French Tickner was an American-born Canadian actor whose career spanned over six decades, encompassing stage, film, television, and extensive voice work for animation. He was born on August 26, 1930, and passed away on his 91st birthday in 2021. His unusual first name originated from his mother's maiden name.

Tickner's professional life was marked by a parallel career in academia and the performing arts. He held a Bachelor's degree in music and in 1963 was invited to help establish the School of Music at the University of British Columbia, where he headed the Opera and Voice department for over 25 years. In his own words, he wished to be remembered as "a man of the theater," a testament to his lifelong dedication to performance.

He was a prolific voice actor closely associated with Ocean Productions in Vancouver, contributing to numerous English dubs of anime and animated series. Among his most recognized anime roles was Quillsh Wammy, better known as Watari, the mysterious and capable handler of the detective L in the series Death Note. He also provided voices for several other notable titles, including Kagome's Grandfather in Inuyasha, Dozle Zabi in Mobile Suit Gundam, and Shuichi Sakura in the OVA Sanctuary. His filmography also includes roles in Ranma ½, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Black Lagoon, and The Story of Saiunkoku. Beyond anime, his versatile voice was featured in series such as Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and X-Men: Evolution.

Throughout his voice acting career, Tickner frequently collaborated with the same pool of Vancouver-based actors and studios, including work on dubs directed by and featuring colleagues like David Kaye, Scott McNeil, and Brian Drummond. He remained active in the industry until his retirement in 2013.