While watching an animated movie, have you ever said to yourself, “I know this voice” but can’t put a face to it? Animated films from studios like Walt Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks, to list a few, often have the most talented actors playing voice roles.
These animated characters voiced by actors sometimes include highly recognizable features like Robert De Niro’s character Don Edward Lino in ‘Sharktale’, (2004), Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as Maui in ‘Moana’ (2016), or Jane Lynch’s character Sergeant Calhoun from ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’ (2018).
With the upcoming release of the animated crime-comedy movie ‘The Bad Guys’ produced by DreamWorks Animation, here is a list of voice actors and their on-screen roles you should recognize! The cast from this movie has a slew of talents that include actors Craig Robinson, Awkwafina, Lilly Singh, Marc Maron, and Sam Rockwell, to list a few. We will trace notable films some of these cast members were a part of and other voice artists in our list below!
Zazie Beetz (The Harder They Fall)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I5l4euwlNw&w=1028&h=430]In terms of her onscreen roles in feature films, Zazie Beetz is easily recognizable in films like ‘Deadpool 2′ (2018), ‘Seberg’ (2019), and ‘Joker’ (2019). However, we would like to mention her performance as ‘Stagecoach Mary’ in ‘The Harder They Fall’ (2020). Her character is a saloon owner, singer, and entertainer. She is the love interest of Nat Love, played by Jonathan Majors, and is highly effective in the use of ammunition and hand-to-hand combat.
Its cast members include Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, and Beetz’s Atlanta co-star Lakeith Stanfield. The characters are all based on African-American historical individuals, including stagecoach Mary (Mary Fields), the first African-American woman to work as a contract route mail carrier for the United States Postal Service.
Before ‘The Bad Guys’ her voice roles include ‘Extinct’ (2021), the animated series ‘Robot Chicken’, and ‘Invincible’.
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Watch ‘The Harder They Fall’ on: Netflix
Sam Rockwell (The Best of Enemies)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKM6fSTs-A0&w=853&h=480]Zazie Beetz’s’ The Bad Guys’ co-star Sam Rockwell is next on our list. He plays the former leader of the Ku Klux Klan C.P. Ellis in the highly intense historical drama film ‘The Best Of Enemies‘. It is based on the true story between civil rights activist Ann Attwater and former leader of the Ku Klux Klan C.P. Ellis.
Both of them have a rough background and life story that has led them to oppose viewpoints on multiple aspects. The movie depicts issues of racism in the 1970s as the two collide to solve the issue of public school integration. It is an adaptation of the book ‘The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South‘ by Osha Gray Davidson. His other appearances in films include ‘Vice‘ (2018), ‘Jojo Rabbit’ (2019), and ‘Iron Man 2’ (2010).
Watch ‘The Best of Enemies’ on: Netflix | Apple TV
John Leguizamo (Critical Thinking)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6QT76ISJVU&w=853&h=480]John Leguizamo directs and stars in ‘Critical Thinking’ (2020), based on actual events of former students at Miami Jackson High School who took a chess class helmed by professor Mario Martinez called Critical Thinking. Set in 1998, John Leguizamo plays the role of the teacher who inspires the chess club in their quest for victory. The team persists against preconceptions, financial constraints, and personal challenges. Currently, the film has a 94% rating on Tomatometer.
Leguizamo has shared the screen with several Hollywood’s actors across various genres in films such as Kurt Russel in ‘Executive Decision’ (1996), Al Pacino and Sean Penn in ‘Carlito’s Way’ (1993) Robert De Niro in ‘Righteous Kill’ and Keanu Reeves in ‘John Wick’ (2014).
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In addition to voicing Sid the Sloth in the ‘Ice Age’ movie franchise, Leguizamo has had voice roles in ‘Dr. Dolittle’ (1998),’ Walking with Dinosaurs’ (2013), and ‘Encanto’ (2021).
Watch ‘Critical Thinking’ on: Starz | Apple TV
Josh Gad (The Wedding Ringer)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvHgXzOY12Y&w=853&h=480]Josh Gad shares the screen with the standup comedian, actor, and voice of Snowball -Kevin Hart, in the comedy flick ‘The Secret Life of Pets’. A successful tax attorney Doug Harris (Josh Gad) struggles to arrange a best man to be at his wedding.
He enlists the help of Jimmy Callahan (Kevin Hart) to find him a group of gentlemen to stand beside him as he takes his marriage vows. What follows is a series of comedic misadventures, bachelor parties, and family meals gone horrible wrong. Josh Gad has also several onscreen roles in drama films like ‘Jobs’ (2013), ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ (2017), and ‘Marshall’ (2017).
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Josh Gad is seemingly irreplaceable as the voice of Walt Disney’s character Olaf. He has voiced the snowman in feature films, short films, and television series. He has also had voice roles in films such as ‘Ice Age: Continental Drift‘ (2012), ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ (2021), ‘A Dog’s Journey’ (2019), and ‘The Angry Birds Movie’ film franchise.
Did You Know:
With minimal dialogue and practically expressive gestures in speech, the ‘Ice Age’ movie franchise character ‘Skrat’ is voiced by American actor and filmmaker Chris Wedge since 2002. He also was the executive producer on ‘Spies in Disguise’ (2019). In the recently released Disney short film ‘Scrat Tales’, he is joined by Kari Wahlgren, who has previously voiced ‘Tigeress’ in ‘Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness’ animated series.
Watch ‘The Wedding Ringer’ on: Apple TV | AMC on Demand
Bill Hader (It Chapter Two)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2LGfUQ2L5o&w=853&h=480]Bill Hader is well known for his comedic roles in film and his Emmy award-winning performances comedy crime-drama series ‘Barry’. In films, he has starred many comedic supporting roles, however, in our list, we would like to mention ‘It Chapter Two’ (2019). The horror drama is a sequel to ‘It’ (2017) and sees the members of Losers Club return to the town of Derry, Maine, twenty-seven years later to deal with a resurrected Pennywise -the dancing clown. Bill Hader plays a grown-up ‘Richie’, still foul-mouthed and a standup comedian.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNnQNT2MR7Y&w=853&h=480]Bill Hader voices King Leonard Mudbeard in the two ‘The Angry Birds Movie‘ films. He has a list of dynamic performances as a voice actor in a considerable number of films. They include ‘The Addams Family 2’ (2021), ‘Inside Out’ (2015) ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’ (2009), and its 2013 sequel, and a cameo in ‘Toy Story 4′ (2019).
Watch ‘It Chapter Two’ on: HBO MAX | Apple TV | TBS
Stephanie Beatriz (In the Heights)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpHpzslzA6Q&w=853&h=480]Hardcore fans of ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ star Stephanie Beatriz will be more than aware of her ability to perform in musicals. Other than her commanding role in the police comedy series, she was part of the cast of the film adaptation of the musical ‘In the Heights’.
Exploring her vocal talents in the musical, Beatriz plays Carla, who is a part of a team that runs a hair salon. This musical has been a part of a Broadway stage production since 2008 and was adapted into a film in 2021. The plot revolves around the lives of the characters in New York City’s Latino and Colombian community of Washington Heights and tackles issues several social issues and prejudices.
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In another role portrayal of her Colombian heritage, she is now best known for her vocal performance in Disney’s ‘Encanto’ (2021) as Mirabel Madrigal. Stephanie Beatriz has also had voice roles in films The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part’ (2019), ‘Catwoman: Hunted’ (2022), and ‘Ice Age: Collision Course’ (2016).
Watch ‘In the Heights’ on: HBO MAX | Apple TV
Will Arnett (Show Dogs)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT9eWtb7C4c&w=853&h=480]Actor and comedian Will Arnett is known for his comedic portrayals in the sitcom series ‘Arrested Development’ and for his supporting roles in films such as ‘RV’ (2006), ‘Lets Go to Prison’ (2006) ‘Blades of Glory’ (2007), and ‘The Rocker’ (2008).
In the comedy-adventure buddy cop film ‘Show Dogs’ (2018), he teams up with his partner Max, a Rottweiler K-9 police dog tasked to solve the case of a missing baby panda. The unusual duo embarks on a mission to track down the animal smugglers.
Will Arnett is joined by a cast of voice actors that include Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Jordin Sparks, Stanley Tucci, comedian Gabriel Iglesias, and former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.
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Along with actors Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and Michael Keaton, Will Arnett can throw his name in the hat of the list of actors who have played the caped crusader Batman/Bruce Wayne in multiple films. He has voiced the character in three feature films so far that include, including ‘The Lego Movie’ (2014), ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ (2017), and ‘The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part’ (2019).
To his list of voice roles are films ‘Dolittle’, ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles‘, ‘Horton Hears a Who!’ and ‘Ice Age: The Meltdown’. Check out his few voice overs performances and impressions with Talk Show host Conan O’Brien here.
Watch ‘Show Dogs’ on: Netflix | Apple TV | AMC on Demand
Jacob Tremblay (Room)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfBdUPAjiVQ&w=853&h=480]Jacob Tremblay, a young Canadian actor with a bright future in film, rounds out this list. He has already co-starred in flicks with actors Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, and Kate Bosworth. He made his film acting debut in ‘The Smurfs 2’ (2013) alongside actors Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays.
Still a teenager, his best performance in a movie so far is in ‘Room’ (2015), starring Brie Larson, directed by filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson and adapted from a novel of the same name by writer Emma Donoghue. The film was praised by critics and movie buffs and is currently rated at 93% on rotten tomatoes.
Jacob Tremblay received numerous award nominations and won the Best Actor Award at the Canadian Screen Awards (2016), and the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer (2016). Jacob Tremblay has starred in many horrors and thriller films in his career so far, including ‘Before I Wake’ (2016), ‘Shut In’ (2016), and ‘Doctor Sleep’ (2019). He will be seen in the upcoming superhero horror-comedy reboot ‘The Toxic Avenger’.
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As a voice actor, he has been in several films and animated television series. He is most known for his role as ‘Luca’ in the animated film of the same name. He has also reprised his role in the short film ‘Ciao Alberto’ (2021), and is credited as the voice of Damian Wayne and Robin in the animated antihero series ‘Harley Queen’.
Jacob Tremblay will next be seen as the voice of Founder, the mermaid Ariel’s best friend in ‘The Little Mermaid’ alongside Awkwafina (‘The Angry Birds Movie 2’) and Daveed Diggs (‘Soul’). Daveed Diggs and Jacob Tremblay have also worked together in the drama movie ‘Wonder’ (2017).
Watch ‘Room’ on: Showtime | Apple TV
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Feature Image Via FilmIsNow Movie Bloopers & Extras.
