Mel Welles
Welles inThe Little Shop of Horrors
Born	Ira Meltcher (1924-02-17)February 17, 1924 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	August 19, 2005(2005-08-19) (aged 81) Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actor, dubber, film director

Ira W. Meltcher (February 17, 1924 – August 19, 2005), known by the stage nameMel Welles, was an American actor, voice artist and film director. He was best known to for his work with filmmakerRoger Corman, most notably as hapless flower shop owner Gravis Mushnick in the original 1960 film version ofThe Little Shop of Horrors. He also had a prolific career as an English-languagedubber, mainly in theItalian film industry.

Welles was bornIra W. Meltcher in the Bronx,New York City, son of Max and Sally Grichewsky Meltcher. He was raised inMount Carmel,Pennsylvania and graduated from Mt. Carmel High School, in 1940. He went on to receive aBachelor of Arts degree fromPenn State University, aMaster of Arts degree fromWest Virginia University, and aPh.D. inpsychology fromColumbia University.

Welles held a number of jobs during his lifetime; at one time or another he worked as aclinical psychologist, radio DJ, television actor, writer and film director. He did some stage work before traveling to Hollywood, where in 1953 he appeared in his first film,Appointment in Honduras. His favorite role (The Little Shop of Horrors) was also his last in the U.S. for many years.

In the early 1960s, he left the United States initially to make a film in Germany. After the producer was arrested he travelled to Rome to act, produce and direct mostly uncredited primarily inEurope several film productions including the cult horror filmsManeater of Hydra (1967) andLady Frankenstein (1971). His fluency in five languages proved to be most helpful where he started a dubbing company that by his own estimate dubbed over 800 European made films.^[1] He also served as a film consultant. Later, he returned to the U.S., appearing in a number of films, doing voice work, and teaching voice acting.

Probably his most widely seen work in the late 1970s was his English adaptation of the Japanese television show,Spectreman which was seen on UHF and cable across the United States. While he shares writing credit with two other people, it's clear that most of the English voice work, and the offbeat humor, is his. Reportedly, Welles also wrote gag material forLord Buckley at some point in his career.^[2]

In 1998, Welles took to the stage in a community theater production ofLittle Shop of Horrors as Mushnik, the role he created in the originalRoger Corman film. Welles had never performed in the musical and was happy to be asked to do the role, which he described as a "mitzvah" for Scotts Valley Performing Arts.Jonathan Haze, who played Seymour in the original film, attended the opening, and Welles also received a visit fromMartin P. Robinson, the designer of the Audrey II plant puppets used in the off-Broadway production (Robinson is also famous for his puppetry onSesame Street).

Arguably his most remembered piece is the beat poem he wrote for the classic filmHigh School Confidential (1958). Famously delivered by Phillipa Fallon,Dragsville, has become a classic piece of literary and cinema history.

Welles was working on a horror screenplay, tentatively titledHouse of a Hundred Horrors, at the time of his death on August 19, 2005, at the age of 81.^[3]

• Mel Welles atIMDb

• 1924 births
• 2005 deaths
• Male actors from the Bronx
• American male film actors
• Jewish American male actors
• Film directors from New York City
• Columbia University alumni
• Pennsylvania State University alumni
• West Virginia University alumni
• 20th-century American male actors

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