Who was the first person to voice Winnie the Pooh?

The answer is: Sterling Holloway

Sterling Holloway strolled into Disney's recording studio in 1966 with his trademark bow tie and that unmistakable helium voice that made everyone do a double take. You might think that studio executives would have doubts about picking this lanky redhead to voice the world's most huggable bear in "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree." Except Holloway had already proven himself as Disney's go-to voice artist for memorable characters.

In "Alice in Wonderland," brought the always-grinning Cheshire Cat to life as well as the tipsy stork that delivered Dumbo. His distinctive near-falsetto voice brought something special to every role, and Disney knew it was perfect for Pooh. On top of his distinct voice, he gave Pooh an extra touch of innocent wonder that made lines like "Oh bother" instantly memorable. The way he delivered Pooh's simple observations about life and honey created a character that was both endearing and genuine.

Holloway continued voicing Pooh for over a decade, with his final role being 1977's "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh." After his retirement, Hal Smith took over the role, followed later by Jim Cummings, who studied Holloway's original performances to maintain that familiar feeling. In 1991, Disney honored Holloway as a Disney Legend, a first for voice acting.