Elaine Stritch as Ursula? Kinda makes sense...

June 15, 2007 2:43 PM

"Why (For) Pat Carroll wasn't actually Disney's first choice to voice Ursula in 'The Little Mermaid'? The casting story of one of Disney's most delightful demons.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero (18 comments total)

But Elaine Stritch.... that could have been funny.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:44 PM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]

Best cartoon villain evar. Pat Carroll was perfection. Bea Arthur would've been sublime, I gotta say.
posted by sneakin at 3:30 PM on June 15, 2007

Good God, they considered Roseanne for the part?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:43 PM on June 15, 2007

Best cartoon villain evar.
Beg to differ.
posted by Wolfdog at 4:12 PM on June 15, 2007

Stritch or Arthur would have both been wonderful. Carroll was a good fallback. Totally interesting story--thanks Pink!

Joan Collins??? -- No.
posted by amberglow at 4:12 PM on June 15, 2007

Beg to differ.
Squeaky, uh, squeak, sqeaker, squeakin'.
posted by matt_od at 4:44 PM on June 15, 2007

Little Mermaid? Meh.

Samuel L. Jackson was Frozone. Jason Lee was Syndrome. THAT was Incredible. Craig T Nelson, Sarah Vowell. Holly Hunter. Elizabeth Pena.

They almost got Lilly Tomlin to play Edna Mode, but she heard producer/writer/director Brad Bird doing a voice like what he was wanting her to do for him, and she was like, "you already got the voice, what you need me for?"

The entire cast was an inspired list of choices.

I'm still geeking out about it!!
posted by ZachsMind at 4:50 PM on June 15, 2007

Carrol was amazing in that role - but I would love to see Bea Arthur do it.

I came here from a faraway planet. A planet ruled by a chauvinistic Manputer that was really a Manbot. Have you any idea how it feels to be a Fembot living in a Manbot's Manputer's world?
posted by bonecrusher at 4:59 PM on June 15, 2007 [2 favorites]

I didn't realize for nearly 10 years that Ursula wasn't voiced by Bea Arthur. Great story, TPS, thanks!

Futurama quotes always get my favorite!
posted by WolfDaddy at 5:02 PM on June 15, 2007

Thanks! Love Ursula, love Pat Carrol's performance. Some years ago I saw an huge drag queen portray Ursula in the San Diego Pride Parade: She Lives!!!!
posted by Robert Angelo at 6:18 PM on June 15, 2007

Some years ago I saw an huge drag queen portray Ursula in the San Diego Pride Parade: She Lives!!!!

You poor unfortunate soul.
posted by Servo5678 at 6:35 PM on June 15, 2007 [3 favorites]

Neat! Although Bea Arthur might have been awesome, I loved the film as it was and Ursula was such a centerpiece.
posted by Medieval Maven at 6:39 PM on June 15, 2007

Beg to differ?

But Ursula is a pretty tight second...if only because I resent Disney tacking a happy ending onto The Little Mermaid.
posted by Jilder at 8:58 PM on June 15, 2007

There's pictures of all of the prospective Ursulas, but not Pat Carroll. huh.
posted by stavrogin at 9:06 PM on June 15, 2007

beg to differ
posted by vronsky at 10:03 PM on June 15, 2007

Carroll has a long, distinguished career as a character actress, and many will recognize her face, even if her name is unfamiliar. Here's her take on Ursula:

[Pat] drew her inspiration for the sea witch from a very unusual place. As Carroll explained, "I (saw Ursula as this) ex-Shakespearean actress who now sold cars."
posted by rob511 at 11:44 PM on June 15, 2007

Aw, man, Pat Carroll was great, but I would pay a substantial amount of money to see what Elaine Stritch did with the part.

Much as I love Bea Arthur (and oh, I do), that doesn't sound as interesting to me.
posted by doift at 8:42 AM on June 19, 2007

Caroll's also been a Disney actress/voice for ages--they knew her (as opposed to a B'way person or TV/B'way person like Stritch and Arthur). It's like how they are with Angela Lansbury.
posted by amberglow at 4:11 PM on June 20, 2007