Tufeld voiced ‘Lost in Space’ robot

Published 4:00 am Thursday, January 26, 2012

LOS ANGELES — Dick Tufeld, a longtime radio and TV announcer who intoned “Danger, Will Robinson!” as the voice of the robot in the 1960s science-fiction TV series “Lost in Space,” has died. He was 85.

Tufeld died Sunday at his home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles while watching the NFL playoffs, his family said. He had heart disease and had been in declining health since suffering a fall last year.

In “Lost in Space,” producer Irwin Allen’s futuristic retelling of the “Swiss Family Robinson” story that aired on CBS from 1965 to 1968, actor Bob May wore the robot costume and Tufeld provided the voice.

Besides warning young Will Robinson of impending danger, Tufeld’s robot uttered other lines that became catchphrases for faithful viewers — including “That does not compute” — and needled the antagonistic Dr. Zachary Smith with barbs like “Dr. Smith is a bubble-headed booby.”

Tufeld was the announcer for Allen’s other TV shows, including “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” and “The Time Tunnel,” and his narration and other voice-over work could be heard on an array of TV programs. He introduced many Walt Disney productions, notably the 1950s TV series “Zorro” and Disney’s long-running prime-time anthology series.

His other TV credits from the ’50s through the ’90s included “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends,” “The Fantastic Four,” “The Gallant Men,” “Surfside 6,” “Annie Oakley” and variety shows starring Judy Garland and Julie Andrews.

Tufeld also worked as a sports and news announcer for local TV and radio stations and narrated hundreds of commercials.

He returned as the voice of the robot in the 1998 “Lost in Space” feature film. By 2004 he was still playing the robot, for an episode of “The Simpsons.”

Tufeld’s wife of 56 years, Adrienne, died in 2004. He is survived by sons Bruce and Craig, daughters Lynn and Melissa, six grandchildren and a brother, Howard “Bud” Tufeld.

Marketplace