10 Animated Characters Voiced by Stand-Up Comedians

10 Animated Characters Voiced by Stand-Up Comedians

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the stand-up comedians who’ve brought their signature styles to TV’s animated world.

#10: Howie Mandel – Bobby Generic

“Bobby’s World” (1990-98)

Leaning into his image as a clean comedian, Mandel created and starred in this children’s comedy series about a boy with an active imagination. Voiced by Mandel himself, Bobby Generic shares scenes with Mandel at the beginning and end of each episode, as the pair discusses what the protagonist has learned from his experiences. Many fans never realized that Mandel was the voice behind Bobby, mainly because of how distinct he sounds. With a childlike and naive-sounding delivery, Mandel masks himself as the star of his own show. Running through most of the 90s, “Bobby’s World” is a perfect snapshot of its time, although Mandel has made several attempts to revive it for a present-day audience.

#9: Norm Macdonald – Pigeon

“Mike Tyson Mysteries” (2014-20)

Looking back, this show still feels like a fever dream. After all, you’ve got former world champion Mike Tyson teaming up with his adoptive daughter, the ghost of the Marquess of Queensberry, and a foul-mouthed pigeon. Framed as an adult version of “Scooby-Doo” mysteries, the show gets more absurd with each episode. But when it comes to perfect casting, you can’t go wrong with everyone’s favorite deadpan comedian, Norm Macdonald, as the talking bird. With his depraved mind and sarcastic attitude, Macdonald’s character brings most of the show’s wackiest and bizarre moments to life. He might be trapped in a bird’s body, but this pigeon is as wildly untamed as you’d imagine, almost like an adult-rated “SNL” sketch gone off the rails.

#8: Louie Anderson – Himself

“Life with Louie” (1995-98)

Much like Howie Mandel, Louie Anderson also took a detour into children’s entertainment with “Life with Louie.” Based on his own life, the show focuses on the precocious budding comedian dealing with everyday challenges using quick wit and heart. Unlike Mandel, though, Anderson deliberately sticks to an adult-sounding voice. Part of the show’s humor comes from Louie behaving like an immature adult in a kid’s world, as Anderson conveys much of his trademark style through a G-rated filter. It paid off so well that the show’s success expanded into books, comics, and fast-food tie-ins. To top it all off, Anderson also won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program. Now that’s what he’d call “All right!”

#7: Maria Bamford – Shriek DuBois

“CatDog” (1998-2005)

Anyone familiar with Bamford’s darkly comedic style would hardly associate her with children’s animation. The comedienne has been heard in various adult animations, but many are surprised that her first regular venture into voice acting began with Nickelodeon’s lovably slapstick “CatDog.” Her character, Shriek, is the only girl in a band of Greasers, whom Bamford plays as wacky as the material requires. Living up to her name, she delivers explosive rants and chaotic outbursts to hide her long-standing crush on Dog, which he mostly fails to notice. While Bamford has been heard in countless animated works since, Shriek remains arguably the most beloved character she’s lent her voice to.

#6: Patton Oswalt – Professor Dementor

“Kim Possible” (2003-07)

When it comes to Oswalt and animation, everyone’s minds jump straight to Remy from “Ratatouille.” But when it comes to the TV landscape, Oswalt’s list of credits is longer than we can count. The comedian’s association with Disney was a home run even on the small screen, as Oswalt plays up every trope in the dastardly bad guy playbook with Professor Dementor. While longtime fans might recognize Oswalt behind the character’s cartoonishly evil voice, it still surprises many that Remy and Professor Dementor are technically one and the same. Although not a series regular, Oswalt’s playful commitment to the role makes Dementor stand out each time he tries (and fails) to bring down our crime-fighting heroine.

#5: Jonathan Katz – Dr. Katz

“Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist” (1995-2002)

Adult animation might be commonplace now, but Jonathan Katz dared to be different back in the 90s. “Dr. Katz” sees the comedian as a psychotherapist juggling his profession and personal life. Paired perfectly with H. Jon Benjamin as his underachieving son – more on him later – Katz turns a crudely drawn cartoon into comedic genius. Much of the dialogue is improvised by Katz and the cast, with his patients portrayed by other real-life comedians. Katz’s portrayal of a tired, well-meaning, but detached protagonist helped prove that a mixture of dry humor and adult themes can work wonders in animation. “South Park” may be Comedy Central’s crown jewel, but “Dr. Katz” remains the network’s first true animated hit.

#4: Nick Kroll & John Mulaney – Nick Birch & Andrew Glouberman

“Big Mouth” (2017-25)

Streaming has given outrageous adult animation a platform to shine, and “Big Mouth” ran with the opportunity. Among the longest-running Netflix original series ever made, it features Nick Kroll voicing Nick Burch, a character based on his early life as a late-blooming middle-schooler. Nick stumbles into his first steps into puberty alongside his best friend, Andrew Glouberman, voiced by former “SNL” writer John Mulaney. The pair incorporates shades of their stand-up routines into the show, serving up a blend of relatable and at-times humorously inappropriate dish for viewers. Fellow comedian Ali Wong also brings a noticeable edge in a recurring role as the foul-mouthed Ali Cheng, thriving onscreen without care or a filter.

#3: Mike Henry – Cleveland Brown

“Family Guy” (1999-2002; 2005-)

While he’s mostly associated with his collaborations with Seth MacFarlane today, Mike Henry began his career as a stand-up comedian. Still, the performer truly broke out as the voice of the kind-hearted, slow-talking Cleveland, one of Peter Griffin’s best friends. While the idea of a mild-mannered nice guy might sound unextraordinary in a chaotic show like “Family Guy,” Henry’s performance made Cleveland among its greatest highlights. His popularity led to his own spin-off show, expanding on Cleveland’s life beyond Quahog. After handing voicing duties over to Arif Zahir in 2021, Henry had a bid farewell with a final message in Cleveland’s voice as one last slice of fan service.

#2: Bill Burr – Frank Murphy

“F Is for Family” (2015-21)

Comedians basing characters on their own lives seems to be a recurring pattern on this list, and Bill Burr is no exception. Known to incorporate stories of his upbringing in his standup routines, Burr expanded this aspect into a full-blown series. Although he retains his short-tempered, perpetually frustrated attitude in animation, the comedian brings a surprising amount of depth to the role of Frank Murphy. Doubling as a dramedy and a satire, the series was lauded for its deep dive into the reality behind the American Dream. While Burr has had an established presence across film and television for decades, many see Frank Murphy as the first role to truly bring the best out in him as a performer.

#1: H. Jon Benjamin – Bob Belcher

“Bob’s Burgers” (2011-)

After establishing himself as a stand-up, H. Jon Benjamin transitioned over to an acting career with steady roles in numerous animated projects, including “Dr. Katz.” However, his defining role came in 2011 as the voice of Bob Belcher. A straight-laced father and husband, Bob is a departure from other animated dads whose wackier qualities are played for laughs. Benjamin’s straightforward delivery and no-nonsense tone bring a certain relatable charm to the role. While he might not deliver the biggest laughs, Bob is the show’s grounding presence around whom the series revolves. As a bona fide hit, “Bob’s Burgers” stands on the shoulders of its cast, with Aziz Ansari also recurring as the awkward and enthusiastic Darryl.

Are there any other comedians you’d have liked to see on this list? Let us know in the comments.