Last week it was Richard Branson, this week it is voice actor Billy West. Though his name sounds similar to a crappy superhero alter-ego (perhaps I am simply reminded of the name Adam West), Billy West has voiced some of the most iconic cartoon characters of all time. Here's a list of the important roles West has played:
- Doug: Doug Funnie and Roger Klotz (1991-1994, the Nickelodeon version, not the Disney version with the stupid baseball tee version of Doug);
- Ren and Stimpy: Ren and Stimpy (Stimpy 1991 until 1996; Ren from 1993-1996);
- Futurama: Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg, Richard Nixon's head, and Zapp Brannigan;
- Space Jam: Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd;
- Scooby Doo on Zombie Island: Shaggy (West was only the second person ever to voice Shaggy);
- Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy: Popeye (a 75th anniversary movie).
To be a bit more direct: Billy West is strangely badass because he represents a whole bunch of animated childhood icons jammed into a body that looks somewhat like Richard Kiel (more commonly known as 'That giant guy who had a nail in his head in Happy Gilmore').
By the way, everyone should feel welcome to add some names to the Strangely Badass series.
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Man, I'm sad that you think Richard Kiel's most memorable role was in Happy Gilmore. Haven't you ever seen Moonraker? Or The Spy Who Loved Me? Or Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man"?
ReplyDeleteSheesh, you kids... with your... punk rock and your... your... skate parks... and your... makeout parties.
I've always wanted to get into voice acting, but I have no clue at all how to go about it.
I totally thought of that guy (yes, the best I could come up with was "that guy from Jaws") as soon as I saw the picture.
ReplyDeleteFamily Guy's Seth McFarlane does quite an impressive number of characters on the show, but the range doesn't even compare to this guy. Nice find.
I've always known about and loved Billy West - he's amazing. Tom Kenny is another good one - he's best known as the voice of Spongebob Squarepants, but has also provided major character voices for tons of cartoon shows for the past decade or so, including Dexter's Laboratory, Rocko's Modern Life, The Powerpuff Girls, and Futurama (he's Abner Doubledeal!). Plus, he's a featured player throughout Mr. Show.
ReplyDeleteThere are really interesting interviews with both of these actors on youtube, including a crazy one where Billy West does all the Futurama voices together.
I've never been a Bond fanatic--I have seen only four or so of the movies--so most references to anything from the Bond series slip past me unrecognized. This ignorance of Bond is rather widespread, covering many decades (Dr. No the film was released in 1962), mediums (print, movie, and video game), and actors.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I nearly consider this ignorance a point of pride--to me the character of James Bond is an acceptable gap for one to have in one's knowledge of modern culture. Basically I don't like what little I know of the Bond series and, while I recognize the impact of Bond on other art I do enjoy, I am not sorry to have missed out on the majority of the Bond oeuvre. [I never intended for this to turn into an anti-Bond rant, and I apologize to those of you who, like J Crowley, consider the series to be a classic.]