Behind every iconic animated character is a voice that gives it soul, emotion, and personality. Voice actors often go unrecognized, but their talent is the driving force that transforms drawings into living, breathing figures we connect with. Using nothing but their vocal range, timing, and creativity, these performers craft unforgettable characters that resonate across generations.
Whether it’s the timeless charm of Saturday morning cartoons or the sophisticated storytelling of today’s animated hits, these 20 voice actors have shaped the soundscape of animation. Many have portrayed dozens—sometimes hundreds—of roles, showcasing unmatched versatility and influence. Their work not only entertains but also elevates the art of voice acting to something truly extraordinary.
1. Mel Blanc
Known as “The Man of a Thousand Voices,” Mel Blanc created the sounds behind nearly every classic Looney Tunes character. His remarkable talent brought Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Sylvester, and countless others to life. Working with Warner Bros. for over five decades, Blanc pioneered voice acting techniques still used today. Even after a near-fatal car accident in 1961, he continued recording from his hospital bed. His signature “What’s up, Doc?” and “That’s all folks!” remain instantly recognizable worldwide. Blanc’s versatility and commitment to character established the gold standard for animation voice work.
2. Frank Welker
Frank Welker holds the record as the highest-grossing actor in Hollywood history thanks to his extensive voice work. Since 1969, he’s voiced Fred Jones in every Scooby-Doo iteration and created the sounds for hundreds of animals and creatures across film and television. The original voice of Megatron in Transformers, Welker possesses an uncanny ability to produce realistic animal sounds without technical assistance. His growls, roars, and chatters have brought to life everything from Scooby-Doo himself to Curious George. Despite rarely appearing on camera, his voice has been heard in over 90 feature films including Aladdin, Independence Day, and How to Train Your Dragon.
3. June Foray
Often called the “First Lady of Voice Acting,” June Foray’s seven-decade career established her as animation royalty. Her most beloved roles included Rocky the Flying Squirrel and villainous Natasha Fatale from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, alongside Granny in Looney Tunes and Witch Hazel. Chuck Jones once famously remarked, “June Foray is not the female Mel Blanc; Mel Blanc was the male June Foray.” Her distinctive voice brought life to countless characters, including Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. A founding member of ASIFA-Hollywood, Foray championed animation preservation and helped establish the Annie Awards, continuing to voice characters well into her 90s.
4. Tom Kenny
Tom Kenny transformed from stand-up comedian to animation legend when he created the infectiously cheerful voice of SpongeBob SquarePants in 1999. His high-pitched, nasal laugh and childlike enthusiasm perfectly capture the optimistic underwater sponge that has delighted generations. Beyond Bikini Bottom, Kenny has voiced over 250 characters including the Ice King in Adventure Time, the Mayor in PowerPuff Girls, and Heffer in Rocko’s Modern Life. His incredible range allows him to jump from robot voices to monsters to talking animals effortlessly. Kenny’s early career included work on Mr. Show with Bob and David, showcasing the comedic timing he brings to his animated roles. His SpongeBob voice has become one of the most recognizable in entertainment history.
5. Jim Cummings
Taking over for two beloved characters is no small task, but Jim Cummings made it look effortless. His gentle, comforting voice as Winnie the Pooh and lively energy as Tigger captured the spirit of the originals so well, most fans never noticed the change. Beyond the Hundred Acre Wood, Cummings created the menacing growl of Scar in parts of The Lion King, voiced the villainous Pete in Disney shows, and brought the chaotic Tasmanian Devil to life. His versatility shines in his ability to voice both heroes and villains with equal conviction. With over 400 credits to his name, Cummings also voiced Ray in The Princess and the Frog and darkly comedic terrorist Darkwing Duck.
6. Tara Strong
Canadian-born Tara Strong began voice acting as a child and grew into one of the industry’s most prolific talents. Her extraordinary vocal range allows her to voice characters from tiny babies to elderly women, with her most famous roles including Timmy Turner in The Fairly OddParents and Bubbles in The Powerpuff Girls. Strong’s ability to create distinct, age-appropriate voices has made her the go-to actress for young boy characters like Ben Tennyson in Ben 10 and Raven in Teen Titans. Her work extends beyond animation into video games, where she voiced Harley Quinn in the Batman: Arkham series. With over 600 credits to her name, Strong’s versatility and emotional depth have made her an animation powerhouse.
7. Mark Hamill
While globally recognized as Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill’s second career as a voice actor cemented his place in animation history. His maniacal laugh and unpredictable delivery as the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series created what many consider the definitive version of the iconic villain. After a car accident altered his appearance, Hamill focused on voice work, bringing characters like Hobgoblin in Spider-Man, Fire Lord Ozai in Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Skips in Regular Show to life. His theatrical background gives his performances dramatic weight and precise timing. A versatile voice actor, Hamill has portrayed everything from ancient wizards to talking rodents, though his cackling Joker remains his most celebrated vocal performance.
8. Nancy Cartwright
What began as an audition for Lisa turned into a career-defining moment when Nancy Cartwright snagged the role of Bart Simpson instead. Her raspy, rebellious voice has captured Bart’s spirit for over 30 years, making catchphrases like “Don’t have a cow, man!” instantly recognizable. Beyond Springfield, Cartwright voiced Rufus the naked mole rat in Kim Possible, Chuckie Finster in Rugrats, and Mindy in Animaniacs. Her natural ability to create boyish voices has made her especially valuable in animation. Trained by voice legend Daws Butler (Yogi Bear), Cartwright’s technique allows her to sustain Bart’s voice through hundreds of episodes without strain. She’s the only Simpsons cast member to voice multiple main characters, including Nelson Muntz and Ralph Wiggum.
9. Billy West
Radio personality turned voice actor Billy West created some of animation’s most distinctive characters. His work on Futurama alone showcases his remarkable range – voicing optimistic Fry, grumpy Professor Farnsworth, lovable Zoidberg, and egotistical Zapp Brannigan, often conversing with himself in scenes. West revived classic characters by voicing both Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd in Space Jam, along with the red M&M in candy commercials. His talent for impressions and original character voices made him a perfect fit for Doug Funnie and Stimpy from Ren & Stimpy. Self-taught with no formal training, West developed his extraordinary range through years of radio work. His ability to switch between characters instantaneously makes him one of animation’s most valuable performers.
10. Maurice LaMarche
Maurice LaMarche’s perfect impression of Orson Welles launched a voice career spanning decades. His most celebrated role came as The Brain in Pinky and the Brain, where his Welles-inspired megalomaniac mouse schemed nightly to take over the world. A master impressionist, LaMarche provided the speaking voice for characters like Chief Quimby in Inspector Gadget and Egon Spengler in The Real Ghostbusters. His work on Futurama as Kif, Calculon, and numerous others showcases his remarkable versatility. Famous for his “Frozen Peas” routine mimicking Welles’ infamous commercial outtakes, LaMarche brings both technical precision and comedic timing to every role. His deep, resonant voice and flawless character work have made him an animation mainstay.
11. Hank Azaria
Few voice actors have shaped a show like Hank Azaria has with The Simpsons. His extensive character list—including Moe, Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, and Professor Frink—showcases his vocal agility, often resulting in him voicing multiple characters in the same conversation. Beyond animation, Azaria has maintained a successful on-camera career in films like The Birdcage and TV shows like Brockmire. His gift for accents and character voices developed from mimicking TV shows as a child. A six-time Emmy winner, Azaria creates distinct vocal characteristics for each character through pitch, tempo, and accent changes. His improvisational background allows him to find unexpected nuances in even the smallest roles.
12. Cree Summer
Breaking ground early in her career, Cree Summer made history as one of animation’s first prominent Black voice actresses with her role as Penny in Inspector Gadget. Her unmistakable rasp and impressive vocal range have since powered beloved characters like Elmyra (Tiny Toon Adventures), Susie Carmichael (Rugrats), and Numbuh 5 (Codename: Kids Next Door). Her singing talents are featured in many productions, including as Kida in Disney’s Atlantis. The daughter of actor Don Francks, Summer began her career as Freddie on the live-action show A Different World before focusing primarily on voice work. Her natural voice with its slight raspiness makes her instantly recognizable in any role.
13. John DiMaggio
John DiMaggio’s gravelly bass voice perfectly captures beer-guzzling robot Bender from Futurama, his breakthrough role. The character’s catchphrase “Bite my shiny metal ass!” delivered in DiMaggio’s distinctive tone has become part of pop culture history. His remarkable range extends to roles like Jake the Dog in Adventure Time, Dr. Drakken in Kim Possible, and Marcus Fenix in the Gears of War video games. DiMaggio’s background in stand-up comedy gives his performances timing and authenticity that brings animated characters to life. A vocal advocate for voice actors’ rights, DiMaggio helped create the documentary I Know That Voice highlighting the industry. His ability to jump from comedy to drama makes him one of animation’s most versatile performers.
14. Kath Soucie
Twin siblings Phil and Lil DeVille from Rugrats showcase Kath Soucie’s remarkable ability to voice multiple characters in the same scene. Her specialty in creating child voices has made her one of animation’s busiest performers for decades. Soucie’s extensive resume includes Dexter’s mom in Dexter’s Laboratory, Kanga in Winnie the Pooh projects, and Fifi La Fume in Tiny Toon Adventures. Her natural sweet tone can transform into anything from a proper British accent to a gruff monster voice. Originally pursuing on-camera acting, Soucie found her calling in voice work where her ability to age her voice up or down created countless opportunities. Her technique of physically embodying characters while recording helps create distinctive vocal performances.
15. Kevin Conroy
Through Batman: The Animated Series, Kevin Conroy delivered a performance that would shape the Dark Knight for decades. His decision to separate Bruce Wayne’s refined tone from Batman’s gruff intensity was groundbreaking, and it became a model for how the character would be portrayed ever since. A classically trained theater actor, Conroy brought dramatic weight to animation rarely heard before. His iconic line “I am vengeance, I am the night, I am Batman!” delivered with perfect gravitas cemented his legacy. For over 30 years until his death in 2022, Conroy voiced the Dark Knight across television, films, and video games. His personal connection to Batman’s duality – drawing from his experience as a gay man in a sometimes unwelcoming industry – added depth to his performance.
16. Rob Paulsen
Delivering one of the most iconic songs in cartoon history, Rob Paulsen nailed the fast-paced “Nations of the World” as Yakko Warner on Animaniacs. His tireless energy and commitment to performance are also on full display in his role as Pinky, known for the joyful cry of “Narf!” to Pinky and the Brain, created the party-loving Raphael in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and later voiced Donatello in the 2012 series. His elastic voice adapts to any character, from the maniacal Mask to the nerdy Carl Wheezer in Jimmy Neutron. After surviving throat cancer, Paulsen returned to voice acting with the same enthusiasm and range. His podcast Talkin’ Toons celebrates the voice acting community he’s been central to for decades.
17. Jennifer Hale
Guinness World Records recognized Jennifer Hale as the most prolific female video game voice actor, though her work spans all animation media. Her performance as Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect trilogy showcased her ability to create a character players felt deeply connected to. Hale’s versatility shines in roles ranging from tough-as-nails Naomi Hunter in Metal Gear Solid to villainous Sedusa in The Powerpuff Girls. Her classical theater training gives her performances emotional depth unusual in animation and gaming. Unlike many voice actors, Hale performs with her whole body, often standing throughout recordings to maintain character energy. Her commitment to authentic performance has made her a favorite among directors in both animation and gaming.
18. Grey DeLisle
Grey DeLisle (now Grey Griffin) stepped into voice acting from a country music career and quickly became animation’s go-to actress for complex female characters. Her most recognized role as Azula in Avatar: The Last Airbender showcased her ability to create a villain both terrifying and psychologically layered. DeLisle’s remarkable range allowed her to voice characters as diverse as Daphne in Scooby-Doo, Vicky in The Fairly OddParents, and Mandy in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. Her natural speaking voice transforms completely for each character through subtle adjustments in placement and energy. A talented singer, DeLisle often incorporates musical elements into her performances. Her hundreds of credits across decades of animation make her one of the industry’s most recognizable female voices.
19. Clancy Brown
Known for his powerful screen presence in films like The Shawshank Redemption and Highlander, Clancy Brown brought that same intensity to voice acting. His deep, commanding voice became iconic as Mr. Krabs in SpongeBob SquarePants, instantly tied to the character’s love of money.Brown’s villainous voice work includes Lex Luthor in the DC Animated Universe and Surtur in Thor: Ragnarok. His ability to convey menace through vocal performance makes him animation’s first choice for intimidating characters. Despite often playing villains, Brown’s range extends to heroic characters like Savage Opress in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. His distinctive voice has remained remarkably consistent through decades of work, instantly recognizable to animation fans.
20. Jess Harnell
Rock musician turned voice actor Jess Harnell brings his natural exuberance to every performance. As Wakko Warner in Animaniacs, his Beatle-inspired accent and musical talent helped create one of animation’s most beloved trios. Harnell’s incredible range allows him to voice characters from the hyperactive Roger Rabbit to villainous Ironhide in the Transformers films. His background as a singer gives him exceptional control over his instrument, enabling him to create distinctive voices for dozens of characters. Famous for his celebrity impressions, Harnell can mimic virtually any voice, making him invaluable for parody segments. His energy in the recording booth is legendary, with full physical performances accompanying his vocal work.
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