Black Actors Who Have Voiced Some of the Most Iconic Characters in Animation

For years, Black male actors have been essential to the magic of animation, giving iconic voices to unforgettable characters. They bring a unique depth and personality that connects with audiences of all ages, appearing in popular movies and TV shows across genres like fantasy and science fiction. This showcases some of the actors who have truly made a lasting impact through their voice acting work.

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones is famous for voicing two incredibly iconic characters: Mufasa in Disney’s 1994 film ‘The Lion King’ and Darth Vader in ‘Star Wars’. His powerful, deep voice perfectly captured Mufasa’s role as a king, and he reprised the part in the 2019 remake to keep the character consistent. His performance as Darth Vader is also legendary, making him one of the most recognizable voices in movie history.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson is known for his voice work in several animated projects. He famously played Frozone, the superhero, in both ‘The Incredibles’ movies, bringing a calm and cool presence to the character and serving as Mr. Incredible’s close friend. He also voiced the main character in the anime series ‘Afro Samurai’ and its related film, and played the character Whiplash in the movie ‘Turbo’.

Keith David

Keith David is famous for his voice work, particularly as Goliath in the popular 90s cartoon ‘Gargoyles,’ where he played the leader of a group of stone warriors. He’s also well-known as the villain Dr. Facilier in Disney’s ‘The Princess and the Frog,’ and sang the memorable song ‘Friends on the Other Side.’ Beyond that, he’s lent his distinctive voice to roles like Spawn in HBO’s ‘Todd McFarlane’s Spawn’ and the Arbiter in the ‘Halo’ video game series. David’s impressive career spans both animation and video games, thanks to his unique and recognizable voice.

Phil LaMarr

Phil LaMarr is a talented voice actor famous for his role as the main character in ‘Samurai Jack’. He’s also well-known as the voice of Hermes Conrad, the bureaucratic accountant, in the popular animated series ‘Futurama’. Beyond those roles, he voiced John Stewart in both ‘Justice League’ and ‘Justice League Unlimited’, and has lent his voice to numerous other shows like ‘Static Shock’ and ‘Family Guy’ throughout his career.

Kevin Michael Richardson

Kevin Michael Richardson is a highly experienced voice actor best known for taking on the role of the Joker in the early 2000s animated series ‘The Batman’. He’s voiced many iconic characters, including Goro in the ‘Mortal Kombat’ film and multiple roles on long-running shows like ‘Family Guy’ and ‘The Simpsons’. You’ll recognize his deep voice as Captain Gantu in ‘Lilo & Stitch’ and Shredder in the 2012 version of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’. Richardson is incredibly versatile, equally adept at playing powerful villains and funny supporting characters.

Khary Payton

For almost twenty years, Khary Payton has been the voice of Cyborg in both the original ‘Teen Titans’ series and its spin-off, ‘Teen Titans Go!’ His lively performance has become iconic for the half-human, half-robot hero, captivating a whole generation of fans. Payton also voices Aqualad in ‘Young Justice’ and has contributed to many other animated DC projects. Beyond television, he’s lent his voice to popular video games like ‘Batman: Arkham City’ and several titles in ‘The Sims’ franchise.

Donald Glover

Donald Glover is a versatile performer known for his voice work in popular animated projects. He voiced the adult Simba in the 2019 photo-realistic remake of ‘The Lion King’ and previously played Miles Morales in the ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’ animated series. He also appeared in ‘Adventure Time’ as Marshall Lee, a gender-swapped version of Marceline. Glover’s skills as a writer and musician contribute to the distinctive and rhythmic quality of his voice acting.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy is well-known for his voice work in animated films, especially as Donkey in the ‘Shrek’ series, which began in 2001 and continued with several follow-up movies and specials. His quick and funny delivery was key to the great dynamic between Donkey and Shrek. He also voiced Mushu, the comical dragon in Disney’s ‘Mulan,’ acting as a protector to the main character. These roles cemented Murphy’s status as a prominent figure in contemporary animated movies.

Chris Rock

Chris Rock is well-known for his voice acting, notably as Marty the zebra in the ‘Madagascar’ movies. These films followed a group of zoo animals as they traveled the world. Rock’s unique, high-pitched voice brought a lot of humor and personality to Marty, who dreamed of escaping the zoo. He also starred in and co-wrote the animated film ‘Bee Movie,’ voicing the character Mooseblood. His voice work, like his stand-up comedy, is known for its perfect comedic timing.

Will Smith

Will Smith voiced the main character, Oscar, in the 2004 animated film ‘Shark Tale,’ which boasted a cast of famous actors. Oscar was a little fish who pretended to have defeated a shark to become popular and earn respect among his neighbors. Smith’s performance brought his usual energy and personality to the character, who was designed to look like him. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature when it came out.

Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne is a versatile voice actor, well known for bringing characters to life in animation and video games. He voiced the Silver Surfer in the 2007 film ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’ and played the villain Thrax in the 2001 movie ‘Osmosis Jones’. Throughout his career, Fishburne has also narrated numerous animated projects and documentaries, and his distinctive, powerful voice can be heard in games like ‘The Matrix Online’.

Shameik Moore

Shameik Moore first became well-known for voicing Miles Morales in the critically acclaimed 2018 film, ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.’ He returned to the role in the 2023 sequel, ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,’ as Miles explored different universes. Moore’s performance was praised for being genuine and relatable, bringing a fresh, modern Brooklyn feel to the classic superhero story and introducing a new take on Spider-Man to audiences worldwide.

Mahershala Ali

Mahershala Ali provided the voice for Aaron Davis, also known as the Prowler, in ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,’ starring alongside Shameik Moore. He played Miles Morales’ uncle, a man grappling with a double life as a criminal. Ali reprised his role in the 2023 sequel, ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,’ bringing emotional depth to the complicated bond between the hero and his uncle.

Brian Tyree Henry

Brian Tyree Henry is a versatile voice actor known for his roles in popular animated projects. He voiced Jefferson Davis, Miles Morales’ father, in both ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ movies, portraying him as a loving but strict police officer. He also voiced Belson in ‘Craig of the Creek’ and Dancarino in ‘Vivo’. Henry’s voice acting often highlights close family relationships and realistic emotions.

Tony Todd

Tony Todd is a popular voice actor in animation, best known for bringing villains to life. He famously voiced Darkseid in DC animated movies and played the powerful Dreadwing in ‘Transformers: Prime.’ Recently, he lent his voice to Venom in the video game ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man 2,’ which includes stunning animated scenes. Todd is celebrated for his naturally deep and commanding voice, making him a perfect fit for these roles across different types of media.

Ving Rhames

Ving Rhames is well known for voicing Cobra Bubbles in Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ (2002), a character who started as a CIA agent and later became a social worker. He continued to play Cobra Bubbles in the sequels and the TV series. Rhames has also done voice work for other projects, including the character Thug in ‘The Hippo Adventure,’ and has appeared in numerous commercials. His soothing and reliable voice was a great match for the lively and unpredictable alien characters in the ‘Lilo & Stitch’ franchise.

Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman is known for his distinctive voice, which he used to play the insightful character Vitruvius in the critically acclaimed 2014 film, ‘The Lego Movie.’ In the film, Vitruvius acted as a guide to the main character, Emmet, while playfully subverting the typical ‘wise old man’ role. Freeman also narrated the popular nature documentary ‘March of the Penguins,’ using his recognizable voice to enhance the viewing experience. Throughout his long career, he has contributed his voice to countless commercials and historical documentaries.

Giancarlo Esposito

Giancarlo Esposito is a versatile voice actor known for bringing compelling villains and characters to life in animation. He famously voiced Lex Luthor in the ‘Harley Quinn’ series on Max, and Akela the wolf in Jon Favreau’s 2016 film, ‘The Jungle Book’. More recently, he lent his voice to Baxter Stockman in the 2023 animated film ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’. Esposito’s talent for playing complex and intimidating characters works just as well in voice acting as it does in his live-action performances.

Idris Elba

Idris Elba is a prolific voice actor, known for bringing characters to life in several popular animated films. In 2016 alone, he voiced Chief Bogo, the buffalo police chief in Disney’s ‘Zootopia,’ and the tiger Shere Khan in ‘The Jungle Book.’ More recently, he’s become known for voicing Knuckles the Echidna in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ and the related TV series. He also lent his voice to the character Fluke, a sea lion, in ‘Finding Dory’.

Sterling K. Brown

Sterling K. Brown is a versatile voice actor who lent his talents to several popular projects in 2019. He voiced Lieutenant Destin Mattias, a soldier in Disney’s ‘Frozen II,’ and Garry in ‘The Angry Birds Movie 2.’ He also starred as Wolf in the Netflix animated series ‘Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts’ for three seasons. Brown is known for bringing both strength and genuine emotion to his voice performances.

Keegan-Michael Key

Keegan-Michael Key is a busy voice actor, known for roles like Murray the mummy in the ‘Hotel Transylvania’ films (starting with the second one). He also voiced Kamari the hyena in the 2019 remake of ‘The Lion King,’ alongside Jordan Peele, and more recently played Toad in ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ (2023) and Ducky in ‘Toy Story 4’ (2019). He’s able to create a lot of different, energetic, and funny characters using his voice.

Jordan Peele

Jordan Peele is a versatile voice actor and performer. He brought the character Bunny to life in ‘Toy Story 4’ as part of a funny pair of carnival prizes. He also voiced Melvin in ‘Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie’ and contributed voice work to his own sketch comedy animations. In the 2019 remake of ‘The Lion King,’ he voiced the hyena Azizi, bringing a fresh take to the beloved character. More recently, he co-wrote and starred in the Netflix horror comedy ‘Wendell and Wild’.

James Avery

James Avery is best known as the voice of Shredder in the classic 1987 ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ cartoon. He played the villain for over 100 episodes, shaping how a generation remembers the character. Avery also lent his distinctive deep voice to the role of War Machine in the animated ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Spider-Man’ series from the 1990s. His powerful voice and dramatic style made him a familiar presence in animated TV during that era.

Dave Fennoy

Dave Fennoy is a well-known voice actor who famously played Lee Everett in the first season of Telltale Games’ ‘The Walking Dead’. He’s also voiced popular characters like Lucius Fox in multiple ‘Batman’ games, including ‘Batman: Arkham Knight’ and ‘Batman: The Telltale Series’. Fans of ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ will recognize his voice as Pong Krell from the show’s fourth season. Throughout his long career, Fennoy has lent his voice to countless animated series and video games, establishing himself as a leading voice talent.

Christopher Judge

Christopher Judge is well-known for his voice work, particularly as Kratos in the recent ‘God of War’ games (2018 and ‘Ragnarok’), where he also contributed his performance capture skills. Earlier in his career, during the early 2000s, he voiced Magneto in the animated series ‘X-Men: Evolution.’ More recently, he brought the character of Black Panther to life in the ‘War for Wakanda’ expansion of the ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ video game. His powerful, resonant voice consistently leads to him being cast as strong, legendary characters in animation and games.

Bumper Robinson

Bumper Robinson is a veteran voice actor who has brought many animated characters to life. During the 2000s, he voiced Cyborg in ‘Justice League Doom’ and Bumblebee in ‘Transformers: Animated’. He also played Dwight Conrad on ‘Futurama’ and Falcon on ‘Avengers Assemble’ for multiple seasons. Throughout his long career, starting in his youth, Robinson has contributed to popular shows like ‘Static Shock’ and ‘Scooby Doo’. He’s known for his ability to convincingly portray both young, heroic characters and provide comedic support.

Greg Eagles

Greg Eagles is well known as the voice of Grim from the Cartoon Network show ‘The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy,’ a role he played for many years. He’s also a veteran voice actor in video games, notably as Gray Fox in ‘Metal Gear Solid,’ which had a lot of animated cutscenes. Eagles also voiced Jax Briggs in ‘Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm’ and had a role in ‘Afro Samurai.’ His distinct voice really made Grim a standout character on Cartoon Network.

Arsenio Hall

As a longtime fan, I always loved Arsenio Hall as Winston Zeddemore on ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ back in the ’80s! He really made the character his own, bringing a grounded, sensible energy to the Ghostbusters team. Beyond that, he’s done a ton of voice work over the years, including ‘Igor’ and a bunch of animated specials. But for me, his performance as Winston will always be a classic and a big part of what made the show so special.

Scatman Crothers

Scatman Crothers was a prolific voice actor, best known for bringing the character Jazz to life in the original ‘Transformers’ cartoon and movie. He also voiced the clumsy karate dog in ‘Hong Kong Phooey,’ and played Meadowlark Lemon in the ‘Harlem Globetrotters’ animated series, as well as appearing in several ‘Scooby Doo’ episodes. His background as a musician often shone through in his voice work, giving his characters a distinctive, rhythmic sound.

Bernie Mac

Bernie Mac famously voiced Zuba, Alex the lion’s father, in the 2008 movie ‘Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,’ a role that was among his last. He infused the character with his trademark comedy and a sense of paternal strength as the characters reconnected with their roots. Mac also lent his voice to the character Fruit Juice on an episode of the animated series ‘King of the Hill.’ His contributions to the ‘Madagascar’ films added depth and humor to the story and helped develop the main characters’ histories.

Cedric the Entertainer

I’ve always loved Cedric the Entertainer’s voice work! He’s just so consistently funny and brings a really warm, dependable energy to his roles. I especially remember his hilarious performance as Maurice the lemur in all the ‘Madagascar’ movies and shows. But it wasn’t just that – he was fantastic as Carl in the very first ‘Ice Age’, and I always enjoyed his character, Bobby Pride, on ‘The Proud Family’. And don’t forget Leadbottom in ‘Planes’! He has a knack for playing the voice of the reliable, good-natured guy who balances out the more frantic characters, and it always makes me laugh.

Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams is known for his voice acting work in animation, including the role of Firestorm in ‘Batman: The Brave and the Bold’ and various characters in ‘The Boondocks’. Throughout his career, he’s also contributed to several animated shorts. While he’s famous for his on-screen roles, Williams often brings a youthful energy to his voice work, and his portrayal of Firestorm helped introduce the character to a new generation of fans.

Wayne Brady

Wayne Brady is a talented voice actor who has brought characters to life in several popular animated series. He famously voiced Clover in Disney Junior’s ‘Sofia the First,’ even performing songs for the show. He also lent his voice and entertainment skills to King Dice in the Netflix series ‘The Cuphead Show.’ Brady has also worked on ‘Phineas and Ferb’ and appeared in the film ‘Foodfight.’ His experience in improv and musical theater makes him a versatile performer, equally comfortable voicing characters for kids and adults.

Orlando Jones

Orlando Jones is a versatile voice actor known for bringing characters to life in commercials, movies, and TV shows. He famously voiced Cool Spot, the 7-Up mascot, and appeared in ‘The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.’ He also voiced Snack in the animated series ‘Father of the Pride.’ Beyond animation, Jones has lent his unique and fast-paced comedic style to video games, including voicing a marine in ‘Halo 2.’

Zeno Robinson

Zeno Robinson is a quickly rising voice actor known for bringing popular characters to life. He voices Hunter in ‘The Owl House’ and Hawks in the English dub of ‘My Hero Academia.’ You might also recognize his voice as Cyborg in later seasons of ‘Young Justice’ and in the show ‘Craig of the Creek.’ He’s been busy with many other recent animated series, including ‘The Casagrandes’ and ‘Baymax,’ and is becoming one of the most well-known voices in animated TV today.

LeVar Burton

In the 1990s, LeVar Burton was well-known for voicing Kwame on the animated series ‘Captain Planet and the Planeteers.’ He also brought the character Geordi La Forge to life in several ‘Star Trek’ animations and video games. Burton has always been dedicated to education, and he famously narrated stories on ‘Reading Rainbow,’ becoming a beloved voice for a generation of learners. His calm and informative speaking style made learning enjoyable for millions.

David Alan Grier

I’ve always been impressed by David Alan Grier’s voice work! He’s the voice of Banzai the hyena in the original ‘Lion King’ games and other related projects, which is awesome. But it doesn’t stop there – he’s also Jiminy Cricket in some Disney specials, and he was in ‘Stuart Little’ too. I recently found out he voiced Uncle Henry in the animated ‘The Wiz’ as well! It makes total sense, though, because he’s naturally hilarious, and he brings so much energy and wit to all his animated characters.

JB Smoove

JB Smoove is a voice actor known for bringing a unique energy to animated projects. He plays Frank the Plant, a sarcastic friend, in the show ‘Harley Quinn,’ and voiced Bebop in the 2012 ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ series with Seth Rogen. You can also hear him as Fire in ‘The Emoji Movie’ and in various ‘Ice Age’ specials. His recognizable, gravelly voice and talent for improv help make his characters memorable.

Avery Brooks

Avery Brooks is well-known for his voice work, particularly as Captain Benjamin Sisko in the animated ‘Star Trek’ video games. He also voiced King Maximus in an episode of the animated series ‘Gargoyles.’ Brooks’ strong, dramatic voice has been featured in numerous documentaries and narration projects, but he’s most remembered for his work within the ‘Star Trek’ universe as a leading voice actor in animation.

Dennis Haysbert

Dennis Haysbert is a voice actor known for his deep, commanding voice. He brought Master Ox to life in ‘Kung Fu Panda 2’ as a powerful martial arts expert, and voiced Kilowog in ‘Green Lantern: The Animated Series’ as a tough but supportive mentor. Beyond animation, Haysbert’s voice is recognizable from many commercials and video games, including ‘Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell,’ and he often lends his voice to characters who are strong and have a strong sense of morality.

Ernie Hudson

Ernie Hudson has a long history of voice work in animated action series. He was one of the first actors to voice Cyborg, appearing in the 1980s show ‘The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians.’ He also voiced Lucius Fox in multiple episodes of ‘Batman: The Animated Series,’ and later played Agent Fowler in ‘Transformers: Prime,’ acting as the connection between the government and the Transformers. Hudson is well-known for his dependable voice, making him a popular choice for important supporting roles in these kinds of shows.

Buster Jones

I grew up watching a lot of cartoons, and I always recognized Buster Jones’ voice, though I didn’t always know his name! He was actually the second actor to play Winston Zeddemore on ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ – Arsenio Hall did it first. But he’s more than just that role; he also voiced Blaster in ‘The Transformers,’ both the original cartoon and the 1986 movie. I realized later he was in so many of my favorite shows, like ‘G.I. Joe’ and ‘Captain Planet’ too. It’s amazing how much of the 80s and 90s he was a part of!

Michael Jai White

Michael Jai White is a versatile voice actor known for bringing physically powerful characters to life in animation. He voiced Spawn in the video games and has contributed to several DC animated projects, including roles as Bronze Tiger in ‘Batman: Soul of the Dragon’ and Doomsday in ‘Justice League’. He also voiced the character Black Dynamite in the animated series inspired by his live-action film. His extensive martial arts training often informs his performance in these action-oriented roles.

Common

Common is known for his voice work in animation, notably as B.A. Baracus in ‘The A-Team’ and as Armored Truck in ‘Smallfoot’. He also voiced Kiburi in ‘The Lion Guard’, a series connected to ‘The Lion King’. Beyond just acting, Common often incorporates his rapping talent into these animated projects, bringing a fresh, rhythmic style to his characters.

Courtney B. Vance

Courtney B. Vance voiced the character Roderick Kingsley in the animated series ‘The Spectacular Spider-Man’ during the late 2000s. He’s also narrated several animated documentaries and historical shorts. Known for his refined and intelligent vocal delivery, Vance often brings a sophisticated quality to his characters. Fans particularly remember his work in Marvel animation for being both polished and subtle.

Phil Morris

Phil Morris is a veteran voice actor known for his work in animated superhero series. He famously voiced Vandal Savage in ‘Justice League’ and continued in that role for several direct-to-video movies. He also brought Silas Stone to life in ‘Teen Titans’ and played Jonah Hex in ‘Batman: The Brave and the Bold’. For over twenty years, Morris has consistently voiced a wide range of characters – both heroes and villains – across the DC and Marvel animated universes.

Share your thoughts on these iconic voice performances in the comments.

2026-02-24 07:21