Top 20 Over the Top Voice Acting Performances
#20: Dee Bradley Baker
Various
Top 10 Over the Top Voice Acting Performances
This multifaceted voice actor can really do it all! With credits in series like “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Gravity Falls,” and countless others, Baker was pretty much the voice of our childhoods whether we knew it or not. He’s also the voice behind several animated animals, perhaps most iconically “ Phineas and Ferb”’s Perry the Platypus. But if you want to see some major skill, we’d suggest switching on “Ben 10: Omniverse,” where he brought so many characters to life he reportedly overexerted his throat. And we’d love to have seen him record the voices for all those clone troopers in the animated “Star Wars” universe. Talk about bringing the Force and more!
#19: Josh Gad
“Frozen” franchise (2013-)
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Samantha? This stage and screen actor has lent his distinguishable voice to several notable characters, including Louis in “Ice Age: Continental Drift,” and Chuck from “The Angry Birds Movie” franchise. But we all know there’s one that stands out above them all, and he’s worth melting for. Gad brought something magical to Olaf, improvising many of the lines we’re still quoting today. The actor also shared an anecdote about how his voice kind of saved Olaf from being cut from the movie. “Frozen” without Olaf?! What were they thinking? This loveable snowman is a flurry of fun and steals any scene he’s in, and that’s largely thanks to Gad. No wonder he’s gotten to be the star of many of the franchise’s shorts!
#18: Kristen Schaal
Various
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This actress has a distinct voice that’s tailor-made for animation; indeed, it’s served her well over the years. Her unique sound can be heard in “Bob’s Burgers,” “Gravity Falls,” and “BoJack Horseman,” among many others. Schaal seamlessly pairs her one-of-a-kind vocals with incredible comedic timing that never fails to breathe new life into her characters. With just a slight change of intonation, she can go from sweet and unassuming to wildly unhinged while still keeping her characters very likable. In fact, her performances are so exceptional that some casting directors are known to put out calls for “a Kristen Schaal type,” which sounds like a huge compliment if you ask us.
#17: Jim Cummings
Various
Top 10 Best Voice Acting Performances in Disney Channel Shows
Jim Cummings is a voice-acting icon with around 400 credits spanning various media. He’s portrayed over-the-top characters like “Aladdin”’s Razoul, the titular Winnie the Pooh and his bouncin’ pal Tigger, Ray from “The Princess and the Frog,” and Mickey Mouse’s antagonist Pete. But this actor doesn’t just give his all when he’s speaking. He’s proven that he can go harder than most while singing too. “In the Dark of the Night” from “Anastasia” is a delightfully excessive number elevated to new heights by Cummings’ vocals. He also helped out with the singing voice of Scar in “The Lion King” after actor Jeremy Irons fatigued his voice during “Be Prepared.”
#16: Jack Black
Various
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A character actor who also happens to be an A-lister and a gifted musician, Jack Black does it all - and does it with everything he’s got. That, of course, includes his voice acting, whether it’s supporting roles in films like “Ice Age” and “Shark Tale,” video game voices like his award-winning work in “Brütal Legend” or leading roles in franchises like “Kung Fu Panda.” However, the role that cemented Jablinski as a king of over-the-top voice acting AND the koopas was Bowser in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” An evil villain with a larger-than-life personality and the gruff, commanding voice to match, Bowser also has a softer side, as evidenced by the viral hit song Black himself helped pen for the film.
#15: Tim Curry
“The Wild Thornberrys” franchise (1998-) & “FernGully: The Last Rainforest” (1992)
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Theatre, film, television, and voice work, is there anything Tim Curry can’t do? While we couldn’t possibly list every occasion where he goes above and beyond, we’d be remiss not to single out his role as Nigel Thornberry in “The Wild Thornberrys” franchise. We don’t think anyone could’ve pulled off the eccentric, life-loving adventurer as convincingly or endearingly as Curry. Plus, since the actor typically plays villains, it was great seeing him break the mold and give his all to something entirely different. That being said, he also makes being bad look so good! Hexxus from “FernGully: The Last Rainforest” is such a brilliantly dramatic and creepy villain that he’s still giving us nightmares!
#14: Alan Tudyk
Various
Imagine being such an accomplished and versatile voice actor that folks at Disney reportedly dub you their “good luck charm”! Since lending his voice to King Candy in 2012’s “Wreck-It Ralph,” Tudyk has gone on to play some of the animation giants’ most eccentric characters. Duke Weaselton in “Zootopia,” “Frozen”’s Duke of Weselton, and Scroll in “Disenchanted” barely scratch the surface. Also, can we talk about how he didn’t even need to utter a single intelligible word to make Heihei one of “Moana”’s breakout characters? Now, that’s a real testament to his comedic skills. Naturally, Disney cast him as Valentino the goat in the 2023 animated musical “Wish.” After all, he’s basically the GOAT of Disney voice acting.
#13: Mark Hamill
Various
Top 10 Mark Hamill Voice Performances
Most people know him as Luke Skywalker, but Mark Hamill is also an accomplished voice actor. He’s voiced many characters across DC and Marvel-based animations, in several “Scooby-Doo” reincarnations, and plenty more. While he’s epic in everything he does, we can’t help but single out his work as Joker in numerous projects. The comic book villain demands that its actor pull out every stop, and Hamill doesn’t disappoint. He has the skills to create a character that can make us laugh (albeit nervously) while chilling us to the very bone. Unfortunately, Hamill has reportedly decided to retire from the role. Still, it was a spectacular run, and opened the door for him to bring other animated bad guys to life.
#12: Patrick Warburton
Various
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Joe Swanson from “Family Guy,” Ken from “Bee Movie,” Buzz Lightyear from “Buzz Lightyear of Star Command” – we’d recognize that voice anywhere! Amazingly, the actor doesn’t consider himself a “chameleon” when it comes to voice acting, but we reckon his impressive list of credits would beg to differ. Perhaps no character of his is as marvelously and memorably out there as Kronk from “The Emperor’s New Groove.” Warburton plays the endearing dummy so brilliantly that we can almost forgive him for being Yzma’s henchman— especially as they share such an entertaining rapport. Is it any surprise he took center stage in the movie’s 2005 sequel spin-off? Warbuton’s performance is as delicious as Kronk’s signature spinach puffs.
#11: Steve Carell
“Despicable Me” franchise (2010-)
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Being an unsuccessful villain isn’t easy. However, with the right charismatic voice to pull off his moody and sarcastic demeanor, Gru quickly became a fan favorite. According to Carell, finding the line between funny and threatening was tricky, but he definitely found the right balance. Reportedly, he tried out several voices on his kids and ultimately chose the one that made them laugh. Like their father, these kids clearly have great judgment for comedic brilliance. And, if we thought Gru was delightfully dramatic, we were in for a treat when “Despicable Me 3” introduced his even more over the top twin brother Dru. He might not be the most despicable villain, but he managed to steal our hearts all the same.
#10: Tara Strong
Various
Top10 Tara Strong Voice Roles
We couldn’t possibly forget about this queen! Throughout her career, Strong’s used her voice to bring countless beloved and outlandish characters to life across various mediums. We know her as Bubbles from “The Powerpuff Girls,” Dil Pickles in the “Rugrats” franchise, and Timmy Turner (among others) from “The Fairly OddParents,” to name a few. We mean it when we say she gives everything to those roles. She also goes above and beyond, giving an extra something to Raven in the “Teen Titans” world. Raven’s such a multifaceted character, and Strong brings that to life by relaying a plethora of emotions without compromising the character’s badass, deadpan nature. That’s no easy task. In other words, Tara Strong basically is our childhood.
#9: Eddie Murphy
“Mulan” (1998) & “Shrek” franchise (2001-)
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Mushu and Donkey are arguably two of the most hilarious and beloved sidekicks of the ‘90s and the aughts. And that's thanks in large part to Eddie Murphy's comedic skills. The actor and comedian really lifted the dialogue off the page with his animated expression and overzealous delivery. He's often at his best when bringing comic relief to high-tension scenes or whipping out zingy one-liners. So, it's hardly surprising that Mushu quickly became "Mulan's" breakout character. Meanwhile, we're still waiting on a Donkey-centric full-length feature. Is it entirely unrealistic to hope for a universe crossover? Now, that's a movie we want to see! Both stand out as Murphy's best-animated roles, and we're not ready for him to retire either one quite yet.
#8: Seth MacFarlane
Various
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The “Family Guy” creator is arguably one of the best voice actors of the modern era. Apparently, he had such a strong idea for how he wanted some of the show’s characters to sound that he decided it would just be easier to play them himself. You can hear his exceptionally versatile voice in Peter, Brian, and Stewie Griffin, as well as Glenn Quagmire. He also voices Roger and Stan Smith in “American Dad!” and Mike in “Sing,” among others. These roles are all so different that they require a talented performer who can effortlessly manipulate their voice to animate these larger-than-life individuals. Indeed, MacFarlane’s the perfect man for the job. Plus, have you heard him sing? Chills.
#7: Rob Paulsen
Various
Top 10 Best Looney Tunes Voice Acting Performances
What do “Pinky and the Brain,” “Animaniacs,” “Jimmy Neutron,” all have in common? If you said, they all feature characters voiced by Rob Paulsen, gold star for you. While this barely scrapes the surface of his lengthy and impressive credits, it tells you all you need to know about the voice actor. He skillfully elevates his characters’ goofiness and heightens their entertainment value while nailing a plethora of accents. Paulsen’s expertise can unite generations, whether you’re a long-time fan of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” or are eager to catch him pop up in newer guest star roles. There’s no doubt he has a tremendous passion for his work; you can hear it in every character he brings to life.
#6: Frank Welker
Various
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With more than 860 credits to his name, you’ll most certainly be familiar with Welker’s voice, whether you know it or not. Are you a fan of “Scooby-Doo?” An avid viewer of “Transformers”? Or have a soft spot for Abu from “Aladdin”? Well, you can attribute Fred, Megatron, Soundwave, and Aladdin’s little sidekick to this voice actor. In addition to Abu, Welker brought a ton of other non-verbal animal characters to life through dynamic sound effects and immeasurable ingenuity. He’s also the only remaining original actor from the “Scooby-Doo” franchise. It’s a true testament to the actor that he can take his talents across such a wide range of roles and create so many remarkable characters. His skills truly know no bounds.
#5: Gilbert Gottfried
Various
Even if his name doesn't ring a bell, you've most certainly heard his voice before. He played Berkeley Beetle in "Thumbelina," Digit in "Cyberchase" and Mr. Mxyzptlk in "Superman: The Animated Series." However, you'll probably best recognize this voice as the angry and sarcastic Iago from "Aladdin." There's perhaps no animated bird more over the top than Jafar's right-hand parrot. Gottfried had this unparalleled ability to make his characters soar, whether following a script or improvising to his heart's content. His naturally quirky voice was perfect for his profession, but he always took roles to the next level with perfectly chosen inflections and a flawless knack for humor. His legacy lives on through his countless memorable characters.
#4: Mel Blanc
Various
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Another member of voice acting royalty, Mel Blanc, a.k.a “The Man of a Thousand Voices,” left an unrivaled legacy. He voiced most of our favorite “Looney Tunes” friends, Barney and Dino from “The Flintstones,” Mr. Spacely in “The Jetsons,” the eponymous Woody Woodpecker, and hundreds of others. An actor who can seamlessly go from Bugs Bunny to Daffy Duck to Tweety more than deserves his spot on our list. He isn’t just the voice of our childhoods, but of our parents and even grandparents’ childhoods! The late star certainly got voice acting down to a fine art and still remains in a league of his own! What more can we say?
#3: Tom Kenny
“SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)
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You’ll recognize Kenny's voice from shows like "Rocko's Modern Life," where he played Heffer Wolfe, and in "Adventure Time," where he was Ice King. However, one character in particular floats to the top of his rost, and he lives in a "Pineapple Under the Sea." SpongeBob is splendidly ridiculous, and everything he says or does is insanely excitable. In the same vein, his charm has kept audiences engaged and enthralled for over 20 years. There's something incredibly affable about SpongeBob's naively optimistic personality, which can be credited to Kenny's love for his work. The actor also voices SpongeBob's trusty pet snail Gary, Patchy the Pirate, the French narrator, and others. No wonder he's won two Emmy Awards for his stellar voice acting!
#2: Eartha Kitt
“The Emperor's New Groove” (2000)
Disney’s given us many unforgettable villains, with Yzma consistently placing high among the ranks. She’s so fabulously extra and, if the content shown in “The Sweatbox” documentary is anything to go by, much of that was due to Eartha Kitt’s performance in the recording booth. Apparently, the actress would perform her scenes, moving like the villainess and making large gestures as she delivered her lines. Much of that enthusiasm translated into her voice and created an antagonist we can’t help but adore. She’s so theatrical and kooky, and always manages to know when the right moment is to remain softly-spoken or scream at the top of her lungs. As far as iconic characters go, Eartha Kitt’s Yzma is the full package.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Amy Poehler, “Inside Out” (2015)
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Chris Rock, “Madagascar” franchise (2005-) & “Bee Movie” (2007)
The Comedian Has Created Some Unforgettable Characters
Dwayne Johnson, “Moana” (2016)
The Rock Delivers Some Major Demigod Energy
Cree Summer, Various
Rugrats, Tiny Toons, Kids Next Door - She Brings 120% to Every Role
Adam Sandler, “Hotel Transylvania” franchise (2012-)
Sandler Really Sinks His Teeth Into This Role
#1: Robin Williams
“Aladdin” (1992)
Top 10 Funniest Robin Williams Interviews
The late incomparable Robin Williams has voiced some of our favorite animated characters, such as Lovelace and Ramón from “Happy Feet” and Batty Koda from “FernGully: The Last Rainforest.” However, there’s one character that springs to mind who, above all, is wonderfully and magically over-the-top. Williams went above and beyond bringing Genie to life with his iconic arsenal of impressions and famous improvisation skills. He truly went wild while creating this larger-than-life character, and the payoff is tremendous. To this day, no one can compare to this magical being or the actor who voices him. We guess, after being trapped for 10,000 years, Genie really needed to let his freak flag fly, and Robins Williams was just the guy to help him do it.
