Research by Burtt shows that actor and singer Sheb Wooley , best known for his song `` Flying Purple People Eater '' in 1958 , is likely to have been the voice actor who first performed the scream . Research by Burtt suggests that actor and singer Sheb Wooley , best known for his novelty song `` Flying Purple People Eater '' in 1958 and as scout Pete Nolan on the television series Rawhide , is likely to have been the voice actor who originally performed the scream .