January 2, 1927.

Before pursuing his singing career, he served in the U.S. Navy as a mine-sweeper craft during World War II. Later, he joined the Fort Emory Drum and Bugle Corps and embarked on extensive tours, entertaining audiences throughout the Pacific theater.

Cunnigham also sang on motion picture soundtracks for Fox, Paramount, and Warner Bros. In 1962, he released his debut album titled I’m Always Chasing Rainbows, which was financed by Fred Astaire.

Bill Cunningham also worked as the voice actor for Ken at Mattel and contributed to the vocal tracks on Barbie Records produced by the toy company. He also collaborated with Judy Garland and Dinah Shore during his singing career.

Bill Cunningham died peacefully at his West Hollywood home at the age of 96 (Source: Deadlines)

Further, he appeared on Voices of Walter Schumann and The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show.

In 1963, he began working full-time at his talent agency, which had an impressive roster of 10 outstanding voice-over actors.

Cunningham personally delivered the headshots and bios of his clients to various Los Angeles-based ad agencies, demonstrating his dedication and commitment to promoting his clients’ talents.

In 1989, he then ultimately retired. He has also his autobiography titled, I Wonder What Became of Me, published in 2014.

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