> Jackson Beck, voice of Superman introduction, dies at 92
>
> July 29, 2004, 232 AM EDT
>
> NEW YORK (AP) _ Jackson Beck, a master of voice-over who bellowed the
phrase "It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!" to introduce the Superman
radio show and used his versatile voice to promote everything from Aqua
Fresh toothpaste to Combat roach killer, has died. He was 92.
>
> Beck died at about 6 a.m. Wednesday of complications of old age, according
to Jeff David, a friend. He had been ill after suffering a series of small
strokes four or five years ago, David said.
>
> In addition to narrating Superman's adventures, Beck doubled as villains,
supporting characters and the Daily Planet copyboy, Beany, on the popular
radio broadcasts of the 1940s.
>
> He also portrayed of the bully Bluto in more than 300 Popeye cartoons, was
the voice of the Cisco Kid and was known for his impersonations of world
leaders in "The March of Time," an enactment of the week's news from Time
magazine.
>
> Beck's strong, deep voice was heard on television commercials for Sugar
Frosted Flakes, Pepsi, Brawny paper towels, Hasbro-Bradley's GI Joe figures
and dozens of other products, as well as football and boxing promotions for
NBC.
>
> "I'm an advertising man, and I treat my voice as a business," Beck told
Newsday in 1990. "People who treat it as art don't make any money."
>
> He also did voice-over for two Woody Allen movies, "Radio Days" and "Take
the Money and Run," and could be heard on "National Lampoon" radio
broadcasts and "Saturday Night Live." He worked well into his 80s.
>
> Beck, the son of Max Beck, a silent film actor, was a founding member of
the American Federation of Radio Artists, which merged with the Television
Authority to become what is now the American Federation of Television and
Radio Artists. He is survived by a son, Leslie Winter.
>
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