Studio Center Hall of Fame
Marv Henry
(1928-2009)
Marv Henry always arrived early for his voiceover sessions. He wanted to have plenty of time to study the script, read it through, and then mark it so that his first read was excellent. After he was fully prepared, he would often turn the script over and draw a cartoon about himself and his interactions with the staff.
Marv frequently pictured himself as the “Hero,” always with a medal, fully in charge of every situation, and calling to task all who did not measure up. All done with tongue firmly in cheek. Or he might be a giant redwood alongside his fellow redwoods, Lee Lively and Andy Roberts, among a forest of saplings. In this false bravado, Marv sought to be self-deprecating, but he actually underlined the truth - Marv was a standout.
Marv Henry brought a lot to the table and dozens of characters to the voice booth. From his panoply of classic Hollywood characters - John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, and more - to his stock characters of the trail-worn cowboy to the punchdrunk fighter to the gossipy Aunt Blabby, Marv was a one-man talent agency. These were voices born of years of experience.
Marv's Showcase Demo
Marv's "Marvelthorpes"
After his stint in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Marv acted in Hollywood before cutting his teeth in radio in Minneapolis. In 1964, he moved his family to Portsmouth, Virginia, where he hosted “Dialing for Dollars” on WAVY-TV and “Morning Drive Time” on WAVY Radio. Marv later worked for WFOG and WTAR in the Tidewater area.
If Lee Lively was the Voice of God, then surely Marv Henry was the Voice of Wisdom. His relaxed authoritative manner sold without pandering assured with confidence and guided without pushing. He was the most versatile of voiceover artists and a delightful man to work alongside.