20 Celebrities Who Secretly Voice Characters in Your Favorite Childhood Cartoons

Many of the animated shows and movies that defined our younger years featured familiar voices that we may not have recognized at the time. Famous actors often step into the recording booth to bring life to iconic heroes and villains without ever showing their faces on screen. These performances sometimes go unnoticed because the stars change their natural speaking tones to fit the wacky or dramatic nature of the animation. Discovering the talent behind these beloved characters adds a new layer of appreciation to the nostalgia we feel for these classics.

Flea

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea provided the voice for Donnie in ‘The Wild Thornberrys’. The character was known for his unintelligible babbling and wild behavior which matched the musician’s energetic persona. Flea recorded his lines with a chaotic energy that defined the feral boy’s distinct personality. His performance remains one of the most surprising casting choices in Nickelodeon history.

Fergie

Before she became a global pop superstar with the Black Eyed Peas Stacy Ferguson voiced Sally Brown. She provided the voice for Charlie Brown’s younger sister in several television specials and ‘The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show’ during the mid-1980s. Her work captured the innocent yet demanding nature of the iconic character perfectly. This role marked one of her earliest steps into the entertainment industry long before her music career took off.

Michael Cera

The actor known for his awkward comedic roles voiced Brother Bear in ‘The Berenstain Bears’ series. He played the character for several seasons during the early 2000s while he was still a child himself. This gig helped him develop the deadpan delivery that would later become his trademark in live-action films. Fans of the show are often shocked to learn the voice behind the polite bear cub is now a Hollywood star.

Vin Diesel

Action star Vin Diesel lent his deep and rumbling voice to the titular character in ‘The Iron Giant’. He recorded the lines with a minimal amount of dialogue but infused the machine with immense emotion and heart. The performance required him to convey complex feelings like love and sacrifice using only guttural sounds and short phrases. His work in this film stands as a testament to his ability to act with just his voice.

James Avery

While he was best known as Uncle Phil on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ James Avery also voiced the villainous Shredder. He terrorized the heroes in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ for over one hundred episodes with his menacing delivery. Avery managed to balance the character’s threatening nature with the comedic tone required for a children’s cartoon. His portrayal established the definitive voice for the leader of the Foot Clan.

Mark Hamill

Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill found a second career as the voice of the Joker in ‘Batman: The Animated Series’. He created a distinct laugh and theatrical vocal range that many fans consider the best interpretation of the Clown Prince of Crime. Hamill treated the role with a mix of sinister humor and genuine malice that elevated the cartoon to a new level. His work in this series led to decades of voice acting roles in various animated projects.

Tim Curry

Legendary actor Tim Curry used his eccentric vocal talents to bring Nigel Thornberry to life in ‘The Wild Thornberrys’. He gave the nature documentarian a distinct British accent and a vocabulary full of nonsensical slang that delighted viewers. Curry embraced the absurdity of the character and made him one of the most memorable father figures in animation. His performance proved that he could dominate a scene even without appearing on screen.

John Ritter

The late comedy icon John Ritter provided the gentle and warm voice for ‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’. He voiced the giant canine in the animated series that ran on PBS Kids during the early 2000s. Ritter infused the character with a kindness and optimism that resonated with young audiences everywhere. His performance helped teach valuable life lessons about friendship and community to a generation of children.

LeVar Burton

‘Star Trek’ actor LeVar Burton voiced the character Kwame in the environmental superhero series ‘Captain Planet and the Planeteers’. As the wielder of the Earth ring he served as the grounded and sensible leader of the group. Burton brought a sense of authority and calm determination to the role that anchored the team during their missions. His involvement highlighted his commitment to educational and socially conscious programming.

Meg Ryan

Romantic comedy star Meg Ryan took a villainous turn as Dr. Blight in the first season of ‘Captain Planet and the Planeteers’. She voiced the scarred scientist who often plotted to destroy the environment for personal gain. It was a rare departure for Ryan who was typically known for playing lovable protagonists on the big screen. Her raspy and sinister delivery made the character one of the most memorable antagonists in the series.

Jaleel White

While he was famous for playing Steve Urkel on television Jaleel White also voiced ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’. He provided the cool and impatient attitude for the blue blur in three different animated series during the 1990s. White adopted a nasally and energetic tone that matched the speed and attitude of the video game icon. Many fans from that era still consider his interpretation to be the definitive voice of the character.

Lacey Chabert

‘Mean Girls’ actress Lacey Chabert voiced the main protagonist Eliza Thornberry in ‘The Wild Thornberrys’. She played the girl who could secretly talk to animals while traveling the world with her eccentric family. Chabert managed to convey the curiosity and bravery of a young explorer while handling the comedic aspects of the show. She held this role for years before transitioning into more adult roles in film and television.

Brittany Murphy

The late actress Brittany Murphy voiced the naive but sweet Luanne Platter on the long-running series ‘King of the Hill’. She gave the character a distinct Southern drawl and a sense of innocence that made her endearing to audiences. Murphy voiced Luanne for the entire run of the show and showcased her impressive comedic timing. Her performance added a necessary layer of heart to the satirical animated sitcom.

Clancy Brown

Character actor Clancy Brown is the voice behind the greedy restaurant owner Mr. Krabs in ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’. He uses a pirate-like accent to portray the money-obsessed crustacean who runs the Krusty Krab. Brown is typically known for playing intimidating villains in live-action films like ‘Highlander’ and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’. His comedic turn as the cheapskate crab shows his incredible range as a performer.

Mae Whitman

Before starring in various television dramas Mae Whitman voiced Katara in ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’. She brought depth and emotional maturity to the waterbender who served as the moral compass of the group. Whitman captured the transition of the character from a hopeful girl to a powerful master of her element. Her vocal performance was crucial in grounding the fantasy series in real human emotion.

Rowan Atkinson

British comedian Rowan Atkinson voiced the uptight hornbill Zazu in Disney’s ‘The Lion King’. He used his signature dry wit and precise diction to play the major domo to King Mufasa. Atkinson made the character’s fussiness hilarious rather than annoying through his impeccable delivery. His interaction with the young lions provided some of the funniest moments in the beloved film.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Teen heartthrob Jonathan Taylor Thomas provided the speaking voice for young Simba in ‘The Lion King’. He captured the bratty confidence of the cub who just couldn’t wait to be king. His performance successfully set the stage for the character’s tragic loss and eventual journey to adulthood. This role cemented his status as one of the biggest young stars of the 1990s.

Jeff Goldblum

Jeff Goldblum voiced the rat-human hybrid villain Verminous Skumm in ‘Captain Planet and the Planeteers’. He played the character with a frantic and grimy energy that was distinct from his usual cool persona. Goldblum was part of a surprising lineup of Hollywood stars who played the Eco-Villains in the educational show. His unique vocal cadence made the sewer-dwelling antagonist strangely charismatic.

Dakota Fanning

Child star Dakota Fanning voiced the titular character in the dark fantasy film ‘Coraline’. She portrayed the bored and adventurous girl who discovers a parallel world behind a secret door. Fanning conveyed a wide range of emotions from curiosity to absolute terror as the story unfolded. Her performance helped make the film a modern classic of stop-motion animation.

George Clooney

Hollywood A-lister George Clooney voiced the doctor in the animated feature ‘South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut’. It was a brief cameo where he replaced the usual squeaky voice of the doctor with his smooth baritone. Clooney had previously voiced Sparky the dog in the television series by just barking. His willingness to participate in the irreverent comedy showed his great sense of humor.

Tell us which of these celebrity voice cameos surprised you the most by dropping a note in the comments.