William Phipps, Voice of Prince Charming, Has Died at 96

William Phipps, voice of Prince Charming, has died. Not only was Phipps a Sci-Fi movie star of the 1950’s, he also lent is voice to the character of Prince Charming for the Disney animated classic, Cinderella, which debuted in 1950. Phipps was 96 at the time of his passing.

Phipps passed away UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica on Friday night after a battle with lung cancer.  His death was announced by his friend and noted showbiz author, Tom Weaver.

Phipps was hired to play Prince Charming opposite Ilene Woods in Cinderella by Walt Disney himself after hearing his audition tape. According to Phipps he was paid around $100 for for two hours of work on an afternoon in January 1949.

Disney later promoted the classic animated film with a nationwide contest aimed at young women.  The winner of the contest would be brought to Hollywood for a date with the voice of Prince Charming.  Phipps, dressed in a white tie, tails and a top hat, would meet the lucky winner in front of a live audience on stage at the Pantages during a coast-to-coast radio broadcast of Art Linkletter’s show.

Phipps himself has said:  “They gave me (I think) $100 pocket money and a limousine and a driver so we could go anywhere we wanted. We went to Ciro’s and the Mocambo, which were the two most famous places on the Sunset Strip at the time, and we went to the Trocadero, too.”

“At the end of the night, around midnight, the limousine driver and I took her back to the Roosevelt Hotel, where she was staying. And then the chauffeur took me back home — a rooming house we called the House of the Seven Garbos, a home for fledgling actresses, where I lived in a room in the basement for seven dollars a week! The next day I went to the tuxedo rental place and turned in my stuff.”

William Phipps is also known for his roles in The War of the World, Cat-Women of the Moon and Crossfire.

Born on February 4, 1922 in Vincennes, Indiana, Phipps and his older brother, Jack, were raised in farm country. He lost his first wife in an automobile accident and his second marriage ended in divorce.  Phipps was residing in Malibu at the time of his death.

The thoughts and prayers of the Chip and Co team go out to his family and friends.

Photo Credit: Disney

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