She also filled in for Jack Mercer, the voice of Popeye, for a small number of cartoons made when Mercer was temporarily drawn into war service.
Questel returned as the voice of Olive Oyl when Paramount Pictures moved the former Fleischer Studios – which became Famous Studios – back to New York. Questel refused to move to Miami, Florida when Fleischer Studios relocated there in 1938, so Margie Hines took over during the Miami years. She based Olive's nasal vocal style, and expressions like "Oh, dear!" on the persona of the legendary character actress ZaSu Pitts, and ultimately played the role for more than 20 years. In 1988, she reprised the role in a cameo appearance in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.Īlong with her voice work, and occasional on-camera appearance in Paramount shorts, Questel also attended Columbia University, where she studied drama.īeginning in 1933 Questel also provided the voice for Olive Oyl and Swee'pea in Fleischer's Popeye animated shorts. During the 1930s she released a recording of " On the Good Ship Lollipop" which sold more than two million copies. įrom 1931 until 1939, Questel provided the voice of Betty Boop in more than 150 animated shorts, the longest run for any actress doing that voice. She began as one of a number of actresses providing the character's voice, but soon took over the role exclusively. Questel's "Boop-boop-a-doop" routine, done in a style similar to that of the song's originator, Helen Kane, while at the same time evoking something of the naughty allure of film star Clara Bow, was exactly what Fleischer wanted, and he hired Questel in 1931. She was seen by animator Max Fleischer, who was looking for an actress to provide the voice for his Betty Boop character. Billed as "Mae Questel - Personality Singer of Personality Songs," she did Fanny Brice, Marlene Dietrich, Eddie Cantor, Mae West, Maurice Chevalier and others, as well as doing animal imitations. She was signed by an agent and began performing in vaudeville as an impressionist. Nevertheless, at the age of 17 Questel won a talent contest held at the RKO Fordham Theatre in the Bronx by imitating Helen Kane. Although she wanted to be an entertainer, her parents, who were Orthodox Jews, actively discouraged her from doing so, at one time forcing her to leave the Theatre Guild school. Born as Mae Kwestel in New York City to Simon and Freida Kwestel, she attended Morris High School and studied acting at the American Theatre Wing and with the Theatre Guild.
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