Top 10 Best Sitcom Stars to Voice Act

In the world of “Hotel Transylvania,” Count Dracula ran a monster sanctuary that promised to be free of worries and of humans… until one slipped through the cracks. Jonathan, a young human backpacker, challenged the monsters’ ideas about humanity and themselves. The character’s voice had to have energy, empathy and the ability to sing. Fortunately,“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” actor Andy Samberg had all that and more. The role required a voice actor capable of both comedy and romance. Samberg nailed that balance while transforming Jonathan from a curious outsider to a loving husband and father over the course of the franchise. With just as much charm and charisma as Jake Peralta, Jonathan was easily a highlight of the studio’s fun and frightening franchise.

Whether you know her from “Seinfeld” or “Veep,” it’s hard not to love Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Since she excelled at playing self-centered characters, it was a little difficult to imagine her playing a selfless Disney royal - even if said royal is a bug. And yet, we still heard her performance as Princess Atta just six months after the end of “Seinfeld. Fans noticed it was a huge departure from Louis-Dreyfus’s small screen role. Atta was perpetually self-conscious, kind, and carried a need to be liked by those around her. Louis-Dreyfus pulled off the character brilliantly. So much so that we wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t know she played the role! Pixar must have been similarly impressed by her performance because they brought her back for 2020’s“Onward.”

When thinking of “The Lion King,” many think of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” star, Matthew Broderick as the voice of Simba. And while it’s true that Broderick provided the voice for adult Simba, the leading lion’s younger self was actually voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas. You may recognize as Tim Taylor’s middle child, Randy, from “Home Improvement.” Much like Randy, cub Simba can be a bit of a troublemaker. John Taylor Thomas perfectly captured the young lion’s occasional sass and cockiness. To make matters better, the young actor also hit the emotional beats that still make us tear up. Thomas gave a full circle of life powerhouse performance that has gone down as one of Disney’s best.

While Sulley may have been the top scorer at Monsters Incorporated, he also had a heart of gold. His voice had to be gruff but lovable. It also needed to inspire joy and laughter just as easily as he caused screams of fear. So, we think Pixar made the right choice in casting John Goodman. In spite of the actor’s imposing frame, he became one of TV’s most lovable father figures through “Roseanne”. This persona naturally translated into his vocal performance of Sulley. Despite looking scary, he excelled at being the guardian of a young human child. Goodman was so scarily good for the role that he’s been brought back to reprise his fantastic role in multiple mediums.

Leslie Knope was one of the most upbeat sitcom characters ever made. Even on her toughest days, she remained optimistic. As such, it should come as no surprise her actress, Amy Poehler, was cast as the bubbly personification of joy in “Inside Out.” While Poehler was already an experienced voice actress, her Pixar role shined as her strongest performance. She brought tons of energy without getting obnoxious by making subtle changes in tone and her delivery. And when Joy needed to grow, Poehler masterfully conveyed heavier emotions. We also have to shout out her fellow sitcom alumni for their work too. “Office” actress Mindy Kaling nailed the role of Disgust. Meanwhile, her sitcom co-star Phyllis Smith made Sadness extremely relatable. (xref)

In “The Big Bang Theory,” Kaley Cuoco’s character, Penny, was by far the least knowledgeable about sci-fi and superheroes. That’s what made it ironic to hear Cuoco herself as the voice of fan favorite character Harley Quinn in a streaming series. The show centers on Harley’s life after she breaks up with the Joker and begins to explore her own independent feelings and interests. Instead of imitating past performances, Cuoco provides a unique and energetic take that keeps us in stitches. Since the actress also excels at conveying Harley’s vulnerabilities, we’re often sympathetic for the character’s struggles. Cuoco got us rooting for the anti-heroine to succeed in love, life, and all her edgy pursuits.

Some sitcom actors become known for playing a certain type of character and get stuck in a typecasting rut. Thankfully, Stephanie Beatriz dodged this bullet when she was cast as Mirabel Madrigal in “Encanto.” The selfless animated sibling is the complete opposite of Beatriz’s brash and no nonsense “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” character, Rosa. Through Mirabel, Beatriz was able to show off her softer side and her amazing singing voice. “Encanto” opens with her song “The Family Madrigal,” after all. That song alone convinces us that the character is a responsible young woman who cares deeply for her family. “Encanto” enchanted us right away thanks to Stephanie Beatriz’s considerable talents.

Before Ed Asner became everyone’s favorite grumpy grandpa in “Up,” he was best known for playing Lou Grant in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” The role won him five Emmy awards, two of which were for a spin-off where he was the star. With this impressive acting resumé, casting him as the lead in a film had to have been a no-brainer! Asner made the crabby Carl hilarious for most of the run. Although he is a gruff man, the actor makes sure to leave touches of the character’s internal grief and notes of joy. Asner wonderfully saw the character through a journey of moving on from his lost love.

Will Arnett’s most well-known roles both have something in common: a serious case of arrested development. Both Gob and Bojack are irresponsible performers who often make things worse for themselves rather than owning up to their own mistakes. While the flaws lead to comedy in the sitcom, these personality traits lead to tragedy in animation. We can hear the pain in Arnett’s voice as the show tackled heavy topics such as substance abuse disorder, death, and self-loathing. He can make us resent or feel bad for Bojack from moment to moment. Even in the darkest places, Arnett never loses the character’s light. It’s a tough balancing act that the actor absolutely nails.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Abbi Jacobson as Katie Mitchell, “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” (2021)
The “Broad City” Actress Makes Us Believe In Pursuing Our Passions

Jerry Seinfeld as Barry B. Benson, “Bee Movie” (2007)
His Sarcastic Voice Was Perfect For the Bee

Rainn Wilson as Lex Luthor, Various
We Can Only Assume Lex Luthor Became Evil After One Too Many Jello Stapler Pranks

Jessica Walter as Malory Archer, “Archer” (2009-)
If Your Show Needed A Malevolent Matriarch, Jessica Walter Was The Woman For The Job

John Ritter as Clifford, “Clifford the Big Red Dog” (2000-03)
We’re Thankful That Clifford Isn't Quite As Much Of A Klutz As Jack Tripper

Is it better to be feared or loved? Michael Scott and Gru may have different answers to this age old question, but both would be delivered by the same man. And, in a way, that makes perfect sense! In both the case of “The Office” and “Despicable Me,” the audience shouldn’t have any reason to like Carell’s character. Michael Scott is incompetent and selfish, often crossing lines with his employees that should never be crossed. Gru is a supervillain, prone to typical bad guy behavior. Yet both men are made loveable by Carell’s flawless comedic delivery. We’re not sure either character would work without him! After just one “Despicable Me” movie, you’ll start rooting for a supervillain.

Did we miss any of your favorite performances? Let us know in the comments!