Voice of Bob The Builder William Dufris dies of cancer aged 62


‘There is a hole in a lot of people’s hearts right now’: Voice of Bob The Builder William Dufris dies of cancer aged 62

William Dufris, the voice-actor behind Bob the Builder in the US and Canada, has died from cancer at the age of 62, it was confirmed Wednesday.

Pocket Universe Productions, which was co-founded by Dufris, announced the sad news on its Twitter account, writing:  ‘We are heartbroken.’

Dufris voiced Bob for the US and Canadian broadcasts, working on the first nine series until the role was taken over in 2006.  

Sad loss: William Dufris, the voice-actor behind Bob the Builder in the US and Canada, has died from cancer at the age of 62, it was confirmed Wednesday

‘We are heartbroken to announce that the co-founder of @pocketplot and the director of “EC Comics Presents… The Vault of Horror”, William Dufris, has died from cancer,’ read Wednesday’s statement

‘There is a hole in a lot of people’s hearts right now. We will have more to say later. Bless you, Bill.’

Dufris, who was born in Maine, began his career in London, working on BBC Radio plays with the likes of Kathleen Turner and Helena Bonham-Carter. 

He also contributed to audio drama productions of Spider-Man (where he voiced the title role of Peter Parker), Judge Dredd, Voyage and An American Werewolf in London.   

'Heartbroken': Pocket Universe Productions, which was co-founded by Dufris, announced the sad news on its Twitter account, writing: ‘We are heartbroken'

‘Heartbroken’: Pocket Universe Productions, which was co-founded by Dufris, announced the sad news on its Twitter account, writing: ‘We are heartbroken’

However, he is most famed for voicing Bob the Builder in the US and Canada from season one to nine, starring in 75 episodes.

Dufris left the show after its co-creator Sarah Bell moved on in 2006, with the voice of Bob then performed by comedian Greg Proops. 

In his varied career, Dufris also voiced Rocky’s best friend Elvis and Dougan the red walrus in the children’s stop motion TV series Rocky and the Dodos for Cosgrove Hall and dubbed several anime films such as X and two of the Lupin III films. 

He also co-founded a number of audio production companies throughout his career. 

Bob The Builder was created in the UK by Keith Chapman and was originally voiced by Neil Morrissey.

It was sold to US toy giants Mattel for $680 million in 2011 and was revamped in 2014 with a complete overhaul of the cast.

Starring role: Dufris was most famed for voicing Bob the Builder in the US and Canada from season one to nine, starring in 75 episodes

Starring role: Dufris was most famed for voicing Bob the Builder in the US and Canada from season one to nine, starring in 75 episodes