As a boy, Alan suffered from severe asthma, keeping him bedridden for long periods of time, which encouraged his love of radio, becoming a radio performer by age thirteen and then began writing and performing in his own radio show for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation by age seventeen. The show was broadcasted in the United States, initiating Young’s career as an “All-American Boy” despite his British origins, becoming popular on American radio from 1944 to 1949 with his Alan Young Radio Show.
When radio begun to lose its popularity and his show was canceled, Young decided to put together a comedy act and tour the United States theatre circuit. After this experience, he wrote a television pilot for CBS in 1950, resulting in the well-received live revue The Alan Young Show that ran for three years. However, the strain of writing and performing a weekly show got to Young and the quality of the show declined, leading to his departure from the show and its cancellation.
Based on his popularity on radio and television, Alan Young had established a film career and made his film debut in Margie. Later in his career, Young founded a broadcast division for the Christian Science Church and provided voices for animated cartoons.
Alan Young was married thrice. He wed Mary Anne Grimes in 1941 and both had two children but divorced in 1947. He then married Virginia McCurdy a year later and had two children as well. They remained married for over four decades until they divorced in 1995. He then married his third wife Mary Chipman in 1996, the marriage lasted for only a year until they divorced in 1997.
Notable Filmography:
- Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004) — Scrooge McDuck
- Em & Me (2004) — Grandfather
- The Time Machine (2002) — Flower Store Worker
- Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) — Uncle Dave Thornton
- DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990) — Scrooge McDuck
- Alice Through the Looking Glass (1987) — The White Knight
- The Great Mouse Detective (1986) — Hiram Flaversham
- Robo Force: The Revenge of Nazgar (1984)note – S.O.T.A.
- Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) — Ebenezer Scroogenote
- The Cat from Outer Space (1978) — Dr. Wenger
- The Time Machine (1960) — David Filby & James Filby
- tom thumb (1958) — Woody
- Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955) — Charlie Biddle, Mrs. Biddle & Mr. Henry Biddle
- Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick (1952) — Aaron Slick
- Androcles and the Lion (1952) — Androcles
- Chicken Every Sunday (1949) — Geoffrey Lawson
- Mr. Belvedevere Goes to College (1949) — Avery Brubaker
- Margie (1946) — Roy Hornsdale
- Mickey Mouse (2015) —Scrooge McDuck
- Megas XLR (2004) — Jax
- House of Mouse (2002) — Scrooge McDuck
- Maybe It's Me (2001) — Abe Lasky
- ER (2000) — Archie Mellonston
- Mickey Mouse Works (1999) — Scrooge McDuck
- Duckman (1995) — Wilbur Nelson
- Adventures in Odyssey - Jack Allen (1994-2013)
- The Ren & Stimpy Show (1994-1995) — Haggis MacHaggis
- Party of Five (1994) — Jack Gordon
- Batman: The Animated Series (1994) — Tod Baker
- TaleSpin (1990) — Doctor
- City (1990) — Donald
- Coming of Age (1988-1989) — Ed Pepper
- DuckTales (1987) (1987-1990) — Scrooge McDuck
- Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1983) — Scrooge McDuck
- Alvin and the Chipmunks/The Chipmunks (1983-1987) — Grandpa Seville
- The Incredible Hulk (1982) (1982-1983) — Cyclops Computer
- The Smurfs (1981-1990) — Farmer Smurf, Miner Smurf, Scaredy Smurf & (possibly) Weakling Smurf
- Battle of the Planets (1978-1980) — Keyop & 7-Zark-7
- Mister Ed (1961-1966) — Wilbur Post
- Alan Young (1958-?) — Himself
- The Alan Young Show (1944-1949 on Radio then 1950-1953 on television) — Host / Himself
- Alvin and the Chipmunks/The Chipmunks (1983-1987)
- The Dukes (1983)note
- Rubik, the Amazing Cube (1983)
- Smurfs (1981-1986)
- Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981)
- Trollkins (1981)
- Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979)
- The Curse of Monkey Island (1997) — Haggis McMutton
- Disney Think Fast (2008) — Scrooge McDuck
- Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (2009) — Scrooge McDuck
- Disney Magical World (2013) — Scrooge McDuck
- DuckTales: Remastered (2013) — Scrooge McDuck
Tropes:
- And Starring: Receives an “AND ALAN YOUNG AS ANDROCLES” in Androcles and the Lion despite being the titular character.
- Captain Ersatz / Expy: Again, his “Uncle Dave” character in Beverly Hills Cop III is loosely based on Scrooge McDuck and David Filby.
- The Eponymous Show: Not only starred in American radio and television series The Alan Young Show, but was also the host.
- Evil Old Folks: Plays one alongside Marjorie Lovett in episode segment “The Diner” in the sixth episode of Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction’s first season.
- Ink-Suit Actor: Grandpa Seville from Alvin and the Chipmunks bears a strong likeness to Alan.
- As does Jack Allen from Adventures in Odyssey.
- Remake Cameo: Is the only actor from any of the other three The Time Machine incarnationsnote appear in the 2002 The Time Machine remake.
- Role Reprise: Repeated the role of David Filby for a sketch for a 1992 documentary on The Time Machine.
- Returned as Scrooge McDuck over a decade later to appear in not only three episodes of House of Mouse (2002) but dons the role again in Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004), Mickey’s Around the World in 80 Days (2005), Disney’s Th!nk Fast Video Game (2008), Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (2010) and DuckTales: Remastered (2013).
- Reprised his Wilbur Post role for God, the Devil and Bob.
