Robert Ridgely

For the American ornithologist of the same name, please see Robert Ridgely (ornithologist)

Robert Ridgely (December 24, 1931—February 8, 1997) was an American actor and vocal artist, known for both on-camera roles and extensive voice-over work. Ridgely started his television career with guest roles in such 1960s series as Maverick, Sea Hunt and Surfside 6. He landed a regular role as Lt. Kimbro in the short-lived World War II series The Gallant Men. After the series was cancelled he continued with guest appearances in shows like Bonanza, WKRP in Cincinnati, Night Court and Designing Women. He also appeared in many movies, especially Mel Brooks productions such as Blazing Saddles (1974), High Anxiety (1977), Life Stinks (1991) and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993).

Ridgely put his strong voice to use in voice-over roles in movies like The Down and Dirty Duck (1974) and Oz (1980) and the video game Blazing Dragons (1996). He did a great deal of voice work on television as well. Three of Ridgely's most easily recognizable voice roles were Tarzan in Filmation's Tarzan: Lord of the Jungle, Flash Gordon in The New Adventures of Flash Gordon, and Thundarr in Ruby-Spears' Thundarr the Barbarian. Ridgely played his final movie roles in Boogie Nights and Fire Down Below (both 1997). He died of cancer at age 65.