Cast
- Fleegle (beagle):
- Instrument: Guitar, Vocals
- Acted by Jeff Winkless (1969), billed as Jeffrey Brock, and by Ginner Whitcombe in the 2008 WB Version.
- Voiced by Paul Winchell (who also provided the voices of Goofy Gopher and Cuckoo), and by Bill Farmer in the 2008 version
- Bingo (gorilla):
- Instrument: Drums, Vocals
- Acted by Terence H. Winkless, billed as Terence Henry.
- Voiced by Daws Butler, and by Frank Welker in the 2008 version
- Drooper (lion):
- Instrument: Bass, Vocals
- Acted by Dan Winkless, billed as Daniel Owen.
- Voiced by Allan Melvin (who also provided the voices of the announcer and Banana Vac), and by Carlos Alazraqui in the 2008 version
- Snorky (elephant):
- Instrument: Keyboards, Effects
- Acted by James "Jimmy" Dove in season 1 song segments
- Acted by Robert Towers in most other segments
Although Snorky's voice often has been mistakenly credited to Don Messick, the character never actually spoke. Messick did perform Drooper's voice in some portions of The Banana Splits In Hocus Pocus Park, with Allan Melvin voicing the character in other scenes.
Jeffrey, Terence and Dan Winkless are brothers, the sons of N. B. Winkless Jr., jingle writer, copywriter, creative exec and vice president at Leo Burnett Company whose client was the show's sponsor, Kellogg's. Winkless composed some of the memorable Kellogg's cereal jingles, including the "Snap, Crackle, Pop Fugue" and "The best to you each morning", and also co-wrote (with Hoyt Curtin) "The Beautiful Calliopa", a song used on the series. The actors' names were changed in the show's credits to avoid the appearance of nepotism. Fleegle's voice is an imitation of actor/comedian Ed Wynn.
James Dove, the original Snorky, was previously a voice-over artist. He was hired as a result of his small stature, and has claimed that he was later fired as a result of not being able to keep up the same energy as the Winkless "kids". Dove died on July 27th, 2010 after a 28 year battle with Parkinson's disease.
Dan Winkless currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Terence H. Winkless produces, writes, and directs television and film. Jeffrey Winkless died of cancer at age 65 on June 26, 2006.
Read more about this topic: The Banana Splits
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