What's Up Doc?

 

“Eh, What’s Up Doc?”

 On January 24, 1961, M.J. Blanc was driving on the Los Angeles Freeway in heavy traffic when he lost control of his car and crashed into a telephone pole. Blanc, seriously injured, didn’t appear visibly impaired, though it was speculated that the medication he was taking for an ear infection might have played a role, along with the rainy weather. The prescription was for an antibiotic, and there were no warnings against driving. Nonetheless, the ear infection itself could have contributed, as inner ear issues can cause dizziness.

 

Blanc was driving a 1960 Jaguar XK150, which lacked modern safety features like anti-lock brakes, crush panels, or advanced braking systems. The car was equipped with drum brakes, which, in wet conditions, were prone to lock up during hard braking. The exact cause of the accident remains unclear.

 

Seat belts were not standard in the early ’60s, and Blanc’s Jaguar had only lap belts. The crash left Blanc unconscious, suffering severe head trauma. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors initially feared he wouldn’t survive and, if he did, he might never speak again—a devastating prognosis for Blanc, who was an actor.

 

While Blanc was in a coma, his wife, Estelle, kept a hopeful vigil. Doctors told her he likely wouldn’t recover, but Estelle whispered daily, “My darling, I know you can hear me. You’re going to be okay. I know you’ll talk again.” Her encouragement had a profound effect, and against all odds, Blanc regained consciousness. Through sheer determination, he not only survived but also regained his ability to speak.

 

In a lighthearted moment during his recovery, Blanc greeted his doctors with “Eh, what’s up, doc?”—a line he famously voiced as Bugs Bunny. That spark of humor signaled that Melvin Jerome Blanc, better known as Mel Blanc, the “Man of a Thousand Voices,” was still very much alive inside. Over his six-decade career, Blanc brought to life Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, and countless others, shaping the sound of American animation.

 

Born May 30, 1908, in San Francisco, Blanc had shown early talent for music and comedy, eventually finding his way to Warner Bros. in 1936. From that moment, his voice became inseparable from the golden age of cartoons.

 

Blanc’s survival and comeback from his near-fatal crash became as much a part of his legend as the characters he created. His gift wasn’t just in the voices he gave to others but in the laughter and joy he inspired in millions. As he once said: “I’ll take a laugh any time.” And in the end, that laughter became his greatest legacy. He died July 10, 1989 at age 81.