Died at 98
female
Denise Bryer (born 5 January 1928) is an English voice actress. Best remembered in her UK homeland for her work on the Gerry Anderson series, Terrahawks, where she voiced both the main villain Zelda and the heroic Capt. Mary Falconer, Bryer became well known in the United States when she voiced Billina in Disney's 1985 film Return to Oz, as well as The Junk Lady in the 1986 movie Labyrinth, and many other films. In addition to her work voice acting in film and television she also worked extensively on UK radio and children's recordings. She was the first wife of Nicholas Parsons. Bryer first came to public attention when she voiced Twizzle in Gerry Anderson's The Adventures of Twizzle and would go on to voice in Anderson's later series Four Feather Falls as Ma Jones and Little Jake. She also voiced Kiki The Frog in Hector's House and Noddy on the eponymous television show. She dubbed the voice of Commander Makara in the Japanese puppet series Star Fleet around the same time as Terrahawks. In Big Finish's Doctor Who audio dramas The Reaping and The Gathering, she provided the voice of Dominique Van Gyseghem. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a sweeping, family-friendly fantasy adventure that reimagines L. Frank Baum’s Oz series as an ambitious yearly film saga blending heart, comedy, music, and spectacle. The story begins when Kansas farm girl Dorothy is swept by a cyclone into the magical land of Oz, where even her dog Toto talks and every road seems to lead toward destiny. Along the Yellow Brick Road she teams up with a quick-witted Scarecrow, a shy Tin Woodman, and a theatrical Cowardly Lion, each searching for the qualities they believe they lack. Together they confront the imposing Wizard, outsmart a terrifying Wicked Witch, and discover that courage, love, and intelligence were inside them all along. As the series continues year by year, Oz expands into a larger world of pumpkin-headed companions, clockwork soldiers, living china people, and rebellious princesses reclaiming their throne. Dorothy becomes both visitor and hero, returning repeatedly to help Princess Ozma protect the Emerald City from witches, tricksters, and the subterranean Nome King. Each chapter mixes comedy and wonder with surprisingly emotional stakes, turning Oz into a place that feels lived-in, strange, and deeply human. The tone balances Broadway-style musicality, fast-talking humor, and old-school practical fantasy in the spirit of classic 2000s adventure films. A star-studded ensemble—including Lilla Crawford, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michael Cera, Jess Harnell, Kristin Chenoweth, Fiona Shaw, Octavia Spencer, and Michael Douglas—brings theatrical personality and warmth to every role. Later installments introduce memorable newcomers like Helena Bonham Carter, Keith David, Donald Glover, and Auliʻi Cravalho, making each film feel fresh while keeping the found-family core intact. What starts as one girl’s journey home evolves into an epic, interconnected saga about friendship, identity, and the power of ordinary people in an extraordinary world. The result is a charming, crowd-pleasing Oz cinematic universe that feels nostalgic, magical, and packed with big personalities audiences would return to year after year.
