Who’s Still Alive From 1964’s ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’?

Lauren Novak November 25, 2025

Rudolph Red Nose Reindeer collage — Rick Goldschmidt Archives/Miser Bros. Press

What To Know

Corinne Conley, who voiced Mrs. Donner and Dolly for Sue, is the only surviving main cast member from the 1964 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special and remains active in preserving its legacy.
Other main voice actors, including Billie Mae Richards (Rudolph), Burl Ives (Sam the Snowman), Paul Soles (Hermey), and Larry D. Mann (Yukon Cornelius), have all passed away.
The beloved holiday special will air on NBC in December 2025 and is also available for streaming and purchase on multiple digital platforms.

When Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer first aired on December 6, 1964, it became an instant holiday classic. 60 years later, families still treasure the story of a misfit reindeer who found his place in the world after lighting the way for Santa, and watch it each holiday season. This year, it will air on Thursday, December 5, 2025, from 8:00 to 9:15pm ET on NBC, with an encore presentation on Wednesday, December 11, at 8:00pm. Today, only one member of main vocal cast is still alive — and she continues to be part of the Rankin/Bass special’s legacy.

Corinne Conley (96)

Mrs. Donner / Dolly for Sue

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Conley voiced Mrs. Donner, Rudolph’s mother, and is also credited as Dolly for Sue, one of the lonely toys on the Island of Misfit Toys. Conley began her career in the early 1950s and worked in television, stage, and radio for nearly seven decades. In addition to Rudolph, she’s had unexpected roles in some other classics — she spent almost a decade on Days of our Lives, playing Phyllis Anderson from 1973 to 1982, and for all the ’90s kids out there, she played Aunt Katherine in the infamous 1996 Goosebumps episode “Monster Blood.”

In 2018, she defended the special after it drew criticism for its depiction of bullying, calling it a story about resilience and acceptance. The actress told TMZ that the special was “more relevant now than ever, because there is so much bullying going on” and that fans often start to cry when they find out she was in the special. In that same year, she nabbed her most recent acting credit as a librarian in A Simple Favor.

In Memoriam

Billie Mae Richards (Rudolph)

A longtime Canadian radio and voice actress, she reprised Rudolph in several later specials. She died on September 10, 2010, at age 88 after a stroke.

Burl Ives (Sam the Snowman)

The narrator of the special, Burl Ives voiced Sam the Snowman and performed the songs “A Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Silver and Gold.” He was a celebrated folk singer and Oscar-winning actor who passed away on April 14, 1995, at age 85 from oral cancer.

Paul Soles (Hermey the Elf)

He later voiced Peter Parker in the 1967 Spider-Man animated series and appeared in numerous TV shows and films throughout his long career. Soles died on May 26, 2021, at age 90.

Larry D. Mann (Yukon Cornelius)

He worked steadily in film and television for decades and passed away on January 6, 2014, at age 91.

Where to Watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

As of late 2025, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is available for purchase through Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube. The special will also be airing on NBC on December 5 and 11 at 8pm ET both nights.