Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The voice actors behind Clarice and Rudolph

Rudolph The Rede-Nosed Reindeer is a beloved classic

Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer is a holiday classic that premiered on December 6, 1964. Baby Boomers have enjoyed this animated treat along with children and grandchildren every year over the decades. There have been a few changes along the way such as the song Why am I such a misfit being replaced with a more upbeat We're a couple of misfits. The latter is a sad tale of Rudolph wondering why he is rejected because of his red nose. In the new version Rudolph and Hermie, the elf celebrate their differences.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The first kiss

Viewers have many fond scenes and one is when Clarice kisses Rudolph and tells him he is cute. The red-nosed reindeer and shouts as he flies through the air "I'm cute, she says I'm cute." Fans of this beloved Christmas tale may be interested in the lives of the two voice actors who were the voices of Clarice and Rudolph. It must be exciting to know that you contributed to something bigger than yourself that has entertained many millions of people during your lifetime and beyond.

Rudolph The Red-nosed reindeer was voiced by a female

The voice of Rudolph in the Rankin/Bass' version of the character Robbie from 1964 to 1979 was Billie Mae Richards who was also the voice of the Kid in the radio series Jake and the Kid. Richards was the voice of Tender Heart Bear in the first two Care Bear movies and Bright Heart raccoon in the animated Care Bears television series. In The Under Sea Adventures of Captain Nemo she voiced all the female characters as well as Robbie and Chris in the original Spiderman television series.

Richards did voices in the Canadian series We Live Next Door and Calling All Safety Scouts. She also made guest appearances on the television shows My Secret Identity, War of the Worlds, Maniac Mansion, and The Hidden Room as well as a small part in the film Bram Stoker's Shadow Builder, in 1998.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: Billie Richards personal life

During the ending credits of the 1964 premiere of Rudolph The _Red Nosed Reindeer, Richards name was incorrectly spelled Billy although it was accurate in the opening credits. The actress was born Billie Mae Dinsmore on November 21, 1921. In 1945 she married musician Bill Richards in Yorkshire, England. They remained husband and wife until his death in 1995. The couple had 4 children together including a daughter, Judi Richards, who is a singer-songwriter. Richards died of a stroke on September 10, 2010, at age 88.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: Janice Orenstein the voice of Clarice

Clarice has one of the sweetest and most innocent-sounding voices in animation. Janis Orenstein was only 15 years old when she made history by recording the voice of Clarice and yes she really did sing There's Always Tomorrow. She was born Janis Barbara Orenstein on July 1, 1948, in Ontario, Canada, and was an actress, who was known for Festival in 1960, The Forest Rangers in 1963, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 1964. She was married to Aydin Sencan and she died on December 30, 2010, in Ontario just 3 months after her castmate who was the voice of Rudolph.

Orenstein was quoted as once saying the following:

"If I ask myself 'Did I become the human being I wanted to be?' the answer is 'Yes. Yes I did.' So there's nothing I have left unfinished.

Kudos to Richards and Orenstein for giving the world two of its most beloved Christmas animated characters.