Featured Figure:
Woody DeForest

Date Created: 1940's

Created by: J.C. Turner

Used by: Don Messick

Trivia: 
1. Don Messick was born in Buffalo, New York on September 7, 1926.
2. Messick was a well known voice actor, who loaned his voice to many famous animated characters, inclubding Scooby Doo (Scooby Doo), Bamm Bamm Rubble (The Flintstones), both Astro and Rudy (The Jetsons),  and Papa Smurf (The Smurfs).
3. If you're interested in seeing a list of all of the TV shows and movies for which Messick loaned his voice, you can view the list at the Internet Movie Database.
4. Prior to his career as a voice actor, Messick was a ventriloquist. Woody was his main figure.
5. Woody is a professional figure. However, unlike most pro figures, Woody does not have a lever on his neckpole, but instead has a pull string, similar to most toy figures.
6. Don Messick died on October 24, 1997. His widow, Helen, donated Woody to Vent Haven Museum in 2002. In the donation letter, Helen referred to this figure as "his beloved Woody." In addition to this figure, she donated two other figures, several stuffed animals of the characters Messick voiced (Scooby Doo can be seen looking over Woody's shoulder), and several photos of Messick.
7. Vent Haven advisor Mark Wade facilitated the donation.
8. Woody is currently on display in Building Two of the Museum on the left side of the building. He cannot be seen on either of the Quick Time Virtual Pans of Building Two..

Do you have additional information about this figure? Do you have a suggestion for a future Figure of the Month? Is there a figure maker whose work you would like to see featured? Let us know by emailing the Vent Haven staff.