Len Dresslar, 80, of Palm Springs, CA died Sunday, October 16, 2005. Born St. Francis, KS, Dressler attended the Kansas City, MO, Conservatory of Music. Dresslar toured nationally with the musical South Pacific for 2 1/2 years before coming to Chicago. From 1955 to 1960 he appeared nightly on the live variety show “In Town Tonight” at CBS-Chicago. During that time he was twice voted the most popular singer in Chicago by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Best known as the voice of the Jolly Green Giant, Dresslar sang in television radio commercials for over 40 years. He sang in the 1960’s with The J’s with Jamie. Following the J’s he recorded 15 albums with the jazz vocal group The Singers Unlimited. Dresslar also served as the President of the Chicago Chapter of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and as the Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild. He retired to the Palm Springs area in 1991. Dresslar is survived by his wife, Nicki, of Palm Springs, CA; two daughters, Jody Fossell of Spokane, WA and Teri Bennett of Baltimore, MD; his sister, Corrine Weber of Denver, CO and three grandchildren. A celebration of Dresslar’s life was held at the family’s home October 21, 2005.
