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Character actor Alan Reed was a strong, gruff, and burly presence in 1940s and 1950s film and television, but he is best remembered for his distinctive, gruff voice on radio and TV. In 1960, he brought to life the bombastic prehistoric cartoon character Fred Flintstone on the prime-time series The Flintstones, a character inspired by Ralph Kramden from the earlier popular sitcom The Honeymooners (1955). This connection remains the primary reason his name endures today. Reed himself created and introduced the iconic catchphrase "Yabba dabba doo!"—improvised from a script where Fred was to say "Yahoo!"—delighting children everywhere.
Born Herbert Theodore Bergman on August 20, 1907, in New York City to Jewish parents of Lithuanian and Ukrainian descent, he attended Washington High School and studied theatre at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After majoring in journalism at Columbia University, he pursued acting with performances at the Provincetown Playhouse and in vaudeville tours. To supplement his income, he operated a candy factory and worked as a social director at a country club.
A master of more than 22 foreign dialects, Reed worked consistently on Broadway with the Theatre Guild. His vocal skills made him a prominent radio announcer. Sometimes credited as Teddy Bergman, he adopted the name Alan Reed for more dramatic roles, eventually settling on Reed. He appeared on top radio programs of the era, including The Shadow, Crime Doctor, Abie's Irish Rose, The Life of Riley, The Fred Allen Show, Life with Luigi (which he later adapted for television), and My Friend Irma.
After moving to Hollywood, he fully abandoned the Bergman name. With a comic, Runyonesque charm, he appeared in films like The Redhead and the Cowboy (1951), Emergency Wedding (1950), and Here Comes the Groom (1951). His dramatic roles included The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) and The Desperate Hours (1955). Among his unique roles was his portrayal of Pancho Villa in Viva Zapata! (1952), starring Marlon Brando. He also voiced Boris in Disney’s Lady and the Tramp (1955). He featured in numerous TV shows, but his most enduring work after 1960 was in The Flintstones and its spin-offs.
Married to former Broadway actress Finette Walker, they had three children, including actor and producer Alan Reed Jr., who entered show business as a teenager. To avoid confusion, Reed began billing himself as Alan Reed, Sr. He worked until his death from heart disease and emphysema at age 69 on June 14, 1977, in Los Angeles. His unfinished autobiography was extensively used by his son to publish a biographical tribute titled Yabba Dabba Doo: The Alan Reed Story.
