Who provided the speaking voice of Prince Phillip?

Bill Shirley provided the speaking voice of Prince Phillip in Disney’s 1959 Sleeping Beauty.

Shirley was an American actor and singer with a high baritone voice and experience in light opera. Disney selected him after twenty singers auditioned for the role. He recorded Phillip’s dialogue and singing, including the prince’s contribution to “Once Upon a Dream,” the film’s best-known musical number.

Phillip is introduced as Aurora’s betrothed, since their fathers arrange the match at Aurora’s christening to unite their kingdoms. Unlike some earlier Disney princes, Phillip has a substantial speaking role and becomes the active hero of the final act. He escapes Maleficent, receives the Sword of Truth and Shield of Virtue, and battles her dragon form.

Shirley’s casting is sometimes confused with Bill Thompson, who voiced King Hubert, Phillip’s father. Peter Renaday and John Fiedler were also associated with other voice roles in animation, but neither played Phillip in this film. Shirley later supplied the singing voice of Freddy Eynsford-Hill for the 1964 film My Fair Lady.