Peter Renaday, the Original Voice of Master Splinter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dies at 89

Peter Renaday, a longtime voice actor best known for originating the voice of Master Splinter in the first animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, has died at the age of 89.

The news comes via a TMZ report today, which IGN has also confirmed with Renaday’s agent. According to TMZ, Renaday was found by law enforcement at his Burbank, Calif., home on Sunday, and his death appears to be natural.

Renaday was first cast as Hamato Yoshi/Splinter, the wise mutant rat who serves as a mentor and father figure to the titular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, in 1987. He would continue to voice the character all the way until the show’s finale in 1996, and reprised the role for the TMNT: Coming Out of Their Shells concert that was recorded in 1990.

Renaday had a long list of other credits as well, spanning TV, film, and theme park attractions. He’s well known for voicing Abraham Lincoln at Walt Disney World’s Hall of Presidents and Max in the Country Bear Jamboree.

His long list of TV voice acting credits includes roles in Transformers, Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Samurai Jack, Animaniacs, and Godzilla: The Series. He’s also appeared in a number of video games, voicing the likes of Duncan in Dragon Age: Origins, Al-Mualim in the first Assassin’s Creed, Adam Fenix in Gears of War 3, Dagra Dai in Ninja Gaiden II, and both Odin and Namor in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.

Renaday was married to Florence “Flo” Daniel, who had long worked as a secretary in the music department of Walt Disney Studios, from 1979 until her death in 2011.

Thumbnail credit: Image Group LA / Disney via Getty Images

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.