20 Celebrities That We Forgot Voiced the Most Unforgettable Disney Characters

While my family and I were on our Disney vacation, it was easy to identify the most popular Disney / Pixar movies. While Disney movies have been around since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs debuted in 1937, we saw a surge in some of the greatest animated movies of all time during the 1990s. As a kid, I really didn’t pay attention to who voiced the characters, even though they were some of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time.

1. Matthew Broderick — Adult Simba in The Lion King (1994)

Broderick rose to fame as the title character in Ferris Bueller’s Day off. This role led to him being the first actor assigned a role in the upcoming Disney’s The Lion King animated movie. Directors felt he was “perfect” for the role and introduced a lot of sensitivity and humor to adult Simba.

2. Whoopi Goldberg — Shenzi in The Lion King (1994)

“There ain’t no way I’m going in there. What, you want me to come out looking like you, cactus butt?” — One of my favorite lines that Whoopi Goldberg brings to life as Shenzi, one of the three hyenas that serve Scar, the lion villain. According to Timon in The Lion King 1.5, her full name is Shenzi Marie Predatora Veldetta Jacquelina Hyena. Shenzi, like Goldberg, is intelligent and sassy, with a sense of humor. Goldberg was a staple of 80s and 90s comedy.

3. Jerry Orbach — Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Jerry Orbach is most known as Detective Lennie Briscoe of the Law and Order series, which he starred in from 1991–2004. He also played Jake Houseman (Baby’s father) in the classic Dirty Dancing. He landed the role of Lumiere, the French butler turned candelabra of the Beast’s castle. He works to make sure everyone is comfortable and belts out the iconic anthem, “Be Our Guest”, with enthusiasm.

4. Demi Moore — Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Demi Moore was a powerhouse in the 90s. She made her name in Hollywood in blockbusters such as Ghost, G.I. Jane, and A Few Good Men. Her raspy voice was perfect for fiesty, fearless, and beautiful Esmeralda. Moore was known for her ability to play fierce females and Esmeralda was no exception.

6. Angela Lansbury — Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast (1991)

We couldn’t imagine Beauty and the Beast’s Mrs. Potts without the voice of Angela Lansbury. Yet another Disney character that appears to be made specifically for the actress. So much in fact, that the former Murder, She Wrote star recorded the famous “Beauty and the Beast” song in only one take.

7. Robin Williams — Genie in Aladdin (1992)

Robin Williams was one of the most iconic comedians of our time and the king of improv. His stellar performances in films such as Popeye, Hook, Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumani, and the Night at the Museum trilogy cemented his spot in Hollywood. His ability to completely engross himself in roles brought the Genie of Aladdin to life and created one of Disney’s most memorable characters.

8. Jonathan Taylor Thomas — Young Simba in The Lion King (1994)

JTT graced the covers of Teen Beat and the walls of most teen girls’ bedrooms during the 90s. He scored a permanent role on Home Improvement starring Tim Allen. Thomas perfectly embodied Simba’s innocence and young curiosity. His appearance and personality actually served as inspiration for the supervising animator who created young Simba.

9. John Candy — Wilbur in The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

Canadian actor John Candy was a comedic legend during the late 80s and 90s with films such as Spaceballs, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, National Lampoon’s Vacation, and The Great Outdoors. In The Rescuers Down Under, he voiced Wilbur, an albatross who runs Albatross Airlines. He flies Bernard and Miss Bianca to Australia in a snowstorm to help a kidnapped child. “Tie your kangaroos down, sports fans!”

10. Mel Gibson — John Smith — Pocahontas (1995)

Mel Gibson is still one of the most well-known names in the entertainment world. His blockbuster films Lethal Weapon, Braveheart, and The Patriot only scratch the surface of Gibson’s career. His low, silky voice of his younger years attracted the producers of the upcoming Disney film, Pocahontas, and they sought to cast him as the male lead, John Smith. It’s noted that he also provided the singing voice for John Smith and accepted the role while stating that he had a “desire to make something for my kids.”

11. Jason Alexander — Hugo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

George Costanza is a popular character on the television series Seinfeld and was played by Alexander. While still playing George in 1996, he was also cast to play the amusing gargoyle, Hugo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Interestingly, he didn’t allow his children to watch the movie after its release because of its darker themes.

12. Gilbert Gottfried — Iago in Aladdin (1992)

Everyone remembers the annoying, sarcastic, loud-mouthed parrot from Aladdin. Iago was Jafar’s sidekick and had big dreams of riches and power. Named after the villain in Shakespeare’s Othello, directors cast comedian Gilbert Gottfried after seeing his role in Beverly Hills Cop 2. There is no doubt that Gottfried’s unmistakable voice brought Iago’s character to life like no other.

13. Eva Gabor — Miss Bianca — The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

The beautiful, graceful, and caring Miss Bianca from 1977s The Rescuers and 1990s The Rescuers Down Under were both voiced by Hungarian-American actress Eva Gabor. The Green Acres star’s European accent brought a measure of elegance to both Miss Bianca and Duchess in the Aristocats.

14. Cheech Marin — Banzai — The Lion King (1994)

Shenzi, Bonzai, and Ed are the sadistic sidekicks of lion villain, Scar, and want nothing more than to overrun the Pride Lands. One third of the trio of gangly and creepy hyenas, Banzai, was voiced by comedian and one half of the Cheech and Chong duo, Cheech Marin. It was said that fellow hyena, Shenzi was to originally be voiced by his comedy partner Tommy Chong, but the two had a disagreement.

15. Don Rickles — Mr. Potato Head — Toy Story (1995)

Don Rickles, the king of insult comedy, was the perfect choice for wise-cracking, sarcastic, pessimistic Mr. Potato Head featured in the Toy Story franchise. He had intended to continue his role in Toy Story 4 but sadly passed away prior to recording. However, they were still able to include him by assembling material from 25 years worth of audio recordings to create his dialogue. Toy Story 4 was dedicated to Rickles.

16. James Earl Jones — Mufasa in the Lion King (1994)

Probably one of the most traumatic death scenes for 90s kids was that of Mufasa, the King of the Pride Lands. His voice, the voice of wisdom, truth, and guidance, was provided by actor James Earl Jones. Jones is not only famous for providing CNN’s tagline, “This is CNN”, but is legendary among sci-fi fans as the voice of Star Wars’ Darth Vader.

17. Christian Bale — Thomas in Pocahontas (1995)

It was 21-year-old Christian Bale, who before his rise to stardom, provided the voice for John Smith’s friend and fellow soldier, Thomas, in Pocahontas. It is rumored that the character was possibly named for Thomas Gates, a governor of the Jamestown settlement. His inexperience and innocence make him a likable character who eventually grows into his own and takes charge at the end of the film.

18. Danny Devito — Phil in Hercules (1997)

Danny Devito is a jack of all trades, with notches on his belt as an actor, comedian, director, producer, and screenwriter. He has an extensive film and television career and has been nominated for every film award known to man. In 1997, he provided the voice for Philoctetes (Phil) in the animated film Hercules. Phil is the ornery Satyr (half human-half goat) who is the trainer of ancient Greek heroes, including Hercules. His tendency to be easily annoyed, grumpiness, and short, bald stature make it easy to understand why Danny Devito was chosen for the role.

19. Tony Goldwyn — Tarzan (1999)

Tony Goldwyn, who I honestly can’t see in any role other than the creep in Ghost, voices the brave, loyal, Ape Man, Tarzan, in Disney’s 1999 animated film. The Disney movie was adapted into a children’s story based on the Tarzan of the Apes series, written by Edgar Rice Burroughs and published between 1912 and 1966.

20. Julia Louis-Dreyfus — Princess Atta in A Bug’s Life (1998)

The first Pixar Princess, Atta is the queen-to-be in A Bug’s Life. Voiced by former Seinfeld star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Atta is a perfectionist and constantly worries about her responsibilities as the colony’s future leader. She chooses the main character, Flik as her mate and takes her spot as the Queen of the Colony.

I was blown away by the sheer number of celebrities that I forgot used their voices to bring some of Disney’s most unforgettable characters to life. The 1990s brought about figures that will forever be ingrained in Disney fans’ hearts. Stay tuned for the 2000s version!

Sources

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/The_Disney_Wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

https://www.imdb.com/?ref_=nv_home

***Note: Story was originally published on Medium.com by the author***