Peter Renaday, the voice actor renowned for portraying Master Splinter in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, has passed away at the age of 89.
Renaday’s death was confirmed by his friend and fellow voice actor Townsend Coleman, who voiced Michelangelo in the same series.
Coleman shared the sad news on social media, expressing heartfelt condolences and saying, “He will be deeply missed.”
Renaday is believed to have died from natural causes at his residence in Burbank, California, on Sunday. Born in Louisiana in 1935, he enjoyed a prolific career spanning over 60 years, during which he contributed to nearly 200 film and television projects.
In addition to his iconic role as Splinter from 1987 to 1996, Renaday was involved in several Disney classics during the 1970s and 1980s, lending his voice to characters in The Aristocats, The Rescuers, and The Black Cauldron.
He was also recognized for voicing the animatronic Abraham Lincoln at Walt Disney World’s Hall of Presidents.
Beyond Disney, Renaday’s voice appeared in many beloved animated series, including Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, Alvin & The Chipmunks, The Transformers, The Real Ghostbusters, and Batman: The Animated Series, solidifying his place as a key figure in animation history.
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Coleman, his Ninja Turtles co-star, described Renaday as a “Disney Legend” in a post on X.
The 70-year-old called Renaday “one of the most genuine, salt-of-the-earth people I have ever known,” saying he had “the privilege of visiting him a month ago and he was as vibrant as ever”.
Fans have also been paying tribute to him on social media. One posted: “I will always remember you for bringing Splinter to life”.
Los Angeles website TMZ reported Renaday was found unresponsive after police were called to his home for a welfare check.
The 89-year-old was married to Florence “Flo” Daniel – who worked as Walt Disney Studios’ music department secretary for 35 years – from 1979 until her death in 2011.
A film reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was released last summer.