Valentine John Bettin (July 8, 1923 – January 7, 2021) was an American actor,[1] known for using an English accent in all of his roles. He is perhaps best known for voicing Dr. David Q. Dawson in the 1986 Disney animated film The Great Mouse Detective and the Sultan in The Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves, the two direct-to-video sequels to Disney's Aladdin as well as the TV show, taking over for Douglas Seale. Bettin also hosted The Storyteller, a children's show on Chicago television in the late 1950s.

Val Bettin
Bettin in 1963
Born
Valentine John Bettin

(1923-07-08)July 8, 1923
DiedJanuary 7, 2021(2021-01-07) (aged 97)
Resting placeIvy Lawn Memorial Park
OccupationActor
Years active1953–2008
AgentCESD Talent Agency
Spouse
Hildy Pender
(m. 1950; died 2007)

Early life and career

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He was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin on July 8, 1923.[2] In 1948, he went to England to enroll in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and graduated in 1950. There he met his wife Hildy in 1950, and the two married that same year. They returned to the United States in order for him to become a drama teacher in Iowa.[3]

Bettin's first film role was in 1980's Somewhere in Time. He later became a voice actor, with his first role as Dr. David Q. Dawson in the 1986 Disney film The Great Mouse Detective. His credits included Shrek, Gargoyles, Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series and W.I.T.C.H..

Personal life

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He married Hildy Pender, from Manchester, England, in 1950. She died in Ventura, California on August 16, 2007, at the age of 82.[4]

Bettin died of natural causes in Ventura on January 7, 2021, at the age of 97.[5] He was buried at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park on 3 March.[6]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1980 Somewhere in Time Director, in 1912
1983 The Man Who Wasn't There Monocle
The Young Landlords Mr. Bender TV film
1986 Triplecross Winslow TV film
The Great Mouse Detective Dr. David Q. Dawson/Thug Guard Voice role
1990 Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase Playwright TV film
1994 Aladdin: The Return of Jafar The Sultan Voice role, direct-to-video
1995 The Greatest Treasure
Jasmine's Wish
1996 True Hearts
Magic and Mystery
Aladdin and the King of Thieves
Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story Mr. Breen
2001 Shrek Bishop Voice role; final film role

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour Additional voices Episode: "Who's Minding the Brat?", voice role
1987 Disneyland Dr. Allworth Episode: "Young Harry Houdini"
1988 Webster Edwin Episode: "Nerds Are People Too"
1992 Great Scott! Pythagorean Episode: "Hair Scare"
1994-1995 Aladdin Sultan Series regular, voice role
1995 American Masters John Latrobe Episode: "Edgar Allan Poe: Terror of the Soul"
1996 Mighty Ducks Sarks Episode: "Mondo-Man", voice role
Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles Egon Pax Episode: "To Serve Mankind", voice role
1997 Pepper Ann Sanford I. Paper Episode: "The Big Pencil/Sani-Paper", voice role
1998 Hercules King Tivius Episode: "Hercules and the Jilt Trip", voice role
2005 W.I.T.C.H. Herbert Olsen Episode: "The Mogriffs", voice role

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 Zork: Grand Inquisitor Sneffle / Flickering Torch
1999 Tarzan Professor Porter
1999 Disney's Activity Center: Tarzan Professor Porter
2000 Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge Sultan

Audiobooks

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References

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  1. ^ Hischak, Thomas S. (September 21, 2011). Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. pp. 239–. ISBN 9780786462711. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  2. ^ Valentine John Bettin in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947
  3. ^ McMullen, Kieran (2012). The Many Watsons. MX Publishing. ISBN 978-1780923031.
  4. ^ Hildy Bettin obituary
  5. ^ Valentine John Bettin, 1923–2021
  6. ^ "Valentine John Bettin". Find a Loved One - Ivy Lawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
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