Top 20 Modern Disney Characters You Didn't Know Shared a Voice

Voiced By: Brad Garrett
Possessing a deep, booming voice, Brad Garrett sounds just like a cartoon character, so it's only natural that he'd score a few gigs with Disney. Starting out in a couple direct-to-video productions, voicing Uttamatomakkin in “Pocahontas II” and Tank in “An Extremely Goofy Movie”, Garrett hit the big time when he landed the role of Bloat the pufferfish in “Finding Nemo.” He would later voice renowned chef Auguste Gusteau in “Ratatouille” and the Hook-Hand Thug in “Tangled.” Garrett’s gentle giant persona shines through each of these roles. Although his characters are typically gigantic and intimidating, they’re also known for having big hearts and even bigger dreams.

Voiced By: Jenifer Lewis
Unofficially deemed “The Mother of Black Hollywood” due to her many matriarchal roles, Jenifer Lewis breathes vigor and warmth into every character she plays. In the “Cars” franchise, she can be heard as Flo, the owner of Flo’s V8 Café. She is also the eccentric Mama Odie in “The Princess and the Frog” and, given her career debut on Broadway, it’s unsurprising to hear how good she is in “Dig a Little Deeper”. While the two characters could not be more different, listening to Flo now makes her sound just a little like she’s about to let out a big old cackle.

Voiced By: Edie McClurg
This character actress has gotten in front of the camera on multiple occasions, but even in an animated production, McClurg is a standout. With a mousy, nurturing voice, she was the ideal candidate to play Carlotta the maid in “The Little Mermaid.” Over the years, McClurg has popped up in numerous other Disney movies, playing Mollie the pig in “Home on the Range,” Mary in “Wreck-It Ralph,” and Gerda in “Frozen.” She’s also lent her voice to a couple Pixar movies, voicing Dr. Flora in “A Bug’s Life” and Minny in “Cars.” While her roles are usually minor, McClurg never fails to leave an impression, which is why Disney keeps hiring her.

Voiced By: Wallace Shawn
This seasoned actor also happens to be quite the writer, as he’s responsible for penning a number of plays, films, and even a couple of books. You might recognize his face from “The Princess Bride” and “Clueless”, but his voice will likely be most familiar to you from the “Toy Story” movies, where he voices Rex. Rather different from the timid dinosaur, you’ll also find Principal Mazur from “A Goofy Movie” in his catalog. Wallace Shawn got to play authority once more when he was cast as Bob Parr’s boss, Mr. Huph, in “The Incredibles”, a performance equally worthy of praise. With its nasally, quirky quality, Shawn’s voice is distinct, but we bet you didn’t catch it across the three Disney franchises.

Voiced By: Steve Buscemi
Just when we think this national treasure can’t get any more loveable, we’re reminded of his voice work. As a character actor who constantly breaks molds and ups the standard in any part he plays, Buscemi is one voice we never get tired of hearing. In “Home on the Range”, you can spot him as the shady blackmarket businessman Wesley. He’s not any less slimy as Randall Boggs in “Monsters, Inc.” and “Monsters University”, although audiences may have an easier time recognizing him behind the mic. Buscemi’s flair for portraying villains while maintaining that layer of comedy behind the mask make his performances ones we always look forward to.

Voiced By: Idris Elba
Idris Elba is another one of those celebrities with an uber recognizable voice. It’s tough, deep, and menacing, which makes it entirely perfect for roles like the fearsome Shere Khan of “The Jungle Book”. While we really enjoyed him in the live-action adaptation, we’ll admit that we enjoy a little levity in his performances. When it comes to “Zootopia’s” Chief Bogo, the hints of humor and playfulness written in are brilliantly executed by Elba. To our delight, he got to push that even further with one half of the sea lion duo in “Finding Dory”. As Fluke, he gives us silly by the boatloads, something we’re not really used to from him. If his work for Disney has proved one thing, it’s that you just can’t typecast this man.

Voiced By: Bonnie Hunt
Known for hits like “ Beethoven”, “Jumanji”, and “Cheaper by the Dozen”, Bonnie Hunt is a versatile actress who’s also made her mark behind the camera with producing, directing, and writing credits. Behind the mic, however, Hunt has lent her voice to a plethora of Disney and Pixar characters, most notable of which is likely Sally from “Cars”. Sharp ears may also recognize her in “Zootopia”, as a character who shares her first name, Bonnie Hopps, Judy’s mom. In “Monsters, Inc.” she can be heard as Ms. Flint, as Dolly in “Toy Story 3”, and “4”, and as Rosie in “A Bug’s Life”.

Voiced By: Jason Marsden
Jason Marsden has been the voice of Goofy’s son, Max Goof, since 1995. Given that he’s such a prolific name in the voice acting world, we can pinpoint him as at least two other modern Disney characters. For Halloween fans who watch “Hocus Pocus” every year, you might be interested to learn that Marsden is also responsible for bringing to life Thackery Binx, everyone’s favorite black cat. The very same voice makes a reappearance as Kovu, Zira’s son and Kiara’s love interest in the 1998 “Lion King” sequel. With all the depth, personality, and warmth he brings to his roles, it’s a pleasure to watch Marsden in anything he features.

Voiced By: Mandy Moore
Before she got to be strong, determined, and brave, as Princess Rapunzel, Mandy Moore got to be strong, determined, and brave as Nita in “Brother Bear 2”. She was a great pick for Nita, Kenai’s childhood friend, bringing a softness and likeability to the independent, tenacious character. Of course, her other modern Disney role is pretty well-known by this point. Rapunzel is a character who’s bright, optimistic, and so full of wonder, qualities Moore manages to infuse her with through cadence alone. Despite the somewhat different pitches and speech patterns of the characters, Moore doesn’t compromise on warmth, infectious energy, or relatability for either.

Voiced By: Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell naturally has one of those super clear voices, which makes her perfect for voice work. Just ask “Gossip Girl”! Luckily, she moved past narration and into character portrayal when it comes to her Disney projects. Bell’s charming and spirited performance in “Frozen” allows Anna to feel relatable and real, ultimately helping to create a character that served as a refreshing twist to the traditional Disney princess archetype. While her role as the sloth, Priscilla, in “Zootopia”, is significantly smaller, it’s still a lot of fun to hear her embody a slow-talking character so distinct from Anna’s upbeat energy.

Voiced By: Jodi Benson
With her movie kicking off the Disney Renaissance, Ariel is one of the most beloved princesses out there. Jodi Benson brings Ariel to life with her bright, expressive voice, giving the character youthful innocence and infinite curiosity, as well as a unique vulnerability and strength. These are all characteristics we see on display in “Toy Story’s” Barbie. In the third movie, we see her come to terms with being given up by her owner, dupe and ultimately blackmail Ken, and finally helps save her friends with an unbelievable display of wit and resolve. Benson is there for every emotion these characters go through, time and time again revealing that they’re not just a pretty face.

Voiced By: Tony Jay
Even if you don’t recognize Tony Jay’s face, you definitely recognize his baritone voice. This British actor had a knack for sounding diabolical without going too over-the-top. It isn’t surprising that he played multiple Disney villains throughout his illustrious career. Jay appeared as a secondary bad guy in “Beauty and the Beast,” voicing the dastardly Monsieur D'Arque. He was upgraded to big bad in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” bringing a Shakespearian quality to Judge Claude Frollo. He was also the obvious choice to replace the late George Sanders as Shere Khan in both “The Jungle Book 2” and “TaleSpin.” Jay also left his mark on several other Disney Afternoon shows, most notably voicing Wraith in “Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series.”

Voiced By: John Goodman
Of all the performers on this list, John Goodman is probably the most well known among mainstream audiences. This actor has had a highly successful career in live-action projects, but is no slouch when it comes to animated productions. Although Goodman’s played some loud and even threatening characters, he tends to show off his gentler side in Disney movies. He brought his nice guy charm to the role of Pacha in “The Emperor’s New Groove.” The same can be said about his work as Baloo in “The Jungle Book 2” and "Big Daddy" La Bouff in “The Princess and the Frog.” Of course, his most iconic role has got to be James P. Sullivan. Hitting just the right note, Goodman gave a towering monster a genuine soul.

Voiced (Singing) By: Lea Salonga
Although Linda Larkin recorded Princess Jasmine’s dialogue, the filmmakers felt that another performer should provide the character’s singing voice. So they turned to Tony Award winning stage actress, Lea Salonga. With the voice of an angel, this Filipina singer helped make “A Whole New World” one of Disney’s most timeless songs. Salonga was originally set to voice Mulan, and although replaced by Ming-Na Wen, she did take on Mulan’s singing voice. This proved to be excellent casting, as “Reflection” wouldn’t have been the same without Salonga’s emotive singing chops. Although singing rather than speaking, Salonga's roles as Jasmine and Mulan gives her the rare distinction of portraying two official Disney princesses.

Voiced By: David Ogden Stiers
This actor was so versatile that he could seamlessly juggle multiple roles in one movie. Disney fans might know that Stiers voiced Cogsworth in “Beauty and the Beast,” but did you know that he also provided the film’s opening narration? In “Pocahontas,” he took on another dual performance as the villainous Governor Ratcliffe and his manservant, Wiggins. Stiers played various other Disney characters, such as the Archdeacon in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” Mr. Harcourt in “Atlantis: The Lost Empire,” and Dr. Jumba Jookiba in “Lilo & Stitch.” While many of the actors on this list are instantly recognizable, Stiers was like a chameleon that could blend into any role without being unnoticed.

Voiced By: Alan Tudyk
Alan Tudyk couldn’t have been more deliciously evil as King Candy in “Wreck-It Ralph.” Since then, this gifted actor has frequently appeared in Disney’s animated features. As the Duke of Weselton in “Frozen,” Tudyk played another sneaky bad guy, although his character was really more a red herring to distract us from the actual big baddie. He’d take on a similar role as Alistair Krei in “Big Hero 6.” Tudyk went from voicing the Duke of Weselton to voicing Duke Weaselton in “Zootopia” and that same year, he clucked his heart out as Hei Hei in “Moana.” Seeing how “Star Wars” is now a major part of the Disney family, it’s also worth mentioning that it was Tudyk that brought K-2SO to life in “Rogue One.”

Voiced By: John Ratzenberger
John Ratzenberger is best known as the know it all postman Cliff Clavin, but to Pixar fans he'll always be Hamm the Piggy Bank. Described as the studio’s good luck charm, Ratzenberger has played a part in every Pixar movie since. Sometimes cast in a supporting role, like Mack the Truck from “Cars”, other times he’ll make an extended cameo, like in “Monsters, Inc.” where he played the Abominable Snowman. A few of his characters aren’t even on screen for more than a minute but they're always memorable, like The Underminer from “The Incredibles” for example. Whether it’s a big role or a small one, you can always count on hearing Ratzenberger’s voice in a Pixar production.

Voiced By: James Earl Jones
With “Star Wars” having been bought over by Disney, James Earl Jones had two major VA credits for the company. All the way from the franchise’s debut in 1977 to the miniseries “Obi-Wan Kenobi” released in 2022, Jones could be heard behind the mask. Vader’s voice has an imposing bass resonance with a slow, deliberate cadence, conveying authority and that signature brand of menace. As Mufasa, the actor didn’t lose an ounce of authority, but gained a whole fleet full of warmth. He returned to the role for the live-action adaptation of the “Lion King” in 2019, which certainly helped bring some life back into the expressive emotion lost from the original animation style. His voice remains a symbol of strength in pop culture, solidifying him as a legendary presence in both franchises.

Voiced By: Frank Welker
He might not be a household name, but to those in the know, Frank Welker has cemented his place as a voice acting legend. With a filmography that stretches for miles, Welker has voiced pretty much every member of the animal kingdom. Specializing in gibberish roles, he created the sounds for Abu from “Aladdin,” Flit from “Pocahontas,” Bigfoot from “A Goofy Movie,” Pegasus from “Hercules,” Cri-Kee from “Mulan,” and his screen credits just go on. Honestly, we’d be here all day if we listed off every Disney character Welker has played. So let’s just listen to his epic voice as the Cave of Wonders. So friggin’ cool!

Voiced By: Jim Cummings
Jim Cummings has been shaping childhoods for over thirty years, although most audiences have never seen his face. One of the most seasoned voice actors on the planet, he’s played numerous classic Disney characters, including both Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. On the big screen, he’s voiced Razoul from “Aladdin,” Ray from “The Princess and the Frog,” and Ed from “The Lion King.” Oh, and he also filled in for Jeremy Irons as Scar during parts of “Be Prepared.” Whether a character is cute and cuddly or cruel and conniving, Cummings can adapt to virtually any role. He knows how to play heroes and villains, which is perhaps best exemplified through his work as Darkwing Duck and his archenemy, Negaduck.


Which two characters voiced by one person do you think are the most different? Let us know in the comments!