Palm Springs, California (Strutts News Services) – Long admired yet not forgotten, Robert “Tweety Bird” Balderstien passed away at the age of 67 at his ranch home in Palm Desert, Southern California.
Robert Svenson Balderstien, hatched in 1942 in Suffolk, Massachusetts, by immigrant parents, adapted to the stage early, despite his hydrocephelitic condition. Contrary to popular belief, his medical condition did not cause his speech impediment, and for years he battled the stereotype.
Balderstien also rejected the contention that he was female, and fought the resulting insinuations and innuendos all his life before retiring in seclusion in Palm Desert, California.
“I never said, ‘I tawt I taw a puddy tat.’ I have perfect enunciation, but Warner Brothers chose to overdub my voice, and I was stuck with it ever since.”
Longtime friend and companion, Sylvester The Cat, also of Palm Desert, gave a touching eulogy that ended with, “Yeah. I’ll mith him the motht. He alwayth thought he thaw me, and motht timeth he motht thertainly did.”
Tacky Raccoons 