View source for Bluto

{{short description|Fictional character from Popeye}}
{{for|the film character John "Bluto" Blutarsky|Animal House}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox comics character
| character_name = Bluto
| image          = Bluto color.png
| image_size     = 200
| alt            = Color illustration of Bluto, a large bearded man in sailor clothing
| caption        =
| publisher      = [[King Features Syndicate]]
| debut          = ''[[Thimble Theatre]]'' (1932)
| creators       = [[E. C. Segar]]
| voiced_by      = {{Collapsible list|title=[[English language|English]]|[[William Pennell]] (1933–1935)|[[Harry Foster Welch]] (1934–1940s public events, 1960s [[Peter Pan Records]] records)<ref name="Welch 1">{{cite web|title=Who Is Harry Welch – and Was He Ever The Voice of Popeye?|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/who-is-harry-welch-and-was-he-ever-the-voice-of-popeye/|website=cartoonresearch.com|access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Welch 2">{{cite web|title=Popeye Records – with the mysterious Harry F. Welch|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/popeye-records-with-the-mysterious-harry-f-welch/|website=cartoonresearch.com|access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref>|[[Gus Wickie]] (1935–1938)<ref name="Wickie">{{cite web|title=Gus Wicke, An Appreciation|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/gus-wicke-an-appreciation/|website=cartoonresearch.com|access-date=December 14, 2020}}</ref>|[[Jackson Beck]] (1935–1936 radio appearances, 1937, 1944–1962 cartoons, 1975, 1989–1990 commercials)<ref name="Wickie"/><ref name="Popeyes Chicken">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4qQBcecpHo|title=Popeye Advertises Popeyes Chicken 1975)|publisher=YouTube|access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Hotline">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88das_iytwg|title=Popeye 1-900 Hotline 80s Commercial (1989)|publisher=YouTube|access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Quaker Oats">{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/commercials/Quaker-Oats/|title=Quaker Oats|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Center Marine">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp5RVKJ5rUg|title=Popeye/ Corto Animado Institucional- EE.UU|publisher=YouTube|access-date=September 3, 2023}}</ref>|[[Floyd Buckley]] (1937 [[Bluebird Records]] records)<ref name="Buckley">{{cite web|title=Sing Me A Cartoon #16: More Sailor Man Rhythm|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/sing-me-a-cartoon-16-more-sailor-man-rhythm/|website=cartoonresearch.com|access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref>|Hamp Howard (1939)<ref name="CartoonVoices">{{cite book|last1=Scott|first1=Keith|title=Cartoon Voices of the Golden Age, Vol. 1|date=October 3, 2022|publisher=BearManor Media|language=en}}</ref>|[[Pinto Colvig]] (1939–1940)<ref name="Wickie"/>|[[Tedd Pierce]] (1940–1942)|Lee Royce (1942–1943)|[[Dave Barry (actor)|Dave Barry]] (1942–1943)<ref name="Wickie"/>|[[Jack Mercer]] (1942, 1943, 1954, 1960, 1983)<ref name="Bluto voice 1">{{cite book|title=Jack Mercer, the Voice of Popeye|isbn = 978-1-59393-096-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8p9fDwAAQBAJ&q=jack+mercer+bluto|quote=Many an animation historian has tried to figure out which Popeye cartoons produced by the Fleischer Studios featured Jack Mercer performing Bluto's voice. His vocal characterization is so good that it's hard to identify which exact films he did. When the Fleischer Studios moved from New York to Florida, some of their voice personnel did not make the move. The Fleischers needed a new voice for Bluto and after unsatisfactory results in ''Ghosks is the Bunk'' (1939) and ''Customers Wanted'' (1939) by studio publicity director Hamp Howard, a gruffer-sounding voice for the bully was heard in ''Wotta Nitemare'' (1939) and ''It's the Natural Thing to Do'' (1939), provided by voice-over artist Pinto Colvig. Colvig's performance sounded similar to the Mercer-voiced bullies of later vintage. For Bluto's next few appearances during Fleischers' tenure on the Popeye series, Colvig was heard in ''Shakespearean Spinach'' (1940), ''Me Feelings is Hurt'' (1940), ''Nurse Mates'' (1940), ''Onion Pacific'' (1940) and ''Fightin' Pals'' (1940). Mercer owned up to trying the Bluto role, and stated it was difficult for him to voice both Popeye and Bluto in the same cartoon, so perhaps, in between ''Wotta Nitemare'' and ''It's the Natural Thing to Do'' and the 1940s cartoons, he and other voice artists had a go at voicing Bluto (a more sophisticated-sounding Bluto was heard in ''Stealin Aint Honest'' from 1940, provided by Tedd Pierce). Mercer's Bluto can be heard in a few lines, though Dave Barry and Lee Royce performed the role, in Fleischer Studio's ''Olive Oyl and Water Don't Mix'' (1942) saying, "Why that one-eyed Casanova," and "Watch me play sick," in ''Too Weak to Work'' (Famous Studios, 1943). Both times this occurred, the character's mouth didn't move and it appears Mercer's Bluto voice was dubbed in.|postscript=Jack Mercer briefly voiced Bluto from 1939 to 1943.|access-date=June 22, 2021|last1=Grandinetti|first1=Fred|date=October 2007}}</ref><ref name="Records 1">{{cite web|title=Jack Mercer as Himself – and Popeye – on Records|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/jack-mercer-as-himself-and-popeye-on-records/|website=cartoonresearch.com|access-date=December 14, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Records 2">{{cite web|title=Celebrating the 111th Birthday of "Mercer, the Popeye Man"|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/celebrating-the-111th-birthday-of-mercer-the-popeye-man/|website=cartoonresearch.com|access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref>|[[Mae Questel]] (imitating [[Olive Oyl]] in ''Shape Ahoy'')|[[Bob McFadden]] (''[[Popeye Meets the Man Who Hated Laughter]]'')<ref name="Man Laughter">{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Popeye-Meets-the-Man-Who-Hated-Laughter/|title=Popeye Meets the Man Who Hated Laughter|website=Behind the Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=August 27, 2020}}</ref>|[[Allan Melvin]] (1978–1988)|[[John Wallace (musician)|John Wallace]] (singing voice in [[Popeye (film)|1980 film]])|Tim Kitzrow (''[[Popeye Saves the Earth]]'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Popeye-Saves-The-Earth/|title=Popeye Saves the Earth|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=August 27, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Pinball Promo">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHehj0WxofY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/rHehj0WxofY| archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Popeye Saves the Earth Promotional Video|publisher=YouTube|access-date=June 5, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>|Nicholas Omana (''Popeye and the Quest For the Woolly Mammoth'', ''Popeye: The Rescue'', ''Popeye and the Sunken Treasure'')<ref name="Woolly Mammoth">{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Popeye-and-the-Quest-For-the-Woolly-Mammoth/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116072208/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Popeye-and-the-Quest-For-the-Woolly-Mammoth/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 16, 2020|title=Popeye and the Quest For the Woolly Mammoth|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=August 27, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Sunken Treasure">{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Popeye-The-Sunken-Treasure/|title=Popeye and the Sunken Treasure|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=August 27, 2020}}</ref>|[[Geertjan Hessing]] ("I'm Popeye The Sailor Man" cover)<ref name="Popeye Cat Music">{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/6018666-Popeye-Im-Popeye-The-Sailorman|title=Popeye – I'm Popeye The Sailorman (1997, CD)|publisher=Discogs|access-date=October 16, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Cartoon Hits">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNLbvxwkwOo|title=Popeye the Sailorman|publisher=YouTube|access-date=August 27, 2023}}</ref>|Dave Redl (''Popeye Untold'' pitch pilots)<ref name="Untold">{{cite web|title=Popeye Untold Pilots|url=https://daveredl.com/Popeye_Untold_Pilot.html|publisher=Dave Redl|access-date=August 7, 2025}}</ref>|[[Keith Scott (voice actor)|Keith Scott]] (''[[Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges]]'', ''Pandemonium Cartoon Circus'')<ref>{{cite web|last1=Scott|first1=Keith|title=Popeye's Bilge-Rat Barges|url=http://voicechasers.com/database/showprod.php?prodid=75|access-date=September 25, 2016|archive-date=May 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525153246/http://voicechasers.com/database/showprod.php?prodid=75|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Bilgerat Barge">{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/rides-attractions/Popeye-and-Blutos-Bilge-Rat-Barges/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206004239/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/rides-attractions/Popeye-and-Blutos-Bilge-Rat-Barges/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 6, 2019|title=Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=August 27, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Cartoon Circus">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtyQwcLCIm4|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/PtyQwcLCIm4|archive-date=December 11, 2021|url-status=live|title=Islands of Adventure's Pandemonium Cartoon Circus - The Circus is Coming to Toon!|publisher=YouTube|access-date=May 9, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>|[[Billy West]] ([[Minute Maid]] commercial)|Marc Biagi (''Slots from Bally Gaming'')<ref name="Bally Slots">{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Slots-from-Bally-Gaming/|title=Slots from Bally Gaming|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=September 18, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Marc Biagi">{{cite web|title=Credits - The Many Worlds of Marc Biagi|url=http://blog.marcbiagi.com/credits/|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914153737/http://blog.marcbiagi.com/credits/|archive-date=September 14, 2015}}</ref>|[[Garry Chalk]] (''[[Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy]]'')|[[Dave Coulier]]/[[Seth Green]] (''[[Robot Chicken]]'')<ref name="Robot Chicken">{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Robot-Chicken/Bluto/|title=Voice(s) of Bluto in Robot Chicken|website=Behind the Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=August 27, 2020}}</ref>|[[Kevin Shinick]] (''[[Mad (TV series)|Mad]]'')<ref name="Mad">{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Mad/|title=Mad|website=Behind the Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>|[[Matt McCarthy (comedian)|Matt McCarthy]] (''[[The Pete Holmes Show]]'')<ref name="Pete Holmes">{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Pete-Holmes-Show/|title=The Pete Holmes Show|website=Behind the Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=August 27, 2020}}</ref>|Aaron LaPlante ([[Popeye#Feature films|2014 animation test]])<ref name="Popeye film 1">{{cite news|last=Dex|first=Andrew|title=Aaron LaPlante {{!}} Resident Evil Village|url=https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/aaron-laplante-resident-evil-village/|date=August 17, 2021|publisher=Starburst Magazine|access-date=August 14, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Popeye film 2">{{cite news|last=Baranowski|first=Jordan|title=Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal: 14 Facts That Will Bring Out Your Inner Reptile|url=https://www.looper.com/1202010/genndy-tartakovskys-primal-14-facts-that-will-bring-out-your-inner-reptile/|date=February 20, 2023|publisher=Looper|access-date=August 14, 2025}}</ref>|Joe Newton (''Popeye's Island Adventures'')<ref name="Island Adventures">{{cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/shorts/Popeyes-Island-Adventures/|title=Popeye's Island Adventures|website=Behind the Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=February 24, 2021}}</ref>|Matt Hurwitz (''[[World of Warships]]''<ref name="World Warships">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZQh8JMWfqw|title=Popeye in the Armory! - Please welcome Popeye the Sailor Man to World of Warships!|publisher=YouTube|access-date=November 4, 2023}}</ref>}}{{Collapsible list|title=[[Japanese language|Japanese]]|Tetsuo Nishihama (''Popeye the Sailorman/Olive and Bluto's Race Song'')<ref name="Spinach Power 1">{{cite web|title=Spinach Power – Popeye The Sailorman = ポパイ ザ セーラーマン (1978, Vinyl)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Spinach-Power-Popeye-The-Sailorman-ポパイ-ザ-セーラーマン/release/2473369|publisher=Discogs|access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Spinach Power 2">{{cite web|title=SPINACH POWER/オリーブとブルートの競走曲(1978)|trans-title=Spinach Power/Olive and Bluto's Race Song (1978)|url=http://tgroovemusique.blog75.fc2.com/blog-category-164.html|publisher=DISCO 45・・・7インチ・シングル発掘の旅|access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref>|[[Kazuo Kumakura]]|Hosei Komatsu|[[Kenji Utsumi]]|Takuo Kawamura|[[Yuu Shimaka]]|[[Daisuke Gori]]|[[Tessho Genda]]|[[Taro Ishida]]|[[Takeshi Watabe]]|[[Masuo Amada]]}}
}}
'''Bluto''', at times  known as '''Brutus''', is a cartoon and comics character created in 1932 by [[E. C. Segar|Elzie Crisler Segar]] as a one-time character, named "Bluto the Terrible", in his ''[[Thimble Theatre]]'' [[comic strip]] (later renamed ''[[Popeye]]''). Bluto made his first appearance on September 12 of that year. [[Fleischer Studios]] adapted him the next year (1933) to be the main [[antagonist]] of their theatrical ''Popeye'' [[animated cartoon]] series.<ref>{{cite book |last =Rovin |first =Jeff |title =The Encyclopedia of Supervillains |publisher =Facts on File |date =1987 |location =New York |isbn = 0-8160-1356-X |pages=36–37}}</ref>

==Character==
{{One source|section|date=September 2025}}
Bluto is a [[cruel]], bearded, muscular ruffian who serves as Popeye's nemesis and archrival for the love of [[Olive Oyl]]. He usually uses brute force and/or trickery to accomplish his various goals. His voice is very loud, harsh and deep, with an incomprehensible bear-like [[Growling|growl]] between words and sentences. This voice, as well as the dark beard, crooked teeth, and bulk, was similar to that of the villain Red Flack, well known at the time, played by [[Tyrone Power Sr.]] in the 1930 film, ''[[The Big Trail]]''.

Bluto, like Popeye, is enamored of Olive Oyl, and he often attempts to kidnap her. However, with the help of some [[spinach]], Popeye usually ends up defeating him. Some cartoons portray Popeye and Bluto as Navy buddies, although in these episodes Bluto usually turns on Popeye when an object of interest (usually Olive) is put between them.

Bluto's strength is portrayed inconsistently. In some episodes, he is weaker than Popeye and resorts to underhanded trickery to accomplish his goals. At other times, Popeye stands no chance against Bluto in a fight until he eats his spinach. In yet other cartoons, the two characters are closely matched, with Bluto eventually gaining the upper hand before Popeye eats his spinach and defeats Bluto. In some shorts, Bluto is a match for Popeye even after he has eaten his spinach. Bluto is sometimes portrayed as having a [[wikt:glass jaw|glass jaw]]. He has, on occasion, been knocked out by Olive Oyl and even by Popeye's infant ward [[Swee'Pea]]. On rare occasions, Bluto tries to [[sabotage]] Popeye before confronting him, such as when he tried to thwart his own defeat by using a forklift to steal Popeye's store of spinach cans and disposing of them in a garbage dump. In one case, Popeye forces a defeated Bluto to consume spinach, after which Bluto easily beats up Popeye, resulting in Olive pitying him and choosing him over Bluto.

[[File:Bluto1932.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Black and white comic strip panel showing Bluto's first appearance|Bluto's first appearance: ''[[Popeye|Thimble Theatre]]'' comic strip, September 12, 1932 (last panel)]]

In most cases, the name "Bluto" is used as a first name. In cartoons where Bluto portrays alternate characters, or "roles," the name can be used as a surname, as with lumberjack "Pierre Bluto" in the cartoon ''Axe Me Another'' and etiquette teacher "Professor Bluteau" in ''Learn Polikeness''.<ref name="Grandinetti">{{cite book|last=Grandinetti|first=Fred|title=Popeye: an illustrated cultural history|year=2004|publisher=McFarland|isbn=0-7864-1605-X}}</ref>

==Bluto vs. Brutus==
After the theatrical ''Popeye'' cartoon series ceased production in 1957, Bluto's name was changed to Brutus because at the time it was believed by [[King Features]] that [[Paramount Pictures]], distributors of the Fleischer Studios (later [[Famous Studios]]) cartoons, owned the rights to the name "Bluto". King Features actually owned the name, as Bluto had been originally created for the comic strip. Due to a lack of thorough research, King Features failed to realize this and reinvented him as Brutus to avoid potential copyright problems.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ian|url=http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpopeye.html|title=Is Popeye's nemesis named Bluto or Brutus?|publisher=Straight Dope|access-date=July 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991002065155/http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpopeye.html|archive-date=October 2, 1999}}</ref> "Brutus" (often pronounced "Brutusk" by Popeye) appears in the 1960–62 ''[[Popeye the Sailor (1960s TV series)|Popeye the Sailor]]'' television cartoons with his physical appearance changed, making him obese rather than muscular. He normally sported a blue shirt and brown pants.<ref>{{cite web|author=Randall Cyrenne|url=https://animatedviews.com/2010/fifty-years-with-brutus/|title=Fifty Years With Brutus!|publisher=Animated Views|access-date=July 20, 2020}}</ref>

The character reverted to Bluto for [[Hanna-Barbera]]'s ''[[The All-New Popeye Hour]]'' (1978–83) and the 1980 live-action [[Popeye (film)|''Popeye'' movie]], as well as the 1987 ''[[Popeye and Son]]'' series also by Hanna-Barbera. The character was also named Bluto in the 2004 movie ''[[Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy]]''.

It was long accepted that Bluto and Brutus were one and the same. However, a 1988 ''Popeye'' comic book, published by Ocean Comics, presented the two characters as twin brothers.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=Fortier, Ron|penciller=Dunn, Ben; [[Tom Grummett|Grummett, Tom]], Kato, Gary|inker=Barras, Dell|story=Double Trouble Down Under|title=Popeye Special|volume=1|issue=2|date=September 1988|publisher=Ocean Comics}}</ref> The ''Popeye'' comic strip, at the time written and drawn by [[Hy Eisman]], generally featured only Brutus, but added Bluto as Brutus' twin brother in several 2008 and 2009 strips.<ref>December 28, 2008 Popeye Cartoon; retrieved July 14, 2009.</ref><ref>April 5, 2009 Popeye Cartoon; retrieved July 14, 2009.</ref> The two continue to appear as brothers in the more recent strips by [[Randy Milholland]].<ref>August 21, 2022 Popeye Cartoon; retrieved September 4, 2022.</ref>

==Voice==
In the Paramount theatrical cartoons, Bluto was [[voice acting|voiced]] by a number of actors, including [[William Pennell]], [[Gus Wickie]], [[Jackson Beck]] (who took over the role in 1944), Hamp Howard, [[Pinto Colvig]], [[Tedd Pierce]], Lee Royce, [[Dave Barry (actor)|Dave Barry]], and [[Jack Mercer]].<ref name="Grandinetti"/> Beck also supplied the voice for Brutus in the early 1960s. In the 1980 live-action movie, he was portrayed by [[Paul L. Smith]]. In ''The All-New Popeye Hour'' and ''Popeye and Son'', he was voiced by [[Allan Melvin]]. In ''Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy'', he was voiced by [[Garry Chalk]].

==Other characters==
In the animated cartoons Popeye's foe is almost always Bluto functioning in some capacity (fellow sailor, generic thug, [[carnival]] [[hypnotism|hypnotist]], [[Sheikh|sheik]], lecherous instructor, etc.). However, in the Famous-era shorts there have also been "original" one-time characters with Bluto-like personalities and mannerisms such as the blond, beardless lifeguard in "Beach Peach". Jackson Beck voiced these characters using the same voice.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}}

In the comics, Bluto and Brutus have a brother Bruto who is older than Brutus.<ref>January 14, 2024 Popeye Cartoon; retrieved January 14, 2024.</ref><ref>February 23, 2025 Popeye Cartoon; retrieved February 23, 2025.</ref> Brutus is the youngest of four brothers.<ref>May 11, 2025 Popeye Cartoon; retrieved May 11, 2025.</ref> Burlo is Bluto's twin.<ref>November 16, 2025 Popeye Cartoon; retrieved November 16, 2025.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/popeye.htm ''Popeye''] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]

{{Popeye|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Animated human characters]]
[[Category:Villains in animated television series]]
[[Category:Comic strip villains]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1932]]
[[Category:Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:Fictional kidnappers]]
[[Category:Fictional sailors]]
[[Category:Male characters in animation]]
[[Category:Male characters in comics]]
[[Category:Popeye characters]]