Harrie Geelen
10th of January, 1939
Harrie Geelen was born in Heerlen, Limburg. Geelen is a Dutch animator, poet, illustrator, director, (scenario) writer, voice actor, and translator.
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Creativity was a big part in the Geelen household. Harrie's father was an accountant, but used to tell many made up stories. Harrie's mother came from a known family of copper engravers. He is raised Catholic, and during his highschool years he writes, and draws for the school newspaper. His sister Roos is an artist, and when she marries actor André van den Heuvel, she moves with him to Amsterdam. Geelen decides then to also move to Amsterdam in 1958 to study Dutch.
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In the times during his study, he and a couple of other students founded cabaret group Sing Sing. Most of their songs are written by Harrie. He marries in 1963 the writer Imme Dros, and he draws the illustrations in her books. Via an ex-collegue he eventually goes to work for television. Geelen writes for many shows the scenarios.
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In 1968 Geelen is asked to work on the later famous kids show Oebele. The broadcaster stops with the show after four seasons. Geelen is than asked to come up with a new show for kids, he eventually gives them the idea of Kunt u mij de weg naar Hamelen vertellen, meneer? A story based on the Pied Piper of Hamelin. It would become one of the most famous shows for kids during the 1960's, and 70's. He is also the creater of Q&Q another famous youth series.
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Later Harrie works on the Dutch version of Sesamestreet. Writing, and translating some of the stories. Plus also sometimes voicing some of the characters. He would become the director of the film Pinkeltje. After the famous Dutch books by Dick Laan.
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Harrie, and his wife Imme got three children together.
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And of course Harrie voiced many Disney characters, translated a bunch of the films in Dutch, and was also a director of many, which you can see below!
