American vocal artist known best for his strong, booming sound who played such cartoon heroes as Tarzan and Flash Gordon.
Did voice-over work for numerous TV commercials.
Died during filming of Boogie Nights (1997).
In the '80s, he appeared in a commercial for Hero Growth Food, a dog food formulated for large puppies.
Played "The Hanging man" twice--once in Blazing Saddles (1974) and the other in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993).
Started out as a cabaret entertainer.
Started out as an actor on TV, found occasional unagreeable roles as unctuous emcees or announcers.
Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson specifically wrote the part of The Colonel in Boogie Nights (1997) with Ridgely in mind. The finished film is dedicated to both Ridgely and Anderson's father, actor and horror host 'Ernie "Ghoulardi' Anderson'.