From the iconic voices behind SpongeBob to Bugs Bunny, who are the cartoon voice actors that bring your favourite animated personalities to life?
Just as video gamers love authenticity and depth from their favourite characters, animation fans crave memorable and exciting performances that breathe life into their favourite cartoons, too.
Over the years, many talented cartoon voice actors have graced our screens, creating memories we’ll never forget – as kids and adults! From timeless classics to modern masterpieces, these voice actors have lent their voices to some of the most iconic characters in animation history.
So, let’s dive into the colourful world of cartoon voice actors!
🥇 Tom Kenny
Thomas “Tom” Kenny is the voice behind the beloved childhood character SpongeBob SquarePants. The cartoon voice actor voices SpongeBob, Gary the Snail, and the French Narrator in the famous animated series. He also lends his voice to the show’s host, Patchy the Pirate.
Since its premiere in 1999, SpongeBob has become a media sensation, with unimaginable amounts of merchandise, a feature film, and even Bruce Willis is a big fan!
While many recognise Kenny as the cartoon voice actor behind our favourite underwater yellow sponge, he has voiced many other iconic cartoon characters from our childhood. You can find his voice in shows such as The Powerpuff Girls, Futurama, Adventure Time, and the video game series Spyro the Dragon.
Tom Kenny has rightfully been dubbed the ‘voice of a generation’, and we think that makes him undeniably the best cartoon voice actor.
🥈 Khary Payton
While most may recognise this actor from hit TV show The Walking Dead, Khary Payton has also done extensive amounts of voice acting. Many will recognise his voice as Cyborg from Teen Titans and animated DC series Justice League.
Recently, you can find Payton in the Amazon Original animated series Invincible, where he voices Black Samson – a tough-nut veteran that is part of the Guardians. The Amazon animated show was recently renewed for a fourth and fifth season in 2024.
Other notable animated series you can find Payton in include Disney XD’s original series Big Hero 6 and Batman: Arkham Underworld.
🥉 Nancy Cartwright
American voice actor Nancy Cartwright is the long-time voice of Bart Simpson from the iconic TV show The Simpsons. You might also recognise her voice from other characters in the animated show such as Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, and Maggie.
With a resume spanning both on and off camera roles, Cartwright is a seasoned professional within the TV and film industry. You may recognise her from shows such as Popeye and Son, Snorks, and My Little Pony.
The cartoon voice actor has won awards for her voice acting in The Simpsons, and she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance and an Annie Award for her work in the field of animation.
4. John DiMaggio
American comedian John DiMaggio is the voice behind one of the world’s favourite foul-mouthed robots – Bender in Futurama. The former comedian turned cartoon voice actor has an extensive portfolio, including Jake the Dog in Adventure Time and Dr. Drakken in Kim Possible.
In 2013, DiMaggio also produced and narrated a documentary on voice acting titled I Know That Voice, in which 150 voice actors were interviewed. This includes Tara Strong, Jennifer Hale, Dana Snyder, and Jim Cummings.
John is an avid advocate for the voice acting community, evident through not only his documentary but his fight for a pay increase during his time on Futurama. While the actor failed to get a pay rise, he felt the attention to the issue of unfair pay was worthwhile within the industry.
5. Jessica DiCicco
Jessica DiCicco is one of the most underrated TV show voice actors out there, as she voices many of the characters we know and love. You’ll find her voice in Adventure Time as Flame Princess, as well as the English dub of Shigeru in Demon Slayer!
Jessica’s voice acting career began as the announcer for Nickelodeon’s educational channel named Noggin. She would then go on to feature in a multitude of animated series from The Emperor’s New School and Puppy Dog Pals to Gravity Falls and Ben 10.
The cartoon voice actor has received a Daytime Emmy for voicing Malina in Emperor’s New School – a true testament to her skill!
6. Jon Benjamin
Harry Jon Benjamin is an American comedian, writer, producer, and voice actor known for his roles in multiple adult animated TV shows. He is the voice of Sterling Archer in Archer, Bob Belcher in Bob’s Burgers, and Ben in Dr. Katz.
Jon’s most recognisable role as top spy agent Archer recently came to an end, which the cartoon voice actor used to shine a light on the importance of taking care of your voice. He says, “There were many, many sessions where my voice started to give out,”
“I would always be like, ‘Oh no,’ when I saw a stage direction like ‘on a motorcycle, yelling’ or gun battle, yelling over.’ Archer yelled a lot.”
7. Tara Strong
Canadian-American voice actress Tara Strong is known for an array of roles throughout many television series – from anime to DC, she is a seasoned cartoon voice actor.
After moving to Los Angeles from Toronto in 1994, Tara quickly made her mark in several TV projects, becoming a frequent voice actor for Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Her best-known characters are Bubbles in The Powerpuff Girls, Timmy Turner in Fairly OddParents, and Raven Roth in Teen Titans Go!
Strong is undoubtedly an important character throughout many people’s childhoods, bringing life to a multitude of iconic TV show animated personalities.
8. Rob Paulsen
Rob Paulsen is the iconic voice behind many of our favourite animated childhood characters, from Yakko Warner in Animaniacs to Pinky in Pinky and the Brain.
Over the span of his career, Rob has voiced over 250 animated characters, receiving a Daytime Emmy award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for his role as Pinky. The voice actor has also won three Annie Awards for his contributions to the industry.
Many will recognise the cartoon voice actor from the original 1987 version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as Raphael. The series was instantly popular, spanning ten seasons and 193 episodes. The voice actor even said that Raphael’s voice was similar to his own.
9. Jaleel White
American actor Jaleel White may be more of an on-camera hit, but his voice acting is not to be dismissed. You’ll recognise Jaleel’s voice as Sonic the Hedgehog in the first-ever Sega animated series of the popular game.
Many may also recognise Jaleel’s voice from the Scooby-Doo and Guess Who animated series, a spin-off that followed a similar premise to the original Scooby-Doo movies where the Gang solve mysteries while encountering celebrities and fictional personalities. The show included many crossovers from DC Comics and even the Scooby Gang’s own voice actors.
10. Katherine Soucie
New York-born Katherine Soucie is one of the most well-known voice actors in the industry. She is recognisable for her performances in a multitude of animated TV shows, from Sally Acorn in Sonic the Hedgehog to Lola Bunny in the Looney Tunes franchise.
In the 70s, Katherine began her acting career on-screen but explains she soon became disappointed with the limitations and restrictions of on-camera acting. In 1986, she would move to voice over, securing her first role as three different characters in Rambo: The Force of Freedom.
Conclusion
It’s clear that the voice acting world of animated TV shows is filled with vibrant, extremely talented personalities who deliver unforgettable performances—some even helping to shape our childhoods!
From the whimsical undersea adventures of SpongeBob SquarePants to the daring escapades of Bender, Bart Simpson, and beyond, these actors have shown that voice acting is an art form that can captivate, entertain, and inspire.
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