The International Jack Benny Fan Club is reporting that Eddie Carroll, voice of iconic Disney character Jiminy Cricket since 1973, has passed away of a brain tumor at the age of 76.
Carroll assumed the role after the death of Cliff Edwards in 1971 and had voiced the famous cricket for all manner of Disney media over the course of nearly 40 years, including the Kingdom Hearts video game series.
And up until what was described on his site as a “recent injury,” Carroll had been performing the critically-acclaimed one-man tribute stage show Jack Benny: Laughter in Bloom.
I received the following message from Laura Leff, president of The International Jack Benny Fan Club, on the morning of Tuesday, April 6th:
Eddie Carroll passed away about an hour ago. Today is also his and Carolyn’s wedding anniversary–47 years. And I read Eddie all the well-wishes that I had received up to about 10PM Pacific Time last night, so he knew that you were thinking of him.
There is a story told by one of the help at Jack’s house that shortly before he passed away, he woke up and said that he had been talking with Lyman Woods (his second vaudeville partner). Jack said that Lyman had shown him the afterlife, and that it was “beautiful”.
I’m sure many of us will want to envision Jack helping Eddie to make his exit to our standing ovation.
–Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
www.jackbenny.org
Update: 4.07.2010, 2:30 PM (EST): JackBenny.org has provided some additional details regarding the funeral and where to send donations:
For those who have asked about the funeral, it is going to be a private affair for the family only. In a few weeks, a number of Eddie’s friends will be pulling together a tribute to him, which will be entitled: “A Tribute to Eddie Carroll: A Life in Bloom”.
Eddie’s favorite charity was St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, so the family is asking that donations be made there. Here’s a link.
When Carolyn got home from the hospital, there was a beautiful arrangement of lilies waiting for her. They were from the Benny family with their appreciation for all that Eddie did for Jack. Appropriately, it was done by the same florist that Jack had deliver one red rose to Mary for every day for the rest of her life.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Eddie’s family and friends at this time.
I’ll provide a more detailed tribute to Eddie in the future as part of a larger project which is in development.
In the meantime, I’d like to spotlight other tributes from around the web:
– LaughingPlace.com
– NewsFromMe.com by Mark Evanier
– MagicalMountain.net
– Examiner.com
– The Washington Post
And there are additional links in the comment thread below.
News Eddie Carroll (Voice of Jiminy Cricket) dead at 76 - MiceChat
April 6, 2010 @ 3:15 pm
[…] […]
April 6, 2010 @ 3:37 pm
THERE IS GREAT SADNESS IN MY HEART , I MET EDDIE CARROLL FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME ON DECEMBER 5TH 2009
DURING LP’S GOLDEN DOOBIE AWARD CEREMONIES .
IT WAS A CHERISHED HONOUR TO GREET MR. CARROLL ALONG WITH HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE CAROLYN, THEY BOTH WERE SUCH A DELIGHTFUL COUPLE.
I HAD THE DISTINQUISHED HONOUR OF ESCORTING EDDIE AND HIS WIFE CAROLYN THRU THE DOWNTOWN DISNEY STREETS BACK TO THEIR WAITING VEHICLE , WE HAD SUCH A DELIGHTFUL TALK, THESE MEMORIES WILL RESIDE IN MY HEART FOREVER, cAROLYN IF YOU REMEMBER ME , THE LASTS WORDS I SPOKE TO YOU BOTH WERE , I LOVE YOU, THOSE WORDS HAVE FOREVER REMAINED IN MY HEART, MAY GOD SHARE HIS STRENGTH WITH YOU AT THIS TIME, LOVE AND PRAYERS ALWAYS FROM YOUR LP FRIEND BJORN STORNESS-BLISS OF LP..KNOWN AS THE TINK-MOBILE OXOX HUGS
Eddie Carroll, voice of Jiminy Cricket, dies | The Disney Blog
April 6, 2010 @ 8:18 pm
[…] Actor News has a touching tribute to one of their most successful […]
April 6, 2010 @ 10:30 pm
I met Eddie in Los Angeles seven years ago. What a sweet, gracious man, just like the man we all loved and admired, Jack Benny. Rest in Peace, Eddie.
Mary McKitrick's Voiceover Blog » Eddie Carroll, voice of Jiminy Cricket, dead at 76
April 7, 2010 @ 7:36 am
[…] Actor News has a brief notice of Mr. Carroll’s passing, with plans for a longer tribute in the near future. This entry was written on April 7th, 2010 […]
April 7, 2010 @ 7:14 pm
First Wayne Allwine and now Eddie Carroll? D: What’s up with the Disney Deaths recently?
April 8, 2010 @ 1:47 am
I am deeply saddened about Eddie leaving us but know that he is in a place that he finds wonderful and blissful. I have known Eddie and Carolyn for over 30 years and have a special place in my heart for them both. Eddie did a picture for me some 30 years ago THE GIRL THE GOLD WATCH AND EVERYTHING and he is a very special human being whose aura was always in the yellows and golds.
April 8, 2010 @ 2:29 pm
I have been a fan of Jiminy Cricket all my life (64 years). I am saddened to learn of the passing of “his voice”. The world is a little less bright today and has lost it’s “conscience”. I have an original D23 picture of Jiminy signed by Eddie which I will now treasure even more. God rest your sole.
April 15, 2010 @ 8:26 pm
I hope that they’ll find the 3rd voice portrayer to voice Jiminy Cricket in the new season episodes of ‘Disney’s House of Mouse’.