Black Actors Who Voiced Iconic Childhood Cartoon Characters

Black male actors have had a huge impact on the cartoons and animated shows many of us grew up with. They’ve voiced some of the most memorable characters – heroes, villains, and funny sidekicks – and often became those characters for millions of viewers. Whether it was a powerful voice for a space warrior or an energetic tone for a teenage hero, their work is a big part of many people’s fond childhood memories. This article celebrates several Black male actors who shaped the animated worlds of multiple generations.

James Avery

James Avery is best known for playing Uncle Phil on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,’ but he also had a very successful voice acting career. He famously voiced Shredder in the original ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ cartoon from 1987 to 1993, creating a truly memorable and intimidating sound for the character that many fans still recognize today. Beyond Shredder, Avery also lent his voice to War Machine in the 1990s ‘Iron Man’ series and ‘Spider-Man: The Animated Series.’ He was able to convincingly play both powerful heroes and strong villains thanks to his versatile voice.

Phil LaMarr

Phil LaMarr is a highly successful and incredibly busy voice actor known for his work in modern animation. He’s famous for voicing the main character in ‘Samurai Jack,’ bringing both strength and calmness to the role over many seasons. He also played Virgil Hawkins in ‘Static Shock,’ a show praised for featuring a Black teenage superhero. Beyond those leading parts, LaMarr is well-known as the voice of Hermes Conrad in ‘Futurama’ and John Stewart in both ‘Justice League’ and ‘Justice League Unlimited.’ Over the years, he’s brought hundreds of characters to life on major networks, making him a true animation veteran.

Keith David

Keith David is famous for his incredibly deep and powerful voice. He first became well-known as the voice of Goliath in the animated series ‘Gargoyles’, where he played the strong but thoughtful leader of a clan. He also voiced the main character in the ‘Spawn’ animated series, earning praise for his dark and intense performance. Beyond that, he’s lent his voice to other popular characters like Dr. Facilier in ‘The Princess and the Frog’ and the Flame King in ‘Adventure Time’. Because he can so convincingly portray authority and mystery, Keith David is often cast as powerful characters in both animated and live-action roles.

Kevin Michael Richardson

Kevin Michael Richardson is a hugely popular voice actor known for his deep bass voice. He’s voiced hundreds of animated characters since the early 1990s, including memorable roles like the Joker in ‘The Batman’ – a particularly energetic and distinctive portrayal – and Captain Gantu in ‘Lilo & Stitch: The Series’. He also voiced the villain Trigon in ‘Teen Titans’ and played Cleveland Brown Jr. on ‘Family Guy’, among many other parts in shows like ‘The Fairly OddParents’. In 2004, his performance as the Joker earned him a Daytime Emmy Award nomination.

Khary Payton

Khary Payton is well known for his lively voice work as Cyborg in the popular animated series ‘Teen Titans,’ a role he continued in ‘Teen Titans Go!’, adding his unique blend of comedy and tech knowledge. He’s also voiced other DC characters like Aqualad and the villain Black Manta in ‘Young Justice,’ demonstrating his range as an actor. Through his work in the ‘DC Animated Universe,’ Payton’s voice has become strongly associated with several Justice League heroes. Beyond superhero shows, he’s lent his voice to series like ‘Ben 10’ and ‘The Lion Guard’.

LeVar Burton

LeVar Burton is well-known for playing Kwame on ‘Captain Planet and the Planeteers’, where he led the team as the voice of Earth and provided a strong sense of morality. He also appeared as the mischievous spirit Anansi on ‘Gargoyles’, drawing from African folklore. Burton is especially remembered for ‘Reading Rainbow’, where he used animation to make stories engaging for children. His voice work significantly shaped the landscape of educational and action-packed television in the early 1990s.

Bumper Robinson

Bumper Robinson started acting when he was a child and later became a very successful voice actor in many popular cartoons. He’s best known for voicing Richie Foley, the superhero Gear, in ‘Static Shock,’ where he played the smart and supportive best friend to the main character. He also brought a youthful energy to the role of Bumblebee in ‘Transformers Animated.’ You can also hear his voice in shows like ‘Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated’ and ‘The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.’ He’s a versatile actor, able to convincingly play characters from clever teenagers to powerful cosmic figures.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy is well-known for his comedic talent, and he brought that same energy to animated films, most notably as the hilarious dragon Mushu in Disney’s ‘Mulan’ (1998). This role led to more opportunities, including voicing Donkey in the ‘Shrek’ franchise. He voiced Donkey in four ‘Shrek’ movies and several TV specials, and his energetic, distinctive performance made the character a pop culture favorite in the early 2000s. While best known for live-action roles, Murphy’s voice work has become a cherished part of many people’s childhoods.

Greg Eagles

Greg Eagles is famous for voicing the Grim Reaper, known as Grim, on ‘The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy’. He created a memorable and funny Jamaican accent for the character, which became a highlight of the show. He also played Ninja Ninja in ‘Afro Samurai’, acting as the energetic sidekick to the main character. Throughout his career, he’s lent his voice to ‘The Powerpuff Girls’ and the ‘Metal Gear Solid’ video games. Eagles’ versatile voice work makes him a popular choice for both wacky comedies and intense action animation.

Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes was a key part of the animated series ‘South Park’ as the voice of the character Chef. He was known for his rich, soulful voice, which he used for both funny lines and Chef’s memorable songs. The character served as a sort of advisor to the show’s child characters, often giving them advice that was surprisingly unsuitable. Hayes voiced Chef from the very beginning of the show in 1997 until he left in 2006. His work on the show was instrumental in helping ‘South Park’ become popular and a significant part of popular culture in its early years.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson is known for bringing his powerful and recognizable style to animated roles, most notably as Frozone in ‘The Incredibles’ franchise. He infused the character Lucius Best with a cool and confident energy. Beyond that, Jackson both starred in and produced the anime series ‘Afro Samurai,’ where he voiced the main character, Afro, as well as the comedic sidekick, Ninja Ninja. This animated work, like his live-action performances, showcases characters with a commanding presence.

Michael Winslow

Michael Winslow, famous for his incredible ability to imitate sounds – earning him the nickname “The Man of 10,000 Sound Effects” – voiced the character Larvell Jones in the animated series ‘Police Academy’. He brought the same talent to the cartoon that he’d shown in the live-action movies, using his skill to make the show funnier. Winslow also created voices and special sound effects for the animated series ‘The New Kids on the Block’. He could make all sorts of sounds – from car engines to electronic beeps – using only his voice. This made him a huge asset to animated shows that depended on funny sounds and physical comedy.

Tony Todd

As a huge animation fan, I’ve always been struck by Tony Todd’s incredible voice. It’s just so deep and commanding! He’s been in a ton of animated projects, and he always delivers. I especially remember him as Darkseid in those DC animated movies – seriously intimidating. And he was a perfect Dreadwing in ‘Transformers: Prime’, bringing this really cool mix of honor and threat to the character. He’s also done Icon for ‘Young Justice’ and even popped up in ‘Gargoyles’. Honestly, whenever an animated show needs a powerful, authoritative voice for a god-like being or a strong leader, Tony Todd is usually the first person they call – and for good reason!

Arsenio Hall

You know, as a big fan of ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ cartoon, I always loved the voice of Winston Zeddemore. It was actually Arsenio Hall doing the voice work in the early seasons! He really nailed the character’s personality and helped make Winston such a memorable part of the show, especially when it was at its peak. It’s kinda cool to remember he was doing that right as he was becoming famous with his own late-night talk show. He brought a really smart and down-to-earth vibe to the Ghostbusters team. Even though someone else took over the role later, his work is still a huge part of what makes the whole ‘Ghostbusters’ franchise so special, in my opinion.

Dorian Harewood

Dorian Harewood is well known for his voice acting in several popular action cartoons. He famously voiced Modo, the strong but kind character from ‘Biker Mice from Mars’, bringing a sense of dependability to the show throughout its 1990s run. He also lent his voice to Jax Briggs in ‘Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm’ and contributed to ‘The Legend of Prince Valiant’ and ‘The Spectacular Spider-Man’ with various roles. Thanks to this extensive work, fans of action and adventure series easily recognize his voice.

Tell us about your favorite iconic voice performances and who you think was the defining voice of your childhood in the comments below!

2026-02-17 04:16