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The original voice of Barbie’s Ken, William “Bill” Cunningham, has died aged 96.
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The founder of the CESD Talent Agency passed away at his home in West Hollywood on July 15, the company announced on social media.
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Alongside a picture of the singer and voiceover artist, they wrote: “Remembering William ‘Bill’ Cunningham (1927-2023).”
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An obituary by Deadline read: “Bill Cunningham opened Pacific Artist Agency Hollywood in 1963, following a prolific singing career and at the encouragement of his friend, singer and TV personality Peggy Taylor. In 1967, Pacific Artists became Cunningham and Associates. The company’s agency’s success led him to open a second office in New York during 1971. In just a few short years, Cunningham and Associates, now known as CESD, became the most successful, bicoastal commercial/VO talent agency in the business.”
Bill – who served in the Second World War – became the voice of Ken in commercials released in the same year the Ken doll, with his red swimming shorts, was released by Mattel in 1961, two years after the iconic first-ever Barbie doll, dressed in her famous black-and-white striped swimsuit, was launched.
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Bill sang as Ken on the Barbie Sings vinyl, boasting “Six terrific teen-age tunes sung by Barbie and Ken,” alongside Charlotte Austin as Barbie.
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His successful singing career saw him perform with the likes of Judy Garland and Dinah Shore and his debut studio album, ‘I’m Always Chasing Rainbows’, was funded by dancing legend Fred Astaire.
Thanks to the advice of his friend Peggy, he achieved huge success with his agency, representing actors for commercial, voiceover, and theatrical opportunities.
He retired from the business in 1989 and led a private life, however, he released his autobiography I Wonder What Became of Me in 2014.
News of Bill’s death comes just a week after Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster live-action Barbie film hit cinemas worldwide, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as the stereotypical Barbie and Ken.
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