David Ogden Stiers, best known for playing Major Charles Winchester III on M*A*S*H (1972-193) and voice actor for Cogsworth in the 1991 film, Beauty and the Beast has died, aged 75.
Stiers’ had been battling bladder cancer.
The actor’s agent, Mitchell Stubbs confirmed the news on Saturday and the agency’s Twitter shared that Stiers’ had passed away at his home in Newport, Oregon.
Stiers had an extensive line of work with performances ranging from Star Trek: Next Generation to numerous voice acting performances for Disney including Governor Ratcliffe in Pocahontas, Jumba in Lilo & Stich, and most memorably, Cogsworth.
However, Stiers’ most well-known role has to be the arrogant and reclusive Charles Winchester in M*A*S*H, a medical surgeon stationed in South Korea during the war. Winchester, who despite having a front of total hostility, often showed moments of empathy, great warmth, and compassion. Winchester, alike many of Stiers’ characters, was a most beloved one and many fans have taken to Twitter to show just how much the great actor meant to them.
Michael Edwards, a fellow voice-actor posted the tribute below:
So I just found out one of my biggest voice acting inspirations died today, David Ogden Stiers. Grew up with him as Cogsworth, Jumba, and in tons of other shows and movies. He had this warm sound to his voice yet so much energy and comedic timing in both voice & onscreen. RIP pic.twitter.com/nmRiP3Gi62
— Michael Edwards@Momocon (@MEdwardsVA) March 4, 2018
“So I just found out one of my biggest voice acting inspirations died today, David Ogden Stiers. Grew up with him as Cogsworth, Jumba, and in tons of other shows and movies. He had this warm sound to his voice yet so much energy and comedic timing in both voice & onscreen. RIP”
