AceShowbiz -

Voice actor Lee Marshall, who provided voice for Tony the Tiger for a decade, has passed away. As reported by L.A. Times, his son Jason Marshall VanBorssum said that Marshall, who voiced the Kellog's Frosted Flakes cereal icon, died in a Santa Monica hospital at the age of 64 on April 26. He suffered from esophageal cancer prior to his death.

The original actor who provided the voice for the Tiger was Thurl Ravenscorft. Marshall helped Ravenscroft when he had difficulties with the dialogues in his 80s. He took the role when Ravenscroft passed away in 2005 at the age of 91.

Marshall was born on November 28, 1949 in Los Angeles. After his family moved to Phoenix, the deep-voiced 14-year-old Marshall lied about his age and landed a job as a deejay at a radio station. Later he worked as a newscasters in various stations.

Marshall usually got roles as cartoon villains because of his voice. "I would just once like to be the guy who saves Scooby-Doo," he once told his agent. He then got a reply, "You'll always be the guy who tries to kill Scooby-Doo."

In addition to his son, Marshall is survived by his wife, a stepdaughter and a grandaughter.