20 Celebrities Who Secretly Voice Characters in Your Favorite Childhood Cartoons

Lots of our favorite cartoons and animated movies from childhood actually featured well-known actors, even though we didn’t realize it! These actors often provided the voices for beloved characters without appearing on screen. Sometimes their voices were so different, it was hard to recognize them! Finding out who voiced these characters can make us appreciate those classic shows and movies even more.

Flea

Flea, the bassist from Red Hot Chili Peppers, famously voiced the character Donnie in ‘The Wild Thornberrys.’ Donnie was known for his crazy energy and mostly nonsensical speech, which really fit Flea’s own lively personality. Flea brought a lot of chaotic energy to the recording, shaping Donnie’s unique and wild character. It’s still considered one of Nickelodeon’s most unexpected – and brilliant – casting decisions.

Fergie

Before becoming famous as a singer with the Black Eyed Peas, Stacy Ferguson – known as Fergie – actually voiced Sally Brown in several ‘Peanuts’ TV specials and ‘The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show’ in the mid-1980s. She perfectly captured the character’s sweet but assertive personality. This was one of her first jobs in entertainment, well before her music career began.

Michael Cera

The comedian known for playing clumsy characters was the voice of Brother Bear in ‘The Berenstain Bears’ for several seasons in the early 2000s. He was still a kid himself at the time! That early voice acting work helped him perfect the dry, understated style he’s now famous for in movies. Many viewers are surprised to discover that the voice of the sweet bear cub now belongs to a major Hollywood star.

Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel, known for his action roles, powerfully voiced the main character in ‘The Iron Giant’. Though the role required very few words, he brought a surprising amount of feeling and warmth to the mechanical character. He expertly communicated complex emotions like love and selflessness using only sounds and brief lines, proving his incredible vocal acting range.

James Avery

James Avery, famous for playing Uncle Phil on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,’ also gave a memorable performance as the villain Shredder in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.’ For over a hundred episodes, his intimidating voice brought the character to life, making him a truly frightening enemy for the heroes. Avery skillfully combined the character’s scary side with the lightheartedness needed for a cartoon aimed at kids, and his voice became the standard for how Shredder, the leader of the Foot Clan, sounded.

Mark Hamill

Mark Hamill, best known as Luke Skywalker, also became famous for voicing the Joker in ‘Batman: The Animated Series.’ He developed a unique and memorable laugh, along with a dramatic vocal style, that many fans believe is the definitive portrayal of the character. Hamill brought a combination of dark humor and true evil to the role, significantly enhancing the quality of the cartoon. This success led to a long and successful career as a voice actor in numerous animated shows and films.

Tim Curry

As a huge animation fan, I’ll always remember Tim Curry’s work on ‘The Wild Thornberrys’. He absolutely became Nigel Thornberry! His voice was just perfect – a really quirky British accent filled with made-up words and silly phrases that always made me laugh. He fully committed to how wonderfully weird the character was, and honestly, Nigel is one of the most iconic animated dads ever. It’s amazing how much of an impact he had, even though you only heard him – Tim Curry totally owned every scene!

John Ritter

John Ritter, the beloved comedian, was the voice of Clifford the Big Red Dog. He brought a warm and friendly tone to the character in the popular PBS Kids animated series that aired in the early 2000s. Ritter’s performance made Clifford kind and hopeful, connecting with children and teaching them important lessons about being a good friend and part of a community.

LeVar Burton

You know, as a huge fan of both ‘Star Trek’ and thoughtful kids’ programming, I always loved LeVar Burton’s work on ‘Captain Planet and the Planeteers’. He voiced Kwame, the Planeteer with the power of Earth, and really was the heart of the team. He brought this amazing sense of calm authority to the role, making Kwame the sensible leader they all needed. It really showed how committed Burton was to projects that were both entertaining and had a good message, something I always appreciated.

Meg Ryan

Meg Ryan, famous for her roles in romantic comedies, surprised audiences by voicing the villain Dr. Blight in the first season of ‘Captain Planet and the Planeteers.’ She played the scarred scientist who frequently schemed to harm the environment for her own benefit. This was a departure for Ryan, who usually played charming and sympathetic characters in movies. Her distinctive, gravelly voice made Dr. Blight a particularly unforgettable villain in the show.

Jaleel White

Jaleel White is best known for his role as Steve Urkel, but he also gave voice to the character Sonic the Hedgehog. Throughout the 1990s, he voiced Sonic in three animated series, bringing a cool and somewhat impatient personality to the speedy blue character. He used a distinctive, energetic voice that perfectly captured Sonic’s speed and attitude. For many fans who grew up with those cartoons, White’s portrayal remains the most iconic voice of Sonic.

Lacey Chabert

Lacey Chabert, known for her role in ‘Mean Girls’, was the voice of Eliza Thornberry in the animated series ‘The Wild Thornberrys’. She played a young girl with the amazing ability to talk to animals, who traveled the globe with her unusual family. Chabert perfectly captured Eliza’s adventurous spirit, courage, and the show’s humor. She voiced the character for many years before moving on to more mature roles in movies and TV.

Brittany Murphy

As a big animation fan, I always loved Brittany Murphy’s work as Luanne Platter on ‘King of the Hill.’ She just was Luanne – that sweet, slightly clueless voice with the perfect Southern accent was unforgettable. She voiced her for the whole series, and her comedic timing was spot-on. Beyond the laughs, she brought a real warmth and heart to what was often a pretty cynical show, and that’s something I really appreciated.

Clancy Brown

Clancy Brown, a well-known character actor, famously voices Mr. Krabs in ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’, giving the money-loving crab a distinctive pirate-like voice. While he often plays tough villains in movies like ‘Highlander’ and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, his role as the stingy Mr. Krabs highlights his versatility as an actor.

Mae Whitman

Before becoming known for her roles in TV shows, Mae Whitman voiced Katara in ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’. She skillfully portrayed Katara, the character who guided the group with her strong morals, adding layers of emotion and maturity. Whitman perfectly captured Katara’s journey from an optimistic young girl to a skilled and powerful waterbending master. Her voice acting was key to making the fantastical world of the series feel relatable and emotionally genuine.

Rowan Atkinson

Rowan Atkinson, the British comedian famous for Mr. Bean, brought his unique comedic style to Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ by voicing Zazu, Mufasa’s serious and proper hornbill advisor. Atkinson’s dry humor and clear speech made Zazu’s fussiness funny and endearing, and his scenes with the young lions were some of the most memorable and humorous parts of the movie.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Jonathan Taylor Thomas, a popular teen actor, voiced young Simba in ‘The Lion King’. He perfectly portrayed the cub’s playful arrogance and eagerness to rule, creating a strong foundation for the character’s later struggles and growth. This role helped make him one of the most recognizable young stars of the 1990s.

Jeff Goldblum

Jeff Goldblum lent his voice to the villain Verminous Skumm on ‘Captain Planet and the Planeteers’. He brought a wild, dirty energy to the character, which was different from his typically calm and cool roles. Goldblum was one of many unexpected Hollywood stars who played the show’s environmental villains. His unusual way of speaking made the character, who lived in the sewers, surprisingly appealing.

Dakota Fanning

Dakota Fanning, known for her work as a child actor, provided the voice for Coraline in the fantasy film of the same name. She played a bored but curious girl who finds a hidden doorway to another world. Throughout the story, Fanning skillfully expressed a variety of feelings, from wonder to intense fear, and her performance was key to the film becoming a celebrated stop-motion animated movie.

George Clooney

George Clooney, a famous actor, lent his voice to a character in the animated movie ‘South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut’. He played the doctor, briefly swapping the character’s typical high-pitched voice for Clooney’s deep, smooth tone. Interestingly, he’d previously appeared on the show by simply providing the barking sounds for the character Sparky the dog. His participation in the often-satirical comedy demonstrated his playful side and good sense of humor.

Let us know in the comments which celebrity voice appearance was the most unexpected for you!

2025-12-05 15:16