Biography

July 13, 2017

Following are a few memories and articles about Wally Burr, who died earlier this week (see Contact Page for details):

The first of many tributes to Wally, this one from his longtime friend, actor DOUG STONE, written the day after Wally’s death:

Late last night I got the news that Wally had quietly passed away. His condition had been worsening rapidly and the strokes he had suffered left him unable to communicate. Frankly, I don’t think there was any pleasure in life left and it is probably best that the downward slide came to its end peacefully, before further deterioration.

Cantankerous, hard-headed and tough as nails, Wally had been the youngest tank commander on Normandy Beach. He took guff from no-one. He was known as a tough and particular director as well and would really put an actor through their paces. Not just every word, but every letter, every inflection had to be just so…..but, he succeeded in getting terrific performances.

Wally had a hand in G.I. Joe, Transformers, My Little Pony, Jem, Inspector Gadget, Spiderman, etc. In the 1980′s and 1990′s in L.A., Wally was a definite player.

He was kind enough to bring me in on projects when I was a new guy in town and to also offer friendship. I had the pleasure of conducting the ceremony when he wed his beautiful bride, Kristene Wallis.

I last saw him about a month ago, on a visit, where he happily drank the mocha coffee I’d brought him and listened to Steve Kramer and I tell him war stories about voice-over. His face lit up as we spoke, as he still loved hearing stories and news about the business he loved.

 R.I.P., Wally Burr

From his daughter-in-law, writer, DORIS FALTYS-BURR, an interview with Wally about his WWII experiences:

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2014/06/11/d-day-history/

 

One of many great Facebook tributes – this one, from MARY McDONALD LEWIS (Lady Jaye in “G.I.Joe”), slightly redacted, since she quoted a passage from Doris’ article and there’s no need to repeat:

 Wally Burr has left the studio. From his time in WWII as a teenaged officer in the US Army (“For a period of time, I was the youngest commissioned officer in the army. I had my 18th birthday on June 2, and two days later I was sworn in at a military base as a fuzzy-cheeked, Second Lieutenant. I was 18, but looked 15. I thought the war would be over in a few months and it would be an adventure.”) to his years in Hollywood directing the most famous cartoons of the 80s, to his long career into his 90s, Wally was one-of-a-kind.

Wally was opinionated, creative, stubborn and always right when it came to making cartoons jump off the screen and into kids’ hearts. His hours-long sessions were legendary; but then so was the camaraderie in his studios.

Many, many of us got our start with Wally, myself included as his Lady Jaye (along with Ginny McSwain casting me as Lois Lane, my first job in animation). Wally also named me — pulling come from his war history lore, he was the one who dubbed me “MaryMac,” ostensibly after the Civil War-era iron-clad USS Merrimack.

The last time a bunch of us were with Wally was at Neil Ross’ place in San Pedro, after a great Comic Con. I’m so grateful we were able to gather with Bill Ratner, Neil, Gregg Berger, Jerry Houser and Robert David Hall that day for memories and laughs.

We’ll all miss you, Wally. Thank you for everything. And try not to give God too many line reads, will you?

What a life you led, Wally! Take a bow.

There are countless other tributes and articles to be found.  Google and ye shall find…!

Click here for an account of Wally’s return to Utah Beach in 2001.

 

HIS PROFESSIONAL LIFE:

One of Wally Burr’s earliest assignments in the advertising industry was producing TV commercials for Chicago’s renowned Leo Burnett Advertising Agency.  Long before Burr joined Burnett, the legendary Leo had written a corporate motto: “Reach for the stars. You may not get one, but you won’t come up with a handful of mud either.”

Leo’s stars still guide Burnett writers, producers, and art directors in creating and presenting the images, words and music that move buyers to reach for. . .

Kellogg’s -”The best to you each morning…”
Green Giant’s – “From The Valley of the Jolly…”
StarKist Tuna’s – “Sorry, Charlie…”
Allstate’s – “You’re in good hands…”
Marlboro’s – “You get a lot to like…” (with apologies to the current PC crowd)

While Burr produced and directed on these and many other Burnett accounts, in a business where truth can become tough to distinguish from truthiness, he began considering having his own personal motto. One day, “No B.S.” popped into his consciousness. Less elegant than Leo’s motto, but more intensely focused on keeping things straightforward, candid and honest, it would have been appreciated by both Washington and Lincoln — although neither owned cattle!

So, no. “No B.S. is not Wally Burr’s middle name, but it is part of his conscience.

Burr’s No-B.S. stance comes complete with over 25 years of experience as a producer and director, both freelance and staff — in nearly every area of the audio-visual field. It includes:

Hands-on direction of countless radio and TV commercials for nationally advertised products and services…!

Live action and animated business films — for sales, educational, promotional and institutional projects…!

Live action and animated entertainment TV for national broadcast…!

Theatrical feature film production…!

The casting and direction of video game voices. Extensive experience with the Hollywood and Vancouver, B.C. talent pools, both union and often equally talented non-union performers!

Casting and voice direction of more than 2,000 half-hours of internationally broadcast animated TV — approximately half of them action-adventure and the other half comedy.

Much experience with celebrity performers — and the know-how to accommodate their needs.

Planning and direction of blue-screen special effects work…!

Although not an audio engineer, Wally Burr has owned and operated two recording studios specializing in voice recording and audio post-production for all media. He knows his way around a recording facility.

For those of you reading this who might want to start acting in the voiceover world, or who need some brushing up, Wally also teaches voice-over, assists actors in the preparation of their voice-over demos, and directs actors in the recording of their demos.  Go to the CONTACT PAGE to reach him.