Voice acting is a difficult job. Not only do voice actors have to give fictional characters an identity, but they often have to do it without ever seeing the character on screen. Sometimes productions are still in the animation stages when they’re voiced, other times that they’re not even close. Whether it’s a beloved character that appears on an animated TV show or a Disney character that needs its own unique identity, voice actors do the work of bringing imaginary beings to life.
When you think of animated movies and TV shows, several iconic characters immediately come to mind, like Snow White fromSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cartman fromSouth Park, or Homer fromThe Simpsons. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that there’s a voice actor behind the animation. These actors are talented in their own right, but they’re also known for voicing some of the most iconic characters to ever appear on the screen.
15James Earl Jones
James Earl Joneshas a deep, booming voice that’s perfect for voicing confident characters. He’s well known as the voice of Darth Vader in the originalStar Warstrilogy. Jones gave Vader a unique tone, and nobody can forget his cadence, heavy breathing, and commanding tone.
However, that’s not the only voice James Earl Jones is known for. He also voiced Mufasa in 1994’s Disney classicThe Lion King. As king of the Pride Lands and Simba’s father, it’s Mufasa’s job to show his son the kingdom that he will eventually rule when he’s grown up. James Earl Jones is also commanding as Mufasa, giving him a deep, authoritative timbre that’s both memorable and sincere.RELATED:Jack Black’s Best Comedy Movies, Ranked
14Mike Myers
Back in 2001, Dreamworks released another popular animated feature,Shrek. Taking inspiration from classic fairy tales, the movie focuses on a grumpy ogre named Shrek (Mike Myers) who lives a peaceful life alone in the swamp. When his territory is invaded by fairy tale characters, Shrek’s livelihood is threatened by the evil Lor Farquaad (John Lithgow). Shrek must rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) to restore order to the kingdom.
Myers has never been one to do comedy half-heartedly, andShrek is no exception. He gave the character a unique accent and personality. Some even considerhis voice acting in the movie to be Oscar-worthy. The franchise has been massively successful for Dreamworks, also contributing multiple sequels and spin-offs, not to mention a ride at Universal Studios theme parks.
13Mila Kunis
Mila Kunisis an actor known for her comedy roles. In the late 1990s, she starred alongside Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher in the TV showThat ’70s Show. Over time, she became more known for her movies, with funny turns in comedies likeBad Moms,Forgetting Sarah Marshall, andFriends With Benefits.
On TV, Kunis is known for her voice role as Meg on the massively successful Fox showFamily Guy.The show debuted in 1999 and is still on the air after 18 seasons. Meg is the daughter of Peter and Lois Griffin, a middle-class couple who have an unorthodox way of raising their kids.Kunis still loves voicing Megand fans have come to know the actor and the character as the same.
12Kristen Bell
Kids around the world love Walt Disney Animation’s 2013 movieFrozen.Idina Menzel voices Princess Elsa, a girl who discovers at a young age that she can manipulate snow and ice. As a result, she’s locked away and isolated from her sister Anna (Kristen Bell). When she turns 18, Elsa is crowned queen, but she overreacts to Anna’s announcement that she’s getting married. Elsa casts a spell over the kingdom of Arendelle that turns the land into eternal winter.
As Anna, Kristen Bell is forced to come out of her comedy comfort zone and create a character that has power, will, and determination. She sets out on a mission to find Elsa and make amends to end the curse. Bell’s voice in the movie is unmistakable and that’s why it was an easy decision for Disney to bring her back forFrozen 2in 2019.
11Mark Hamill
Everyone knowsMark Hamillas the fearless Jedi knight Luke Skywalker in George Lucas' originalStar Warstrilogy. Hedoesn’t thinkStar Warsneeds Luke Skywalker anymore, but that’s beside the point. What some fans might not know about Hamill is that he’s a talented voice actor, and has been working off-screen doing voice roles for many years.
Among Hamill’s voice roles is a reoccurring part as the Joker in various DC TV shows and series. His journey with the character began way back in 1992 inBatman: The Animated Series. From there, he voiced the Joker again inThe New Batman Adventuresin the late 1990s and again in the 2000 direct-to-video movieBeyond Return of the Joker. Hamill has continued to voice the character in countless video games, series, and shows, making it a far more consistent role for him than Luke Skywalker in any of theStar Warsmovies.
10Eddie Murphy
ComedianEddie Murphyalso has a voice role inShrek. He plays Donkey, Shrek’s eager and somewhat annoying sidekick. As Donkey, Murphy is free to be as overblown as he wants. He gives the character an eccentric quality, often rambling on and on and unable to filter his thoughts. It’s a very funny take on the character and Donkey givesShreka blast of comedy.
Murphy is known to adults for his edgy stand-up comedy while kids know him for theShrekmovies. He’sturned down many rolesover the years, but he’s also gotten in his way because of his acting choices.The Adventures of Pluto Nash, for instance,was a box office bombthat turned viewers off from his movies. In any case, his role as Donkey is classic and unforgettable.
9Tom Hanks
In Pixar’s 1995 animated featureToy Story,Tom Hanksvoices Woody, a toy who’s owned by a boy named Andy. When humans are away, the toys all wake up and talk, showing off their unique personalities. Woody is the leader of the group as he’s Andy’s favorite toy, but he’s forced to go out of his comfort zone when his friends are in danger.
Hanks has proved time and time again that he’s capable of taking on roles in almost any genre. He’s excelled in comedy movies likeA League of Their OwnandThe Terminaland showed he has grit in more serious films likeCastawayandCaptain Phillips. Hanks gives Woody a very distinct voice, making him confident yet vulnerable, funny yet commanding, and honest yet clever.
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8Tim Allen
Tom Hanks isn’t the only star who shines inToy Story.Tim Allenvoices the role of Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger toy who thinks he’s a real astronaut. Buzz is introduced to Andy’s room but doesn’t understand that he’s not real. He gets Woody and the gang into trouble, and it’s up to Woody to solve the chaos that Buzz created before they are captured by Andy’s evil neighbor Sid.
Allen is the perfect match for Hanks' calm and confident demeanor. As Buzz, Allen is frantic, ridiculous, and downright silly at times. He provides a lot of the laughs for the movie, making him an instantly iconic and memorable character. With the success of the Toy Story franchise over the last 28 years, it’s not surprising thatToy Story 5and possibly more sequelsare on the way.
7Steve Carell
Steve Carellmade a name for himself as dopey boss Michael Scott on the American version ofThe Office. As Michael, Carell is goofy, unhinged, and offensive, so it makes sense that the actor was chosen to voice Gru in theDespicable Mefranchise. Gru is a silly villain who’s desperate to prove himself as an evil enemy, but instead, he’s sucked into raising three girls. Through the course of three movies, Gru has a change of heart and becomes a warm and caring father.
Carell is great at embracing his goofy side so Gru is of course a natural fit for the comedian. Since leavingThe Office, Carell has become a major film star, scoring hits with movies likeThe 40-Year-Old Virgin,Date Night, andAnchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. As Gru, Carell is an animated icon who never fails to make moviegoers roll on the floor in laughter. Carell is a fan favorite and most of his movies havepretty good reviews.
6Will Arnett
Will Arnettis a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to the business of Hollywood. He’s a TV and movie star, a game show host, and a celebrated voice actor. Arnett voices the title character in Netflix’s animated seriesBoJack Horseman, but he’s also known for a darker role. In 2017, he voiced Bruce Wayne/Batman inThe Lego Batman Movie. His wit, charisma, and dorky sense of humor made the film a hit with kids and parents alike.
Arnett’s deep tone was perfect for the Batman role. He gave the character a self-deprecating tone, with many of the jokes in the movie coming from Batman’s obsession and ensuing disappointment with himself. Arnett later starred in the semi-improvised 2022 Netflix seriesMurderville, where he played an overzealous detective who helps celebrity guest stars solve fictional murders.
