Jack Curtis
Description
Jack Curtis, also known as Jack Curtis Jr., was an American voice actor, director, producer, writer, and editor born on June 16, 1926, in Queens, New York. He began his career as an actor in radio shows during the 1940s, performing on various programs including Coast to Coast on a Bus, where he first met his long-time friend Peter Fernandez. A physical condition, a hand deformity present from birth, prevented him from pursuing on-camera acting work, but he maintained a prolific career in voice-over work and behind-the-scenes production.
Curtis is best known for his voice work in the English dubs of several groundbreaking Japanese anime series that were introduced to American audiences in the 1960s. He was hired by his friend Peter Fernandez to provide voices for the dub of the classic series Speed Racer, which aired from 1967 to 1968. His most prominent role in that series was Pops Racer, the gruff, overprotective, and inventive father of the title character. He also voiced other characters in the series, including Inspector Detector and various villains. Curtis reprised his role as Pops Racer for the 1967 film compilation Speed Racer: The Movie and also served as the film's narrator.
Beyond Speed Racer, Curtis contributed his voice to other notable English dubs of the era, including Marine Boy, where he voiced a character named Bulton, and Kimba the White Lion. His film voice acting credits from this period also include roles in English-language adaptations of Japanese science fiction films, such as Torahata in Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) and Captain Sallas in Planet of the Vampires (1965).
A notable achievement outside of voice acting was his work as the director, producer, writer, and editor of the 1964 cult classic science fiction horror film The Flesh Eaters. He also owned a dubbing company named Film Sync. His career was marked by recurring collaboration with Peter Fernandez, a key figure in the early English-language dubbing industry, who consistently brought Curtis into projects. Jack Curtis passed away in September 1970 at the age of 44.
Curtis is best known for his voice work in the English dubs of several groundbreaking Japanese anime series that were introduced to American audiences in the 1960s. He was hired by his friend Peter Fernandez to provide voices for the dub of the classic series Speed Racer, which aired from 1967 to 1968. His most prominent role in that series was Pops Racer, the gruff, overprotective, and inventive father of the title character. He also voiced other characters in the series, including Inspector Detector and various villains. Curtis reprised his role as Pops Racer for the 1967 film compilation Speed Racer: The Movie and also served as the film's narrator.
Beyond Speed Racer, Curtis contributed his voice to other notable English dubs of the era, including Marine Boy, where he voiced a character named Bulton, and Kimba the White Lion. His film voice acting credits from this period also include roles in English-language adaptations of Japanese science fiction films, such as Torahata in Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) and Captain Sallas in Planet of the Vampires (1965).
A notable achievement outside of voice acting was his work as the director, producer, writer, and editor of the 1964 cult classic science fiction horror film The Flesh Eaters. He also owned a dubbing company named Film Sync. His career was marked by recurring collaboration with Peter Fernandez, a key figure in the early English-language dubbing industry, who consistently brought Curtis into projects. Jack Curtis passed away in September 1970 at the age of 44.
All Characters
- EnglishAnime overview: Speed Racer