Known as "The Man of a Thousand Voices", Paul Frees was an American actor best kown for his work on theatrical cartoons during the Golden Age of Animation. Among his most memorible characters were that of Boris Badenov on television's The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, as well as that of Meisterburger Burgermeister in Santa Clause Comes to Town and as Santa Clause in Frosty the Snowman.[1]
Paul Frees was born 22 June 1920, the son of Abe Frees and Sarah Cohen. Two versions of his Cook County birth certificate 24272 exist, one with the name Abraham,[2] and one with the name Solly.[3]
↑ "Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N77L-GNL : 18 May 2016), Abraham Frees, 22 Jun 1920; Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, reference/certificate 24272, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 1,309,406. Parents Abraham Frees and Sarah Cohen.
↑ "Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N77L-GKM : 18 May 2016), Solly Frees, 22 Jun 1920; Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, reference/certificate 24272, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 1,309,406. Mother Sarah Frees.
↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG19-Z8N3 : 19 February 2021), Saul Harcourt Frees and Audrey Annella McLeod, 31 Jul 1943; citing Montgomery, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,892,249.
↑ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8KD-2R7 : 8 December 2017), Paul H Frees and Kleda June (Hansen) Williams, 10 Feb 1947; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,115,674.
↑ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8DG-Q9W : 9 March 2021), Paul Harcourt Frees and Joyce Schultz, 27 Feb 1951; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 1,283,723.
↑ "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPTT-YGK : 15 May 2014), Jeri J Cole and Paul H Frees, Mar 1969; from "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2007); citing Los Angeles City, California, Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento.
↑ "California Marriage Index, 1960-1985," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V6LV-14X : 27 November 2014), Paul H Frees and Beverly T Marlow, 15 Jun 1971; from "California, Marriage Index, 1960-1985," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2007); citing Marin, California, Center of Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento.
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSPL-92P : accessed 11 April 2021), Sol Frees in household of Abraham Frees, Chicago (Districts 1251-1500), Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1411, sheet 17A, line 21, family 347, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 476; FHL microfilm 2,340,211. Incorrectly recorded as age 19.
"California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPM9-FY7 : 26 November 2014), Paul H Frees, 02 Nov 1986; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
"United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J2RG-QNG : 4 December 2020), P H Frees, Nov 1986; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
Paul Frees, Rocky and Bullwinkle Wiki (database online accessed 11 Apr 2021).
Find a Grave, database and images, memorial page for Paul Frees (22 Jun 1920–2 Nov 1986), Find A Grave: Memorial #6482730, ; Maintained by Find A Grave Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea. No sources.
Is Paul your ancestor? Please don't go away! Login to collaborate or comment, or contact
the profile manager, or ask our community of genealogists a question.
This week's featured connections are
Summer Olympians:
Paul is
37 degrees from Simone Biles, 30 degrees from Maria Johanna Philipsen-Braun, 29 degrees from Pierre de Coubertin, 24 degrees from Étienne Desmarteau, 25 degrees from Fanny Gately, 29 degrees from Evelyn Konno, 49 degrees from Paavo Johannes Nurmi, 22 degrees from Wilma Rudolph, 34 degrees from Carl Schuhmann, 22 degrees from Zara Tindall, 27 degrees from Violet Robb and 22 degrees from Mina Wylie
on our single family tree.
Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.