Harvey Atkin Meatballs and his distinctive voice

On my walk through Pardes Shalom Cemetery in Vaughan, Ontario, I discovered the grave of one of Canada’s beloved comedic and voice actors, Harvey Atkin.

Before stepping into acting, Harvey dabbled in his father’s construction business and tried his hand at real estate, but it was clear his true calling lay in performance. His career spanned over 18 years, bringing laughter and memorable characters to audiences across Canada and beyond.

As summer camp season approaches, many of us fondly remember him as Morty Melnick in the 1979 Canadian summer classic Meatballs. Directed by the late Ivan Reitman and starring Bill Murray, this cult favorite was made on a modest budget of $1.6 million but has since grossed over $70 million—becoming a staple of Canadian film history.

Harvey’s deep, gravelly voice became instantly recognizable, whether as King Koopa in the Super Mario Bros. cartoons or alongside fellow Canadian Al Waxman in Cagney and Lacey. For many, however, he will always be the voice behind the Leon’s Furniture commercials. Over his career, Harvey acted in more than 75 feature films and television movies and lent his voice to over 3,000 radio and TV commercials.

Outside of acting, Harvey was an amateur pilot, a three-time Clio Award winner, a handyman, and above all, a genuinely kind man.

We lost Elliot Harvey Atkin in Toronto on July 18, 2017. He was 74.

The inscription on his gravestone reads as follows:

A tender and talented soul, who blessed us with the gift of laughter.

1942-2017