Humphrey the Bear is a gluttonous brown bear that first appeared as an unnamed bear in the cartoon Hold That Pose, on November 3, 1950. Three years later, Jack Hannah revitalized the bear as a recurring adversary of Donald Duck, beginning with the cartoon Rugged Bear in 1953. Since, Humphrey has been depicted as a scheming, yet hapless wild bear residing in Brownstone National Park. He is in constant pursuit of food, typically from the visiting campers. Humphrey’s antics are typically foiled by the pompous caretaker of the park, J. Audubon Woodlore.
Despite appearing late into the lifespan of Walt Disney Productions’ shorts department, Humphrey skyrocketed in popularity after his inception. He became the final Disney character to headline his own cartoon series, beginning with Hooked Bear on April 27, 1956. His only other starring cartoon, In the Bag, received wider acclaim and introduced the “Humphrey Hop”. The character was quickly integrated into the broader Mickey Mouse cast, signified by his appearance in the opening of Walt Disney’s original run of The Mickey Mouse Club.
Humphrey the Bear has been suggested to play 53 roles. Click below to see other actors suggested for each role, and vote for who you think would play the role best.
