Top 30 Celebrity Voice Actor Performances That Stole the Show
#30: Jay Baruchel as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
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“How to Train Your Dragon” franchise (2010-) Naturally possessing a nerdy, nasally voice, Jay Baruchel couldn’t have been better suited to play Hiccup, a scrawny Viking living in his mighty father’s shadow. A lesser actor might’ve portrayed this character as a one-dimensional nerd. Baruchel turns in a multi-layered performance, however, bringing out Hiccup’s strength, wisdom, and compassion as he forms a powerful bond with a dragon. As this series progresses, Baruchel develops Hiccup into a brave, noble leader with a great deal of depth. All the while, Baruchel maintains an offbeat charm that distinguishes Hiccup from the rest of the crowd.
#29: Patton Oswalt as Remy
“Ratatouille” (2007) You gotta figure there’s gonna be more than a few Pixar entries on this list, so what better way to start than with Patton Oswalt in “Ratatouille?” A rat with a love for cooking, Remy naturally finds division between his passion and the dark and damp world he’s been bred into. With such a defined character trait driving the plot, the movie hinges on Oswalt being able to get the audience to empathize with Remy immediately, but boy, does he make it look - or sound - effortless. So fluidly is he able to suffuse the character with the enthusiasm needed yet with a dash of that familiar, artistic stubbornness. Oswalt’s vocal career would only skyrocket after this movie, and we can definitely see - or hear - why.
#28: Jerry Orbach as Lumière
“Beauty and the Beast” (1991) This Disney classic is chock full of vocal talent. While Angela Lansbury’s Mrs. Potts is oh-so-charming, for this entry we have to give it to Jerry Orbach as Lumiere. Orbach was a world-class actor who tore Broadway up. Though sadly the star passed away in 2004, he left behind a legacy on-stage and on-screen that will never be forgotten. His performance as Lumière in “Beauty and the Beast”, like much of his work, is timeless. Through the candelabra, we get a taste of the actor’s immeasurable talent. He brings a theatrical sense to Lumiere that makes him impossible to ignore! Everything from his iconic rendition of “Be Our Guest” to his charming persona is executed perfectly.
#27: Ralph Fiennes as Pharaoh Rameses II
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“The Prince of Egypt” (1998) No stranger to playing tyrannical villains throughout his career, Ralph Fiennes walks a fine line between cruelty and sympathy in this epic musical. At once refined and wicked in his vocal stylings, the British actor conveys the moral complexity of a man torn between his duty as a ruler and the love he has for his brother Moses. Even as the story progresses and his treatment of the Hebrews becomes more unforgivable, Fiennes still allows us to believe Rameses is capable of change. Though he plays an irredeemable antagonist, his performance cuts straight to the core of a misunderstood man whose stubbornness ultimately prevents him from doing the right thing.
#26: Samuel L. Jackson as Lucius Best / Frozone
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“The Incredibles” franchise (2004-) A few years before debuting as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Samuel L. Jackson saved the day as this slick superhero. Possessing ice powers and a laidback personality, Frozone is “cool” in every sense of the word. So as you can imagine, Jackson was an ideal casting choice. In “The Incredibles,” Jackson hits every one-liner out of the park, making Frozone sound like a total badass. He additionally hits all the right notes as Frozone’s alter ego, Lucius Best, acting as a supportive best friend to Bob Parr. Of course, Jackson’s best line delivery occurs during an argument between Lucius and his wife, Honey. We’ll never get tired of hearing Jackson ask, “Where’s my super suit?”
#25: John C. Reilly as Wreck-It Ralph
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“Wreck-It Ralph” franchise (2012-18) Wreck-It Ralph is a different kind of Disney villain. He’s not sinister, calculating, or even really bad. He actually wants to be a good guy, but simply doesn’t understand what being a hero is all about. John C. Reilly is delightful as the titular character, supplying him with a childlike innocence. As we all know, however, children can be selfish, naïve, and aggressive too. In Ralph’s case, he’s basically a troubled kid trapped in an overgrown body. Even when Ralph is at his worst, though, Reilly still manages to make him lovable and even identifiable. Behind his hostile tendencies, there’s an individual with a genuine soul, which Reilly brings out of Ralph as he discovers his true purpose in life.
#24: Mandy Moore as Rapunzel
“Tangled” (2010) The story of Rapunzel is one that most of us grew up with and know like the back of our hands. Yet in “Tangled”, Mandy Moore makes it feel new and fresh. She certainly has a knack for creating memorable characters, like Jamie in “A Walk to Remember” and Rebecca in “This Is Us”. Rapunzel undoubtedly belongs on that list. Moore’s portrayal of the princess feels authentic and relevant. With her angelic singing voice and relatable personality, she makes it hard not to love the character. Her unforgettable performance, combined with Zachary Levi’s charming portrayal of Flynn, breathes new life into this fairytale.
#23: Will Ferrell as Megamind
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“Megamind” (2010) Will Ferrell has a knack for taking potentially unlikable characters and giving them a lovable quality. Megamind is a perfect example. An alien who aspires to take over Metro City, Megamind is egotistical, manipulative, and dastardly. Deep down, though, he’s not exactly evil. He just sees super villainy as his only career option. Of course, once he finally defeats his nemesis, his existence suddenly lacks meaning. Ferrell totally throws himself into this role, having a ton of fun playing a childish mastermind who’s prone to failure. Simultaneously, Ferrell makes us sympathize with this misguided anti-hero who just needs a push in the right direction.
#22: Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon
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“Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise (2014-23) By the time the first “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie premiered, Bradley Cooper already had two Oscar nominations under his belt. You’d think that voicing a genetically-engineered raccoon would be a step back, but Rocket turned out to be one of Cooper’s most beloved characters. While he had hilarious dialogue to work with, Cooper’s smartass delivery and timing made the character feel whole. Whenever Rocket speaks, we don’t hear Cooper putting on a thick accent. We just hear Rocket. While often a source of comedic relief, Cooper also does an authentic job at bringing out Rocket’s fear and insecurity. Cooper played an integral role in molding Rocket into a fully fleshed-out character… or we guess a furred-out character in this case.
#21: Vincent Price as Professor Ratigan
“The Great Mouse Detective” (1986) One of Disney’s most criminally underrated films features a villain who is voiced by one of the horror genre’s greats. “The Great Mouse Detective” was released during a lull in Disney’s animated feature films and its relative success was one of the factors which reinvigorated the studio. In this Sherlock Holmes themed tale, Vincent Price plays the role of Professor Ratigan, the Moriarty-esque foil to Basil. This legendary actor gives a performance that won’t soon be forgotten, and just his voice can send a shiver down your spine.
#20: Chris Pratt as Emmet Brickowski
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“The LEGO Movie” (2014) Emmet may seem like a run-of-the-mill construction worker on the surface. Thanks to Chris Pratt’s endearing performance, though, he’s truly one-of-a-kind. An ordinary minifigure with a very special destiny, Emmet emerges as both a goofball and an unlikely action hero. Pratt flawlessly expresses all of Emmet’s passion, creativity, and enthusiasm. Even when he’s performing the most routine tasks, Emmet sounds like he’s on top of the world. Pratt also brings humanity to the character, molding this yellow brick into an encouraging role model we care about. Equally silly and sincere, no actor in Hollywood could likely capture Emmet’s essence quite like Pratt.
#19: Johnny Depp as Rango
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“Rango” (2011) Johnny Depp is one of those performers that can slip into any role like a chameleon. Likewise, Rango is an actual chameleon that can blend into his environment like a Hollywood actor. Having spent most of his life behind glass, this lizard faces an identity crisis when he becomes stranded in the desert. The timid Rango is able to survive by taking on the persona of a western hero, although this inevitably lands him in hot water. Rango is constantly shifting between being courageous, cowardly, confident, and in over his head, but Depp’s performance is perfectly balanced. He completely loses himself in this role, making us forget about the actorbehind the character.
#18: James Woods as Hades
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“Hercules” (1997) You can’t mention Hercules without giving a shout out to the legendary Danny Devito and his performance as Phil. But James Woods’ Hades is somehow even more memorable. This Academy Award nominee is known for playing villains, so his role in this Disney film of mythological proportions is definitely fitting. James Woods plays the primary antagonist in 1997’s “Hercules,” the king of the underworld, Hades. In traditional Greek mythology, Hades isn’t necessarily a bad guy, but in this rendition, he is our hero’s main adversary. Woods has said that he had such a good time acting as the voice of Hades that he’d take up the role again anytime. He went on to voice the character in an animated series, as well as several video games.
#17: Alan Tudyk as King Candy aka Turbo
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“Wreck-It Ralph” (2012) At this point, we know not to be surprised by a transformative vocal performance from Alan Tudyk. Heck, he voiced a chicken in “Moana.” A chicken! But back in 2012, we were blown away by his villainous turn in “Wreck-It Ralph,” and that’s saying something considering the stacked cast. As King Candy, Tudyk presents a foppish and almost comedic antagonist in the vein of comedian Ed Wynn. As Turbo, however, King Candy’s secret identity, Tudyk goes full dastardly, making us suddenly fear what was originally at its core a silly character. It’s no wonder that Tudyk won an Annie Award for Voice Acting in the film.
#16: George Clooney as Mr. F.F. ‘Foxy’ Fox
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“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009) He’s the man synonymous with the phrase ‘movie star’, so we had to constantly remind ourselves that he is the one playing the lead in this stop-motion flick. Described as a ‘natural choice’ by Wes Anderson, Clooney’s charm adds a certain gentlemanly quality to the already fantastic titular fox. Unlike other animated films, the voices were recorded on-location in an old farmhouse to get the most natural performances and as an attempt to replicate the movie’s mood. As a result, the comedy boasts the suave nature of Clooney’s character, recounting the group’s bizarre heist capers. It’s almost like the remake of “Ocean’s Eleven”… hey wait a minute.
#15: Amy Poehler as Joy
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“Inside Out” (2015) Although Mindy Kaling as Disgust is certainly an inspired casting choice, Amy Poehler’s portrayal of Joy is simply irresistible. The very definition of happiness, Joy attempts to put a smile on young Riley’s face when life gets her down. Being a basic human emotion, Joy easily could’ve been a one-note character. Poehler’s performance brings a surprising amount of complexity to the role, however. Although Joy constantly tries to think positive, she eventually comes to understand the importance of Sadness. With just her voice, Poehler is able to light up the screen while also make the audience bawl their eyes out, taking us on an emotional journey unlike any other.
#14: Idina Menzel as Elsa
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“Frozen” franchise (2013-2019) In modern Disney animated movies, the voice casts are often packed with well known actors, musicians and celebrities. In “Frozen,” the cast is predictably star-studded, with actors like Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad in prominent roles. Bell’s relatable and quirky portrayal of Anna is definitely one for the books. The most vital player, however, is Idina Menzel, who was a Broadway darling before being cast as Elsa, but arguably became a household name due to the role. Her powerhouse voice is what makes the performance ring true, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else giving it quite the same gravitas.
#13: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as Maui
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“Moana” (2016) When you need somebody to voice a demigod, you can’t do better than a superstar of Mr. Johnson’s caliber. The Rock is already a very animated person, especially in the eyebrows. His natural charisma translated flawlessly to animation. Although Johnson was tailor-made for Maui, the retired wrestler turned actor didn’t come from a singing background. Regardless, he was excited to take part in Disney’s tradition of classic musical numbers. The Rock spent months practicing “You’re Welcome” and his dedication shines through in the final product. Through the song and his overall performance, Johnson finds just the right balance of being egotistical yet lovable. He shape-shifts Maui into a hero we want to follow, even though he may throw you in the water along the way.
#12: Scarlett Johansson as Samantha
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“Her” (2013) Another live-action movie with a surprisingly stupendous voice-only performance, “Her” is a one-of-a-kind speculative romance movie that really makes us ponder the limits of humanity and love. Playing an artificial intelligence named Samantha, Scarlett Johansson makes us truly believe a machine creation could possess such profound emotion. She so effortlessly connects to Joaquin Phoenix’s Theodore, even though they’re never actually in the same room. Funnily enough, the role was recast in post-production to Johansson, having originally been voiced by Samantha Morton. As powerful an actor as she is in her own right, we can’t imagine hearing anyone else singing along as we play the ukulele.
#11: Billy Crystal as Michael ‘Mike’ Wazowski
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“Monsters, Inc.” franchise (2001-) Upon first look, Billy Crystal seems out of place as the one-liner spouting, one-eyed monster, but upon closer inspection, his performance actually brings a much needed balance to John Goodman’s kind yet deep voice as Sulley. The energy and excitement the actor brings is not just what makes him good though; when leading the 2013 prequel, Crystal digs out a lighter and softer tone for his more sympathetic moments. In whichever circumstance Mike Wazowski finds himself, Crystal adapts to put forward that best possible chemistry.
#10: Mike Myers as Shrek
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“Shrek” franchise (2001-) While his previous characters were eccentric yet one-dimensional, Shrek is a package of vicious loneliness and sarcasm, yet also a kinder soul all effectively demonstrated through the actor’s voice. Not to say that his performance isn’t helped by Eddie Murphy as the dim-witted Donkey, as the pairing’s mishaps are only complemented by their bond as talented voice actors. Shrek is not only one of the best voice performances by a celebrity, but also one that enhances Mike Myers' career rather than simply being a side gig.
#9: Jack Black as Po Ping
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“Kung Fu Panda” franchise (2008-) Jack Black is still one of the most energetic and physical comedic presences around. Black was tailor-made to voice Po, a chubby panda who lives and breathes Kung Fu. Almost everybody doubts Po when he’s singled out as the Dragon Warrior. Regardless, Po steps up to the challenge with an appetite to learn. Po’s eagerness wonderfully complements the stern, authoritative Master Shifu, who’s voiced by Dustin Hoffman in a strong performance. Black makes the audience root for Po every step of the way, evening out the character’s gullibility, clumsiness, and insecurity with wit, determination, and confidence.
#8: Steve Carell as Felonious Gru
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“Despicable Me” franchise (2010-) Known for his live action roles in romantic comedies and as an awkward manager on TV’s “The Office,” what better choice is there to play a gruff and foolish jelly manufacturer-slash-supervillain? Almost indistinguishable as his previous forty year old virgin, Steve Carell’s Russian-like accent is dead-on and presents a mad cartoon doctor perfectly in these 3D computer-animated comedies. His performance channels the great Mel Blanc in Gru’s outlandish reactions to his failures and come-uppances, but also provides a softer quality for his more sympathetic moments. Weaving in and out of his tones, Carell never loses the cartoon taste of his performance and that can only be a great thing.
#7: Jeremy Irons as Scar
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“The Lion King” (1994) This Britain-born actor presents a brilliant gravitas to the greedy brother of Mufasa in this musical epic. The foppish villain of the animal kingdom has a voice talent more in common with a Shakespeare tale than a Disney film, much like the story itself actually. But it’s the quarrels between Jeremy Irons and his on-screen brother James Earl Jones that propel our ears to bliss, both presenting a strong clash of bellowing and snarly voices. We love Jeremy Irons particularly for the way his voice almost dances through his plotting nature, especially when he informs dear Simba of his most famous ‘surprise.’
#6: Ellen DeGeneres as Dory
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“Finding Nemo” franchise (2003-) Speaking of chemistry, how do you make an uptight clownfish and a mind-numbing fool work this well together? Obviously most known for her talk show these days, Ellen DeGeneres uses a playful innocence to combat the harsher tones of Albert Brooks’ Marlin the clown fish in the first flick of this Pixar film series. Her lighter optimism is so unique to the tone of the film that, when thinking of DeGeneres’ big screen work, she is practically synonymous with her character of Dory, which led to a fantastic sequel.
#5: Eddie Murphy as Donkey
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“Shrek” franchise (2001-) The franchise may be called “Shrek,” but we all know it was his noble steed who stole the show, especially in the first movie. Eddie Murphy had already voiced a few animated characters like the unforgettable Mushu from “Mulan”, but Donkey benefitted the most from his rapid-fire delivery and uncontainable energy. Bringing his comedic A-game to the table, almost everything that comes out of Donkey’s mouth is a laugh riot. That is, except for the occasional heartfelt moment, which Murphy also brings a gentle sincerity to. Although the performance didn’t garner him an Oscar nomination, Murphy did become the first actor to score a BAFTA nomination for voice acting. Murphy also deservingly won the Annie Award for best male performance in an animated feature.
#4: James Earl Jones as Mufasa
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“The Lion King” (1994) Drawing inspiration from epics like “Hamlet” and “The Ten Commandments,” “The Lion King” needed a cast that could supply the same level of gravitas. James Earl Jones brought the most majesty to his performance as Mufasa. Whenever you hear Jones speak, you think to yourself, “Now that’s a voice worthy of a king.” Although Jones has one of the most distinctive voices in the world, it never feels like we’re listening to a celebrity. Jones becomes Mufasa. The character is best remembered for his commanding nature, but Jones adds dimensions to Mufasa. He captures Mufasa’s playfulness while bonding with Simba, the fear in the pit of his stomach when Scar betrays him, and his stern yet affectionate side when it’s time to teach a lesson.
#3: Tom Hanks as Woody
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“Toy Story” franchise (1995-) Usually when an actor voices as an animated charactacter for multiple movies, it can start to sound like they’re only interested in the steady paycheck after a while. This has never been the case with Tom Hanks as Woody. In each “Toy Story” film, Hanks gave Woody another layer of depth. Like Buzz, identity is the key theme at the center of Woody’s arc. When we first meet the sheriff, he views himself as Andy’s favorite toy and the leader of his fellow playthings. We see Woody gradually transition out of these roles throughout the series and Hanks makes that evolution feel 100% genuine. Thanks to his versatility as a comedic and dramatic actor, Hanks fashioned Woody into one of cinema’s most complex animated protagonists.
#2: Eartha Kitt as Yzma
“The Emperor’s New Groove” (2000) Much like “Atlantis,” “The Emperor’s New Groove” is an early 2000s movie that didn’t get the love it initially deserved, but has since drawn a cult following thanks to the excellent voice cast. Though we could be here all day talking about Patrick Warburton’s Cronk or David Spade’s Kuzco, it’s Eartha Kitt who truly steals the show. Though Yzma is story-wise a truly despicable villain, we can’t help but love her all the same thanks to Kitt’s zany line delivery and energy. You can practically hear her chewing the dialogue in the recording booth, making sure we’re having as much fun as she is. Though we’ve gotten plenty of superb vocal performances this century so far, we irrefutably got one of the best early on.
#1: Robin Williams as the Genie
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“Aladdin” (1992) Ali Baba had forty thieves and Sheherazade had a thousand tales, but there will only ever be one Robin Williams. In “Mrs. Doubtfire,” the comedian states that he ‘does voices’, and he’s correct. His ecstatic performance is such a powerful addition to this musical fantasy that it almost changes tone entirely once the Genie is introduced. Not only that but his high octane manner drives the second half so much that Disney aired the movie on TV in tribute to Williams following his 2014 death, and there’s no arguing the actor and comedian deserved all the honor and praise he has received.
