Sad news

It has come to my attention that Janet Waldo sadly passed away on Sunday. She was 96.

May she rest in peace.

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Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope. - HELEN KELLER

Oh no... R.I.P Janet, you'll be missed.

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Playing darts with the Condor's feather shuriken...

RE: Sad news

Hi all,

Well, this is a tough one. I didn't see any other links posted, so I hope this isn't a duplicate.

Even though I knew it was coming, Ms. Waldo was in ill health for a few years, it's still hard to accept. I had been able to talk with her as recently as late 2014. Since then I've been in touch with her daughter, who has been gracious enough to keep me up-to-date on her condition.

Ms. Waldo was one of the most consistently positive, friendly and bubbly people I’ve ever met, and I don’t use that last word to describe a lot of folks. I’m glad and lucky to say I struck up a friendship with her over the years. We talked and wrote often. I kept her updated on Battle of the Planets happenings and life in general and she in turn told me about all the work she was doing recording radio shows, flying back and forth to personal appearances, signings or frequent events given in her late husband’s honor. She never slowed down!

Much the same as Alan Young, I’m really glad Ms. Waldo had some opportunities to meet her Battle of the Planets fans face-to-face a few times. We did the previously-mentioned event at the Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention at the Shrine Auditorium with her and Mr. Young in late 2001. Then in 2002, we put together a Battle of the Planets Q&A panel and signing at the San Diego Comic-Con that featured her, Casey Kasem and Ronnie Schell. She said afterward that she was surprised and thrilled at the Comic-Con turnout just for Battle of the Planets.

She was also able to meet a few of our GatchaCon group again at the San Diego Comic-Con in 2010. There were a couple multiple voice actor panels and she took part in one of them. Springie mentioned meeting her in costume after the panel and later Ms. Waldo commented to me at how fun it was to see someone dressed up as "her." We managed to find a few minutes to sit down privately and had a good visit. Since it was the last time I saw her in person, I'm very thankful for it now.

It’s too bad she’s no longer with us, but she left a lot of good for people to enjoy. I’m sure she’d be the first to steer her fans to go watch an episode of one of her shows in her honor. She mentioned many times that her favorite Battle of the Planets story was "Race Against Disaster" because of Lucy. If you have it on DVD, it will make a good tribute. If not, US residents can view it for free on Hulu

She’s someone that can never be replaced, both as a person and in the voice acting community. She was infectious enthusiasm wrapped up in human form. Kind, sharing and just a joy to talk with and be around. I'm really going to miss hearing her excited “Hello!” when she answered the phone. I feel greatly for her family’s loss and I will pass along any more information they may want to share.

Thanks for everything, Ms. Waldo. I hope you’re at peace.


Comic-Con, 2002

Jason

www.battleoftheplanets.info

Thanks for sharing with us, James.

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Eagle Whisperer

I'm very sorry to hear that, but it sounds as if she had a long, good life.

Is Ronnie Schell the only one left now?

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I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers so far...

I finally read her obituary and discovered a kind of "six degrees" scenario -- she had been on several episodes of "The Red Skelton Show", and I had a distant cousin who worked through the whole series. Unfortunately, he passed a couple of decades ago. Otherwise, I would've been bugging him for stories!

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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury

I found out that Ms. Waldo passed away just as I was getting ready for work and I spent the whole day trying not to cry. Like Casey, her voice figured in a large part of my childhood. To lose her only a few weeks after Alan Young (and just a couple of days before the second anniversary of Casey's passing) just made it that much harder to bear.

I love your pictures, Springie, and it is really great that you were able to meet her. What a wonderful memory to have!

My condolences to her family.

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"It is a rare man that is taken for what he truly is...We are not always what we seem, and hardly ever what we dream...." Peter S. Beagle