50 Actors You Completely Forgot Voiced Disney Characters
Pixar totally counts, they *love* a star cameo
Some Disney performances are iconic. Sure, you know Ellen DeGeneres voiced Dory, Tom Hanks played Woody, and Robin Williams was Genie. You probably know Angela Lansbury better as Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast than Jessica Fletcher on Murder She Wrote. But were you aware Christian Bale, Julianna Margulies, John Candy, Kerry Washington, and Chloë Grace Moretz have all voiced Disney and Pixar characters too? Didn’t think so. And TBH, it’s pretty thrilling to discover that some of your favorite actors are the voices behind these iconic animated characters — whether they're the lead role or a supporting act. Gear up for back-to-back revelations, because these 50 stars have all been in animated Disney and Pixar movies.
Gemma Chan - Namaari in Raya and the Last Dragon
I know this movie just came in 2021 out but like... did you see it?! Gemma Chan and Kelly Marie Tran, who voices Raya, are so good!!
Leonard Nimoy - King Kashekim Nedakh in Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Getting Spock himself to be a voice in your science fiction animated adventure was such a flex from Disney. He also voiced a lot of characters in computer games as well as Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde in a movie that traumatized me as a child, The Pagemaster.
Vincent Price - Ratigan in The Great Mouse Detective
The famously spooky actor and host from days of yore played the villain in this kids movie. Keep that tidbit in your pocket for the next time some Boomer tries to tell you you "probably wouldn't understand" classic horror because you "weren't there" or whatever.
Anna Paquin - Ramsey in The Good Dinosaur
The X-Men and True Blood star is also the voice of Sheeta in the English dub of Hayao Miyazaki's steampunk animated fantasy film Castle in the Sky, which, thanks to corporate mergers, is now technically owned by Disney.
Julianna Margulies - Neera in Dinosaur
Ironically, The Good Wife star is not in the Pixar film The Good Dinosaur... This is Dinosaur, a 2000 film that used CGI to create a "live-action" looking film about dino friends.
Spencer Breslin - Cubby in Return to Neverland
The iconic child star voiced one of the Lost Boys in the Peter Pan sequel. You'd think he would have done a lot more Disney animated movies, but this is more or less it!
Susan Surandon - Miss Spider in James and the Giant Peach
I honestly try not to think too much about Miss Spider and how scary she looks in this movie, but did you know that Susan Sarandon voices her?! She also plays Coco Labouche in Rugrats in Paris.
Also, did you know that there are two future Hogwarts professors in James and the Giant Peach? David Thewlis (a.k.a. Prof. Lupin) plays Mr. Earthworm and Miriam Margoyles (a.k.a. Prof. Sprout) is both Mrs. Gloworm and Aunt Sponge.
John Candy - Wilbur in The Rescuers Down Under
The iconic 80s comedian, who died tragically in 1994, is the voice of the iconic seagull in the sequel to The Rescuers that's definitely better than the original, right?
Jerry Orbach - Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast
We really don't talk enough about how Lennie Briscoe from old school Law & Order is the guy who sings "Be Our Guest." He was also a major Broadway star! Check out the documentary Howard on Disney+ if you want to see some BTS footage of him singing with Angela Lansbury.
Kevin McKidd – Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin in Brave
The Grey's Anatomy hottie let out his Scottish accent in both a moderate and super heavy capacity as Lord MacGuffin and his son Young MacGuffin–who pretty much no one can understand–in the 2012 film Brave.
Bette Midler – Georgette in 'Oliver & Company
It only makes sense that Bette Midler voiced the super sophisticated poodle in Oliver & Company. She also sings "Perfect Isn't Easy," which is definitely one of the best songs in the film alongside Billy Joel's "Why Should I Worry."
Minnie Driver – Jane in Tarzan
The Good Will Hunting actress voiced Tarzan's love interest Jane. While she was the OG voice of the character, she wasn't involved in any of the sequels or spin-offs.
Jason Alexander – Hugo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
During his run as George Constanza in Seinfeld, Jason Alexander took a hot sec to voice the gargoyle Hugo, one of the three, in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Prior to that, he voiced Abis Mal in Aladdin: The Return of Jafar.
George Takei – First Ancestor in Mulan
Best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in the Star Trek TV series, George Takei lends his voice in Mulan as the founder of the Fa family. He continued the role in the sequel to the film.
Rowan Atkinson – Zazu in The Lion King
Yes, the man who brought us Mr. Bean also voiced Mufasa's right-hand bird Zazu in the incredibly iconic 1994 film. But FYI, he didn't do the singing. Jeff Bennett stepped in to fill that space and give us the "Morning Report."
Will Arnett – Horst in Ratatouille
Remember that borderline scary German sous-chef after Skinner, aka the second guy in charge of the kitchen, in Ratatouille who may or may not have done something illegal before working at Gusteau's? Well, he was voiced by Will Arnett.
Linda Hunt – Grandmother Willow in Pocahontas
Linda Hunt has lent her voice to numerous works including Solo: A Star Wars Story, but perhaps one of her most iconic animated roles is Grandmother Willow, who Pocahontas turns to for wisdom and advice.
David Spade – Kuzco in The Emperor's New Groove
While you likely know Patrick Warburton voiced Kronk, did you know David Spade lent his voice to the human and llama version of Kuzco? The actor and comedian clearly nailed it.
Brad Garrett – Hook Hand Thug in Tangled
The comedian and Everybody Loves Raymond star lends his voice to the scary yet sweet Hook Hand Thug in the 2010 film Tangled, as well as in the TV series spin-off. Prior to that, he took on the role of Gusteau in Ratatouille.
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