Robert Fredrick "Rob" Paulsen III (born March 11, 1956) is an American actor who is most active in voice over roles. He is best known for providing the voices of Raphael and Donatello from the 1987 cartoon and 2012 cartoon respectively of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yakko Warner and Dr. Otto Scratchansniff from Animaniacs, and Pinky from Pinky and the Brain and Animaniacs. In total, Paulsen has been the voice of over 250 different animated characters and performed in over 1000 commercials. He continues to play parts in dozens of cartoons as well as characters in animated feature movies.
Career
Early career
He began his voice-over career in 1983 with the mini-series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, where he played "Snow Job" and "Tripwire". A few years later, his career launched into more roles such as "Cobra Slavemaster" and reprising "Snow Job" and "Tripwire" on G.I. Joe, "Corky" on The Snorks, "Marco Smurf" on the later seasons of The Smurfs, "Boober" on the animated version of Fraggle Rock, "Hadji" in The New Adventures of Jonny Quest and the title character â€" "Saber Rider" and the villain "Jesse Blue" on Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs.
During the 1980s, Paulsen also explored the field of live action films. His first movie was Eyes of Fire in 1983. He played supporting roles in Body Double, Stewardess School, Warlock, and Mutant on the Bounty. He appeared in television shows during this time as well, such as MacGyver and St. Elsewhere. He mentioned in an interview, regarding his role in Body Double, that he would not want his child (who was very young at the time of the interview) to see the movie, so he could not really be proud of his work.
Advertising
Paulsen became more prevalent in the world of advertising as well. In the 1980s, he had been the announcer for the sitcom Cheers and continued to secure roles as an announcer. He appeared as the voice of "Mr. Opportunity", spokesman of Honda commercials on TV and radio, the announcer for Buffalo Dick's Radio Ranch, and the spokesman for Lucky Stores, a West Coast grocery store chain, before it was acquired by Albertsons in 1998. He provided the voice of "Dog" in the Taco Bell kids meal commercials from 1996 to mid-1997, with Eddie Deezen as the voice of "Nacho" the cat.
However, Paulsen's most famous advertising role was in the original commercial of the now ubiquitous Got Milk? campaign. The famous commercial, Who shot Alexander Hamilton in that famous duel?, aired in 1993, and launched the Got Milk? campaign into a monstrously successful enterprise. Paulsen continues to be one of the most sought-after commercial voice actors in the industry.
He can be currently heard as the voice of singing Mini-Wheat in the Mini-Wheats commercials in Canada.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
From 1987 to 1995, Paulsen voiced Raphael and various supporting characters in the original 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Originally starting as a five-part miniseries, the series continued for ten seasons and 193 episodes. It was a great success and became an instant pop culture symbol. Paulsen has said that Raphael's voice is very similar to his natural voice.
He returned to the franchise as Donatello for the new 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series on Nickelodeon.
Animaniacs; Pinky and the Brain
Throughout the early 1990s, Paulsen continued to co-star in animated series, which allowed him to branch further into radio and television announcements and dropped live action acting from his repertoire. In 1993, he voiced "Antoine Depardieu" in ABC's series Sonic the Hedgehog, and "Arthur", an insecure accountant in a moth costume (wings included), in the superhero series The Tick in 1995, replacing Micky Dolenz, who had originally played Arthur.
In 1993, he starred as the title character in both Mighty Max and The Mask: Animated Series. Also at this time, he starred in what became one of his most popular roles, "Yakko Warner" of Animaniacs. Paulsen also provided the voice of "Pinky" from both Animaniacs and its spin-off Pinky and the Brain, a show which won him several Annie Awards and a Daytime Emmy in 1999. He also did a number of characters in Tiny Toon Adventures, including "Fowlmouth", "Arnold the Pit Bull", and "Concord Condor". In the direct-to-video movie Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation, he did the voices for "Banjo Possum", "Mr. Hitcher" (who would also appear in other episodes), and "Johnny Pew".
Roles
Animation
Paulsen has provided voices for a great amount of characters, among which are Yakko Warner, Dr. Otto Scratchansniff, and Pinky in Animaniacs, Steelbeak in Darkwing Duck, "Brick" and "Boomer" in The Powerpuff Girls, Atchan in Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, Spooky the Tuff Little Ghost in The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper, Ogden O. Ostrich in Channel Umptee-3, Hathi in Jungle Cubs, "Reuben" in Lilo & Stitch: The Series, "Jack Fenton", "The Box Ghost", "Nicolai Technus", and "The Vulture Ghosts" in Danny Phantom, "Carl Wheezer" and "Butch" in Jimmy Neutron, "Mark Chang", "King Grippulon", "Happy Peppy Gary", and "Bucky McBadbat" in The Fairly OddParents, Peck the Rooster in Barnyard, and Back at the Barnyard and "Gordon Quid" in the Nickelodeon cartoon Catscratch. He was also the voice of "Rothchild" in the early episodes of Samurai Jack. Additionally, Paulsen provided the voice of "P.J. Pete" in Goof Troop, A Goofy Movie and An Extremely Goofy Movie, as well as the voices of Ratchet and Dr. Debolt in the TaleSpin pilot episode and introductory TV movie Plunder & Lightning.
He also voiced "Zeek" and "Joshua" in K10C: Kids' Ten Commandments, Rude Dog in Rude Dog and the Dweebs, and Archie the Raccoon, A.K.A., Ze Archer in "Mask of the Raccoon" on The Penguins of Madagascar. He reprised his role as "Throttle" in the 2006 Biker Mice from Mars, and also provided the voices of 2T Fru-T, Mike Ellis, Dark Comet and Ronald in the 2001 cartoon series Butt-Ugly Martians. He also portrayed the voice of Chomper and Strut in The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure, Spike and Rinkus in The Land Before Time sequels and Spike in the TV series, but Spike was played anonymously in the original The Land Before Time. Paulsen also played Mo in The Land Before Time IX: Journey to Big Water. Paulsen also voiced the robot "D.E.C.K.S." in the early 90's TV series Wake, Rattle, and Roll.
Paulsen was best known to Transformers fans as the voices of the Autobots Air Raid, Chase, Haywire, Fastlane and Slingshot in The Transformers.
Video games
In video gaming, much voice talent has bled over from television and radio voice actors. Paulsen has appeared in video games such as Doom 3 and Clay Fighter 63 1/3. He plays "Fluffy", the Chinese-crested dog, in 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue, an Irish-talking pubtender in the 1996 video game Toonstruck, and "Morte", a floating, talking skull, in Planescape: Torment, as well as "Anomen Delryn" in Baldur's Gate II and "Gray Fox" in Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes and Super Smash Bros. Brawl as an assist trophy. He provides the voice for Erik the Swift of the Lost Vikings in its second installment. He portrays "Tobli" and "Lian Ronso" in the English version of Square Enix's Final Fantasy X-2 and has played the lead character in Bubsy. Although an extremely minor role, Paulsen has also done the voice for the Greek soldiers in God of War. He voiced Jaq and the Grand Duke from the Cinderella world in Square Enix's and Disney's Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. In the video game The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge, he does the voice of "Igor". He also reprised his role as "Yakko Warner", "Dr. Scratchansniff", and "Pinky" in Animaniacs: The Great Edgar Hunt. Rob Paulsen voiced the lead character, Lazarus Jones, in the PS2 game Ghosthunter, and played The Duck Avenger in Disney's PK: Out of the Shadows. Rob also voiced Alfredo Fettuccini, Bob the Ghost Pirate, Lookout and Ghost Priest in The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition. He voiced the Fox and the Mouse in the Green Eggs and Ham PC game. He also voiced "Tlaloc" in Tak and the Power of Juju. Most recently he has voiced The Riddler in Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes, a role he reprised in Lego Batman: The Movie - DC Super Heroes Unite. Rob is the voice of talking alien dog Beak-Beak in Armikrog.
Other
Paulsen is also the off-camera voice of the syndicated television series Funniest Pets & People which is seen on Superstation WGN and other television stations throughout the United States and abroad.
Current roles
It was not long before Paulsen returned to Warner Bros. Animation, which had diverged into a new era of television serials (following what is sometimes referred to as the "Silver Age of Animation"). Paulsen appeared as "Rev Runner" of the new show Loonatics Unleashed and stars in Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island. He was also the voice of the character "Squeeky" on the TV show Danger Rangers. He voiced "Ichabeezer" and "Tom Celeriac" (a play on Tom Selleck) in VeggieTales in the House for Netflix. Paulsen also provides the voice for the Honda character "Mr. Opportunity." In the Rob Zombie animated film, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto, Paulsen voices the characters "El Gato" and "Commandant Hess", among some others. He also has a role as "Ditto", one of the alien forms on Ben 10, as Rhomboid Vreedle of the Vreedle Brothers and Baz-El in Ben 10: Alien Force, two characters that he reprised, along with a new character, Magister Patelliday on Ben 10: Ultimate Alien and Ben 10: Omniverse.
Paulsen is also the current voice of classic Disney character "José Carioca". Rob became the new voice of "Prince Eric" of Disney's The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea since Christopher Daniel Barnes failed to reprise the role in 2000. Though Barnes did return to voice the character in the Kingdom Hearts series when Paulsen was unavailable. He is also the voice of Peck the rooster and other minor characters in the Nickelodeon computer-animated series Back at the Barnyard and various characters on the Disney Channel animated series The Replacements. He is the voice of Bobble in the Tinker Bell movies. He also did the voices of Boober Fraggle, Sprocket and Marjory the Trash Heap in the animated version of Fraggle Rock, as well as Gwizdo in the Dragon Hunters movie. Paulsen also played the titular character for an animated web series based on the video game Bravoman for Namco Bandai's ShiftyLook division.
Awards and nominations
Paulsen has been nominated for an Annie Award for his role of Pinky for 4 consecutive years, which he won in 1996, 1997, and 1999. In 1999, he also won the Daytime Emmy Award for voicing Pinky.
In 2004, he was nominated for his role of the Troubador in The Three Musketeers, and in 2005, he was nominated for his role in The Happy Elf.
Public appearances
Paulsen has been a regular industry guest and featured panelist at Comic-Con International over the past several years. He has also appeared at animation industry-related events, such as the World Animation Celebration in 1998, among many others. He has also been a guest at several anime conventions, including JACON, Mikomicon, and Anime Overdose. Paulsen was a guest of honor at Anthrocon in 2007. He has recently started doing "Rob Paulsen Live" seminars across the U.S. to talk of his career, sign autographs, and talk with fans.
Sometimes, people in attendance would request him to sing the famous Yakko's World number, where he sings all the nations of the world with his Yakko voice in a fast-paced delivery without rehearsing.
In May 2011, working with social media and web producer Chris Pope, Paulsen rolled out a brand new website RobPaulsenLive.com, as well as a weekly audio podcast called Talkin' Toons with Rob Paulsen, which is managed and deployed by The Tech Jives Network. Episodes are currently recorded before a live audience at The Improv in Hollywood, California on a biweekly basis.
In June 2011, Paulsen made announcements that he was taking his show on the road with his "Lots of laughs and autographs" tour. Working closely with a team that included Chris Pope, his publicist and others he made his first successful tour in Atlanta, Georgia, which happened on July 30, 2011, and another in Dallas, Texas on September 17, 2011, that required two seminars, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, as they were so popular.
Personal life
Paulsen was born in Detroit, Michigan. He is married to Parrish Todd and has one son, Ashton. In an interview with a Chicago TV station, Paulsen described himself as "a singer who decided to become an actor." Growing up in Grand Blanc, Michigan, Paulsen sang in choir throughout his youth and adolescence and began performing in plays in grammar schools. However, his idol growing up was Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings; he considered the arts to be a secondary career choice, primarily interested in becoming a professional hockey player.
Paulsen has long supported charity organizations, and donated considerably for cancer research. He has worked a lot for GOALmodels, a program for adolescents, and is a sponsor of Camp Will-A-Way, a camp for mentally and physically disabled children. Paulsen also donates funds from autographs to the Wounded Warrior Project and Operation Smile.
Filmography
Paulsen voices most of the characters with his original accent which is American, but he used a British accent to voice Strut in The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure and Brunch in Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf while using a Scottish accent to voice Bobble in the Tinker Bell movies. In his role as Pinky, Paulsen used an exaggerated Cockney accent, especially in earlier episodes. He even used a Brooklyn accent for Reuben in Lilo & Stitch: The Series.
TV roles
Movie roles
- 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure â€" Danny
- A Gnome Named Gnorm â€" Gnorm
- A Goofy Movie - PJ
- An Extremely Goofy Movie - PJ
- Aladdin and the King of Thieves - Additional Voices
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman â€" Mr. Rochelle
- The Ant Bully â€" Beetle
- Balto II: Wolf Quest â€" Muru
- Bambi II â€" Friend Bear
- Barnyard â€" Peck the Rooster
- Batman: Gotham Knight â€" Sal Maroni
- Bat Thumb â€" No Face, Commissioner
- Body Double â€" Supporting Role
- Bubsy â€" Bubsy
- Cinderella II: Dreams Come True â€" Jaq, the Grand Duke, the Baker, Sir Hugh, Bert and Flower Vendor
- Cinderella III: A Twist in Time â€" Jaq, the Grand Duke and the Bishop
- Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure â€" Farley the Fox
- Comic Book: The Movie â€" Voice Actor
- Cranberry Christmas â€" Mr. Whiskers
- Doraemon: Nobita and the Green Giant Legend â€" Gian
- Dragon Hunters â€" Gwizdo
- Elvira's Haunted Hills â€" Adrian
- The Emperor's New Groove â€" Pink Cow (uncredited)
- Eyes of Fire â€" Jewell Buchanan
- The Fox and the Hound 2 â€" Chief, Additional Voices (uncredited)
- The GodThumb â€" Mickey, Toll Booth Guard
- Hamburger: The Motion Picture â€" Security Guard
- Happily N'Ever After â€" Amigo 2
- The Happy Elf
- The Haunted World of El Superbeasto â€" El Gato and Commandant Hess
- Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil â€" Johann, Bad Shatner, Bad Kelley
- Jetsons: The Movie â€" Additional Voices
- Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius - Carl Wheezer, Carl's Parents, and Kid in Classroom
- Jonny's Golden Quest â€" Hadji
- Jonny Quest vs. The Cyber Insects â€" Hadji
- Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure â€" Otis
- The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure â€" Spike / Strut / Chomper
- The Land Before Time III: The Time of the Great Giving â€" Spike / Kosh
- The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists â€" Spike
- The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island â€" Spike / Kosh
- The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire â€" Spike / Rinkus
- The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze â€" Spike / Leading Stegosaurus
- The Land Before Time IX: Journey to Big Water â€" Spike / Mo
- The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration â€" Spike
- The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses â€" Spike / Kosh
- The Land Before Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers â€" Spike / Mo / Guido / Kosh
- The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends â€" Spike / Beipiaosaurus #4
- Lego Batman: The Movie - DC Super Heroes Unite â€" Riddler
- The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea â€" Prince Eric
- The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning â€" Ink Spot & Swifty
- The Little Troll Prince â€" Borch #1
- Lone Wolf McQuade â€" Man at festival
- Mannequin â€" Cop #4
- Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse â€" Jaq and additional voices
- Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers â€" The Troubadour
- Mickey's House of Villains â€" Hades (singing only)
- Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas â€" Additional Voices
- Mulan II â€" Prince Jeeki
- Otra PelÃcula de Huevos y un Pollo â€" Confi
- The Pirate Fairy â€" Bobble
- Pixie Hollow Games â€" Bobble, Buck
- Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World â€" Additional Voices
- Porco Rosso â€" Additional Voices
- The Powerpuff Girls Movie â€" Hota Wata, Killa Drilla, Blah-Blah Blah-Blah, Additional Voices
- Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer â€" additional voice
- Return to Neverland â€" Pirates Rusty
- Rockin' with Judy Jetson â€" Sky Rocker
- Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf â€" Brunch
- Scooby-Doo! in Arabian Nights â€" Prince
- Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers â€" Shreako
- Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire â€" Sheriff, Vampire Actor #2, Teen Vampire
- Spaceballs â€" Stormtrooper with beachcomb
- The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water â€" Seagull
- Steel Magnolias â€" Delivery guy
- Stewardess School â€" Larry Falkwell
- Teacher's Pet â€" Ian Wazselewski
- Tinker Bell â€" Bobble
- Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure â€" Bobble, Grimsley, Mr. Owl
- Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue â€" Bobble
- Secret of the Wings â€" Bobble, Slush
- Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation â€" Banjo Possom, Mr. Hitcher, Fowlmouth & Johnny Pew
- Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz â€" Hickory/Tin Man
- Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats â€" James the Chauffeur, Lester Pester, Tour Bus Driver
- Tweety's High-Flying Adventure â€" Sphinx, Ship Crewman and Casino Cat
- Wakko's Wish â€" Yakko Warner / Dr. Otto Scratchansniff / Pinky
- Warlock â€" Supporting Role
- Yogi and the Invasion of the Space Bears â€" Zor Two
- Yogi the Easter Bear â€" Easter Bunny, Male Ranger
Games
- Armikrog â€" Beak-Beak
- Baldur's Gate II â€" Shadows of Amn â€" Anomen Delryn / Saerk Farrahd / Biff The Understudy / Qadeel
- Baldur's Gate â€" Kivan, Volo, Prism, Telmen
- Barnyard â€" Peck
- Blazing Dragons â€" Mervin the Magician, Inventor of Basebal
- Bubsy II â€" Bubsy
- Bubsy in: Fractured Furry Tales â€" Bubsy
- Clay Fighter 63 1/3 â€" Bonkers
- Disney's PK: Out of the Shadows â€" PK
- Final Fantasy X-2 â€" Additional Voices
- Ghosthunter â€" Officer Lazarus Jones
- Giants: Citizen Kabuto â€" Timmy the Smartie
- Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep â€" Jaq, Grand Duke
- Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes â€" Riddler
- Metal Arms: Glitch in the System â€" Additional Voices
- Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes â€" Gray Fox
- Orion Burger â€" Wilbur Wafflemeier
- Planescape: Torment â€" Mortimer 'Morte' Rictusgrin
- Sacrifice â€" Zyzyx
- The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition â€" Bob, The Lookout, Alfredo Fettucini
- SpongeBob SquarePants featuring Nicktoons: Globs of Doom â€" Technus, Carl Wheezer, Traloc
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl â€" Gray Fox
- Tekken 4 â€" Additional Voices (uncredited)
- Toonstruck â€" Lugnut, Mee, Barman
Internet
- Bravoman as Bravoman, Alpha Man, and additional voices
- Sock Puppet Theatre as various
- Nostalgia Critic as himself and Pinky
Other works
- Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast (2003) â€" Carl Wheezer
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros (2007) - Jose Carioca
References
- ^ Szabo, Barbara (March 7, 2007). "Talent Agent Lectures for Mary Pickford Series". Corsair Newspaper â€" Santa Monica College 93 (3). Retrieved October 19, 2014 â€" via California Digital Newspaper Collection.Â
- ^ Forman, Ross (1994-11-08). "Cartoon-voice Actor Is All Talk". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-08-28.Â
- ^ "'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' returns â€" preview". Digital Spy.Â
- ^ Kickstarter (June 4, 2013). "V.O. Spotlight â€" Rob Paulsen". Retrieved 2013-06-20.Â
- ^ Behind the Voice Actors: Prince Eric Behind the Voice Actors, Retrieved January 5, 2015
- ^ "CCI: ShiftyLook Announces New Webcomics, Animated Projects". ComicbookResources.com. Retrieved 15 December 2012.Â
- ^ "Talking Toons with Rob Paulsen on TechJives.net". Retrieved 20 October 2014.Â
- ^ Lucas Ackley & Chris Robison. "Rob Paulsen comes to Atlanta by BigShinyRobot.com". Retrieved 20 October 2014.Â
- ^ "Rob Paulsen of Grand Blanc voicing holiday special". MLive.com. Retrieved 20 October 2014.Â
- ^ "The Enchanted Shoes". The 7D. Episode 16a. November 16, 2014. Closing credits. Disney XD.Â
- ^ "Behind The Voice Actors â€" Rob Paulsen". Behind The Voice Actors.Â
- ^ "Baldur's Gate (Video Game 1998)". IMDb. Retrieved 20 October 2014.Â
External links
- Official website
- Rob Paulsen at SBV Talent
- Rob Paulsen Talkin' Toon Live Weekly Video Podcast on Ustream
- Rob Paulsen on Myspace â€" Photos
- Rob Paulsen at the Internet Movie Database
- Rob Paulsen at Voicechasers.com
- Rob Paulsen's Inspirational Quotes