Shane Rimmer

Even though he appeared on screen dozens of times, character actor Shane Rimmer was best known for his voice. A native of Toronto, he started his career in Canada as a singer and actor. He began appearing in small roles on television and film, including multiple appearances on the anthology series "Encounter" (CBC, 1952-61). He eventually emigrated to the United Kingdom and took advantage of Britain's burgeoning TV industry. He worked steadily and found himself with a role in the landmark Cold War-era film "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1964). The actor played the co-pilot to Slim Pickens bomb-riding pilot. While that gave him an on-screen calling card, a role that utilized only his voice provided a measure of lasting fame. Rimmer provided the voice of pilot Scott Tracy in Gerry Anderson's Supermarionation hit "Thunderbirds" (ATV, 1965-66) and the follow-up films "Thunderbirds Are GO" (1966) and "Thunderbird 6" (1968). He also provided voices for Anderson's "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons" (ATV, 1967-68). The voice work didn't stop him from appearing on screen. Throughout the 1960s, he appeared regularly on television, including guest spots on "The Saint" (ITV, 1962-69) and "Doctor Who" (BBC, 1963-89). On film, he appeared in small, largely uncredited, roles in a number of James Bond films, as well as "Star Wars: A New Hope" (1977) and "Superman" (1980). He had a larger part in Norman Jewison's cult classic "Rollerball" (1975) with James Caan. Throughout the 1980s, the actor racked up television credits. The most prominent was a recurring role on the British soap opera "Coronation Street" (ITV, 1960-), a show that he had also spent time with in the early-'70s. On the big screen, he appeared in Warren Beatty's "Reds" (1980) and Sydney Pollack's "Out of Africa" (1985). While the size of the parts didn't grow, he continued working steadily into his later years, including a role in the Johnny Depp vehicle "Dark Shadows" (2012). Fittingly, his vocal prowess continued to help him find work as he provided voices for the offbeat animated hit "The Amazing World of Gumball" (Cartoon Network, 2011-). Rimmer passed away at the age of 89 on March 29, 2019.