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Julie McWhirter

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Julie McWhirter
Born
Julia Ann McWhirter

1947 (age 78–79)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
EducationLawrence Central High School
Depauw University
OccupationsVoice actress, impressionist
Years active1970–1993
Notable credit(s)Jeannie as Jeannie Jabberjaw as Bubbles
The Smurfs as Baby Smurf and Sassette
Spouse(s)Rick Dees
(m. 1978)
Children1

Julia Anne McWhirter[1] (born 1947)[2][3] is a retired American voice actress and impressionist best known for her work as Jeannie in the animated version of Jeannie, Bubbles in Jabberjaw and Baby Smurf and Sassette in The Smurfs.

Early life and career

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An Indianapolis native,[4] McWhirter is one of four children born to Margaret Anne (née Jennings) and Felix T. McWhirter.[1] By 1966, her senior year at Lawrence Central High School, McWhirter had established herself, both as an actress—portraying Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady—and a skilled mimic, whose repertoire included Alfred Hitchcock and Tammy Grimes.[5] McWhirter graduated from DePauw University in 1970, with a degree in speech.[6]

Hollywood Reporter critic Frank Barron caught McWhirter's act in August 1977, opening for Mort Sahl at the The Comedy Store, in West Hollywood.

Julie McWhirter, soon to be seen on CBS-TV's 'Wacko' show, is a nightclub natural. Her satirical take-offs on female stars are devastating, particularly lampooning a girl singer on the Ramada Inn circuit. Also hilarious is her version of Dolly Parton-type country singers. And – the comedienne writes most of her funny material.[7]

Personal life

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In April 1978, McWhirter married fellow performer Rick Dees, whom she had met the previous year, while working on the CBS children's series, Wacko.[8] They have one child, a son.[1]

Filmography

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Animated series

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1970Famous Classic TalesAdditional voicesEpisode: "Tales of Washington Irving"
1972The BarkleysTerry Barkley13 episodes
1973–75JeannieJeannie16 episodes
1973The New Scooby-Doo MoviesJeannieEpisode: "Mystery in Persia"
1974–75Partridge Family 2200 A.D.Marion Moonglow16 episodes
1976Clue ClubAdditional voices
1976The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt HourQueen Hornet2 episodes
1976JabberjawBubbles16 episodes
1977–80Captain Caveman and the Teen AngelsAdditional voices40 episodes
1977CB BearsAdditional voices
1977–78The SkatebirdsAdditional voicesWoofer & Wimper, Dog Detectives segment
1977–78Fred Flintstone and FriendsJeannie / Marion95 episodes
1978Dynomutt, Dog WonderQueen Hornet2 episodes
1978The Adventures of the Little PrinceLittle Prince26 episodes (English dub)
1979Casper and the AngelsCasper13 episodes
1979–80The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure ShowAdditional voices
1979Casper's Halloween SpecialCasperTV special
1979Casper's First ChristmasCasperTV special
1980The World of Strawberry ShortcakeHuckleberry PieTV special
1980–82Drak PackVampira16 episodes
1980The Flintstones' New NeighborsHidea FrankenstoneTV special
1980–81Thundarr the BarbarianCinda / Stryia2 episodes
1980Super FriendsAdditional voices
1981Strawberry Shortcake in Big Apple CityHuckleberry Pie / T.N. HoneyTV special
1981The Flintstones: Wind-Up WilmaHidea FraneknstoneTV special
1981–82Laverne & Shirley in the ArmyAdditional voices
1982Strawberry Shortcake: Pets on ParadeHuckleberry PieTV special
1982Stanley, the Ugly DucklingAdditional voicesTV special
1982PandamoniumAmanda Panda13 episodes
1982The Gary Coleman ShowLydia2 episodes
1982Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz HourBroom GildaEpisode: "Which Witch Is the Witch"
1982–83Pac-ManDinky4 episodes
1982–84The Little RascalsAlfalfa / Porky / Woim31 episodes
1983ABC Weekend SpecialsPollywog / Green Lady / WomanEpisode: "The Secret World of Og"
1983–85Alvin and the ChipmunksAdditional voices
1983Saturday SupercadeQ*Bertha / Q*Mom / ViperEpisode #1.3
1983–90The SmurfsBaby Smurf / Sassette Smurfling
1984The Smurfic GamesBaby SmurfTV special
1984–85The LittlesAdditional voices
1985The JetsonsAdditional voicesEpisode: "Elroy in Wonderland"
1986SmurfquestBaby Smurf / Sassette SmurflingTV film
1986–87The Flintstone KidsWilma Slaghoople / Tarpit Tommy
1987The Jetsons Meet the FlintstonesBetty Rubble / Jet Rivers / InvestorTV film
1987'Tis the Season to Be SmurfyBaby Smurf / Sassette SmurflingTV special
1991–93The Pirates of Dark WaterAdditional voices
1992Bobby's WorldAdditional voicesEpisode: "The Play's the Thing"
1993The Town Santa ForgotAdditional voicesTV special

Television live-action appearances

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1970Happy DaysHerself10 episodes
1970Information ProcessingHerselfDocumentary short
1973The Bobby Darin ShowHerself2 episodes
1976The Hollywood SquaresHerself5 episodes
1976The Rich Little ShowHerself12 episodes
1976–78The Mike Douglas ShowHerself: Impressionist5 episodes
1977The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Ted KnightHerselfTV special
1977The Alan Hamel ShowHerself1 episode
1977WackoHerself: Host10 episodes
1980Steve Martin: All Commercials... A Steve Martin SpecialHerselfTV special
1981The Alan Thicke ShowHerself1 episode
1981The John Davidson ShowHerself1 episode
1984TV's Bloopers & Practical JokesHerself1 episode
1988The New Hollywood SquaresHerself1 episode

Animated film

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1976Snooper GoopLive-action/Animated short
1979The Story of HeidiNeighbor Lady, Peter's MotherEnglish dub
1983Winnie the Pooh and a Day for EeyoreKangaAnimated short

References

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  1. 1 2 3 "Obituaries: Margaret Jennings McWhitter". The Indianapolis Star. November 29, 2020. p. 34A. Retrieved June 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Margaret had four children; eight grandchildren; and five great-grand- children. Her four children are Felix Marcus McWhirter, II (deceased), Julia Ann McWhirter Dees, William Evans McWhirter and Virginia Laurie McWhirter Hafkey.
  2. ↑ "BANK MARKS BIRTHDAY". The Indianapolis Star. December 3, 1950. p. 12A. Retrieved June 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. A huge 50-inch birthday candle marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples State Bank, 130 East Market Street, is lighted by four of the bank's old established customers with the assistance from two of its younger set. [...] Assisting in the ceremony are Julie McWhirter, 3, and Felix M. (Mark) McWhirter, 8, grandchildren of the bank's president, Felix M. McWhirter.
  3. ↑ "Pianist Chang, 8, Wins $1,000 Reynolds Young Talent Award". Los Angeles Times. March 1, 1975. p. 13D. Retrieved June 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. [T]he Showcase '75 competition [was] held at East Los Angeles College. More than 300 performers auditioned for the contest... Julie McWhirter, a 27-year-old singing impressionist from Studio City, won the $500 Gladys Turk Foundation Award. Third-place winners were Shields and Yarnell, a comedy mime team. They were presented with a $300 award.
  4. ↑ Hall, Steve (February 5, 1988). "Julie Dees: The Smurf from Indianapolis". The Indianapolis Star. p. D-11. Retrieved June 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. A small, blue-eyed blonde is sitting near the back of a banquet room in the Columbia Club. The voice coming out of her mouth is Elizabeth Taylor's. 'I'm not fat,' she says in high, elegant tones. 'I'm merely bloated.' Meet Julie McWhirter Dees, Indianapolis native, comedienne, impressionist. You can hear her imitating Jane Fonda, sex therapist 'Dr. Rude.' Cyndi Lauper and other characters Sunday mornings on husband Rick's syndicated Top 40 radio show. [...] With Jonathan Winters and Brenda Vaccaro, she furnishes voices for NBC's Saturday morning cartoon The Smurfs. [...] At age 21, she set out for Hollywood, becoming a featured performer at such venues as the Comedy Store and the Improv.
  5. ↑ Saiter, Julie (March 12, 1966). "Perky, Petite Julie McWhirter Sparkles In Entertainment Field; 'WHO ME, AMUSE THEM?' Questions Julie McWhirter; Lawrence Comedienne Stars At Bears Productions". The Indianapolis Star. p. 7. Retrieved June 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Sparkling bursts of talent plus enchanting blue eyes and golden hair equal petite Julie McWhirter who recently won the role of Eliza in the Lawrence Central High School spring production of 'My Fair Lady.' This honor is not the first the perky senior has captured. Julie has been active in many school productions since junior high school. [...] She is also known throughout the school for her clever impersonations of stars. She does an array of celebrities from Alfred Hitchcock to Tammy Grimes.
  6. ↑ "Julie McWhirter '70 is Voice of TV's Jeannie". DePauw University. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  7. ↑ Barron, Frank (August 16, 1977). "Night Club Review: Mort Sahl, Julie McWhirter (Comedy Store, through Aug. 20)". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 11. ProQuest 2471864612.
  8. ↑ Halliday, Betsy (April 29, 1978). "JULIE McWHIRTER–RICK DEES WEDDING TODAY; Newlyweds To Live With Houseful Of 'Characters'". The Indianapolis Star. p. 11. Retrieved June 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Dees (known professionally as Rick Dees, 'father' of the hit record 'Disco Duck') and his bride, Julia Anne McWhirter, are masters at impersonation. They met a year ago on Wacko, the CBS children's show starring Indianapolis' Julie McWhirter.
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