When it comes to iconic cartoon characters, the voices behind them are part of what makes them memorable. Many characters are voiced by the same actor, but the voice actors can morph their voices to such an extent, you might’ve never known they were responsible for a handful of your favorite cartoons. Here are some of the most celebrated voice actors (although there are plenty more we could include) and the roles they’ve played. Let us know in the comments if any of these surprised you!
Image Credit: Ebay & IMDb.
1. Jim Cummings: Winnie the Pooh, Tigger & a world of other characters
From Pooh’s belly-grasping “Oh bother” to Tigger’s unbelievably endearing lisp-ridden, “Don’t be ridickorous,” we have the same voice actor to thank and admire: Jim Cummings. Better yet, Cummings’ talents extend far beyond the Hundred Acre Wood. His extensive resume includes characters like Darkwing Duck and Pete from “Goof Troop.” Cummings’ vocal range and emotional depth have made him a legend in voice acting, and he has become one of Disney’s most beloved, voicing nearly 400 different cartoon characters throughout his career.
Image Credit: Jim Cummings by Simon King & JD Hancock & Steven Miller (None).
2. Russi Taylor: Minnie Mouse, Huey, Dewey, Louie & more
Russi Taylor, famously known as the charming voice behind the adorable Minnie Mouse, also voiced Huey, Dewey, and Louie and lent her voice to Strawberry Shortcake to boot. She and her husband Wayne Allwine (the third voice of Mickey Mouse) were a match made in Disney heaven, and Taylor held the role of Minnie Mouse for over three decades until her death in 2019, enchanting generations with her spirited voice acting.
Image Credit: Russi Taylor by Reese3196 & Loren Javier & JD Hancock (None).
3. Tom Kenny: Spongebob Squarepants, Squanchy & others
From the bubbly Spongebob Squarepants to the peculiar Squanchy in “Rick and Morty,” Heffer Wolfe in “Rocko’s Modern Life,” and the mystical Ice King from “Adventure Time”, Tom Kenny’s vocal creativity is unmatched. He even provided the dull yet somehow poignant meows of Gary the snail in “Spongebob Squarepants.” We the People, who regularly narrate our pets’ daily activities, find that fun fact particularly compelling.
Image Credit: Tom Kenny by Philip Romano & Charles Rodstrom & Amazon (None).
4. John Goodman: Frosty the Snowman, Sully & many more
John Goodman’s powerhouse acting skills have earned him several renowned roles throughout his Hollywood career. But his powerful voice has also brought characters like Frosty the Snowman and Sully from “Monsters Inc.” to life. Goodman also voiced Pacha in “The Emperor’s New Groove,” Baloo in “The Jungle Book 2,” and Big Daddy La Bouff in “The Princess and the Frog.”
Image Credit: John Goodman by Gage Skidmore & Joe Penniston & Geoff Livingston (None).
5. Nancy Cartwright: Bart Simpson, Chuckie Finster & others
A toddler with wild red hair and a sweet little stutter by day and a skateboarding, troublemaking kid by night, Nancy Cartwright’s mischievous voice acting captures characters like Bart Simpson, Chuckie Finster from “Rugrats”, and even Rufus in “Kim Possible.” Her youthful tone has become a defining element in voice acting for animated characters.
Image Credit: Nancy Cartwright by Nancy Cartwright Entertainment & Kirt Edblom & KylaBorg (None).
6. Phil Harris: Baloo, Thomas O’Malley the alley cat & more
Phil Harris’s voice is synonymous with characters like Baloo from “The Jungle Book” and Thomas O’Malley the alley cat from “The Aristocats,” but he also voiced Little John in “Robin Hood.” His jazz-infused style brought warmth and charm to these characters. Harris was also a successful bandleader and musician in his own right!
Image Credit: Ebay, Amazon, IMDb.
7. John Ratzenberger: A whole slew of Pixar characters, from Hamm to The Underminer
John Ratzenberger is so crucial to Pixar that he had a voice role in every single Pixar film and video game from 1995 to 2020. From Hamm in “Toy Story” to The Underminer in “The Incredibles,” his distinctive voice has become Pixar’s unofficial mascot, and the creators even describe him as their “good luck charm.”
Image Credit: John Ratzenberger by David Shankbone, Loren Javier, IMDb (None).
8. Mel Blanc: Most of the Looney Toons characters, from Daffy Duck to Bugs Bunny
Mel Blanc’s unparalleled talent gave voice to most of the Looney Toons characters (Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat, Wile E. Coyote, The Roadrunner, Yosemite Sam, Sam the Sheepdog, Taz the Tazmanian Devil, Speedy Gonzales, Marvin the Martian, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé la Pew, Charlie the Dog, Blacque Jacque Shellacque, Pussyfoot, Private Snafu … the list goes on and on). Blanc even voiced Dino the Dinosaur and Barney Rubble in “The Flintstones.” Ultimately, he created voices for 400 distinct characters, and was said to be involved in some-3,000 cartoon episodes during his accomplished career. His ability to create diverse and recognizable voices earned him the nickname “The Man of a Thousand Voices” and a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Image Credit: Ebay & IMDb.
9. Jodi Benson: Ariel and Barbie in Toy Story 2 & 3
There are Whozits and Whatzits galore in Jodi Benson’s voice-acting repertoire, along with an entire closet of Barbie’s finest accessories. Benson’s angelic voice brought life to Ariel in “The Little Mermaid” and Barbie in “Toy Story 2” and “Toy Story 3.” Her influence extends to Broadway, where she’s performed in various productions.
Image Credit: Jodi Benson by Super Festivals & IMDb (None).
10. Kathryn Beaumont: Alice & Wendy
Did anyone else experience an essence of deja vu watching “Peter Pan” that you couldn’t quite put your finger on? There was something oddly familiar about Wendy, and it wasn’t that she visited your window at night and lost her shadow, because that was Peter’s part. Nope. If your ears perked up when you heard Wendy hollering, “Peter! Peter!” it might be because she was voiced by Kathryn Beaumont, who was also the voice of Alice in “Alice in Wonderland” just two years prior to speaking for Wendy. Beaumont was just 13 when she voiced Alice, and her contribution to Disney is immortalized in the Disney Legends, where she was honored in 1998.
Image Credit: IMDb.
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Image Credit: Netflix / The Toy Zone.
