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As a movie enthusiast with a soft spot for animation, I can’t help but appreciate the stellar casts gracing some of the most revered animated films. While it’s common knowledge that Robin Williams brought the Genie to life in Aladdin or James Earl Jones voiced Mufasa in The Lion King, there are other acting talents who lend their voices to beloved Disney characters that might not be as well-known.

Occasionally, these talented individuals don’t just voice a character but also subtly shape the personality or narrative of those characters. For instance, casting James Woods as Hades in Hercules wasn’t just about voicing the character; his rapid speech and improvisations played a significant role in turning Hades into one of Disney’s most iconic villains.

It’s logical that Disney would aim to hire exceptional actors to bring their animated characters to life, as they can contribute to the character becoming beloved and unique. After all, these skilled performers have significantly impacted Disney animated films through their voice acting abilities or captivating singing voices. However, it’s possible that some Disney enthusiasts may not be aware or recall that these talented actors were the voices behind their cherished Disney characters.

Demi Moore Is the Voice of Esmeralda

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

In a notable twist, Demi Moore, renowned for her roles in movies like Ghost, A Few Good Men, and Indecent Proposal, lent her distinctive voice to Esmeralda in the animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Her deep vocal tone, a rarity among actresses who’ve voiced Disney’s female characters, earned her the role. However, it was cabaret singer Heidi Mollenhauer who provided the singing voice for Esmeralda in the movie.

Initially, I thought I was set to lend my voice to the captivating character of Esmeralda in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” but it turned out that the team had something else in store for me – a role among the gargoyles. However, as the script underwent numerous alterations, my character’s direction deviated from the vision I had for the gargoyles, ultimately resulting in my decision not to participate in the film. Notable stars like Jason Alexander, known for his role in “Seinfeld,” who voiced Hugo the gargoyle, and Kevin Kline from “A Fish Called Wanda,” who played Captain Phoebus, were also part of this iconic production.

Scandal’s Tony Goldwyn Is Tarzan

Tarzan

In the TV show “Scandal,” Fitzgerald Grant III lent his voice to the Disney animated movie “Tarzan.” According to one of the film’s directors, Goldwyn secured the role due to his convincing baboon impersonations and his ability to portray Tarzan’s animalistic nature. At that time, Goldwyn was widely recognized for films like “Ghost,” “Nixon” and “Kiss the Girls.

Brendan Fraser attempted the role of Tarzan on two occasions, but it was Tony Goldwyn who ended up portraying him. Nevertheless, Fraser got to depict a satirical version of the character in “George of the Jungle,” which premiered before “Tarzan.” Interestingly, despite “Tarzan” having started production as early as 1995, other well-known actors like Minnie Driver (as Jane Porter) and Glenn Close (as Kala) also appeared in it.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Plays Jim Hawkins

Treasure Planet

Prior to his acclaimed roles in films like “50/50” and others, Joseph Gordon-Levitt had previously lent his voice to the character Jim Hawkins in the lesser-known Disney animated movie “Treasure Planet”. At that time, Gordon-Levitt was already a well-established actor, recognized for his role as Tommy Solomon in “3rd Rock from the Sun”. Remarkably, he had no prior voice acting experience, yet this was precisely what the makers of “Treasure Planet” were seeking.

Following a series of auditions spanning several months, Joseph Gordon-Levitt secured the part of Jim Hawkins in Treasure Planet. However, acting without engaging with the rest of the cast, particularly Brian Murray who lent his voice to John Silver, proved challenging for him. Notable actors in Treasure Planet included David Hyde Pierce from Fraiser, portraying Dr. Delbert Doppler, Emma Thompson voicing Captain Amelia, and Martin Short, who brought the alien robot character B.E.N. (Bio-Electronic Navigator) to life.

Law & Order: SVU’s BD Wong Voices Captain Li Shang

Mulan

BD Wong is a widely recognized actor, often associated with his role as Doctor George Huang on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Yet, there are many who may not be aware of his other notable role – that of Captain Li Shang in Mulan. The team behind Mulan prioritized hiring Asian talent for the voice cast, and BD Wong eventually secured the part of Li Shang. Donny Osmond, on the other hand, provided the singing voice for the character.

It’s common knowledge that Eddie Murphy voices Mushu, the tiny dragon who serves as Mulan’s spiritual guide, while Ming-Na Wen lends her voice to Mulan following her captivating narration in “The Joy Luck Club” which caught the filmmakers’ attention. Lea Salonga, known for voicing Jasmine in “Aladdin”, provided Mulan’s singing voice as well.

Law & Order Veteran Jerry Orbach Is Lumière

Beauty and the Beast

Jerry Orbach may be widely recognized for his stellar acting career, but some might not realize that he lent his voice to a beloved Disney animated film as well. Orbach provided the voice for Lumière, the entertaining and flirtatious candelabra who serves as the head waiter in the Beast’s castle in “Beauty and the Beast.” Throughout the story, Lumiere assists Belle during her time with the Beast.

Jerry Orbach, known for his acting prowess, lent his vocal talents to Lumière in “Beauty and the Beast,” singing the iconic tune “Be Our Guest” alongside Angela Lansbury who portrayed Mrs. Potts. Paige O’Hara, a Broadway actress, made her film debut as Belle, while Robby Benson, a former ’70s teen heartthrob and current star of “Severance,” gave voice to the Beast. Mandy Patinkin and Val Kilmer were among the actors initially considered for the role of the Beast before Benson was eventually chosen.

Michael J. Fox Is the Voice of Milo James Thatch

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Known primarily for his iconic roles in the “Back to the Future” movie franchise, Michael J. Fox is also a skilled voice actor. He lent his voice to Milo James Thatch in the animated film “Atlantis: The Lost Empire.” One of the directors mentioned they selected Fox due to his ability to give Milo a unique personality. Prior to “Atlantis: The Lost Empire,” Michael J. Fox voiced Stuart Little in the movie that bore the same name.

In a fascinating twist of roles, the esteemed actor James Garner, famous for movies such as “The Great Escape,” “Grand Prix,” and “Murphy’s Romance,” lent his voice to Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke. On the other hand, Cree Summer, an accomplished actress and singer recognized for her roles as Elmyra Duff in “Tiny Tunes Adventures” and Susie Carmichael in “Rugrats,” provided the voice of the Princess of Atlantis, Kidagakash “Kida” Nedakh. Additionally, Phil Morris, known for his roles in “Seinfeld” and “Smallville,” can be heard as Dr. Joshua Strongbear Sweet in “Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

Scottish Actress Kelly Macdonald Is Merida

Brave

The debut Pixar film featuring a female lead character is called “Brave,” with Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald taking on the primary role as Princess Merida. Macdonald may be familiar to some from her roles in films like “No Country for Old Men,” “Gosford Park,” or “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” or her TV appearances in shows such as “Boardwalk Empire” and “Line of Duty. Brave” marked Macdonald’s first voice acting role, and she reprised the character of Merida for “Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Initially, Reese Witherspoon was intended for the role of Princess Merida in the movie “Brave,” but she struggled with perfecting the Scottish accent, causing the part to be given to Kelly Macdonald instead. Notably, Emma Thompson, renowned for her performances in films like “Howards End,” “Henry V,” “Love Actually,” and the “Harry Potter” series, portrays Queen Elinor, Merida’s mother in the movie. Interestingly, both Kelly Macdonald and Emma Thompson had previously collaborated on the film “Nanny McPhee.” Additionally, the cast of “Brave” includes Julie Walters, who played Molly Weasley in “Harry Potter” and The Witch in “Brave,” as well as Robbie Coltrane, known for his roles as Hagrid in “Harry Potter” and Lord Dingwall in this Disney production.

Joaquin Phoenix Gives Life to Kenai

Brother Bear

The animated Disney film titled “Brother Bear” has garnered reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Notably, Joaquin Phoenix, famed for movies like “Signs“, “Gladiator“, “Walk the Line“, and “The Joker“, lends his voice to Kenai, the youngest sibling among three brothers. In an intriguing twist of events, after killing a bear himself, he is transformed into a bear. Interestingly, this was Phoenix’s debut voice acting role, following his first Oscar nomination for “Gladiator“.

Rick Moranis, known for his roles in “Ghostbusters” and “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,” lent his voice to the humorous moose pair Rutt and Tuke in “Brother Bear.” Moranis and his comedy partner Dave Thomas had previously played comedic duos, portraying Bob and Doug McKenzie in an iconic “SCTV” sketch that later exploded into pop culture. Following his last live-action film, “Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves,” in 1997, Moranis took a break from acting but returned to the industry for “Brother Bear” and its sequel, “Brother Bear 2.” These were Moranis’ final roles before resuming his hiatus.

The Office’s Phyllis Smith Is the Iconic Sadness

Inside Out

Phyllis Smith, often recognized for her comedic portrayal in “The Office,” lends her voice to Sadness in Pixar’s “Inside Out.” Smith was one of the first emotions chosen for the film, as producers sought actors who resembled their on-screen personas. Smith secured the role following her performance in the comedy movie “Bad Teacher,” particularly during the lunch scene.

In the animated film “Inside Out”, Amy Poehler, known for her roles in Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation, lends her voice to Joy. Bill Hader, another SNL alum, voices Fear, while Mindy Kaling, famous for The Office, portrays Disgust. Stand-up comedian Lewis Black represents Anger, and Richard Kind voices Bing Bong. Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan are the voices of Riley’s mother and father respectively in the movie.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Stephanie Beatriz Gives Life to Mirabel Madrigal

Encanto

While Stephanie Beatriz is widely recognized for her tough-as-nails character Rosa Diaz in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, complete with a deep, resonant voice, her actual voice is more akin to the one she employed for Mirabel Madrigal in Disney’s Encanto. Interestingly, Stephanie Beatriz also lends her vocal talents to sing as Mirabel in Encanto, and the film’s music was penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who collaborated with Beatriz on In the Heights as well.

In the movie “Encanto,” we find a story centered around a Colombian family, showcasing an array of Colombian talent. For instance, Stephanie Beatriz, who has her roots in Colombia, is among the cast members. The character Abuela Madrigal is voiced by María Cecilia Botero, a Colombian actress, while John Leguizamo brings Bruno Madrigal to life. Diane Guerrero, renowned for her role as Maritza Ramos in “Orange Is the New Black,” portrays Isabel. Julieta and Pepa are played by Angie Cepeda and Carolina Gaitán, respectively, who are both Colombian actresses. Jessica Darrow takes on the character of Luisa.

2025-05-21 06:33