List of Haunted Mansion Characters - Singing Busts

Singing Busts

A quintet of marble busts sing Grim Grinning Ghosts amidst the revelry in the graveyard. Their names are (from left to right): Rollo Rumkin, Uncle Theodore, Cousin Algernon, Ned Nub, and Phineas P. Pock. The original concept art for talking or singing busts by Marc Davis included a female, Aunt Lucretia. The busts can also be seen in Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris, minus Cousin Algernon.

• Rollo Rumkin: "Lived and died a friendly bumpkin," according to his tombstone (spelled Rolo on the stone), which was originally located in the family plot outside of the Disneyland Mansion. His name is a tribute to Imagineer Rolly Crump. He was played by Verne Rowe.

• Uncle Theodore: The lead singing bust, whose head is broken off, was played by the deep-voiced Thurl Ravenscroft (known for singing You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch and providing the voice of Tony the Tiger). He is often incorrectly identified as Walt Disney. Ravenscroft also narrated the 1969 record The Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion. In the comics, Uncle Theodore narrates Doom of the Diva, the tale of Baronessa Elda. In the 2003 film (like in the attraction), Thurl Ravenscroft's likeness was used for one of the singing busts.

• Cousin Algernon: Distinguishable from the other busts by his derby hat. He was played by Chuck Schroeder.

• Ned Nub: The only bust without a necktie. He was played by Jay Meyer.

• Phineas P. Pock: Relative of the poetess Prudence Pock. He was played by Bob Ebright. The name Phineas Pock has appeared elsewhere in Haunted Mansion lore. A tombstone with the name Phineas Pock was featured in the original family plot at Disneyland's Mansion, but it may not have been the same character as the singing bust. A radio spot for the opening of the attraction featured the ghost of a "real old-timer" named Phineas Pock, who died in 1720. A souvenir magic book, released in 1970, was authored by a ghostly magician named Phineas J. Pock. It has been rumored, but unconfirmed, that a tombstone was designed for Walt Disney World's Mansion with the inscription "Phineas Pock, Lord and Master." In an attempt to tie it all together, some fans have theorized that the name Phineas was carried down in multiple generations of the Pock family.

In the 2003 film, the singing busts were reduced to a quartet, played by Disneyland's Dapper Dans. While singing Grim Grinning Ghosts, they are interrupted by Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) and his two children, who ask them where to find the mausoleum. The busts respond in song, but don't actually answer any of Jim's questions. At the end of the film, the Evers are shown driving down a highway on vacation, with the singing busts tied to the back of the car.

They were also voiced by the Dapper Dans in the video game. Upon entering the graveyard, Zeke encounters a lone bust who tells him to find the three other members of his quartet and wake them up. There are also "wannabe" singing busts to be avoided. When the correct busts are awakened, together they sing a "graveyard melody" dedicated to "brother Zeke." Their vocal harmony magically causes a previously hidden mausoleum to emerge from the earth. In the end credits of the game, they are heard singing Grim Grinning Ghosts.

In the Wii game Epic Mickey, the original five busts make an appearance in a stretching portrait inside Lonesome Manor. In the Xbox 360 game Kinect Disneyland Adventures, four of the busts appear in the queue area outside of the Mansion, and can be conducted.

The Disney animated film Hercules features an homage during the song I Won't Say (I'm in Love), in which the Muses appear as singing busts and are arranged in the same way as the Haunted Mansion characters.