Frank Welker
I once had the opportunity to interview Mr. Welker, the highest-grossing actor of all-time, who has appeared on seemingly every animated show ever created: “The Simpsons,” “South Park,” “Scooby Do, Where Are You?,” “Animanics,” “Beetlejuice,” “Family Guy,” “Futurama” (he’s Nibbler), “Robot Chicken,” and many more . It was only an e-mail interview, so I didn’t actually get to hear him speak, but that was fine by me: I’d rather he save his voice on something more important than a silly interview with a stupid “journalist”—like being the voice of another generation’s childhood.
Not-So-Memorable Role: Seig Heil the spider monkey from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Barry Gordon
Like most of the people on this list, you’ve probably never heard of Barry Gordon, but you’ve almost certainly listened to his voice at some point. Not only did he play Donatello and Bebop in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (it must have been weird when he was fighting himself), but he’s also the current Nesquik Rabbit. You now have a perfectly good reason to hate Mr. Barry Gordon, along with the fact that at the age of six he recorded “Nuttin’ for Christmas,” a song that tries to be as cute as a corgi but ends up as putrid as a puli.
Not-So-Memorable Role: Roger Hightower on “A Family for Joe”
Maurice LaMarche
I sometimes think that voice acting must be the greatest work in the world. It’s tough, sure, but it’s not as tough as on-screen acting—plus, once you’ve made it, like LaMarche has, and if you’re good, like LaMarche is, you’re almost guaranteed to get roles until you retire. LaMarche is the voice of Kif/Morbo/Calculon from “Futurama,” the Brain from “Pinky and the Brain,” Toucan Sam and Pepe LePew in Space Jam, Orson Welles on “The Critic,” and Egon on “The Real Ghostbusters,” a show with the dream cast of Frank Welker as Ray and Slimer, Dave Coulier as Venkman, and Arsenio Hall as Winston. ROO ROO ROO
Not-So-Memorable Role: Ketchuck on Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series
Honorable Mention(s) (Live Action/Cartoon Splits)
Tim Daly
In “Superman: The Animated Series,” Daly voiced Clark Kent/Superman, the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way. In “The Sopranos,” Daly played J.T. Dolan, a former drug addict forced to write the screenplay for Christopher’s movie, Cleaver, before SPOILER…
…getting popped in the head by Christopher. Now that’s the American way.
Jaleel White
Steve Urkel was basically a cartoon character: he had an increasingly obnoxious catchphrase and the way his body moved defied the laws of physics, as seen here—he was even on cereal boxes and t-shirts. So it’s not surprising that the actor who portrayed him, Jaleel White, would try for a voice actor career, too, which he found success with, portraying the titular hedgehog on “The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog” for 65 episodes.
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Bill Fagerbakke aka Dauber from the sitcom “Coach” is the voice of Patrick Star the starfish on SpongeBob SquarePants.
Seriously, you didn’t mention H. Jon Benjamin from Venture Bros, Bob’s Burgers, Home Movies, and most importantly Archer? He’s also been in scores of others?
Yeah, die in a fire Josh.
@SydneyCarton: Um, Benjamin is the impetus for the article. I would think that the introduction made that pretty clear.
@SydneyCartoon… Wait, what?
Not to play the “Why the hell didn’t you include…” game,
but
Why the hell didn’t you include Patrick Warburton? Brock Samson is gonna rip out your spine.
Interesting list though. I love me some Pamela Aldon.
@Sydney, you forgot his work on Dr. Katz and you forgot to read the first paragraph of the post.
I knew I liked Dexter’s laboratory for some reason just didn’t know it was because the voice behind dexter was hot
I think my favorite voice actors are John DiMaggio (Bender) and Dana Snyder (Master Shake). It is a matter of faith to me that John DiMaggio is exactly like Bender in every possible way except that he is made of flesh instead of metal, and Snyder’s voice amuses me so much he could be reading my own grandfather’s obituary to me and I’d still have a hard time keeping a straight face.
And of course obviously H. Jon Benjamin is also a favorite, and why hasn’t anybody mentioned Coach McGuirk yet?
I know the internet gives us a little license for hyperbole and extremism, but “die in fire” seems a little over the top for this post, doesn’t it?
I’m quit disappointed you didn’t include my good friend Garza who played the talking Mexican lampshade that time I took all those mushrooms & he also plays Garza, my actual Mexican friend in real life.
come on dude….what the hell?
@zack Not everyone realizes that H John was also the voice of Jason, the slightly retarded kid on Home Movies as well. Voice just sped up a bit.
Christine Cavanaugh also had the privilege of playing Ug’s girlfriend Mona on “Salute Your Shorts.”
Cartoon characters be damned, Richard Steven Horvitz is and always will be Alan Eakien.
Aside from Benjamin, I have to think that my two favorite voice actors are Andy Merrill and Dave Willis….Brak (Space Ghost Coast to Coast) and Meatwad (Aquat Teen Hunger Force) respectively. Willis has shown up on a number of other shows as well (including Archer) but he deserves immortality for ATHF’s Meatwad and Carl alone.
And, I just think Brak is one of the funniest voices of all time.
Well, now that someone’s already said I should die, I feel like I can comment. @kirk, I didn’t include Warburton because I think most people know and can recognize his voice; it’s not like Brock really sounds any different than, say, Kronk from Emperor’s New Groove.
@Vagabond Joe
I was listening to “Mashed Potatoes” just the other day.
You need ah voice fo yoah cahtoon? GIVE IT TO WELKAAAAAAAH!!!
I had no idea Carlos Alazraqui voiced Rocko but he also did the Chihuahua in all those Taco Bell ads.
No mention of Frank Welker as Megatron??
Wut
@Harpo, and the voice of Walden on Wow Wow Wubbzy.
/father of small children
Sonic was black? What?
Why didn’t this post mention that one semi-obscure person I know and like? GENOCIDE.
Personally, I thought Jim Carrey did an exemplary job as the voice of his asshole in Ace Ventura.
I’m also a big fan of the guy who did the voice of Kirk Douglas at the Academy Awards.
Not the best animation I’ve seen though, the words never even came close to matching his lips.
Keith David has a pretty distinct voice. It’s a shame he never got into voice work.
No Peter Cullen?
I would comment, but whenever I see that picture I can’t stop staring at Lana’s crotch. So yeah, it’s been 7 minutes and I still havn’t read a word.
@Charliework,
I’m going to go against my knee-jerk reaction to do a 1,000 word tirade on how much voice work Mr. David has done. I will instead assume that you were being sarcastic.
Please…please say you were being sarcastic?
@burnsy – damn right! All hail the Shoop and a f*ckable Kirstie Alley.
I see what you did there with Luke Skywalker and Bugs Bunny.
Also didn’t know Ghostbusters had such an all-star cast. CUT-IT-OUT!
what about Kevin Conroy? He is THE voice of Batman, animated, video games, everything. Except live action, sadly. Whenever I think of Batman, his voice pops in my head immedietly.
Shredder from TMNT = Dr. Phil. Mind blown.
And by Dr. Phil, I mean Uncle Phil. From Fresh Prince. Who may have been a doctor too. But he was a lawyer. I’ll show myself out.
Billy West should have his own spot. It feels cheap to simply say that he’s the voice of Fry on Futurama when he also does The Professor, Zoidberg, Zapp Brannigan, and even Richard Nixon’s Head.
West also started playing Stimpy, but later took over the role of Ren as well when show creator John K. was removed from the show. (Useless) Knowledge is power!
Also, you could do a whole list like this with just the various cast members of The Simpsons.
I can’t believe you didn’t include…
Wait, am I arguing about voice actors on the internet?
Jim J Bullock did some voice work on Duckman.
/…
Ok so which voices did they play on Archer?
WELKAHHHHHH!!!!
Keith David was (is?) Spawn and Goliath on Gargoyles. They’re pretty much the same, equally bad ass voice. He’s also the voice of UPS’ “What Can Brown Do for You?” commercial, which is much less bad ass.
Forgot George Clooney as the Stan’s dog Sparky in South Park
I like to think I could sleep with Pam Adlon. Anyone else get this? DIBS
Lest we forget Billy West’s immortal voice work as Marge Schott on Stern.
Pffft Reading paragraphs is for losers.
I only look at the pretty pictures after the clicky thing
Richard Steven Horvitz was in invader zim too.
Mad props for including Frank Welker, but when you do PART II of this piece, be sure to include Jim Cummings and Rob Paulsen, the owners of some of the most recognizable voices in the business. If haters don’t know ‘em, look them up and you’ll be amazed at how often and where you’ve heard these cats.
I’m sorry, I really appreciate this list, but it is a complete joke that Tim Curry was excluded from this list. Seriously. Check out his resumé. [www.imdb.com]
Welker was also (and most notably in my mind) the guy who said “Meanwhile, at the Halls of Justice”. Legendary.
Maurice LeMarche and Billy West basically account for all of Futurama along with Tress Macneil (or however her name is spelled)
As for my random left out actor: Cree Summer
Penny, Elvira, many animated black females, etc.
Great list. A few notes:
1. Pamela Adlon also voiced Milo on “The Oblongs”, easily and sadly one of the most underrated shows of all time.
2. Tim Daly is perhaps most notable as compulsively anal-retentive pilot Joe Hackett on “Wings”, a sitcom worth watching if for no other reason than Roy and Lowell.
3. I can’t help but give a shout-out to MC Chris, the voice of MC Pee Pants, Sir Loin and Little Brittle on Aqua Teen Hunger Force, as well as perpetual anti-hero Hesh Hepplewhite on Sealab 2021.
A good list for an under-recognized profession. I’d like to add a couple if I could: June Foray and Harry Shearer.
What? Why is Billy West listed with Mark Hamill? You totally minimized how much he’s actually done.
As somebody already said, he’s not just the voice of Fry on Futurama. But also most people probably haven’t even gone an entire month without hearing his voice in something even without having watched his shows. What about the red M&M or the Honey Nut Cheerios bee?
Yeah, thanks, Green Hornet ad for not providing an X button. Guess I’ll just ignore the fact that you’re blocking half the screen.
Why is Cam Clarke not on here?
how could you ignore someone who voiced Leonardo from TMNT, Liquid Snake from MGS, Kaneda from Akira, and over 200 other characters over the past 40 years?
[www.imdb.com]
Yesh, tough crowd. Thanks for the list that could have been longer but frankly 3 pages is pretty much my click through limit. Maybe do a part 2 in a week or so.
Johnny Quest? Herculoids?
/dating myself
/shows self out
How could you make this list and exclude Rob Paulsen and Tress MacNelle!!!
First the “arnold goes to rio” and now this.
I love you guys
I’d like to add Charlie Adler to the list of shouldas. All the main characters on Cow and Chicken, the Bigheads on Rocko’s Modern Life, and so on.
MY MIND WAS JUST BLOWN.
Kind of surprised no one mentioned George Lowe on their “why not” rants. The guy did Space Ghost, Brak’s dad and a bunch of voices on ATHF, including himself. I’d love to see him on a follow up list.
Mention Frank Welker.
Didn’t mention Megatron.
I am disappoint.
Also, to the at least one person I saw mention H. Jon Benjamin not being on here: I love Benjamin, I really do, but there’s a big difference between having a great, distinct voice and being a great voice actor. Bob, Coach McGuirck, Archer, The Master, The Devil, etc. all sound pretty much exactly the same.
He does a couple other voices though, like Jason from Home Movies.
Pretty sure Jason is his voice modded to a higher pitch.