After Toy Story, Cars would become the second Pixar movie to have a sequel and become a franchise. As Pixar would only commit to doing a sequel when they come up with an idea that’s different from and also as good or better than the original film. For John Lasseter, the origins of Cars 2 came from 3 places. First, was the idea of having a spy movie with cars as characters inspired by an abandoned in the first film. Second was to the desire to take the original film’s characters around the world in an international World Grand Prix. The desire of a film that would address McQueen and Mater’s friendship and how taking Mater out of Radiator Springs fractures it. While traveling the world and promoting the first film, Lasseter imagined the characters in different countries. Pre-production began in 2006. Producer Brad Lewis was tasked with conducting early research on the international countries and Formula 1 racing. For the film’s first research trip, the filmmaking team attended a party at the Milan Museum of Modern Art in Italy. Lassater recalled feeling out of place at that event dressed in attire more befitting a Jimmy Buffett concert while being surrounded by models and other high-profile attendants. He said that he felt like Mater and would later incorporate his idea into the film. Originally, the World Grand Prix was going to feature 5 races but the event would later be trimmed to 3 races. While the real challenge was finding a tone in a spy story for a family audience. Paul Newman’s passing led the filmmakers to kill off Doc Hudson and make it an emotional plot point similar to the loss of a father figure that McQueen and Mater would have to contend with. While Cars 2 would gross $559 million at the box office in 2011, it received mixed reviews from the critics and holds a 39% rating from Rotten Tomatoes. The first Pixar film to receive a truly negative response. Toy Story 2 it certainly wasn’t.

              Although the Winnie the Pooh franchise has long been a mainstay at Disney since the 1960s, it never really had a major feature film. Sure, it’s had 3 theatrical films during the 2000s but nothing major. In 2008, Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter approached Stephen Anderson and Don Hall about making a new Winnie the Pooh film for theaters, the two being enthusiastic about the idea and accepted the project. In 2009, Lasseter, Anderson, and Hall viewed the classic Winnie the Pooh feature shorts and films in order to figure out how to make the Pooh culturally relevant. Following a trip to Ashdown Forest in England to explore the location of A.A. Milne’s original stories, the filmmakers enlisted Disney veteran Burny Mattinson to serve as storyboard artist for the film Hall and Anderson were directing. After seeing all the Winnie the Pooh feature films, Mattinson thought he could use Milne’s story “In which Eeyore loses his tail and Pooh finds one” as the basic plot idea. They also decided to use traditional animation instead of CGI which Anderson claimed would’ve been a major disservice with many of the staff from The Princess and the Frog brought in. Originally the film was to feature 5 stories from Milne’s books but the final cut drew inspiration from 3 stories. Upon its 2011 release, it opened to good reviews and grossed $50.1 million on a $30 million budget. Although not spectacular numbers, Winnie the Pooh has been much more popular on home media than in theaters anyway. So the Disney executives weren’t looking for a hit here. While its main audience often comprises of parents and young children, many of the latter are probably too young to bring to a movie theater. Although it’s a franchise that definitely has fans well outside that demographic.

            As Pixar’s first fairy tale, Brave draws inspiration from the Scottish folk tale called The Bear as well as writer-director Brenda Chapman’s relationship with her daughter. Although it was Chapman who conceived the project and was originally announced as the film’s director, she’d later be replaced by Mark Andrews after creative disagreements between her and John Lasseter. Once Andrews was at the helm, he did a major overhaul of the story to provide more focus on Merida and her troubled relationship with her mother. He cleared away many magical elements which he found affected the environment. But he wanted to remain true to Chapman’s story. Reese Witherspoon was originally cast to play Merida but was replaced by Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald. Music was composed by Patrick Doyle. While Pixar created 3 original tartan patterns for 3 of the 4 clans in the film such as DuBroch, MacGuffin, and Dingwall. Upon its 2012 release, Brave received positive reviews and made $539 million at the box office. It also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. In this post, we’ll meet the voices behind Acer, Vladimir Trunkov, Uncle Topolino, Alexander Hugo, Backson, Owl, Kanga, Merida, the MacGuffins, and Martin.

391. Peter Jacobson

Dates: 1965-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Chicago, Illinois. Father was news anchor Walter Jacobson. Graduated from Brown University in 1987. Graduated from the Julliard School in 1991 as part of its drama division. Made his first film in 1994.

Movies and Cartoons: Cars 2 (2011) as well as a video game based on the film.

Characters: Acer

Also Known For: Actor best known as Dr. Chris Taub in House and former Proxy Snyder in Colony. Film appearances include It Could Happen to You, Private Parts, Conspiracy Theory, Deconstructing Harry, As Good as It Gets, Great Expectations (1998), Mixing Nia, A Civil Action, Hit and Runway, Cradle Will Rock, Looking for an Echo, Pipe Dream, Path to War, Strip Search, Good Night, and Good Luck, Domino, Failure to Launch, The Memory Thief, Live Free or Die Hard, Purple Violets, Transformers, What Just Happened, White House Down, Brightest Star, Better Living Through Chemistry, Catfight, The Goldfinch, Violet, Fly Me to the Moon, and Smile 2. TV appearances include NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Oz, Spin City, Talk to Me, Bull, Will and Grace, Third Watch, Ed, ER, Hope and Faith, CSI: Miami, Scrubs, Criminal Minds, In Justice, Entourage, Boston Legal, The Starter Wife, Royal Pains, The Good Wife, Iron Chef America,  Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Ray Donovan, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Chicago P.D., Madam Secretary, The Americans, Billions, NCIS: Los Angeles, Fear the Walking Dead, New Amsterdam, Ahsoka, The Good Doctor, and The Girls on the Bus.

Personal Life: Married to Whitney Scott since 1997. Has one child.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

392. Stanley Townsend

Dates: 1961-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Dublin, Ireland. After attending Dublin’s Wesley College, he studied mathematics and civil engineering at Trinity College. There, he joined the Dublin University Players, the college’s Amateur Dramatic Society. Later co-founded a co-operative theatre company called Rough music with writer/director Declan Hughes and theatre director Lynne Parker, performing in numerous productions. Went on to perform in several productions at Dublin’s The Gate and The Abbey Theatres. Later appeared at London’s Royal Court. TV work began in a number of shows for RTE before moving to London. Made first film in 1988.

Movies and Cartoons: Cars 2 (2011) as well as the video game based on the film.

Characters: Vladimir Trunkov, Ivan, and Victor Hugo

Also Known For: Irish actor who’s appeared in numerous British TV shows. Film appearances include Taffin, The Miracle, Blue Ice, Into the West, In the Name of the Father, The Van, My Friend Joe, Moll Flanders, Rat, American Girl, Wondrous Oblivion, Monsieur N, Mystics, What a Girl Wants, The Libertine, Isolation, Nativity, The Tiger’s Tail, Happy-Go-Lucky, Flawless, Holy Water, Happy Ever Afters, 1^st Night, One Chance, The Physician, The Voices, Florence Foster Jenkins, The Girl from Mogadishu, The Current War, The Song of  Names, About Joan, and  The Teacher. TV appearances include Fortycoats & Co., Parnell and the Englishwoman, The Bill, Screen Two, The Governor, Jonathan Creek, Peak Practice, The Ambassador, DDU: District Detective Unit, In Defence, Station Jim, Casualty, Heartbeat, The Commander, Byron, Wire in the Blood, Murder City, Fallen, The Brief, Hustle, Proof, Spooks, The Virgin Queen, Waking the Dead, Foyle’s War, Rough Diamond, Prosperity, Whistleblower, The Clinic, New Tricks, Sherlock, Zen, The Shadow Line, Call the Midwife, Titanic: Blood and Steel, Burton and Taylor, Ripper Street, Quirke, New Worlds, 24: Live Another Day, Galavant, The Hollow Crown, The Tunnel, The Collection, Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond, Redwater, Informer, Finding Joy, Rebellion, Resistance, Traitors, The Spy, Death in Paradise, Andor, Dangerous Liaisons, The Regime, Blackshore, and Kaos. Video game appearances include Independence War, RuneScape, Spartan: Total Warrior, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Witcher, WorldShift, Transformers Universe, Sacred 3, Mass Effect: Andromeda, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

Personal Life: Currently married to Orla Charlton.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

393. Franco Nero

Dates: 1941-present

Early Life and Career: Born Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero in San Prospero, Parmense in Parma, Italy. Father was a commissioned officer in the Carabinieri. Grew up in Bedonia and Milan. Briefly studied at the Economic and Trade faculty of the local university before leaving to study at the Piccolo Teatro di Milano. Made his first film in 1962.

Movies and Cartoons: Cars 2 (2011) as well as the video game based on the film.

Characters: Uncle Topolino

Also Known For: Italian actor best known as the titular character in Django, which made him a pop culture icon and launched an international career that includes over 200 appearances in film and television. Film appearances include The Bible: The Beginning…, Camelot, The Day of the Owl, The Mercenary, Battle of Neretva, Tristana, Companeros, Confessions of a Police Captain, The Fifth Cord, High Crime, Street Law, Keoma, Hitch-Hike, Force 10 from Navarone, Enter the Ninja, Die Hard 2, Letters to Juliet, John Wick: Chapter 2, The Popes Exorcist, Dropout, La Vacanza, I Knew Her Well, The Tramplers, War of the Planets, Massacre Time, The Third Eye, Sardinia Kidnapped, A Quiet Place in the Country, The Fifth Day of Peace, The Virgin and the Gypsy, Long Live Your Death, Pope Joan, The Monk, Redneck, The Assassination of Matteotti, White Fang (1973), Last Days of Mussolini, Street Law, Challenge to White Fang, Smiling Maniacs, How to Kill a Judge, Submission, Death Rite, Sahara Cross, The Visitor, Mimi, The Shark Hunter, The Man with Bogart’s Face, The Blue-Eyed Bandit, Day of  the Cobra, The Salamander, The Falcon (1981), Red Bells, Querelle, Grog, Andre Handles Them All, The Repenter, Sweet Country, The Girl, Top Line, Young Toscanini, Run for Your Life, Breath of Life, Brothers and Sisters, The Player, Jonathan of the Bears, The Innocent Sleep, The Conquest, The Versace Murder, Talk of Angels, Brigands, Uninvited, Mirka, Chimera, Guardians of the Clouds, Forever Blues, Hans, Bastardi, The Rage, Palestrina – Prince of Music, Rasputin, Father, Django Unchained, Nymph, Love Island, The Lost City of Z, The Neighborhood, Iceman, The Time of Their Lives, The Broken Key, The Collini Case, The Match, Off the Rails, The Man from Rome, The Man Who Drew God, and In the Hand of Dante. TV appearances include The Legend of Valentino, 21 Hours at Munich, The Pirate, Wagner, The Last Days of Pompeii, The Hitchhiker, Windmills of the Gods, The Magistrate, The Betrothed, Young Catherine, The Dragon Ring, The Return of Sandokan, David, Desert of Fire, Painted Lady, Bella Mafia, The Crusaders, The Summer Solstice, The Holy Family, Restless Heart: Confessions of Saint Augustine, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Delicious, and Django.

Personal Life: Married to actress Vanessa Redgrave since 2006, whom he met in 1966 and with whom he had a son named Carlo Gabriel Redgrave Sparanero (AKA Carlo Gabriel Nero since he’s director and screenwriter). Although they later became involved with other people during the 1970s and 1980s, they definitely back together by 1994 since Nero walked Redgrave’s daughter to the late actress Natasha Richardson down the aisle during her wedding to actor Liam Neeson. Also, stepfather of actress Joely Richardson as well. Has a second son named Frank Sparanero (also known as Frankie Nero or Frank Nero Jr. since he’s also an actor, artist, architect, and photographer) by Danica Pevec (aka Alexandra Romanov) who was born in 1983. Has dated actresses Catherine Deneuve, Goldie Hawn and Ursula Andress in the 1970s. Was subject to a paternity suit in Colombia in 1987 by Mauricica Mena claiming Nero had fathered her son Franquito after a brief affair.

Later Life: Currently lives in the UK as far as I know.

Trivia: None.

394.  Velibor Topic

Dates: 1970-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, then part of Yugoslavia. During the war in the 1990s, he lived in Sarajevo, where he formed part of a theatre group. Also appeared in one of Annie Leibowitz’s photos from the time called “Sarajevo – the Kiss.” Moved to London in 1996. Made his first film in 1997.

Movies and Cartoons: Cars 2 (2011)

Characters: Alexander Hugo

Also Known For: Bosnian-British actor with over 69 credits in UK film and TV productions as well as in Hollywood films. Mostly gets cast as villains or henchmen. Film appearances include Snatch, Kingdom of Heaven, Robin Hood (2010), Kingsman: The Secret Service, The Saint, Police 2020, The Railway Children, The Red Siren, Second in Command, Breaking and Entering, The All Together, The Living and the Dead, Goal III: Taking on the World, London Boulevard, Children of Sarajevo, Company of Heroes, St. George’s Day, Outpost: Rise of Spetsnaz, The Counselor, Mea Culpa, Our Kind of Traitor, Dead in a Week (Or Your Money Back), Mission: Impossible – Fallout, and Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. TV appearances include Sharpe’s Peril, The Bill, Prime Suspect, Ambassadors, Taggart, Casualty, As If, Always and Everyone, Randall and Hopkirk, Ultimate Force, Messiah, The Vice, William and Mary, Silent Witness, Rose and Maloney, Coming Up, HolbyBlue, Hustle, Thorne, Da Vinci’s Demons, The Game, Suspects, and Vera. Video game appearances include Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, GoldenEye, and 007 Legends.

Personal Life: I can’t find anything about his personal life.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Mother always complains that he always plays bad guys.

395. Huell Howser

Dates: 1945-2013

Early Life and Career: Born in Gallatin, Tennessee. Name is a combination of his parents’ names Harold and Jewell. Graduated from the University School of Nashville in 1963. Studied history and political science at the University of Tennessee, where he served as student body president. After serving on the US Marine Corps Reserve on US Senator Howard Baker’s staff, Howser began his TV career at WSMV-TV Nashville, Tennessee, where he produced shows focused on human interest stories such as Happy Features and The Happy World of Huell Howser. Was also a TV personality working at the University of Tennessee. After working in New York City as host of WCBS-TV’s Real Life show, Howser moved to Los Angeles in 1981 to work as a reporter for KCBS-TV Los Angeles. During 1982 and 1983, he served as weekend host and correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. In 1983, Howser joined PBS station KCET as host and producer of Videolog, a series of brief human interest segments running less than 10 minutes each, that aired between the station’s shorter programs to fill up air time. Videolog soon became one of KCET’s more popular shows and in 1990, it was expanded to hour-long episodes. In 1991, after spending his vacation driving across California and visiting with all of California’s 13 PBS stations, California’s Gold premiered in April of that year.

Movies and Cartoons: Winnie the Pooh (2011)

Characters: Backson

Also Known For: TV personality, actor, producer, writer, singer, and voice artist best known for hosting, producing, and writing California’s Gold and his human-interest show Visiting…with Huell Howser, produced by KCET in Los Angeles for California’s PBS stations.

Personal Life: Lived in the historic El Royale Apartments in Los Angeles, in an apartment that was once owned by character actor William Frawley. Also had homes in Palm Springs and Twentynine Palms. In 2003, Howser bought the Volcano House situated on a volcanic cinder cone just outside Barstow in Newberry Springs along with 60 acres of desert and a manmade lake. Although he put it up on the market for $650,000 in 2012, he later donated it to Chapman University that they sold for $750,000 in 2015.

Later Life: Retired in 2012 amid speculation that he was seriously ill. Died at his Palm Springs home in 2013 at 67 after battling metastatic prostate cancer for several years. Body was cremated and his ashes scattered at sea off the coast of Los Angeles County. Later a memorial was held for him. Even though he said before his death that he didn’t want a funeral since he didn’t want attention. His video collection, books, personal papers, homes, and extensive art collection obtained during his travels were donated to Chapman University that currently houses the Huell Howser Archives. They also endow the California’s Gold Scholarship Fund in his honor as well.

Trivia: Received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame in 2015. Home in Twentynine Palms became available for rentals and weddings in 2015. His enthusiastic style as host of his various travel shows led him to being impersonated and lampooned by comedians and radio personalities such as Adam Carolla, Dana Gould, Ralph Garman, and James Adomian.

396. Kristen Anderson-Lopez

Dates: 1972-present

Early Life and Career: Born in New York City and raised there until 1986 when her family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. First fell in love with theater at 4 when her parents took her to see a US Bicentennial musical tribute staged in their then-hometown of Croton-on-Hudson. Attended and graduated from Charlotte Country Day School after her family moved to North Carolina. Went on to Williams College in western Massachusetts where she majored in drama and psychology, graduating in 1994. After a theater internship in Florida, Anderson-Lopez spent several years working temporary jobs while pursuing her dream of becoming a Broadway theatre performer in New York City. In 1999, she entered the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, where she found her true calling as a lyricist and met her future husband Robert Lopez.

Movies and Cartoons: Winnie the Pooh (2011)

Characters: Kanga

Also Known For: Songwriter best known for co-writing songs for Frozen (2013), Coco (2017), and Frozen II (2019) with her husband Robert Lopez. Is currently signed to Disney Music Publishing. The pair have also written and produced music for WandaVision such as “Agatha All Along” and the spin-off that bears the song’s name.

Personal Life: Sister Kate Anderson co-wrote songs for the short Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. Married to Tony-winning songwriter, composer, and lyricist Robert Lopez since 2003. Has 2 daughters named Katie and Annie both of whom had voice parts in Frozen (2013).

Later Life: Has created a series of short and full-length musicals for Theatreworks USA.

Trivia: Has won 2 Academy Awards with her husband Robert for “Let It Go” and “Remember Me.” Has also won 2 Grammy Awards, 2 Annie Awards, and a Primetime Emmy.

397. Craig Ferguson

Dates: 1962-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Stobhill Hospital in the Springburn district of Glasgow. Father was a postal worker and a Scottish Nationalist. Mother was an elementary school teacher.  Family moved to Cumbernauld when he was 6 where grew up “chubby and bullied.” Attended Muirfield Primary School and Cumbernauld High School. Left school at 16 and began an apprenticeship to be an electronics technician at a local factory of the Burroughs Corporation. First visited the United States at 13 to see his uncle on Long Island in 1975. Moved to New York City in 1983 where he initially worked in construction in Harlem. Later became a bouncer at a night club Save the Robots before returning to the United Kingdom. Entertainment career began when he was a teenager, drumming for various Glasgow punk bands such as Night Creatures and Exposure. He then had a brief stint as a drummer for post-punk band Ana Hausen. Following that, he joined Bastards from Hell, later renamed The Dreamboys, which was fronted by vocalist Peter Capaldi from 1980 to 1982. Ferguson credits Capaldi for inspiring him to try comedy.  At 18, Fercuson worked as a session musician for as a drummer for Nico during a few gigs when she toured Scotland. After a nerve-wracking comedy appearance, Ferguson decided to create a character he described as “parody of all the über-patriotic native folk singers who seemed to infect every public performance in Scotland,” using the name “Bing Hitler” borrowed from Capaldi. First performed as the character in Glasgow and was later a hit at the 1986 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. However, by the end of the year, Ferguson was already discussing his intention to retire Bing. After his success at the Edinburgh Festival, Ferguson began to find success in television and musical theater. Moved to the US in 1994 after his soon-to-be agent Rick Segel had seen him during the Edinburgh Festival and suggested that he come to America. Breakthrough American role was as Mr. Wick on The Drew Carey Show.

Movies and Cartoons: Winnie the Pooh (2011) and Brave (2012) as well as various series and the Disney Magical World video game.

Characters: Owl and Lord Macintosh

Also Known For: Scottish-American actor, comedian, writer, and TV host best known for hosting The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson from 2005 to 2014. Has also hosted Celebrity Name Game, Join or Die with Craig Ferguson, and The Hustler. Best known roles are Nigel Wick in The Drew Carey Show and Gobber in the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. Wrote the novel Between the Bridge and the River and his 2009 memoir American on Purpose. Film appearances include Modern Vampires, The Big Tease, Chain of Fools, Born Romantic, Saving Grace, Life Without Dick, I’ll Be There, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Lenny the Wonder Dog, Trust Me, The Ugly Truth, Kick-Ass, Postman Pat: The Movie, The Hero of Color City, Duck Duck Goose, and Then Came You. TV appearances include Red Dwarf, The Laughter Show, Maybe This Time, Freakazoid!, The Wild Thornberrys, The Angry Beavers, The Norm Show, Life as We Know It, American Dad!, Family Guy, SpongeBob SquarePants, Futurama, Archer, Political Animals, Hot in Cleveland, The Price Is Right, Red Nose Day, Web Therapy, Lip Sync Battle, Still Game, Alice’s Wonderland Bakery, and Love, Death & Robots.

Personal Life: Older brother of comedian, presenter, and actress Lynn Ferguson Tweedle best known as Mac from Chicken Run. Was in a romantic relationship with actress Helen Atkinson-Wood for 5 years before he got sober. Has been married 3 times. First wife was Anne Hogarth from 1983 to their divorce in 1986 during which they lived in New York. Second wife was founder and owner of Los Angeles’ SpySchool Sacha Corwin from 1998 to their divorce in 2004. They have a child together who was born in 2001 with whom they shared custody. Third and current wife is art dealer Megan Wallace-Cunningham since 2008. They have a son named Liam born in 2011. A recovering alcoholic, he’s been sober since 1992. Has an FAA pilot’s license issued in 2009. Has been a vegan since 2013.

Later Life: Became an American citizen in 2008. Bought Bargany House in 2011.

Trivia: Has won a Peabody Award and 2 Daytime Emmys. Hosted the 2008 White House Correspondents Dinner.

398. Kelly MacDonald

Dates: 1976-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Glasgow, Scotland. Grew up in Neilston. Parents divorced when she was young. Raised by her mother who was a garment industry sales executive. Attended Eastwood High School from 1989 to 1993. Career began while she was a barmaid in Glasgow when she saw a leaflet advertising an open casting session for Trainspotting and decided to audition. She won the part of Diane, the underage seductress of Ewan McGregor’s Renton.

Movies and Cartoons: Brave (2012) and Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) as well as the Brave video game.

Characters: Princess Merida

Also Known For: Scottish actress best known as Margaret Thompson in Boardwalk Empire. Film appearances include Trainspotting, No Country for Old Men, Elizabeth, Gosford Park, Intermission, Nanny McPhee, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Anna Karenina, Operation Mincemeat, Stella Does Tricks, Cousin Bette, Splendor, Entropy, My Life So Far, Strictly Sinatra, Finding Neverland, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Lassie, Choke, In the Electric Mist, The Decoy Bride, Special Correspondents, Swallows and Amazons, Goodbye Christopher Robin, Puzzle, Holmes & Watson, I Came By, and The Radleys. TV appearances include The Girl in the Café, Black Mirror, Giri/Haji, Line of Duty, Brush with Fate, State of Play, Alias, Skellig, The Child in Time, The Victim, Urban Myths, Truth Seekers, Ten Percent, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, and Lanterns.

Personal Life: Married to musician and Travis bassist Dougie Payne since 2013. They have 2 sons. However, they’ve been separated since 2017.

Later Life: Has moved back to Glasgow in 2014 after living in London and New York City.

Trivia: Has received a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy, and 4 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

399. Kevin McKidd

Dates: 1973-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Elgin, Moray in Scotland. Grew up in public housing. Mother was a secretary. Father was a plumber. At 17, he worked at the Macallan distillery in Speyside. Later went to work the Lumsden family of coppersmiths. Attended Seafield Primary School and Elgin Academy as well as was a member of the local amateur dramatic group the Moray Youth Theatre. Planning to study engineering, McKidd initially attended the University of Edinburgh but later decided to audition at Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University, where he was accepted to study drama. Joined Edinburgh University’s student theatre company, Bedlam Theatre, where he was a member of the improvisational comedy troupe The Improverts.  Made his film debut in 1996.

Movies and Cartoons: Brave (2012) and the Toy Story That Time Forgot TV special.

Characters: Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin

Also Known For: Scottish-American actor best known as Dr. Owen Hunt in Grey’s Anatomy, Tommy McKenzie in Trainspotting, Colin in Made of Honor, Count Vronsky in Anna Karenina (2000), Lucius Vorenus in Rome, Dan Vasser in Journeyman, John “Soap” McTavish in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Poseidon in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, and Father Deegan in Father Ted. Film appearance include Small Faces, Regeneration, Hideous Kinky, Bedrooms and Hallways, The Acid House, Dad Savage, Looking After Jo Jo, Topsy-Turvy, Nicholas Nickelby, Max, Dog Soldiers, AfterLife, 16 Years of Alcohol, De-Lovely, Kingdom of Heaven, The Rocket Post, The Last Legion, Hannibal Rising, Bunraku, The Great Ghost Rescue, Comes a Bright Day, Home Sweet Hell, Tulip Fever, and It Ends with Us. TV appearances include Kavanaugh QC, The Magic Legend of the Leprechauns, North Square, Gunpowder, Treason & Plot, The Virgin Queen, Star Wars Rebels, Welcome to the Wayne, Mike Tyson Mysteries, Station 19, Room 104, and Six Four.

Personal Life: Married twice. First wife was Jane Parker from 1999 to their divorce in 2017. They have 2 children. Second wife was Arielle Goldrath from 2018 to their divorce in 2023. They have a son born in 2018 and a daughter born in 2019.

Later Life: Became a US citizen in 2015. Was Grand Marshal of the 15^th Tartan Day Parade in 2013. Supports Scottish Independence.

Trivia: Instigated the album The Speyside Sessions, a Scottish folk music album with many of the contributors being his old school friends. Album was released in 2012 with proceeds going to Save the Children.

400. Patrick Doyle

Dates: 1953-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire in Scotland. Was classically trained who studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music where he graduated in 1975. Began his career as an actor during the mid-1970s, appearing in TV and film. Joined Kenneth Branaugh’s Renaissance Theatre Company as composer and music director, composing music for plays and their film adaptations later on.

Movies and Cartoons: Brave (2012)

Characters: Martin

Also Known For: Scottish composer and occasional actor best known for his film scores during his 50-year career in film, television, and theatre. Has composed scores for over 60 films. Composed the score for Brave (2012) and the live action Cinderella (2015). Film appearances include Chariots of Fire, Much Ado About Nothing, and Sir Billi. TV appearances include Charles Endell Esquire, Holding the Fort, Maggie, and No. 73. Has composed music for Henry V, Sense and Sensibility, Hamlet (1996), Carlito’s Way, Gosford Park, Quest for Camelot, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Thor, Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Death on the Nile (2022), Indochine, Into the West, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Donnie Brasco, Great Expectations (1998), East/West, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Secondhand Lions, Nanny McPhee, As You Like It, Eragon, The Last Legion, Sleuth (2007), Nim’s Island, Igor, Main Street, Jig, Sir Billi, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, The Emoji Movie, Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero, All Is True, and Artemis Fowl.

Personal Life: Married to Lesley and has 4 children.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Has been nominated for 2 Academy Awards and 2 Golden Globes. Has won 5 ASCAP Film and Television Awards and 3 World Soundtrack Awards, including one for lifetime achievement. Received an honorary doctorate from the University of West Scotland in 2018. Was made a fellow at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music in 2001.

              Conceived in 2004 under the title Heliums, Pete Docter envisioned Up as a fantasy of a flying house and the idea of escaping life when it gets too irritating, stemming from his difficulty with social situations growing up. Actor and writer Tom McCarthy stepped in to work with Docter while Bob Peterson left to work on Ratatouille, coming up with Russell. While Docter chose an old man as the protagonist after drawing a grumpy old man with smiling balloons. The 2 men agreed that an old guy was a good idea as the main character because they felt their experiences and the way they affect their view on the world was a rich source of humor. Even though elderly protagonists are often few and far between in G-rated movies, Docter figured that kids could relate to Carl the way they relate to their grandparents. Early concepts differed from the final film ranging from a floating city with Muppet-like aliens and 2 squabbling brothers who fall to Earth where they meet a tall bird who helps them understand each other. Yet, Docter and Peterson eventually stripped down the floating city idea to a single flying house with a single flying occupant, where balloons replaced the magic. Veteran animator Joe Grant reminded Docter the audience needed an “emotional bedrock” because of how wacky the adventure would become with it being Carl mourning his wife. With the filmmakers’ initial story outline having Carl just wanting to join his wife in the sky. Although this is a very relatable concept since my grandma spent the last eight years of her life wanting just that, this isn’t appropriate for a G-rated film. So Docter and Peterson added the plot of going to South America. Not just due to Docter’s love of tropical locations but also wanting a location where Carl can be stuck with a kid due to the inability to leave him with an authority figure like a cop or social worker. They implemented Russell as a way to help Carl stop being stuck in his ways with his inspiration coming from Peter Sohn. In 2004, Docter and 11 other artists spent 3 days in Venezuela for research and inspiration. They reached Monte Roraima by airplane, jeep, and helicopter. Later flying to Angel Falls and Matawi Tepui. Upon its 2009 release, Up earned $735.1 million at the worldwide box office and received rave reviews, eventually won 2 Academy Awards. Since then, it continues to be seen as one of the greatest animated films of the 21^st century.

              After the box office failure with Home on the Range in 2004, Disney announced that it would be its last traditionally animated film. After the company’s acquisition of Pixar in 2006, Ed Catmull and John Lasseter reversed the decision and reinstated hand-drawn animation to the studio. Many animators who were laid off or left the studio when the traditional animation units were dissolved in 2003 were located and re-hired for the project. Lasseter also brought back directors Ron Clements and John Musker on request to direct and write the film. The Princess and the Frog’s story began development by merging 2 projects revolving around “The Frog Prince.” One was based on an adaptation of that tale when the heroine kisses a frog only to turn into one. The other was based on Ralph Eggleston’s pitch with the fairy tale being based in gangster-era Chicago. While Jorgen Klubien separately claimed that a story he was developing for Pixar served as inspiration for the film. The Princess and the Frog returns to the musical film format used in many successful Disney movies during the 1990s. Yet, getting tired of basing most of these fairy tale movies in Europe, Musker and Clements wanted to do one based in the United States. They also chose New Orleans as a tribute to its history, for its “magical” qualities, and because it was Lasseter’s favorite city. The directors then spent 10 days in Louisiana before starting to write the film. When the film was originally announced in 2006, the material drew sharp criticism from African-American outlets who considered the elements of the story, characters, and setting distasteful. Originally, the heroine was supposed to be a black chambermaid named Maddy with her love interest being a non-black prince. Also questionable was the setting of New Orleans, which had been heavily damaged during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 as well as led to the expulsion a large number of black residents. In fact, they had to change Maddy’s name to Tiana and make her a waitress as well as get Oprah Winfrey on as a consultant. With its 1920s-style musical numbers and appealing characters, The Princess and the Frog grossed about $271 million at the box office and received critical acclaim in 2009.

              Before its release in 2010, Toy Story 3 went through a few iterations. One had Andy’s toys visiting his grandmother’s house for the night while his room gets remodeled. Joined by a couple new characters, a set try to figure out who’s stealing the toys one by one in a whodunnit-style mystery story. Another had Andy’s toys shipping a malfunctioning Buzz Lightyear to the Taiwanese factory where he was built called Wocka-Wocka. After discovering that many other Buzz Lightyear toys are malfunctioning and the company has issued a massive recall, the toys all venture to Taiwan to rescue Buzz from destruction. When Disney bought Pixar in 2006, the Pixar brain trust decided to drop the ideas and start from scratch. After studying the first 2 Toy Story movies, Andrew Stanton wrote a treatment. While Michael Arndt was hired as screenwriter.  Since they couldn’t reopen the computer files from the first 2 films for the animated 3D models, the Toy Story 3 crew had to recreate the models from scratch. Upon its 2010 release, Toy Story 3 made $1.067 billion worldwide, became the highest grossing film of the year, received universal acclaim, and won 2 Academy Awards. In this post, we’ll meet actor Paul Briggs as well as the voices behind Beta, the Newsreel Announcer, Tiana, Prince Naveen, Louie, Charlotte, Lotso, Slinky Dog, and Molly.

371. Delroy Lindo

Dates: 1952-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Lewisham, London in England. Parents were Jamaican immigrants. Mother was a nurse. Father worked in various jobs. Grew up in Eltham and attended the Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys. Became interested in acting as a boy when he appeared in a nativity play at school. During his teens, he and his mother moved to Toronto. At 16, he and his mom moved to San Francisco where he later attended San Francisco State University. At 24, Lindo began his acting studies at the American Conservatory Theater where he graduated in 1979. Made his film debut in 1976.

Movies and Cartoons: Up (2009) as well as a video game based on the film.

Characters: Beta

Also Known For: British-American actor best known as West Indian Archie in Malcolm X, Woody Carmichael in Crooklyn, Rodney Little in Clockers, Paul in Da 5 Bloods, Bo Catlett in Get Shorty, Arthur Rose in The Cider House Rules, Detective Castleback in Gone in 60 Seconds, Alderman Ronin Gibbons in The Chicago Code, Winter in Believe, and Adrian Boseman in The Good Fight. Film appearances include Find the Lady, More American Graffiti, Mountains of the Moon, The Hard Way, Blood In Blood Out, Mr. Jones, Congo, Ransom, Broken Arrow, Feeling Minnesota, A Life Less Ordinary, The Devil’s Advocate, The Book of Stars, Romeo Must Die, Heist, The Last Castle, The Core, Wondrous Oblivion, Domino, Sahara (2005), This Christmas, The Big Bang, Cymbeline, Point Break, Battlecreek, Malicious, and The Harder They Fall (2021). TV appearances include Beauty and the Beast, Soul of the Game, Glory & Honor, The Simpsons, Lackawanna Blues, Kidnapped, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Mercy, Robot Chicken, Blood & Oil, and This Is Us. Stage appearances include Of Mice and Men, Macbeth, “Master Harold”…and the Boys, Home, A Raisin in the Sun, Much Ado About Nothing, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Julius Caesar, Othello, Agamemnon, and The Exonerated.

Personal Life: Married to Nashormeh since 1990. Has a son named Damiri born in 2001.

Later Life: Upon learning about the Windrush generation from his mother and his own role as a Jamaican immigrant in Wondrous Oblivion, Lindo became inspired to study the subject and history further. In 2014, he completed his master’s thesis from New York University’s Gallatin School. In 2021, it was announced that Lindo would star in Mr. Nancy in the Amazon Prime miniseries Anansi Boys. Later that year, it’s said that Lindo officially joined the cast of the upcoming film Blade in an undisclosed role. As of 2020, Lindo has been working on a screenplay for his directorial debut about the Windrush generation. Currently lives in Oakland, California since 1996.

Trivia: Has received accolades such as the NAACP Image Award and a Satellite Award. Has been nominated for a Drama Desk Award, a Helen Hayes Award, a Tony Award, 2 Critics’ Choice Television Awards, and 3 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Was awarded an honorary doctorate in Arts and Humanities from Virginia Union University.

372. David Kaye

Dates: 1964-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Peterborough, Ontario in Canada. Moved to Vancouver during the 1980s to work in radio. Although he also worked in theater, playing George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey. Voice acting career began with General Hawk in the DiC cartoon G.I. Joe. Working as an on-air talent for radio station CKLG, he quickly became less interested as both on-camera and voice roles started taking up more of his time.

Movies and Cartoons: Up (2009) as well as various series and a couple video games.

Characters: Newsreel Announcer

Also Known For: Actor best known as Megatron in 5 Transformers series (Beast Wars, Beast Machines, Armada, Energon, and Cybertron), Optimus Prime in Transformers: Animated, Professor X in X-Men: Evolution, Cronus in Class of the Titans, Khyber in Ben 10: Omniverse, several characters in Avengers Assemble, Duckworth in Duck Tales, Sesshomaru in Inuyasha, Treize Khushrenada in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Clank in the Ratchet & Clank series, Nathan Hale in the Resistance series, and Celestial Arishem in Eternals. Is the announcer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Film appearances include Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture, Super Kid, Adventures of Mowgli, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie, The Ant Bully, Max Steel: Dark Rival, Night of the Living Carrot, Edge of Tomorrow, The Hero of Color City, and Teen Titans Go! To the Movies. TV appearances include Kleo the Misfit Unicorn, Mummies Alive!, ReBoot, D’Myna Leagues, Kong: The Animated Series, Coconut Fred’s Fruit Salad Island, Tom and Jerry Tales, Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes, Iron Man: Armored Adventures, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, DC Super Friends, Regular Show, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Xiaolin Chronicles, Teen Titans Go!, TripTank, Guardians of the Galaxy, Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters, Trolls: The Beat Goes On!, Young Justice, Green Eggs and Ham, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Lego Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition, Dragon Ball Z, Monster Ranch, Yashahime, and What If…?. Video game appearances include Impossible Creatures, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II, Pitfall: The Lost Expedition, Hot Shots Golf Fore!, Pyschonauts, Terminator Salvation, Where the Wild Things Are, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, PlayStation Move Heroes, Dead Island, Batman: Arkham City, Play Station: All-Stars Battle Royale, The Cave, Fuse, The Wolf Among Us, Adrift, Super Bomberman R, LawBreakers, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway, and Star Ocean: The Divine Force.

Personal Life: Married to Maria Hope. Has a daughter named Tianna.

Later Life: Has lived in Los Angeles since 2007.

Trivia: None.

373. Anika Noni Rose

Dates: 1972-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Father was a corporate counsel. Attended Bloomfield High School, appearing a school production during her freshman year. Earned a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Florida A&M University and studied drama at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California. Moved to New York where she landed the role of Rusty in a Broadway production of Footloose after 3 months. Later broke through as Emmie Thibodeaux in the musical Caroline, or Change for which she won a Tony Award. Made her film debut in 1999.

Movies and Cartoons: The Princess and the Frog (2009) and Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) as well as the live-action Mufasa: The Lion King, the series Sofia the First and Lego Disney Princess: The Castle Quest, a few video games, and a couple theme park attractions.

Characters: Tiana

Also Known For: Actress who’s best known as Lorrell Robinson in Dreamgirls, Emmie Thibodeaux in Caroline, or Change, and Beneatha Younger in A Raisin in the Sun. Film appearances include From Justin to Kelly, Temptation, Surviving Christmas, Just Add Water, For Colored Girls, Company, As Cool as I Am, Khumba, Half a Yellow Sun, Imperial Dreams, Throne of Elves, Assassination Nation, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, Body Cam, The Killing of Kevin Chamberlain, Injustice, and Outlaw Johnny Black. TV appearances include Third Watch, The Starter Wife, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, The Good Wife, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Private Practice, Elementary, The Simpsons, A Day Late and a Dollar Short, Bates Motel, Vixen, Roots, Voltron: Legendary Defender, The Quad, American Masters, Avengers Assemble, Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins, Little Fires Everywhere, Maid, Let the Right One In, Amphibia, Pantheon, Star Wars: Visions, and SuperKitties. Stage appearances include Insurrection: Holding History, Hydriotaphia, or the Death of Dr. Brown, Tartuffe, Threepenny Opera, Footloose, Carmen Jones, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Company, Hamilton, and Uncle Vanya.

Personal Life: Married to actor Jason Dirden since 2022. Wedding was officiated by Colman Domingo and took place on the Paramour Estate in Los Angeles. Couple kept their marriage secret until announcing they were married in Brides magazine in 2023.

Later Life: During the Covid-19 pandemic, Rose created a weekly series called Bedtime Stories for the Littles where she read bedtime stories to small children to help ease their fear during lockdown. She said, “I love reading to kids, and I wanted to give our little people something soft and soothing in this very jarring moment in time. I thought a bedtime story would be the perfect way. I can give my voice to the ones who know it best, without anyone leaving home.” Also claimed that she wanted to help children act silly, use their imaginations, and find a love of books that Rose said she had as a child.

Trivia: Named Disney Legend in 2011. Has won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Caroline, or Change. Has also been nominated for another Tony as well as a Grammy Award.

374. Bruno Campos

Dates: 1973-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Father was an international manager of Banco do Brasil and real estate lawyer. Mother was an actress. At 5, his family left Brazil while he spent his childhood in Canada, Bahrain, and the United States due to his dad’s career. Family returned to Brazil when he was 14. But he decided to stay in the US to finish his studies since he could barely speak Portuguese and didn’t know much about Brazilian culture at the time. Parents later divorced. At 9, he started acting at a private arts school in Toronto. At 13, he played Prince Charming in a school production of Cinderella. At 17, he attended Michigan’s Interlochen Arts Academy before studying drama at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1995. Made his film debut that same year in the Brazilian O Quatrilho.

Movies and Cartoons: The Princess and the Frog (2009) as well as the Kinect: Disney Adventures video game and the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure theme park attraction.

Characters: Prince Naveen

Also Known For: Brazilian-American actor and lawyer best known as Diego Vasquez in Jesse, Joe Rivera in Leap Years, Dr. Eddie Dorset in ER, and Dr. Quenton Costa/The Carver in Nip/Tuck. Film appearances include O Quatrilho, Mimic 2, Dopamine, and Wake. TV appearances include Voce Decide, Chicago Sons, Suddenly Susan, The Last Don, Cybill, Resurrection Blvd., Will & Grace, Boston Legal, The Wedding Album, Cold Case, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Numb3rs, Castle, Royal Pains, Ghost Whisperer, Private Practice, and The Closer.

Personal Life: Was in a relationship with Paula Marshall from 1997 to 1999 whom he met on the set of Chicago Sons. Has been married to a psychologist named Karina since 2000. They have 2 children.

Later Life: Enrolled in law school during the early 2010s at the University of Michigan where he received his J.D. in 2013. During this time, he held an internship with Judge Avern Cohn of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. After his graduation, Campos passed the New York bar and worked as an associate with the law firm Morgan, Lewis, and Bockius. According to his profile, Campos works in “complex insurance recovery matters”, as well as “claims presentation and mediation through disputes in courts and arbitrations.” In other words, he works in general insurance claims and it doesn’t get more specific than that. As of 2024, he’s been listed as working for the firm, Covington & Burling.

Trivia: None.

375. Michael-Leon Wooley

Dates:1971-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Fairfax, Virginia. Grew up in Bowie, Maryland. Began playing piano at 5 and initially wanted to be a concert pianist. Yet, after participating in a high school production of Oklahoma!, he became interested in theater. Although given the opportunity to study piano at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington D.C. at 16, Wooley turned it down in order to focus on acting and singing instead. At 18, he was awarded a full scholarship to the American Music and Dramatic Academy in New York City, one of 21 scholarships granted in a nationwide competition. Studied at AMDA for a year before embarking on his own to pursue an acting career. Performed in a national tour of Purlie after which he worked as a singing waiter on the Spirit of New York, a dinner cruise ship that circles Manhattan. Made his Broadway debut in 1992 as an understudy for the Clarke Peters’ musical Five Guys Named Moe. Made his film debut in 2006.

Movies and Cartoons: The Princess and the Frog (2009) as well as the series Sofia the First and a couple of video games.

Characters: Louie

Also Known For: Actor best known as Judge Grady on the radio station WKTT in Grand Theft Auto IV. Has done voice work for Reebok, General Motors, McDonald’s, Dairy Queen, K-Mart, and others. Film appearances include Dreamgirls, Premium Rush, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, and Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. TV appearances include Cosby, The Penguins of Madagascar, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Ugly Americans, Beware the Batman, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Breadwinners, Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero, Harvey Beaks, The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Avengers Assemble, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes, Young Justice, Grace and Frankie, Where’s Waldo?, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, AJ and the Queen, Trolls: TrollsTopia, Madagascar: A Little Wild, Hamster and Gretel, Record of Ragnarok, The Tiny Chef Show, and Akuma-kun. Video game appearances include Ugly Americans: The Apocalypsegeddon, Grand Theft Auto V, King’s Quest, Injustice 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and World of Warcraft: Dragonflight.

Personal Life: I can’t find anything about his personal life.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

376. Jennifer Cody

Dates: 1969-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Greece, New York. She began dancing at an early age. Studied acting at Fredonia State University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Began her career as Dainty June in a touring production of Gypsy. Made her Broadway debut as Rumpleteazer in Cats. Made first film in 1995.

Movies and Cartoons: The Princess and the Frog (2009) as well as various series, the musical Beauty and the Beast, and a couple of video games.

Characters: Charlotte “Lottie” La Bouff

Also Known For: Actress and dancer. Film appearances include Kiss of Death (1995), Khumba, Lucky Stuff, and Paper Spiders. TV appearances include Winx Club, Law & Order, American Dad!, Robot and Monster, Unforgettable, Blue Bloods, OTP, Bull, The Good Fight, Younger, and New Amsterdam. Stage appearances include Cats, Grease, Seussical, Urinetown, Taboo, The Pajama Game, Shrek the Musical, The Wild Party, Henry and Mudge, Junie B. Jones, Cinderella, On the Town, Lend Me a Tenor, Moon Over Buffalo, The Odd Couple, Oklahoma!, Into the Woods, All Shook Up, Damn Yankees, Spamalot, West Side Story, Bye By Birdie, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and A Chorus Line.

Personal Life: Sister-in-law of actress Sutton Foster. Has been married to actor Hunter Foster since 1998. They lived in Teaneck, New Jersey before moving to New York City where they live with their 2 Shih Tzus.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Has won an Annie Award for The Princess and the Frog (2009).

377. Paul Briggs

Dates: 1974-present

Early Life and Career: Born in San Antonio, Texas. Went to Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, Missouri. Started his career by an internship at Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1997 and worked on the film Hercules (1997) as a visual effects artist.

Movies and Cartoons: The Princess and the Frog (2009), Frozen (2013), Big Hero 6 (2014), and Frozen II (2019) as well as Big Hero 6: The Series, the short Frozen Fever, and the video game Kingdom Hearts III.

Characters: Two Fingers, Marshmallow, and Yama

Also Known For: Animator and voice actor best known for working for the Walt Disney Animation Studios as a head of story on Frozen (2013), Big Hero 6 (2014), Zootopia (2016), and Raya and the Last Dragon (2021). Has worked behind the scenes of Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Hercules (1997), Mulan (1998), Tarzan (1997), Lilo & Stitch (2002), Brother Bear (2003), Bolt (2008), The Princess and the Frog (2009), Tangled (2009), Winnie the Pooh (2011), Moana (2016), Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018), Frozen II (2019), and Encanto (2022) as well as a few shorts. Non-Disney projects include Gnomeo & Juliet, Duck Dodgers, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Personal Life: Couldn’t find anything about his personal life.

Later Life: Still working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

378. Ned Beatty

Dates: 1937-2021

Early Life and Career: Born in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1947, he began singing in gospel and barbershop quartets in St. Matthews, Kentucky and at his local church. Graduated from Eastern High School and later received a scholarship to sing in the a cappella choir at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, which he attended but didn’t graduate. In 1956 at 19, Beatty made his stage debut by appearing in Wilderness Road, an outdoor-historical pageant in Berea, Kentucky. During his first 10 years of theater, he worked at Barter Theatre in Abington, Virginia, the State Theater of Virginia. Returning to Kentucky, Beatty worked in the Louisville area through the mid-1960s, the Clarksville Little Theater in Indiana, and the newly formed Actors Theater of Louisville. Made his film debut in 1972 with Deliverance.

Movies and Cartoons: Toy Story 3 (2010) as well as a video game based on the film.

Characters: Lots-o’ Huggin’ Bear/Lotso

Also Known For: Actor whose 5-decade career included over 160 film and television roles. Throughout his career, Beatty gained a reputation for being “the busiest actor in Hollywood.” Best known as Stanley Bolander in Homicide: Life on the Street. Film appearances include Deliverance, White Lightning, All the President’s Men, Network, Superman, Superman II, Back to School, Rudy, Shooter, Rango, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, The Last American Hero, Nashville, Silver Streak, The Great Bank Hoax, Wise Blood, 1941, The American Success Company, Hopscotch, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, Stroker Ace, The Big Easy, The Trouble with Spies, Shadows in the Storm, Midnight Crossing, Purple People Eater, Time Trackers, Physical Evidence, Tennessee Nights, Ministry of Vengeance, Big Bad John, Angel Square, A Cry in the Wild, Repossessed, Captain America (1990), Hear My Song, Prelude to a Kiss, Radioland Murders, The Affair, Just Cause, Cookie’s Fortune, Life, Spring Forward, Thunderpants, Where the Red Fern Grows, Charlie Wilson’s War, The Killer Inside Me, Rampart, The Big Ask, and Baggage Claim. TV appearances include Kojak, The Waltons, The Rockford Files, M*A*S*H, Gunsmoke, Hunter, Hawaii Five-O, NBC Special Treat, Quinn Martin’s Tales of the Unexpected, The Streets of San Francisco, Visions, Szysnyk, Friendly Fire, Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, A Woman Called Golda, Faerie Tale Theatre, The Last Days of Pompeii, Murder, She Wrote, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Robert Kennedy and His Times, Highway to Heaven, Roseanne, It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, The Boys, Streets of Laredo, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Law & Order, and Go On. Stage appearances include The Great White Hope and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Personal Life: Married 4 times. First wife was Walta Chandler from 1959 to their divorce in 1968. They had 4 children. Second wife was actress Belinda Rowley from 1971 to their divorce in 1979. They had 2 children. Third wife was Dorothy Adams “Tinker” Lindsay from 1979 to their divorce in 1998. They had 2 children. Fourth wife was Sandra Johnson from 1999 until his death. They lived in Los Angeles but maintained a residence in Karlstad, Minnesota.

Later Life: Died in 2021 at his Los Angeles home at 83.

Trivia: Has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Network. Has also been nominated for 2 Emmys, an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain, and a Golden Globe. Has won a Drama Desk Award as well.

379. Blake Clark

Dates: 1946-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Macon, Georgia. Graduated from LaGrange College in 1969 with a degree in performing arts. Served in the Vietnam War as a first lieutenant in the US Army’s 5^th Infantry Division and in the 101^st Airborne Division known as the “Screaming Eagles.” Has been active in show business since 1981.

Movies and Cartoons: Toy Story 3 (2010) and Toy Story 4 (2019) as well as the show Toy Story: The Musical, the series Fish Hooks, several shorts and specials, the Slinky Dog Dash theme park attraction, and a few video games.

Characters: Slinky Dog

Also Known For: Stand-up comedian and actor best known as Chet Hunter in Boy Meets World and Harry Turner in Home Improvement. Is frequently cast in Adam Sandler films. Film appearances include St. Elmo’s Fire, Shakes the Clown, The Dark Wind, Love Potion No. 9, Fatal Instinct, The Mask, The Waterboy, Valerie Flake, Critical Mass, Intrepid, Bread and Roses, Little Nicky, Corky Romano, Joe Dirt, Mr. Deeds, Eight Crazy Nights, Intolerable Cruelty, 50 First Dates, The Ladykillers (2004), The Benchwarmers, Click, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, Leatherheads, Wieners, Get Smart, Bedtime Stories, American Cowslip, The Last Godfather, Grown Ups, Rango, That’s My Boy, Highland Park, The Ridiculous 6, Between Two Ferns: The Movie, Hubie Halloween, and Leo. TV appearances include The Greatest American Hero, Remington Steele, M*A*S*H, Moonlighting, Newhart, The Facts of Life, Women in Prison, It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, Midnight Caller, Who’s the Boss?, Roseanne, Grace Under Fire, Tales from the Crypt, The Drew Carey Show, Thea, Coach, Murphy Brown, The Jamie Foxx Show, Unsolved Mysteries, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Cold Case, My Name Is Earl, Everybody Hates Chris, Community, Girl Meets World, Last Man Standing, Harvey Beaks, SMILF, United States of Al, and Hacks.

Personal Life: Has 2 sons. One of whom, Travis is also a comedian.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Inherited the role of Slinky Dog after the passing of Jim Varney in 2008, whom he regarded as a close friend.

380. Bea Miller

Dates: 1999-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Manhattan, New York City. Raised in Maplewood, New Jersey by her 2 lesbian mothers who adopted her when she was 4. Both moms worked in television. As a preteen, Miller attended the family camp COLAGE in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Began her career at 13 as a contestant on The X Factor and was the fifth one eliminated during its second season. Later signed to Hollywood Records. First EP was released in 2014. Debuted her first album in 2015. Made her acting debut in the late 2000s.

Movies and Cartoons: Toy Story 3 (2010)

Characters: Molly

Also Known For: Singer and actress. Albums include Not an Apology and Aurora. EPs include Young Blood, Chapter One: Blue, Chapter Two: Red, and Chapter Three: Yellow.

Personal Life: Experiences synesthesia, meaning that she sees different colors when hearing certain sounds. Dated singer Jacob Whitesides from 2015 to 2016. Songs include “Young Blood,” “Fire n Gold,” “Yes Girl,” “S.L.U.T..” “It’s Not U It’s Me,” “Feel Something,” and “Feels Like Home.” Film appearances include Confessions of a Shopaholic, Tell-Tale, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Too Big to Fail, Officer Down, and Please Stand By. TV appearances include Saturday Night Live, Yes, Virginia, Wonder Pets, The X Factor, and Unforgettable.

Later Life: Is an ambassador to the anti-bullying charity Ditch the Label.

Trivia: Has won a Radio Disney Music Award and a Teen Choice Award.

              Andrew Stanton conceived the idea of WALL-E during a 1994 lunch with John Lasseter, Pete Docter, and Joe Ranft. Since Toy Story was nearing completion, the men brainstormed ideas for their next projects like A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo. It was here that Stanton asked, “What if mankind had to leave Earth and somebody forgot to turn off the last robot?” Having struggling many years with making Toy Story characters appealing, Stanton found this Robinson Crusoe-esque idea of a lonely robot on a desert planet strong. He then made WALL-E a waste collector since it was both understandable and a low status menial job that made him sympathetic. He also liked the imagery of stacked cubes of garbage. Unlike most people who see a planet covered in garbage as a post-apocalyptic hellscape of humanity’s own making, Stanton merely saw it as a childish imagining of disaster. Later, he came up with the idea of WALL-E finding a plant because his life as the sole inhabitant of a deserted world reminded him of a plant growing among pavements. Stanton and Lasseter thought about having WALL-E fall in love as this was a natural progression away from loneliness. Stanton worked off on and on writing WALL-E while he was involved with other projects. Although he envisioned humans degenerating into an alien race called the Gels, he later decided to make them “big babies” before developing the metaphorical theme of humans learning to stand again and “growing up.” Since Stanton wanted WALL-E and EVE’s relationship to inspire humanity because he felt few films explore how utopian societies come to exist.

              WALL-E was the most complex Pixar production since Monsters, Inc. because of the world and  the history that must be conveyed. While most Pixar films have up to 75,000 storyboards, WALL-E needed 125,000. Pixar studied Chernobyl and Sofia, Bulgaria to create a ruined world on Earth. Especially since art director Anthony Christov hailed from Bulgaria and recalled how Sofia once had major problems with garbage disposal. Because Andrew Stanton wanted the Axiom’s interior to resemble Shanghai and Dubai, production designer Ralph Eggleston studied 1960s NASA paintings and the original concept art of Tomorrowland to reflect that era’s sense of optimism. Pixar also studied the Disney Cruise Line and visited Las Vegas, which proved helpful in understanding artificial lighting. He also based his Axiom designs on futuristic architecture of Santiago Calatrava. While the use of live action footage was a stepping stone at Pixar in order to make the rest of the film look even more realistic. Upon its 2008 release, WALL-E opened to wide critical acclaim and $521.3 million at the box office. It later several awards including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and has been widely considered to be among the greatest animated films ever made. In 2021, WALL-E became the second Pixar feature film and animated film in the 21^st century to be selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.” In 2022, it became the first Pixar film to be licensed by The Criterion Collection. In this post, you’ll meet fitness personality Jake Steinfeld, voice actress Lori Alan, the voices behind WALL-E, Captain McCrea, AUTO, Mary, BURN-E, and 3 characters from Bolt.

351. Jake Steinfeld

Dates: 1958-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Brooklyn’s Sea Gate neighborhood in western Coney Island in New York City. Grew up in Baldwin, New York, which is near Queens on Long Island. Attended the State University of New York at Cortland, dropped out, and moved to Los Angeles. Began as a personal trainer with clients including Stephen Spielberg and Harrison Ford. Later starred in the show Big Brother Jake.

Movies and Cartoons: Ratatouille (2007) as well as The Wonderful World of Disney.

Characters: Git

Also Known For: Actor, fitness personality, entrepreneur, and producer known for his Body by Jake brand. Before then, he created the 24/7 fitness lifestyle network, FitTV which he later sold to News Corp. After that, launched Exercise TV, a fitness on-demand television network. In 2001, he co-founded Major League Lacrosse, the first professional outdoor lacrosse league. Also founded the World Series of Youth Lacrosse and the Body by Jake Music label. Film appearances include Americanathon, Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie, Home Sweet Home, The Money Pit, Odd Jobs, Tough Guys, You Can’t Hurry Love, Coming to America, Repossessed, Rock-a-Doodle, Susan’s Plan, Aimee & Jaguar, and From Up on Poppy Hill. TV appearances include Big Brother Jake, Simon & Simon, The Invisible Woman, Shaping Up, Amazing Stories, All Is Forgiven, The Tracey Ullman Show, Dream On, Burke’s Law, King of the Hill, and Lopez.

Personal Life: Uncle of actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld. Married to a woman Tracy L. Morrison since 1988 and has 4 children.

Later Life: Still actively working since 2025.

Trivia: Was an official Olympic torch bearer for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Served as honorary mayor of Palisades, California from 2013-2016. Served as chairman of the California Governor’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports from 2006 to 2011. Named chairman of the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils in 2012.

352. Ben Burtt

Dates: 1948-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Jamesville, New York. Parents were a chemistry professor and a child psychologist. Made films as a child and later studied physics at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, graduating in 1970. Also made films in college as well and in 1970, he won a National Student Film Festival Award for his war film Yankee Squadron, reputedly after following exposure to classic aviation drama. Previously made an amateur film at the Old Rhineback Aerodome, a living aviation museum in Red Hook, New York, under guidance of its founder Cole Palen. For his work on special effects in Genesis, Burtt won a scholarship to the University of Southern California where he earned a master’s degree in film production.

Movies and Cartoons: WALL-E (2008) as well as the short BURN-E and a few video games.

Characters: WALL-E and M-O

Also Known For: Sound designer, film director, screenwriter, and voice actor. Notable for popularizing the Wilhem scream in-joke and creating many of the sound effects heard in the Star Wars franchise including the “voice” of RD-D2, the lightsaber hum, the sound of blaster guns, the heavy-breathing sound of Darth Vader, and creating the Ewoks’ language Ewokese. Also worked behind the scenes of WALL-E (2008) and Up (2009) as well as several shorts including The Adventures of Andre and Wally B. In addition to the Star Wars franchise, he’s worked behind the scenes in Death Race 2000, The Milpitas Monster, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), More American Graffiti, the Indiana Jones franchise, E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, The Dark Crystal, The Dream Is Alive, Howard the Duck, Nutcracker: The Motion Picture,  Willow,  Always, Blue Planet, The American Gangster, Munich, Star Trek, Super 8, Red Tails, John Carter, Escape from Planet Earth, and The Signal.

Personal Life: Married  to  Margaret  L. Darraugh. Has 4 children including Benjamin A. Burtt who’s a sound editor at Skywalker Sound.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Has won 4 Academy Awards for his work in sound design. Awarded a Doctor of Arts honorary degree from Allegheny College 2004.

353. Jeff Garlin

Dates: 1962-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Chicago, Illinois. Father owned a plumbing supply business called Bilko. Mother was active in community theater. Attended Hebrew school. Wanted to be a comedian since he was 8 when he saw Jimmy Durante perform in his hometown. Attended Meltzer Elementary School in Morton Grove. Enjoyed playing sports but had to stop after being diagnosed with Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart ailment. While in 6^th grade, Garlin’s father sold his supply business and the family moved to South Florida. Graduated from Nova High School in Davie, Florida. Attended Broward Community College followed by a stint studying film at the University of Miami, where he first began to perform standup comedy. In 1984, Garlin moved back to Chicago to pursue a stand-up comedy career. Performed with the Second City comedy troupe where he worked at the box office with Stephen Colbert. While residing in its Wrigleyville neighborhood he also lived briefly with then comedy writer Conan O’Brien. Later hired by Denis Leary, Jon Stewart, and Larry David to help develop their comedy specials, working as stage director for their shows and editing their scripts. Later had a variety of film and TV appearances before breaking through as Marvin in Mad About You.

Movies and Cartoons: WALL-E (2008), Toy Story 3 (2010), Cars 2 (2011), and Toy Story 4 (2019) as well as the Hawaiian Vacation and BURN-E shorts, various series, and a couple video games.

Characters: Captain B. McCrea, Buttercup, and Otis

Also Known For: Actor and stand-up comedian who’s best known as Murray Goldberg in The Goldbergs, Jeff Greene in Curb Your Enthusiasm, Marvin in Mad About You, and Mort Meyers in Arrested Development. Film appearances include ParaNorman, Safety Not Guaranteed, Robocop 3, Little Big League, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1995), The Love Bug, Austin Fat Albert, After the Sunset, Fun with Dick and Jane (2005), I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, Strange Wilderness, The Rocker, Trainwreck: My Life as an Idiot, The Bounty Hunter, Laggies, Lemon, Becoming Bond, Handsome, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Studio 666, This Is the Year, Babylon, and Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie. TV appearances include Roseanne, Dear John, Baywatch, Late Friday, Everybody Loves Raymond, What About Joan?, King of the Hill, Greetings from Tucson, Crank Yankers, Duck Dodgers, MADtv, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Entourage, Community, Maron, 2 Broke Girls, Family Guy, SpongeBob SquarePants, Celebrity Family Feud, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, Kung Fu Sock, and Never Have I Ever.

Personal Life: Married to Mary Beth Cahan from 1994 until their divorce in 2020. They have 2 sons. Has been in a relationship with editor Sari Tracht since 2021. Has struggled with ADHD, Bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and Type II diabetes. Had surgery for his Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in Oklahoma City when he was in his 20s and was one of the early recipients that millions of people have undergone. Had a stroke at 37 in 2000.

Later Life: Published My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World in 2010. Hosted a podcast called By the Way, In Conversation with Jeff Garlin from 2013 to 2015. In 2021, Vanity Fair reported that Garlin had been under investigation allegedly engag[ing] in a pattern of verbal and physical conduct on [the set of The Goldbergs] that made people uncomfortable.” Report found that he used “inappropriate language” and engaged in “unwanted physical contact” on set such as hugging or touching others without their consent. Later that year, it was announced that Garlin wouldn’t return to the show with his departure said to be a “mutual decision.”

Trivia: Is such good friends with Conan O’Brien that when NBC removed him as host of The Tonight Show so that Jay Leno can return, Garlin vowed never to be a guest on the show again. Owns the dog that appeared in The Goldbergs. Was one of the actors who voiced the audiobook A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo in 2018. Attends a Chicago Cubs game on his birthday with his friend Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon.

354. MacInTalk

Dates: 1984-present

Early Life and Career: Unlike most of the Disney voice actors I have covered, MacInTalk isn’t exactly a person per se. But a text-to-speech program for Apple MacIntosh computers. An API known as the Speech Manager enables third-party developers to use speech synthesis in their applications. There are various control sequences that can be used to fine-tune the intonation and rhythm. Volume, pitch, and rate of speech can be configured as well, which can allow singing. But I’m sure it’s nothing that would get you on American Idol. Original version was used in 1984 in the introduction of the Macintosh in which the computer announced itself to the world. Developed by Joseph Katz and Mark Barton who later founded SoftVoice, Inc., which currently markets TTS engines for Windows, Linux, and embedded platforms. MacInTalk used direct access to the original Macintosh sound hardware and all attempts to license the source code by Apple to update it for newer Macs failed. Since then, Apple has released newer versions such as MacInTalk 2, MacInTalk 3, and Pro.

Movies and Cartoons: WALL-E (2008)

Characters: AUTO

Also Known For: This is a text-to-speech synthesis and speech recognition which has been made a standard system component in System 7.1.2 and has since been shipped in all Power PC and some 68k Macintoshes.

Personal Life: Given it’s a technology, there’s really no point in writing about its personal life.

Later Life: Well, my guess is that it’s going to go on forever until something else replaces it.

Trivia: None.

355. Kathy Najimy

Dates: 1958-present

Early Life and Career: Born in San Diego, California to Lebanese parents. Father was a postal worker who died when she was 14. Mother immigrated from Lebanon in 1946. Was raised Maronite Catholic and attended Crawford High School. Graduated from San Diego State University in 1995.  First gained fame with her feminist play The Kathy and Mo Show which she wrote and performed with Mo Gaffney and premiered in 1981. Play had 3 long New York City runs and generated 2 HBO specials. Film career began in the early 1990s.

Movies and Cartoons: WALL-E (2008) as well as several series and some direct-to-video installments.

Characters: Mary

Also Known For: Actress and activist best known as Olive Massery in Veronica’s Closet and Peggy Hill in King of the Hill. Film appearances include Soapdish, Sister Act, Hocus Pocus, Hope Floats, The Wedding Planner, Rat Race, Step Up 3D, The Guilt Trip, A Madea Christmas, Dumplin,’ Music, Single All the Way, The Hard Way, The Fisher King, This Is My Life, It’s Pat, Cats Don’t Dance, Nevada, Bride of Chucky, Stars in Shorts,  No Letting Go, A Change of Heart, and Between the Shades. TV appearances include The $25,000 Pyramid, Walls of Glass, In Search of Dr. Seuss, Duckman, Adventures from the Book of Virtues, Chicago Hope, Early Edition, Hey Arnold!, The Wild Thornberrys, Little Bill, Oswald, The Scream Team, The Mummy, Stuart Little, Ozzy & Drix, Higglytown Heroes, Wayside, Getting Played, Rugrats, Numb3rs, Drop Dead Diva, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Mr. Sunshine, Men at Work, Make It or Break It, The Big C, Inside Amy Schumer, Veep, Younger, A Christmas Melody, Graves, The $100,000 Pyramid, Elementary, BoJack Horseman, The President Show, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Good Fight, Good Witch, American Dad!, The Rocketeer, Duncanville, Robot Chicken, and The Morning Show.

Personal Life: Married to actor and singer Dan Finnerty of The Dan Band since 1998. Wedding was officiated by Gloria Steinem. Has daughter who’s a musician named Samia.

Later Life: Is an activist who frequently travels throughout the US to speak on issues of equal rights, safety, and self-esteem for women and girls, LGBTQ rights, AIDS awareness, domestic violence, body image, and civil rights. Uses her celebrity status to donate money to charities by appearing on game shows.

Trivia: Was named Ms. magazine’s Woman of the Year in 2004.

356. Angus MacLane

Dates: 1975-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Riverside County, California. Grew up in Portland, Oregon. Originally wanted to be a comic book artist but switched to animation halfway through school in hopes to work at the Will Vinton Studios (now Laika). He’d eventually go on to work for the studio before transferring to Pixar. Received a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Rhode Island School of Design. Joined Pixar in 1997 as an animator for the short Geri’s Game.

Movies and Cartoons: WALL-E (2008), Finding Dory (2016), and Lightyear (2022) as well as various shorts and series along with the special Toy Story of Terror!.

Characters: BURN-E, Sunfish “Charlie Back and Forth,” ERIC, DERIC, and Zyclops

Also Known For: Animator, filmmaker and voice actor best known for his work at Pixar Animation Studios. Co-directed Finding Dory (2016) as well as directed Lightyear (2022). Has worked behind the scenes of A Bug’s Life (1998), Toy Story 2 (1999), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003), The Incredibles (2004), Cars (2006), Ratatouille (2007), WALL-E (2008), Coco (2017), Incredibles 2 (2018), Toy Story 4 (2019), Onward (2020), Soul (2020), Luca (2021), Turning Red (2022), and Elemental (2023) as well as various shorts and series and the direct-to-video Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins.

Personal Life: Can’t find anything about his personal life.

Later Life: Was among 75 Pixar employees laid off by the Walt Disney Company as part of an ongoing company-wide restructuring in 2023.

Trivia: Has won 2 Annie Awards. Is an avid Lego enthusiast who created the CubeDudes building format and designed a Lego WALL-E that’s become an official set of The Lego Group.

357. Lori Alan

Dates: 1966-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Washington DC. Parents were performers. Began acting at 5 with her first gig being in a Shakey’s Pizza commercial. Graduated with honors at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Later began her career by performing in the comedy circuit and became a member of New York’s Gotham City Improv (Groundlings East). Appeared in her first film in 1994.

Movies and Cartoons: WALL-E (2008), Toy Story 3 (2010), Monsters University (2013), Inside Out (2015), and Toy Story 4 (2019) as well as various shorts, series, specials and the Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure video game.

Characters: Axiom Passenger #8, Bonnie’s Mother, Bus Driver, and Mom’s Sadness

Also Known For: Actress best known as Pearl Crabs in SpongeBob SquarePants, Diane Simmons in Family Guy, the Invisible Woman in Fantastic Four, and The Boss in the Metal Gear video game series. Film appearances include Holy Matrimony, Boys on the Side, Father of the Bride Part II, The Fluffer, Cloudy with the Chance of Meatballs, Despicable Me 2, Minions, and Despicable Me 3. TV  appearances include Law & Order, SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, Ned and Stacey, Touched by an Angel, The Angry Beavers, Hey Arnold!, Animaniacs, Johnny Bravo, Will and Grace, The Tick, Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Friends, Six Feet Under, The Wild Thornberrys, The Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy, ChalkZone, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, W.I.T.C.H., Cory in the House, Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in the World, Days of Our Lives, Chuck, Chowder, Southland, The Closer, The Hard Times of RJ Berger, 90210, Futurama, Law & Order: LA, Workaholics, Bones, Ray Donovan, Henry Hugglemonster, Castle, Grey’s Anatomy, The League, A.P. Bio, Shameless, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Pokemon Concierge. Video game appearances include Shannara, Area 51, CSI: NY, and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2.

Personal Life: Married to Marc Katz since 2023. Has a daughter named Mollie.

Later Life: Is active in animal rescue and welfare causes. Has spoken out against animal cruelty and has campaigned for the meat charity World Protection for Dogs and Cats in the Meat Trade. Is also on the board of Pickle Pants Animal Rescue, an animal rescue organization in Los Angeles.

Trivia: None.

358. Susan Essman

Dates: 1955-present

Early Life and Career: Born in the Bronx in New York City and grew up in the suburb of Mount Vernon. Father was an internist and clinical oncologist. Mother taught Russian at Sarah Lawrence College. Attended State University of New York in Purchase. Has been traveling and appearing in comedy clubs throughout the United States since the late 1980s. Also began her acting career around the same time with small parts.

Movies and Cartoons: Bolt (2008) as well as the series Kim Possible.

Characters: Mittens

Also Known For: Actress, comedian, producer, and writer best known as Susie Greene in Curb Your Enthusiasm and Bobbie Wexler in Broad City. Film appearances include Crocodile Dundee II, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, Volcano, Keeping the Faith, Cop Out, Putzel, Band Aid, and Gilbert. TV appearances include Baby Boom, True Colors, Law & Order, The King of Queens, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Crank Yankers, Dora the Explorer, American Dad!, Adventure Time, Blue Bloods, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Goldbergs, Harley Quinn, Hacks, Bob’s Burgers, Lego Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition, The Simpsons, and Celebrity Jeopardy!.

Personal Life: Great-granddaughter of silent film actor and Russian opera impresario Leo Feodoroff. Sister was musician and composer Nora Essman Morrow who died in 2023. Married to real estate broker Jim Harder since 2008 and has 4 stepchildren: 3 girls and a boy. Was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2002.

Later Life: Wrote a memoir What Would Susie Say: Bullshit Wisdom About Love, Life and Comedy was published by Simon & Schuster in 2009.

Trivia: Is friends with Joan Behar and has been on The View several times. Owns a Shih Tzu named Popeye.

359. Nick Swardson

Dates: 1976-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota but grew up in Saint Paul. Father was an editor and journalist who wrote for the Cincinnati Enquirer and City Pages as well as founded the Grand Gazette, a former Saint Paul community newspaper. Father also invested in Saint Paul’s land development, revitalizing Grand Avenue, now known as Victoria Crossing. Parents divorced when he was about 12 or 13. Attended St. Paul Central High School where he started acting and performing improv comedy at 16. A mischievous student who struggled with drugs and alcohol, Swardson was expelled 4 times for pulling fire alarms in order to go outside and smoke cigarettes, fighting, posting a lewd sign, and for smoking marijuana. Was enrolled in a rehab program while still in school. After graduating in 1996, Swardson decided to pursue stand-up comedy than attend college from age 18. Got his start attending open mic nights at the Minneapolis comedy club Acme Comedy Co. Said he did his first open mic night “as a goof” but the club owner encouraged him to perform again and went on to win the comedy club’s award for the “Funniest Person in the Twin Cities.” Went on to perform at the now defunct Knuckleheads and Balls Cabaret. After garnering attention within comedy circles, Swardson was selected to perform stand-up at the US Comedy Arts Festival at 20. Eventually left the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area for New York City where he’d appear at venues like the Luna Lounge, then to Los Angeles where he headlined at many nightclubs. In addition to stand-up comedy, Swardson began to work in commercials and in small roles on TV and film. Made his breakthrough in the half-hour Comedy Central Presents in 2001.

Movies and Cartoons: Bolt (2008)

Characters: Blake

Also Known For: Actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter, and producer best known as Terry Bernardino in Reno 911!, his work in Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions, and his own sketch comedy show Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time. Film appearances include The Benchwarmers, Blades of Glory, Just Go with It, That’s My Boy, The Do-Over, The Wrong Missy, Almost Famous, Malibu’s Most Wanted, Grandma’s Boy, Art School Confidential, Click, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, The House Bunny, Bedtime Stories (2008), Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star, 30 Minutes or Less, Jack and Jill, Grown Ups 2, A Haunted House, Hotel Transylvania 2, Hell and Back, The Ridiculous 6, Sandy Wexler, Airplane Mode, and Leo. TV appearances include LateLine, Gay Robot, According to Jim, The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange, Chozen, Portlandia, TripTank, The Goldbergs, Star vs. The Forces of Evil, Typical Rick, and Lip Sync Battle.

Personal Life: I can’t find anything about his personal life.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

360. Diedrich Bader

Dates: 1966-present

Early Life and Career: Born Karl Diedrich Bader in Alexandria, Virginia. Mother was sculptor Gretta Bader. Father was foundation executive and political activist William B. Bader. Family moved to Paris when he was 2 but later returned to the US so he can attend T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Viriginia. Later attended University of North Carolina School for the Arts. After a series of guest roles, he landed his first major role as The Searcher in 1993’s Danger Theatre.

Movies and Cartoons: Recess: School’s Out (2001), Bolt (2008) and Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe (2020) as well as the TV movie Tangled: Before Ever After, the live-action The Country Bears, the direct-to-video Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, and various series.

Characters: Guard #2, Veteran Cat, and Borthos

Also Known For: Actor and comedian best known for his comedy-centered and voice acting roles. Best known as Hoss Delgado in The Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy, Zeta in The Zeta Project, Tank Evans in Surf’s Up and Surf’s Up 2: WaveMania, Dr. Meridian/Mandroid in Transformers: EarthSpark, and Bruce Wayne/Batman multiple animated films and series starting with Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Film appearances include The Beverly Hillbillies, Office Space, Napoleon Dynamite, Teresa’s Tattoo, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Evil Alien Conquerors, EuroTrip, Dead & Breakfast, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Balls of Fury, Meet the Spartans, Vampires Suck, Atlas Shrugged: Part II, Sassy Pants, The Starving Games, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, Muffin Top: A Love Story, The Blackening, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Ice Age, Asterix and the Vikings, and Duck Duck Goose. TV appearances include The Drew Carey Show, Outsourced, American Housewife, Veep, Better Things, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Cheers, 21 Jump Street, Quantum Leap, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Diagnosis: Murder, Fraiser, Center of the Universe, 7^th Heaven, Monk, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Reno 911!, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, Bones, Medium, Chuck, Psych, The Exes, Save Me, Arrested Development, Raising Hope, Two and a Half Men, Bill Nye Saves the World, Young Sheldon, Space Force, Lucky Hank, King of the Hill, The Simpsons, Baby Blues, Batman Beyond, Lloyd in Space, Dave the Barbarian, South Park, Higglytown Heroes, The Batman, Chowder, The Secret Saturdays, The Penguins of Madagascar, The Goode Family, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Pound Puppies, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Chosen, Ultimate Spider-Man, Turbo Fast, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, All Hail King Julien, TripTank, BoJack Horseman, Milo Murphy’s Law, Guardians of the Galaxy, Justice League Action, American Dad!, Wacky Races, The Boss Baby: Back in Business, Harley Quinn, Animaniacs, Masters of the Universe: Revelations, Batman: Caped Crusader, and Creature Commandos. Video game appearances include The Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy, Surf’s Up, Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall, The Secret Saturdays: Beasts of the 5^th Sun, Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame, Skylanders: SuperChargers, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, and Justice League: Cosmic Chaos.

Personal Life: Great-grandson of Edward L. Bader who was mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey during the 1920s. Married to actress Dulcy Rogers since 1997. Have 2 children named Ondine and Sebastian.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

              Before the Walt Disney Company’s involvement, William Joyce had pitched the story to various filmmakers as a potential live-action film. Pre-production of the film was first unveiled during SIGGRAPH 2001, where a character resembling Lewis showcased a tech demo for “Project Gemini.” Since storyboard artist Stephen Anderson grew up adopted like the film’s protagonist at the end, he decided to direct the film. The studio planned to adapt Joyce’s style into the film, due to his stylistic involvement in Robots. Still taking cues from his retro style, influenced by everything from Technicolor films, 1940s design, and Apple. Unlike Chicken Little, the animation crew had the challenge of animating CGI humans, which they mostly took from The Incredibles. When the film was in production, the Walt Disney Company announced that it would be acquiring Pixar and John Lasseter became the chief creative officer of both Disney and Pixar Animated Studios. When he saw an early film screening, Lasseter told Anderson that he didn’t find the villain scary enough and suggested he make some changes. This led to 60% of the film being scrapped and redone 10 months later. The villain had improved and was given a new sidekick, a dinosaur chase was added, and the ending was changed. Upon its 2007 release, it received positive reviews from critics but grossed $170.5 million against a $150 million budget making it a box office failure. Although it won some Annies. Today it holds a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 68%.

              Jan Pinkava came with the concept of Ratatouille in 2000, creating the original design, sets, characters, and core storyline. But he was never formally named the film’s director. Bob Petersen was added as director in 2004 but left the film to return to Up a year later. While Brad Bird became director in 2005 as Pinkava left Pixar. Bird was attracted to the film because of the concept’s outlandishness and the conflict driving it. He was also delighted that the film can be made as a highly physical comedy with Linguini providing endless fun for the animators. Bird rewrote the story with a change in emphasis. He killed off Gusteau, gave Skinner and Colette larger roles, and changed the rats’ appearance as less anthropomorphic. Because Ratatouille intended to have a romantic, lush vision of Paris, giving it an identity distinct from its previous films, director Bird, producer Brad Lewis, and some of the crew spent a week in the city to properly understand its environment, taking a motorcycle tour and eating at 5 of its top restaurants. For the scene where Linguini jumps into the Seine to fetch Remy, a Pixar employee jumped into Pixar’s swimming pool wearing a chef’s uniform and apron to see which parts of the suit stuck to his body and became translucent from water absorption. Since creating computer-generated images of food that would appear delicious proved a challenge to the filmmakers, the team consulted American and French chefs. Animators attended cooking classes at San Francisco-area culinary schools to understand a commercial kitchen’s workings. Sets/Layout Manager and former culinary academy-trained professional chef Michael Warch helped teach and consult the animators as they worked. He also prepared dishes used by Art Shade/Paint, Effects, and Sets Modeling departments. Renowned chef allowed producer Brad Lewis to intern in his French Laundry kitchen. Rat expert Deb Ducommun was consulted on rat habits and characteristics and a vivarium containing pet rats sat in a hallway for more than a year so animators could study the movement of the animals’ fur, noses, ears, paws, and tails as they ran. The film was also the first of Pixar’s to be animated with traditional techniques than motion capture. In its 2007 release, Ratatouille received widespread acclaim and grossed $623.7 million worldwide at the box office. In addition it won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and has been voted as one of the 100 greatest movies of the 21^st century conducted by a 2016 critics’ poll by the BBC. In this post, we’ll meet the voices behind 4 characters from Cars, voice actor Tom Kenny, as well as the voices behind Carl, Franny Robinson, Django, Colette, and Larousse.

341. Katherine Helmond

Dates: 1929-2019

Early Life and Career: Born in Galveston, Texas. Had a younger sister who died in infancy. Father left the family at some point and she was raised by her devout Catholic mother and grandmother. Though her mother remarried in 1937. Attended a Catholic primary school and appeared in school plays. After making her stage debut in As You Like It, Helmond began working in New York City in 1955. Later ran a summer theatre in the Catskills for 3 seasons and taught acting in university theatre programs. Made her TV debut in 1962 but didn’t appear regularly until 1973. In 1983, Helmond studied at the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop.

Movies and Cartoons: Cars (2006), Cars 2 (2011), and Cars 3 (2017) as well as the series Cars Toons: Mater’s Tall Tales.

Characters: Lizzie

Also Known For: Actress with a career spanning over 6 decades. Best known as Jessica Tate in Soap, Mona Robinson in Who’s the Boss?, Doris Sherman in Coach, and Lois Whelan in Everybody Loves Raymond. Film appearances include Family Plot, Time Bandits, Brazil, Overboard (1987), Believe in Me, The Hospital, The Hindenburg, Lady in White, Inside Monkey Zetterland, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Frank & Ava. TV appearances include Car 54, Where Are You?, Gunsmoke, The Bob Newhart Show, Mannix, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, The Legend of Lizzie Borden, The Six Million Dollar Man, Benson, Faerie Tale Theatre, Mr. St. Nick, A Grandpa for Christmas, Melissa & Joey, True Blood, and Harry’s Law.

Personal Life: Married twice. First husband was actor George N. Martin from 1959 to their divorce in 1962. Second husband was David Richard Christian from 1969 until her death.

Later Life: Died in 2019 from Alzheimer’s disease at her Los Angeles home at 89. Death was announced a week later.

Trivia: Was nominated for a Tony Award for The Great God Brown in 1973. Has won 2 Golden Globe awards as well as been nominated for 5 Emmys.

342. Elissa Knight

Dates: 1975-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Santa Cruz, California. Attended University of California, Santa Cruz where she graduated with a degree in theater and English literature in 1997. Has worked for Pixar since 1998.

Movies and Cartoons: Cars (2006), WALL-E (2008), Monsters University (2013), and Inside Out (2015) as well as shorts BURN-E and Party Central, the series Cars Toons: Mater’s Tall Tales, and several video games.

Characters: Tia and EVE

Also Known For: Voice actress at Pixar who’s worked on numerous films at Pixar such as Cars (2006), Ratatouille (2007), and WALL-E (2008). Knight normally voices animated characters as necessary, occasionally recording scratch tracks for use until a bigger actor can record their dialogue. Her recorded dialogue as EVE for WALL-E was originally meant to be a placeholder while the casting director looked for an actress that would voice the part. But the producers liked Knight’s performance to use it in the finished film.

Personal Life: I can’t find anything about her personal life.

Later Life: Still actively working at Pixar as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

343. Jonas Rivera

Dates: 1971-present

Early Life and Career: Born and raised in Castro Valley, California. Wanted to be an animator as a boy but according to him, he couldn’t draw. Graduated from the San Francisco State University with a degree in Film Production. Joined Pixar in 1994 as an intern and has worked on every Pixar film since Toy Story (1995). First as coordinator and manager. Later as producer.

Movies and Cartoons: Cars (2006)

Characters: Boost

Also Known For: Producer and as of 2022, executive vice president of film production at Pixar Animation Studios, overseeing operational issues for all film and streaming production. Produced films such as Up (2009), Inside Out (2015), and Toy Story 4 (2019). Other films he worked on include Toy Story (1995), A Bug’s Life (1998), Toy Story 2 (1999), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Cars (2006), Soul (2020), and Inside Out 2 (2024) as well as a couple of shorts.

Personal Life: Married to a woman named Michele. Has 2 daughters named Ava and Elsa as well as a son named William.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: During the making of Toy Story, Rivera started collecting things used in the movie’s production, which would later become the Pixar Archives that contains thousands of objects and stored in a climate-controlled building. Claimed he was inspired by Disney, which has also saved objects from studio productions.

344. Steve Purcell

Dates: 1961-present

Early Life and Career: Born and raised in California. Has been drawing since he was 3. Describes himself as an average student at school but wishes he tried harder looking back. Graduated from the California College of Arts and Craft in San Francisco but started creating comic books while still an undergraduate. While credited the creator of the Sam & Max comic series, the characters were actually created by his younger brother David in their youth but he’d often leave the comics unfinished. This allowed Purcell sometimes finish these stories in parodies of their original form if only out of sibling rivalry. Yet at least his brother David was decent enough to sign over the rights to the characters to his older brother on the latter’s birthday. However, Sam & Max didn’t become available to the masses until after Purcell spent stints working as a freelance illustrator for Marvel Comics, Chaosium, and Steven Moncuse’s Fish Police series. And only when Moncuse approached Purcell on another comic book series to accompany the Fish Police series. Purcell agreed and wrote his first feature-length Sam and Max comic that was published by Fishwrap Productions in 1987. Was later hired by LucasArts as an animator in 1988 but was laid off when the project he was working on was cancelled. Yet, he was rehired to work on various projects until he left that company in 1997. Joined the Canadian studio Nelvana to create the Sam & Max cartoon series for TV and later briefly worked for Industrial Light and Magic. Moved to Pixar in 2000.

Movies and Cartoons: Cars (2006), Brave (2012), Toy Story 4 (2019), and Inside Out 2 (2024) as well as various shorts, a few video games, and the TV special Toy Story That Time Forgot.

Characters: Tractors, The Crow, Benson, The Dummies, and Deep Dark Secret

Also Known For: Cartoonist, animator, game designer, and voice actor. Created the franchise Sam & Max which has spun a TV series and various video games. Has worked behind the scenes of Cars (2006), Ratatouille (2007), Brave (2012), Coco (2017), Incredibles 2 (2018), Toy Story 4 (2019), Turning Red (2022), Lightyear (2022), Elemental (2023), and Inside Out 2 (2024) as well as various series and shorts. Worked on video games such as Maniac Mansion, Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders, Their Finest Hour, Pipe Dream, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure, Loom, The Secret of Monkey Island, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge, ToeJam & Earl, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron, The Horde, Mortimer and the Riddles of the Medallion, Herc’s Adventures, The Curse of Monkey Island, and Tales of Monkey Island.

Personal Life: Married to Collette Michaud since 1993. Has 2 sons.

Later Life: Lives in California. In 2023, he was one of the 75 Pixar employees laid off by the Walt Disney Company as part of an on-going company-wide restructuring.

Trivia: Kept a pet rat during his childhood and has a keen interest in the rodent.

345. Harland Williams

Dates: 1962-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Toronto, Ontario in Canada. Mother was a writer and social worker. Father was a lawyer and member of the Ontario legislature named John Reesor Williams. Grew up in Toronto’s Willowdale neighborhood. Enrolled in Sheridan College in 1983 where he studied animation and media arts. All while periodically working as a forest ranger at Fort Frances. Began stand-up comedy in 1984 and performed in Toronto for 7 years before moving to Los Angeles in 1992. Credits his 1993 appearance on Late Night with David Letterman as his breakthrough.

Movies and Cartoons: Meet the Robinsons (2007) as well as the Meet the Robinsons video game and various series.

Characters: Carl

Also Known For: Canadian-American comedian and actor best known as the psychopathic hitch-hiker in There’s Something About Mary. Film appearances include Dumb and Dumber, RocketMan, Half Baked, The Whole Nine Yards, Freddy Got Fingered, Sorority Boys, Robots, Sausage Party, Superstar, Becoming Dick, Kart Racer, Lucky 13, Because of Winn-Dixie, Employee of the Month, Surf School, The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning, Bachelor Party 2: The Last Temptation, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, My Life in Ruins, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto, Dahmer vs. Gacy, Spooky Buddies, Lloyd the Conqueror, Back in the Day, The Addams Family, The Turkey Bowl, and Fearless. TV appearances include Ellen, Big News, Simon, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Ned’s Newt, Family Guy, Gary & Mike, The Santa Claus Brothers, My Name Is Earl, Slacker Cats, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil, Robot Chicken, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange, Robot and Monster, Package Deal, TripTank, Skylanders Academy, Bunnicula, and Oddballs.

Personal Life: Brother of special effects artist Steve “Spaz” Williams. Cousin of Barenaked Ladies keyboardist Kevin Hearn. Other than that, I can’t find anything else about his personal life.

Later Life: Became an American citizen in 2009.

Trivia: None.

346. Nicole Sullivan

Dates: 1970-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Manhattan in New York City. Mother was a businesswoman. Father was Edgar C. Sullivan who represented Manhattan’s 69^th District in the New York State Assembly from 1977 to 2002. Took dance lessons at 7 and performed in Off-Broadway and Broadway productions with the First All-Children’s Theatre. Family moved upstate to Middleburgh in 1982. In high school, she was class treasurer during her junior year, played soccer, served student council, and recorded stats for the boys’ basketball team. After her graduation from Middleburgh, Sullivan attended Northwestern University as a theater major as well as worked 2 jobs to pay for college along with writing plays and sketches for the student theatre. Spent her junior year in London where she studied at the British American Drama Academy and became a member of the Greenwich Shakespeare Company. After graduating from  Northwestern, Sullivan moved to Los Angeles to pursue a TV career. Although initially appearing in commercials and sporadic guest roles, she was recruited for the cast of MADtv.

Movies and Cartoons: Meet the Robinsons (2007) as well as the direct-to-video Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, various series and a couple of video games.

Characters: Franny Robinson

Also Known For: Actress best known as a cast member on MADtv as well as Holly Shumpert in King of Queens, Jill Tracy in Scrubs, Mira Nova in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Shego in Kim Possible, Marlene the Otter in The Penguins of Madagascar, Lynn Mettler in Cougar Town, Lyla in Let It Shine, Wilma Basset in Wendell & Vinnie, Janine in Black-ish, and Kara Danvers/Supergirl in DC Super Hero Girls. Film appearances include Bar Hopping, The Third Wheel, Guess Who, The Ant Bully, Superhero Movie, Black Dynamite, 17 Again, Pee Wee’s Big Holiday, Eat with Me, and I’ll Be Next Door for Christmas. TV appearances include Herman’s Head, Party of Five, Diagnosis: Murder, The Drew Carey Show, Fired Up, Daddio, Talk to Me, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Baby Blues, Family Guy, According to Jim, Teamo Supremo, Clone High, Less Than Perfect, Rugrats, Miss Match, Crank Yankers, Monk, Boston Legal, Brandy & Mr. Whiskers, Raines, Slacker Cats, Head Case, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Rita Rocks, The Secret Saturdays, Leverage, It’s Me or the Dog, Numb3rs, $#*! My Dad Says, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Game, The Middle, TripTank, BoJack Horseman, Grey’s Anatomy, Bones, Mutt & Stuff, Mom, Girlboss, The Mindy Project, Corporate, The Boss Baby: Back in Business, Liverspots and Astronots, Team Kaylie, Harley Quinn, Will & Grace, Bob Hearts Abishola, Teen Titans Go!, The Secret Lives of College Girls, All Rise, Good Girls, The Neighborhood, Murderville, Last Week Tonight, Raven’s Home, American Born Chinese, and Running Point. Video game appearances include Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters, FusionFall, and The Secret Saturdays: Beasts of the 5^th Sun.

Personal Life: Married to Jack Packham since 2006. Has 2 sons born in 2007 and 2009. At one point she and her husband owned 4 mix-breed dogs and 3 cats.

Later Life: Listed her home in Hollywood Hills for $1.45 million in 2021.

Trivia: Won the first edition of Celebrity Poker Showdown and donated her $100,000 winnings to Alley Cat Allies.

347. Tom Kenny

Dates: 1962-present

Early Life and Career: Born Thomas James Kenny in Syracuse, New York. Loved drawing and collecting records. Met Bobcat Goldthwait in first grade and they became lifelong friends. In their mid-teens, they saw an open-mic night at the Skaneateles that featured comedian Barry Cummins with the moniker “Bear Cat.” He and Goldthwait went to the event and performed under the monikers Tomcat and Bobcat respectively. Goldthwait would describe Kenny’s stand-up routines: “Tom would get up there and talk about his therapist and he didn’t even have a therapist, he just loved Woody Allen.” Went to the Catholic Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School. After college, Kenny performed stand-up comedy for 8 years before moving on to other venues. Made his film debut in 1989.

Movies and Cartoons: Meet the Robinsons (2007) and Winnie the Pooh (2011) as well as various series and the Kingdom Hearts III video game.

Characters: Mr. Willerstein and Rabbit

Also Known For: Actor and comedian best known as SpongeBob SquarePants in the titular cartoon franchise since 1999, Heffer Wolfe in Rocko’s Modern Life, the Ice King in Adventure Time and Fionna and Cake, the Narrator and Mayor in The Powderpuff Girls, Carl Chryniszzswics in Johnny Bravo, Dog in CatDog, Starscream in Transformers: Animated, Hank and Jeremy in Talking Tom and Friends, the Penguin in various DC Comics media, and Spyro from the Spyro video game series. Film appearances include Dr. Doolittle 2, Hoodwinked!, The Ant Bully, Happily N’Ever After, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Zambezia, Hotel Transylvania, Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return, Ant-Man, Transformers: The Last Knight, Charming, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, Extinct, Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio, Pinocchio: A True Story, The Magician’s Elephant, Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp, Porco Rosso, How I Got Into College, Shakes the Clown, Scary Movie 3, Surviving Christmas, Comic Book: The Movie, Sky High, World’s Greatest Dad, God Bless America, and Battle of the Sexes. TV appearances include What a Cartoon!, Dexter’s Laboratory, Cow and Chicken, I Am Weasel, Oh Yeah! Cartoons, The Wild Thornberrys, Dilbert, Futurama, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, The Zeta Project, The Flintstones: On the Rocks, Samurai Jack, Horrible Histories, The Fairly OddParents, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, As Told by Ginger, The Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy, Stripperella, Duck Dodgers, Xiaolin Showdown, Crank Yankers, Dave the Barbarian, Brandy and Mr. Whiskers, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Robot Chicken, Loonatics Unleashed, A.T.O.M., Johnny Test, Squirrel Boy, Handy Manny, WordGirl, Chowder, Back at the Barnyard, Imagination Movers, Betsy’s Kindergarten Adventures, Random! Cartoons, The Super Hero Squad Show, Lego Hero Factory, Pound Puppies, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Mad, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Ultimate Spider-Man, The Legend of Korra, The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange, Dragons: Riders of Berk, Brickleberry, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!, Henry Hugglemonster, The Batman, Ben 10: Omniverse, Mixels, TripTank, The Tom and Jerry Show, Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leagured, Rick and Morty, Miles from Tomorrowland, Turbo Fast, Guardians of the Galaxy, DC Super Hero Girls, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, Mighty Magiswords, Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, The Stinky & Dinky Show, Apollo Gauntlet, Wacky Races, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Woody Woodpecker, We Bare Bears, Where’s Waldo?, BoJack Horseman, Bob’s Burgers, Adam Ruins Everything, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?, Harley Quinn, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Looney Tunes Cartoons, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, We Baby Bears, The Loud House, Frog and Toad, Batman: Caped Crusader, Friday Night Videos, The Edge, Mr. Show, Just Shoot Me!, That ‘70s Show, and Big Time Beach Party. Video game appearances include Nickelodeon 3D Movie Maker, Final Fantasy X, Nickelodeon Party Blast, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Mayhem, Final Fantasy X-2, Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku, Nicktoons Movin,’ Teen Titans, Nicktoons Unite!, Nicktoons Winners Cup Racing, Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island, Xiaolin Showdown, Cartoon Network Racing, Brave: The Search for the Spirit Dancer, LEGO Batman: The Videogame, Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet, Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat, Nicktoons MLB, Marvel Heroes, King’s Quest, Prey, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, Trollhunters: Defenders of Arcadia, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, and High on Life.

Personal Life: Married to SpongeBob SquarePants co-star Jill Talley since 1996. Although they both met on The Edge in 1992. They have a son named Mack born in 1997 and a daughter Nora born in 2003.

Later Life: Lives in Studio City, California.

Trivia: Has won 2 Annie Awards and 2 Daytime Emmys.

348. Brian Dennehy

Dates: 1938-2020

Early Life and Career: Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Mother was a nurse. Father was a wire service editor for The Associated Press. Family later moved to Long Island, New York where Denehy attended Charminade High School in Mineola. Entered Columbia University on a football scholarship in the fall of 1956. Yet, interrupted his studies to serve 5 years in the US Marines where he was stationed in the US, Japan, and Korea. Returned to Columbia in 1960 and graduated with a B.A. in history in 1965. While acting in regional theater, he supported his family by working blue-collar jobs including taxi driving and bartending. Even spent a brief stint as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch in their Manhattan office during the mid-1970s, which he hated. However, in the 1970s, Denehy’s stage work led him to other gigs in television and film. Breakthrough role was as the overzealous sheriff Will Teasle in 1982’s First Blood.

Movies and Cartoons: Ratatouille (2007) as well as a couple of video games.

Characters: Django

Also Known For: Actor who’s had roles in over 180 films as well as many in TV and stage productions. Variety magazine called him as “perhaps the foremost living interpreter” of playwright Eugene O’Neill’s works on stage and screen. Specialized in playing men of power who in addition to being corrupt, are just plain mean. Film appearances include First Blood, Gorky Park, Silverado, Cocoon, F/X, Tommy Boy, Presumed Innocent, Romeo + Juliet, Knight of Cups, Driveways, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Little Miss Marker, Finders Keepers, The River Rat, Legal Eagles, Best Seller, Miles from Home, Blue Heat, Gladiator, The Stars Fell on Henrietta, Dish Dogs, Summer Catch, Stolen Summer, She Hate Me, Assault on Precinct 13, Everyone’s Hero, Righteous Kill, The Next Three Days, The Big Year, The Seagull, The Tag, The Song of Sway Lake, 3 Days with Dad, and Son of the South. TV appearances include Death of a Salesman, Kojak, Police Woman, Lou Grant, M*A*S*H, Dallas, Knots Landing, Dynasty, Cagney & Lacey, Tall Tales & Legends, Miami Vice, Faerie Tale Theatre, Birdland, Dead Man’s Walk, Nostromo, Just Shoot Me!, The West Wing, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Masters of Science Fiction, 30 Rock, Rules of Engagement, Rizzoli & Isles, The Good Wife, The Big C, The Blacklist, Hap and Leonard, and Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.

Personal Life: Married twice. First wife was Judith Scheff from 1959 to their divorce in 1987. They had 3 daughters, 2 of whom became actresses including Elizabeth. Second wife was Australian Jennifer Arnott from 1988 until his death.

Later Life: Died in 2020 from cardiac arrest following sepsis in New Haven, Connecticut.

Trivia: Has won 2 Primetime Emmys, an Olivier Award, and a Golden Globe. Also had 6 Primetime Emmy nominations. Inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2010. Was once a co-worker of Martha Stewart during their stockbroker days and the two remained good friends until his death.

349. Janeane Garofalo

Dates: 1964-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Newton, New Jersey. Mother was a secretary in the petrochemical industry who died of cancer when she was 24. Father was a former Exxon executive. Has grown up in places such as Ontario, California, Madison, New Jersey, and Houston, Texas where she attended James E. Taylor High School. Disliked life in Houston because of the heat and humidity as well as the emphasis on prettiness and high school sports. While studying history at Providence College, Garofalo entered a Showtime-sponsored talent search and won the title of “Funniest Person in Rhode Island.” Dreaming of earning a slot on the writing staff of Late Night with David Letterman, she became a professional standup comic upon graduating from college with degrees in history and American studies. Struggled to make a living for a number of years, even working briefly as a bike messenger in Boston. Began her comedy career during the mid-1980s and performed in a disheveled appearance with thick black glasses and unkempt hair. Comedy is often self-deprecating, making fun of popular culture and the pressures on women to conform to body image ideals promoted by the media. Made her first film in 1991.

Movies and Cartoons: Ratatouille (2007)

Characters: Colette Tatou

Also Known For: Actress, comedian, and former co-host on Air America Radio’s The Majority Report as well as appeared in over 50 films. Film appearances include The Truth About Cats & Dogs, Wet Hot American Summer, The Matchmaker, Reality Bites, The Wild, Steal This Movie!, Clay Pidgeons, Mystery Men, The Minus Man, The Independent, Flora & Ulysses, Late for Dinner, Bye Bye Love, Now and Then, The Cable Guy, Sweethearts, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, Cop Land, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Half Baked, Can’t Stop Dancing, Dogma, 200 Cigarettes, Dog Park, Titan A.E., The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Big Trouble, The Laramie Project, Wonderland, Ash Tuesday, Jiminy Glick in Lalawood, Duane Hollywood, The Peace Patriots, Stay, Then She Found Me, Labor Pains, Love Hurts, General Education, Bad Parents, Mighty Fine, Little Boxes, The American Side, Sandy Wexler, Submission, A Bread Factory, Come as You Are, Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate, Mercy Black, The God Committee, and The Apology. TV appearances include The Ben Stiller Show, The Larry Sanders Show, Saturday Night Live, The West Wing, 24, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, Ideal, Tales of the City, Duckman, NewsRadio, Mr. Show with Bob and David, The State, TV Nation, HBO Comedy Half-Hour, Ellen, Seinfeld, 1996 MTV Movie Awards, Home Improvement, HBO Comedy Hour, Law & Order, Felicity, The Simpsons, Mad About You, The Sopranos, Strangers with Candy, Ed, King of the Hill, The King of Queens, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Freak Show, Two and a Half Men, Greek, Head Case, Noddy in Toyland, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Metalocalypse, Ugly Americans, Inside Amy Schumer, Broad City, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Gap Year, Younger, We Baby Bears, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, and Harley Quinn.

Personal Life: Married twice. First husband was writer Robert Cohen from 1992 until their divorce in 2012. Although they only married in Vegas as a joke and never had any semblance of a married life whatsoever. And they only divorced when Cohen got engaged to Jimmy Kimmel Live! producer Jill Leiderman. Second and current husband is Brody Tate since 2015. Has struggled with alcoholism and gave up drinking in 2001.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Has been nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys and a Screen Actors’ Guild Award. Has been on the cover of Ms. and Venus Zine for her outspoken liberal views.

350. James Remar

Dates: 1953-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Boston, Massachusetts as one of 6 children and grew up in Newton. Mother was from England and worked in mental affairs for the state of Massachusetts. Father was an attorney. Dropped out of high school at 15 and attended what he described as “kind of an alternative school” for a year afterwards. Traveled around the United States, briefly playing guitar in a rock band. Eventually returned home to finish high school but decided not to attend college upon graduation. Decided to become an actor at 20 after being laid off from his job as a roofer and gave himself a trial period for 3 years before he’d go on to something else if it didn’t stick. In Florida, Remar earned a role in a stage production of Cross and Sword. Afterwards, he studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre but wasn’t asked back after his first year which he described as “a devastating experience.” Continued searching for other acting jobs before eventually landing the role of Kenicke in a touring production of Grease, and also performing at the Ensemble Studio Theatre before making his film debut in On the Yard.

Movies and Cartoons: Ratatouille (2007)

Characters: Larousse

Also Known For: Actor who’s played numerous roles over a 45-year career, mostly playing villains. Best known as Ajax in The Warriors, Albert Ganz in 48 Hrs., Dutch Schultz in The Cotton Club, Jack Duff in Miracle on 34^th Street (1994), Richard Wright in Sex and the City, Harry Morgan in Dexter, Frank Gordon in Gotham, Peter Gambi in Black Lightning, and Secretary of War Henry Stimson in Oppenheimer. Film appearances include On the Yard, The Long Riders, Windwalker, The Clan of the Cave Bear, Band of the Hand, Rent-A-Cop, Drugstore Cowboy, White Fang (1991), The Tigress, Fatal Instinct, Blink, Renaissance Man, Boys on the Side, Judge Dredd, Wild Bill, The Quest, The Phantom, Mortal Kombat Annihilation, Psycho (1998), Rites of Passage, Blowback, What Lies Beneath, Hellraiser: Inferno, Fear X, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Duplex, The Girl Next Door, Blade: Trinity, Pineapple Express, The Unborn, Endless Bummer, Red, X-Men: First Class, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Django Unchained, The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Eden, Papa: Hemingway in Cuba, USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage, The Night Watchmen, The Saint, Feed, Dead Reckoning, The Noel Diary, Drugstore June, Megalopolis, and Transformers One. TV appearances include Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, The Equalizer, Crime Story, Tales from the Crypt, The Huntress, Nash Bridges, 7^th Heaven, The X-Files, Justice League, The Twilight Zone, Third Watch, Without a Trace, The Grid, The Survivors Club, Ike: Countdown to D-Day, Meltdown, North Shore, Battlestar Galactica, Justice Leage Unlimited, CSI: Miami, Jericho, The Batman, Eli Stone, The Unit, Criminal Minds, The Spectacular Spider-Man, The Christmas Hope, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Ben 10: Alien Force, Numb3rs, The Vampire Diaries, Private Practice, Human Target, Hawaii Five-O, Young Justice, Pound Puppies, Hatfields & McCoys, The Legend of Korra, Grey’s Anatomy, Wilfred,  State of Affairs, NCIS: Los Angeles, Magnum P.I., Animal Kingdom, The Rookie, City on a Hill, Yellowstone, and Paul T. Goldman. Video game appearances include Killzone 3, Destiny, Destiny 2, and Destiny 2: The Witch Queen.

Personal Life: Married to Atsuko Itsuki since 1984. Has 2 children. Speaks conversational Japanese.

Later Life: Was fired from the cast of Aliens after being arrested for drug possession in 1985.

Trivia: Has done voice-overs for Lexus commercials since 2009.

              Mark Dindal came with the idea of Chicken Little in 2001 with its title character envisioned as a female protagonist who went to summer camp to reduce her anxiety as well as repair the relationship with her father. At the summer camp, she’d uncover a nefarious plot that her camp counselor was planning against her hometown. When Dindal pitched this idea to Michael Eisner, the latter suggested that Chicken Little be changed to a male because Dindal recalled, “if you’re a boy and you’re short, you get picked on.” Yet, popular market research wisdom at the time lives by the idea that girls would see movies with boy protagonists but boys won’t see one with a girl protagonist. Although I could argue otherwise with movies like Cinderella, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Little Mermaid, Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, Gone with the Wind, Titanic, Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, and several more. In 2003, when David Stainton became Disney’s new president of Walt Disney Feature Animation, he decided that the story needed a different approach. Thus, it was rewritten as a boy trying to save his town from space aliens. To visualize the story, Disney selected 50% of its 2D animation staff to put them in a CGI animation team and placed them through a rigorous 18-month training program with George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic, which included an introduction to Alias’ Maya that would serve as the main 3D animation software used on the project. This was due to Eisner’s announcing that the studio would move to computer animation as a response to a downturn caused by rising competition from Pixar and Dreamworks as well as unsatisfactory box office performances during the early 2000s with the exception of Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear. As some of the animators had worked on Dinosaur, the animators took inspiration for its staging, coloring, and theatrical lighting from Mary Blair’s background designs in Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. For aesthetics in background designs, the background layouts sparingly used digitally matte paintings to render out the naturalistic elements but they were retouched with Adobe Photoshop as background cards featured in the film. For characters’ designs and animation style, Disney sought to capture the “roundness” as seen in Disney animated works from the 1940s and 1950s. Chicken Little would be Disney’s first fully computer-animated film. Upon its 2005 release, it received mixed reviews from critics and $314 million at the box office. It also won the 2005 Stinkers Bad Movie Award for Worst Animated Film. Today it holds a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 37%.

              Development for Cars began in 1998 after Pixar finished production with A Bug’s Life. At the time, Jorgen Klubien began writing a new script called The Yellow Car, a story about an electric car living in a gas-guzzling world inspired by The Ugly Duckling, an idea triggered by poor reception his countrymen gave to the Mini-El car. Although it was originally supposed to be the next Pixar film after A Bug’s Life, that idea was scrapped in favor of Toy Story 2. Later, production resumed with major script changes like giving Mater, Doc, and a few other characters bigger parts. John Lasseter said that inspiration for the film’s story came after he took a cross-country road trip with his wife and 5 sons in 2000. When he returned to the studio after his vacation, he contacted Route 66 historian Michael Wallis who led 11 Pixar animators in rented Cadillacs on 2 different roads across the route to research the film. For the cars, Lasseter visited the design studios of the Big 3 Detroit automakers, particularly J Mays of Ford Motor Company. There, he learned how real cars were designed. Unlike most anthropomorphic cars, the cars’ eyes were placed on the windshield rather than within the headlights. Upon its 2006 release, Cars opened to positive reviews and grossing $462 million at the box office. In this post, you’ll meet filmmakers Brad Lewis and Mark Dindal, actors Steve Zahn, Fred Willard, and Jenifer Lewis, as well as the voices behind Mama Heffalump, Foxy Loxy, Mater, Sheriff, and Sarge.

331. Brad Lewis

Dates: 1958-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Sacramento, California and raised in San Mateo. Moved to nearby San Carlos in 1991. Graduated from Fresno State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. Worked at Pacific Data Images for over 13 years where he served as executive Producer, Vice President of Production, and lead the expansion of the partnership with DreamWorks/SKG. Joined Pixar in 2001.

Movies and Cartoons: The Incredibles (2004), Ratatouille (2007), and Cars 2 (2011)

Characters: Tubbs Pacer

Also Known For: Producer, director, writer, and politician. Has worked behind the scenes of The Incredibles (2004), Ratatouille (2007), and Cars 2 (2011) as well as the short Your Friend the Rat. Non-Disney work includes Bushwhacked, Broken Arrow, The Arrival, A Simple Wish, The Peacemaker, Antz, Shrek, Forces of Nature, Ponyo, Storks, The Lego Batman Movie, and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. TV work includes The Last Halloween and The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror VI.

Personal Life: Married to Andrea McCarthy. They have a son named Jackson and a daughter named Ellen Dale.

Later Life: Served 5 years on the San Carlos Parks & Recreation Commission before being elected to the city’s council in 2005. Was elected vice-mayor in 2006 and mayor in 2007. Also served on the San Carlos City Council in 2010. Joined Digital Domain in 2011 at their Tradition Studios division in Florida where he was to direct animated features. After Digital Domain’s bankruptcy filing as well as and the shutdown and layoffs at Tradition Studios, Lewis joined Warner Bros. as a producer. Has recently returned to Dreamworks. Lives in Durham, North Carolina.

Trivia: Has won 2 Emmys.

332. Brenda Blethyn

Dates: 1946-present

Early Life and Career: Born Brenda Bottle in Ramsgate, Kent in England as the youngest of 9 children in a working-class Roman Catholic family. Parents met while servants in the same great house. Mother was a former maid. Father was a shepherd, Royal Field Artillery soldier stationed in India for 6 years, chauffer, and car factory mechanic. By the time she was born, her 3 eldest siblings had already left home. Parents introduced Blethyn to film with weekly outings to the movies. Trained at a technical college to work as a stenographer and bookkeeper for a bank as a young adult. However, towards the end of her first marriage, Blethlyn opted to turn her hobby of amateur dramatics to her professional advantage. After studying at the Guildford School of Acting, Blethlyn went onto the London stage in 1976, performing several seasons with the Royal National Theatre. After winning the London Critics’ Circle Theatre Award in 1980, Blethlyn made her screen debut. Made her film debut in 1990.

Movies and Cartoons: Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (2005) and the direct-to-video Tigger & Pooh and a Musical Too.

Characters: Mama Heffalump

Also Known For: British actress known for her character work and versatility. Film appearances include The Witches, A River Runs Through It, Secrets & Lies, Girls’ Night, Music From Another Room, Night Train, Saving Grace, Sonny, Plots with a View, The Wild Thornberrys Movie, The Sleeping Dictionary, Blizzard, Piccadilly Jim, Beyond the Sea, Way of Life, Belonging, On a Clear Day, Pride & Prejudice (2005), Clubland, Atonement, The Calling, Dead Man Running, My Angel, Two Men in Town, and Ethel & Ernest. TV appearances include Grown-Ups, Play for Today, Yes, Minister, King Lear, Death of an Expert Witness, Rumpole at the Bailey, The Fist Part of Henry the Sixth, Weekend Playhouse, Chance in a Million, That Uncertain Feeling, The Play on One, The Labours of Erica, All Good Things, The Buddha of Suburbia, Outside Edge, Anne Frank: The Whole Story, Between the Sheets, War and Peace, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Vera, Playhouse Presents, and Kate & Koji. Stage appearances include Tamburlaine, Bedroom Farce, Steaming, Crimes of the Heart, Benefactors, Dalliance, A Doll’s House, Born Yesterday, Absent Friends, An Ideal Husband, Habeas Corpus, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, and The Glass Menagerie.

Personal Life: Married twice. First husband was graphic designer Alan James Blethyn from 1964 to their divorce in 1973. Second and current husband is art director Michael Mayhew whom she’s been with since 1975 but they’ve only been married since 2010.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Has won a BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Cannes Film Festival Award. Has received 2 Academy Award and 2 Primetime Emmy nominations. Was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2003.

333. Steve Zahn

Dates: 1967-present

Early Life and Career: Born Steven James Zahn in Marshall, Minnesota. Father was a Lutheran minister. Mother was a bookstore clerk and YMCA administrator. Spent part of his childhood in Mankato, where he attended Kennedy Elementary School but moved to the suburbs of Minneapolis for high school. Graduated from Robinsondale Cooper High School in New Hope in 1986, planning to eventually join the US Marine Corps. Attended Gustavus Adolphus College but dropped out after seeing the original West End production of Les Miserables. Later enrolled in the Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard, earning a Master of Fine Arts. Made his professional debut in a Minnesota production of Biloxi Blues after falsely claiming membership of the Actors’ Equity. After Zahn’s fellow actors suggested he study acting, he enrolled in the American Repertory Theater’s 2-year training program. In 1991, Zahn formed the Malaparte theater company with fellow actors Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard, Made his film debut in 1994.

Movies and Cartoons: Chicken Little (2005) and The Good Dinosaur (2015) as well as the Chicken Little video game and the series Phineas and Ferb.

Characters: Runt of the Litter and Thnderclap

Also Known For: Actor best known as Davis McAlary in Treme, Cobi in Mad Dogs, Jude Ellis in The Crossing, and Mark Mossbacher in The White Lotus. Film appearances include That Thing You Do!, Happy, Texas, Joy Ride, National Security, A Perfect Getaway, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Reality Bites, Out of Sight, Forces of Nature, Employee of the Month, Riding in Cars with Boys, Sahara (2005), Rescue Dawn, Dallas Buyers Club, Captain Fantastic, War for the Planet of the Apes, Rain Without Thunder, Crimson Tide, The Object of My Affection, Out of Sight, You’ve Got Mail, Forces of Nature, Stuart Little, Hamlet (2000), Dr. Doolittle 2, Saving Silverman, Daddy Day Care, Shattered Glass, Speak, The Great Buck Howard, Strange Wilderness, Sunshine Cleaning, Night Train, Escape from Planet Earth, The Ridiculous 6, Where’d You Go, Bernardette, Tall Girl, Uncle Frank, 8-Bit Christmas, Night at the Museum: Kuhmunrah Rises Again, Your Place or Mine, LeRoy, Texas, and Wildcat. TV appearances include All My Children, Friends, Liberty! The American Revolution, From the Earth to the Moon, Comanche Moon, Monk, WWII in HD, Mind Games, Modern Family, Valley of the Boom, The Healing Powers of Dude, The Good Lord Bird, The Last Movie Stars, George & Tammy, The Righteous Gemstones, and Silo.

Personal Life: Son-in-law of clothier J. Peterman. Married to author and theater artist Robyn Peterman since 1994. Have 2 children. Has a 36-acre farm outside Lexington, Kentucky where he gardens and raises horses, goats, and sheep. He and his wife also run a local community theater where Zahn occasionally performs. In addition, he has a cabin near Pine City, Minnesota where he enjoys tubing and fishing with his kids.

Later Life: Is still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Is a major military history buff whose biggest regret was turning down a role in Band of Brothers. Was awarded an honorary Ph.D. from Northern Kentucky University in 2007.

334. Amy Sedaris

Dates: 1961-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Endicott, New York as the fourth of 6 children. Father was an IBM engineer and the son of Greek immigrants. Paternal grandmother spoke no English and had a shoe shining store in New York. Family moved to Raleigh, North Carolina when she was 4. During her childhood, Sedaris liked playing dress-up and putting on plays for her family. She’d also often assume characters to play pranks on them as well. During her first job at the local Winn-Dixie supermarket, she’d fake announcements over the loudspeaker as well as worked at a local women’s prison. Attended Jesse O. Sanderson High School and was a Girl Scout until she graduated. At 20, Sedaris and her mother worked together making and selling spanakopita. During that time, she dated a man from Greece whom she found unconscious on her kitchen floor from a brain aneurysm after she returned home. She spent the next 3 years caring for him until they eventually broke up. Later, she moved to Chicago with her brother David as well as took classes at Second City and Annoyance Theatre while working as a waitress at the Zanies Comedy Club. In the late 1980s, Sedaris was hired to perform with Second City’s touring company where she met Paul Dinello and Stephen Colbert. She then left Second City in 1993 and moved to New York where she made her TV debut in the sketch series Exit 57.

Movies and Cartoons: Chicken Little (2005) as well as the live-action version of The Lion King, the Chicken Little video game, and the series Duck Tales and Doc McStuffins.

Characters: Foxy Loxy

Also Known For: Actress, comedian, and writer best known as Jerri Blank in Strangers with Candy, Hurshe Heartshe in The Heart, She Holler, Princess Carolyn in BoJack Horseman, Mimi Kanasis in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Peli Motto in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. Film appearances include Maid in Manhattan, School of Rock, Elf, Bewitched, Shrek the Third, Jennifer’s Body, Puss in Boots, Chef, Ghost Team, Handsome, The Boss Baby: Family Business, Commandments, Jump Tomorrow, My Baby’s Daddy, Romance & Cigarettes, Stay, Full Grown Men, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, Snow Angels, Dedication, Dance Flick, Old Dogs, Beware the Gonzo, The Best and the Brightest, Ping Pong Summer, Goodbye to All That, Hits, Save Yourselves, Clerks III, Theater Camp, Somebody I Used to Know, Ghosted, and No Time to Spy: A Loud House Movie. TV appearances include Exit 57, Just Shoot Me!, Late Show with David Letterman, Sex and the City, Monk, Ed, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Wonder Showzen, Sesame Street, My Name Is Earl, The Colbert Report, Rescue Me, You Gabba Gabba!, The Closer, The New Adventures of Old Christine, American Dad!, The Middle, The Problem Solverz, Royal Pains, Raising Hope, The Drunk and On Drugs Happy Fun Time Hour, Bob’s Burgers, SpongeBob SquarePants, Hot in Cleveland, The Good Wife, 30 Rock, Alpha House, Mr. Pickles, Broad City, Kevin from Work, Horace and Pete, Adventure Time, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Steven Universe, Match Game, At Home with Amy Sedaris, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, You’re Not a Monster, Bubble Guppies, F Is for Family, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Robot Chicken, Dicktown, Girls5eva, Harley Quinn, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Life & Beth, Fantasmas, Grimsburg, Mulligan, The Tiny Chef, The Simpsons, Frasier, and Doctor Odyssey. Stage appearances include The Country Club, Wonder of the World, Wigfield, and Gutenberg! The Musical!.

Personal Life: Younger sister of author David Sedaris and a lot of the details Wikipedia lists of her early life are mostly according to him. Her younger sister Tiffany committed suicide in 2013. Was in a relationship with Paul Dinello from 1987 to 1994. Yet, they have remained friends after their breakup and is godfather to 2 of Dinello’s kids.

Later Life: Has run a cupcake and cheeseball business called Dusty Food Cupcakes out of her home kitchen, which she named after her pet rabbit. Currently lives in Greenwich Village in New York City. Co-authored a text-and-picture book with Dinello and Colbert called Wigfield. Has contributed articles to The Believer magazine since 2005. Has also written a couple books about entertaining and crafts as well as co-authored several plays with her brother David.

Trivia: Has won a Writers Guild of America Award for her variety sketch series. Was nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Appeared in an anti-fur ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that read, “When you wear fur, people laugh at you, not with you.” Was emcee at Microsoft’s annual employee meeting in Seattle in 2010.

335. Fred Willard

Dates: 1933-2020

Early Life and Career: Born Frederick Charles Willard Jr. in Cleveland, Ohio. Raised in Shaker Heights. Father died when he was 12. Graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute in 1951 and the Virginia Military Institute in 1955. Was stationed in Germany while serving in the US Army. Stage career began when Willard moved to New York City during the late 1950s with initial work included a production of The Desperate Hours at the local YMCA where he worked with future comedy partner Vic Grecco. Under the name Willard & Grecco, the pair performed in the Greenwich Village area, found some success touring, and appeared on The Dean Martin Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and The Tonight Show.  They were offered roles on Get Smart and The Carol Burnett Show but the offers fell through due to poor management. Willard and Grecco later parted ways in 1968. Made film debut in 1967 with Teenage Mother. One of Willard’s earliest stage performances was with Second City in Chicago with Robert Klein and David Steinberg. Was also a founding member of the improvisational group Ace Trucking Company who performed on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson over 50 times.

Movies and Cartoons: Chicken Little (2005), WALL-E (2008), and Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014) as well as various series.

Characters: Melvin, Shelby Forthright, and the Secretary of the Interior

Also Known For: Actor and comedian best known for his performances in Christopher Guest films. Film appearances include This Is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, A Mighty Wind, Best in Show, For Your Consideration, Mascots, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, American Wedding, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Teenage Mother, Model Shop, Jenny, Dynamite Summer, The Harrad Experiment, Hustle, Silver Streak, Fun with Dick and Jane (1977), Cracking Up, First Family, National Lampoon’s Movie Madness, Roxanne, Moving Violations, High Strung, Permanent Midnight, Can’t Stop Dancing, Idle Hands, Chump Change, The Wedding Planner, Teddy Bears’ Picnic, How High, Killer Diller, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, Love Wrecked, Date Movie, Church Ball, Monster House, Ira & Abby, Epic Movie, Harold, Youth in Revolt, The Magic of Belle Isle, Max Rose, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, The Yank, and Fifty Shades of Black. TV appearances include Everybody Loves Raymond, Modern Family, Get Smart, Premiere, The Bob Newhart Show, Laverne & Shirley, Sirota’s Court, Fernwood 2 Night, Saturday Night Live, Salem’s Lot, Real People, The Love Boat, SCTV Network, Mama’s Family, Trapper John M.D., The History of White People in America, Getting the Last Laugh, George Burns Comedy Week, Faerie Tale Theatre, Fast Times, The Golden Girls, Married…with Children, Dream On, Family Matters, Dave’s World, Murphy Brown, Roseanne, Friends, Clueless, Sister, Sister, The Spootacular New Adventures of Casper, Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Muppets Tonight, Diagnosis: Murder, The Weird Al Show, The Wayans Bros., Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Two Guys and a Girl, Mad About You, The Simpsons, Just Shoot Me!, Love & Money, The Hughleys, Ally McBeal, Undeclared, Girlfriends, King of the Hill, Hey Arnold!, Dexter’s Laboratory, Family Guy, Teamo Supremo, That ‘70s Show, Mad TV, The Drew Carey Show, The Batman, The Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy, Re-Animated, Squirrel Boy, Come on Over, Stargate SG-1, Odd Job Jack, Back to You, Betsy’s Kindergarten Adventures, Pushing Daisies, Transformers Animated, Worst Week, The Boondocks, Free Radio, Everybody Hates Chris, Castle, Important Things with Demetri Martin, Chuck, Funny or Die Presents, The Closer, G. I. Joe: Renegades, Raising Hope, Market Warriors, Hot in Cleveland, The Cleveland Show, Community, Family Tree, Drunk History, Black Jesus, The Birthday Boys, Review, The Bold and the Beautiful, TripTank, Hell’s Kitchen, Celebrity Family Feud, The Loud House, The $100,000 Pyramid, The Odd Couple, New Girl, Tim & Eric’s Bedtime Stories, Milo Murphy’s Law, Corporate, Skylanders Academy, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Historical Roasts, The Bachelorette, The Bachelor, and Space Force.

Personal Life: Married to Mary Lovell from 1947 to her death in 2018. Has a daughter and a grandson.

Later Life: In 2012, Willard was arrested to what I refer to as pulling a Pee-Wee Herman at a porn theater on Santa Monica Boulevard and brought to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood station. Of course, given what porn movies are supposed to encourage when one watches them, there was no proof of any misconduct and no charges were filed. Still, it was enough for PBS to fire him from Market Warriors following Willard’s arrest and replace him with Antiques Roadshow host Mark L. Wahlberg. While Willard was required to take a sex education diversion program. Died at his Los Angeles home in 2020 at 86. Cause of death was reported as cardiac arrest, with coronary artery disease and myelodysplastic syndrome as contributing factors. Buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Trivia: Has received several Emmy Award nominations.

336. Mark Dindal

Dates: 1960-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Columbus, Ohio. Growing up, Dindal was influenced by Disney movies and Warner Bros. Saturday cartoons. Cites one of his influences as The Sword in the Stone (1963) which his grandmother took him to see when he was 3. His father also took art as a hobby and taught Dindal to draw while growing up in Syracuse, New York. Attended Jamesville-DeWitt High School where he attended most of the art classes the school had to offer as well as made comic strips and short films. Learned animation at CalArts and began working at Disney in 1980.

Movies and Cartoons: Chicken Little (2005)

Characters: Morkubine Porcupine and The Coach

Also Known For: Filmmaker, animator, and voice actor best known for his work at Disney. Has worked behind the scenes of The Fox and the Hound (1981), The Black Cauldron (1985), The Great Mouse Detective (1986), Oliver and Company (1988), The Little Mermaid (1989), The Rescuers Down Under (1990), Aladdin (1992), The Emperor’s New Groove (2000), and Chicken Little (2005) as well as the direct-to-video Kronk’s New Groove along with several series and specials. Was involved in non-Disney projects such as The Brave Little Toaster, Pinocchio and the Emperor of Night, The Rocketeer, Tom and Jerry: The Movie, Happily Ever After, Cats Don’t Dance, Wonder Park, and The Garfield Movie.

Personal Life: Married to Samie Maeda since 1981. Has 2 children.

Later Life: Left Disney for good in 2006 since he was tired of dealing with then-WDFA head David Stainton. Has now worked for other studios lately such as Dream Works and Sony Pictures.

Trivia: Has won an Annie for Cats Don’t Dance.

337. Larry the Cable Guy

Dates: 1963-present

Early Life and Career: Born Daniel Lawrence Whitney in Pawnee City, Nebraska. Father was a non-denominational Christian minister. Family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida when he was 16. Attended high school at The King’s Academy where his father was the elementary school principal from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. But he graduated from Berean Christian School in 1982 where he played football. Whitney went to college at Baptist University of America in Georgia and the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, where he majored in drama and speech. Credits his roommates from Texas and Georgia for inspiring his Southern accent impression. However, Whitney dropped out during his junior year after trying his hand at comedy. Started his career in the early 1990s when he made appearances on the nationally syndicated radio program The Ron and Ron Show as well as others such as The Bob and Tom Show on WPDH, The Todd and Tyler Radio Empire on KEZO in Omaha, Nebraska, and The Johnny Dare Morning Show on KQRC in Kansas City, Missouri. Initially performing stand up under his real name with limited success, Whitney became famous after developing the Larry the Cable Guy, a personality he now maintains throughout his stage act. This character has a stereotypical redneck appearance and thick Southern accent who recounts stories about his “family” and uses among other common expressions, his own catchphrase “Git-R-Done.” Often turns his accent on and off stage because he may forget it if he kept his normal accent intact.

Movies and Cartoons: Cars (2006), Cars 2 (2011), and Cars 3 (2017) as well as a few series of short films, the short Mater and the Ghostlight, a few theme park attractions, and several video games.

Characters: Mater

Also Known For: Stand-up comedian, actor, and radio personality who was one of the members of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Has also released 7 comedy albums, 2 of which been certified platinum and one of which has been certified gold by the RIAA. Film appearances include Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, Delta Farce, Witless Protection, Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie, Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again, Tooth Fairy 2, and A Madea Christmas. TV appearances include Blue Collar TV, Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader?, The Comedy Central Roast of Larry the Cabel Guy, Bounty Hunters, The Masked Singer, and Yellowstone. Albums include Lord, I Apologize, A Very Larry Christmas, The Right to Bare Arms, Morning Constitutions, Christmastime in Larryland, and Tailgate Party.

Personal Life: Has been married to his wife Cara since 2005. They have a son named Wyatt and a daughter named Reagan,

Later Life: Currently resides in Lincoln, Nebraska on a 180-acre farm. Established the Git-R-Done Foundation in 2009 to provide assistance to those that have experienced hardships beyond their control. Donated $5 million to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida. The gift was for further development of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute at the Orlando Hospital, where Dr. Chad Price cured his son Wyatt of the condition when he was a baby. Currently works as a radio personality for Sirius XM’s Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup channel.

Trivia: Pawnee City, Nebraska has a street named after him. Has been nominated for 2 Grammys and several Razzie Awards.

338. Michael Wallis

Dates: 1945-present

Early Life and Career: Born in St. Louis, Missouri. Graduated from Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois. Attended the University of Missouri in Columbia and later moved to Miami, Florida in 1978 where he worked for Time’s Caribbean Bureau.

Movies and Cartoons: Cars (2006), Cars 2 (2011), and Cars 3 (2017) as well as the short Mater and the Ghostlight, the Cars Toons series, several video games, and the Radiator Springs Racers theme park attraction.

Characters: Sheriff

Also Known For: Journalist, popular historian, author, and speaker who’s written 17 books, including Route 66: The Mother Road. Work has been published extensively in magazines and newspapers such as Time, Life, People, Smithsonian, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. Books include The Best Land Under Heaven: The Donner Party in the Age of Manifest Destiny, David Crockett: The Lion of the West, The Wild West: 365 Days, Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride, The Lincoln Highway: Coast to Coast from Times Square to the Golden Gate, Way Down Yonder in the Indian Nation, Oil Man: The Story Of Frank Phillips & The Birth Of Phillips Petroleum, Mankiller: A Chief and Her People, and Pretty Boy: The Life and Times of Charles Arthur Floyd.

Personal Life: Currently lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with his wife Suzanne Fitzgerald.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Has received the John Steinbeck Award and the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Center for the Book. Has received the Will Rogers Spirit Award and the Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy Hall & Western Heritage Museum. Has been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Writers Hall of Fame. Was the first inductee to the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame.

339. Paul Dooley

Dates: 1928-present

Early Life and Career: Born Paul Brown in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Father was a factory worker. Said that Parkersburg had few attractions that interested him since there weren’t many cultural opportunities. Enjoyed listening to comedians on the radio, particularly Jimmy Durante. In high school, he often performed at fairs as a clown named Dooley and would legally change his surname in the mid-1950s to match his clown persona. Since there already was a Broadway actor named Paul Brown. Dooley was also a cartoonist in his youth and drew a strip for a local Parkersburg newspaper. Joined the US Navy in 1946 and served for 2 years before returning home and graduating from West Viriginia University in 1952. Afterwards, Dooley moved to New York City to try his luck in the entertainment industry. Initially found work as a clown at children’s birthday parties before his stage debut got him discovered by director Mike Nichols who casted him in The Odd Couple on Broadway. Although Dooley initially appeared as one of Oscar Madison’s poker friends, he’d later take over the role of Felix Unger after Art Carney left the show. Walter Matthau also referred Dooley to the William Morris Agency during this time as well. In addition to working on Broadway, Dooley was a stand-up comedian for 5 years, eventually landing on The Tonight Show as well as a member of the Compass Players and The Second City troupe in New York alongside Alan Arkin and Alan Alda. Later on, Dooley would be one of the head writers of The Electric Company on recommendation by Carl Reiner where he created Easy Reader, a role that launched Morgan Freeman’s career. He also helped form a company called All Over Creation to create commercials for radio and TV, which produced about 500 commercials and 1,000 radio spots. A character named Paul the Gorilla that appeared in their commercials was named after him.

Movies and Cartoons: Cars (2006), Cars 2 (2011), and Cars 3 (2017) as well as several video games and the Radiator Springs Racer theme park attraction.

Characters: Sarge

Also Known For: Character actor best known for co-creating The Electric Company as well as for his roles in various Christopher Guest mockumentaries. Film appearances include Breaking Away, Popeye, Strange Brew, Sixteen Candles, The Out-of-Towners (1970), Up the Sandbox, Death Wish, Slap Shot, Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure, A Wedding, A Perfect Couple, Kiss Me Goodbye, O. C. and Stiggs, Going Berserk, Monster in the Closet, Big Trouble, Last Rites, Lip Service, Flashback, White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd, Shakes the Clown, The Player, A Dangerous Woman, Waiting for Guffman, Clockwatchers, Telling Lies in America, Guinevere, Runaway Bride, Insomnia, A Mighty Wind, Employee of the Month, Madison, Come Away Home, For Your Consideration, Hairspray (2007), Sunshine Cleaning, Bedtime Stories, Turbo, Other People, and Selfie Dad. TV appearances include Get Smart, Bewitched, The Night the Animals Talked, Sesame Street, Captain Kangaroo, American Playhouse, Faerie Tale Theatre, CBS Schoolbreak Special, Tales from the Darkside, The Golden Girls, ALF, The Murder of Mary Phagan, Guts and Glory: The Rise and Fall of Oliver North, When He’s Not a Stranger, Thirtysomething, The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson, Coach, Sunday Dinner, Square One Television, The Wonder Years, Batman: The Animated Series, Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride, Mad About You, Dream On, Tales of the City, Tales from the Crypt, L.A. Law, Chicago Hope, My So-Called Life, Grace Under Fire, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, ER, Ellen, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Tracey Takes On…, Dharma & Greg, The Practice, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ally McBeal, Providence, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Becker, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Desperate Housewives, 7^th Heaven, Boston Legal, Grey’s Anatomy, Scrubs, Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union, Private Practice, Hot in Cleveland, Criminal Minds, Major Crimes, Parenthood, Childrens Hospital, Workaholics, The Good Doctor, Shameless, The Kids Are Alright, Life in Pieces, and Modern Family.

Personal Life: Married twice. First wife was Donna Lee Wasser from 1958 until their divorce. They had 3 children. Second and current wife is playwright, actress, screenwriter, and producer Winnie Holzman since 1984. They have a daughter named Savannah who’s a screenwriter and TV producer.

Later Life: Lives in Toluca Lake in Los Angeles. Published his memoir Movie Dad: Finding Myself and My Family, On Screen and Off in 2022.

Trivia: None.

340. Jenifer Lewis

Dates: 1957-present

Early Life and Career: Born in the St. Louis suburb of Kinloch, Missouri as the youngest of 7 children. Mother was a nurse’s aide. Father was a factory worker. Sang in the church choir at 5. Attended Kinloch High School and Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri. Moved to New York after college. Soon after arriving, Lewis debuted on Broadway in 1979. After being passed over for the role of Effie White in the Broadway version of Dreamgirls, Lewis became a Harlette, one of Bette Midler’s backup singers. Moved to Los Angeles during the early 1990s.

Movies and Cartoons: Cars (2006), The Princess and the Frog (2008), Cars 2 (2011), and Cars 3 (2017) as well as various series, a few video games, and a few theme park attractions.

Characters: Flo and Mama Odie

Also Known For: Actress known unofficially as “The Mother of Black Hollywood” due to playing mothers in many of her film and television appearances. Best known roles are Lana Hawkins in Strong Medicine and Ruby Johnson in Black-ish. Film appearances include Beaches, Sister Act, What’s Love Got to Do with It, Poetic Justice, The Preacher’s Wife, The Brothers, The Cookout, Think Like a Man, Think Like a Man Too, Baggage Claim, The Wedding Ringer, Dead Presidents, Cast Away, Hereafter, Red Heat, Frozen Assets, The Meteor Man, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Renaissance Man, Girl 6, The Mighty, Blast from the Past, Mystery Men, Get Bruce, Dancing in September, Nora’s Hair Salon, Shark Tale, Dirty Laundry, Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns, Not Easily Broken, Zambezia, Secrets of the Magic City, The Addams Family, and Spellbound (2024). TV appearances include The Temptations, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Girlfriends, A Different World, Murphy Brown, Dream On, In Living Color, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Friends, Living Single, Cosby, Touched by an Angel, Promised Land, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, The Parent ‘Hood, For Your Love, The Jamie Foxx Show, Moesha, Grown Ups, Time of Your Life, Boston Legal, Meet the Browns, The Cleveland Show, American Dad!, Five, The Boondocks, Young Justice, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Rugrats, Grown-ish, Central Park, The Upshaws, Princess Power, Night Court, So Help Me Todd, The Masked Singer, and Not Dead Yet.

Personal Life: Has been engaged 4 times but never married. Adopted a daughter named Charmaine. Was defrauded by a romance-scheme con man in 2015. Was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1990, which she initially felt ashamed about but eventually came to embrace it after 17 years of therapy and 10 years of medication.

Later Life: In 2022, Lewis sustained life-threatening injuries after falling 10 feet from her hotel balcony in Serengeti. Fortunately, she was airlifted to Nairobi where she underwent a 9-hour surgery followed by a 6-day ICU stay.

Trivia: Has had 2 Critics’ Choice Award nominations. Received an honorary degree from Webster University in 2015. Was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022. Received a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 2024.

              Filmmaker Brad Bird came up with the idea of The Incredibles as a concept back in 1993 when he sketched the family during an uncertain point in his career. Personal issues have percolated into a story as they weighed on him in life. During this time, Bird had signed a production deal with Warner Bros. and  was in the process of directing his first feature film, The Iron Giant. Approaching middle age and having high aspirations for his filmmaking, Bird wondered whether his career goals were attainable only at the price of his family life. He stated: “Consciously, this was just a funny movie about superheroes. But I think that what was going on in my life definitely filtered into the movie.” After The Iron Giant flopped at the box office, Bird gravitated toward his superhero story. Imagining it as a homage to the 1960s comic books and spy films from his childhood, Bird initially tried to develop it as a 2D cel animation. Yet, after The Iron Giant bombed, Bird reconnected with his old CalArts classmate John Lasseter in March 2000 and pitched his story idea to him. Lasseter was sold and convinced Bird to come to Pixar, where the film would be made with computer animation. The studio announced a multi-film contract with him that May. While most animated feature films at Disney and Pixar usually have multiple directors and screenwriters, The Incredibles was written and directed solely by Bird. In addition, it would be the first Pixar film with an all-human cast. Nonetheless, Bird came up with the lineup of the story’s family members lined-up: a super-strong dad going through a mid-life crisis, a stretchy mom, a shy teenager who can turn invisible and turn on forcefields and shields, a cocky and super-fast 10-year-old boy, and a super-powered baby guaranteed to make any teenage babysitting gig a living hell. Syndrome was originally written as a minor character who was supposed to die when the Parrs’ house explodes. But he was later made the main antagonist more than the originally intended character to fill that role. And interestingly enough, a character Bird based on himself.

              Because of its all-human cast, The Incredibles would be Pixar’s most complex film given how Bird’s story was filled with elements difficult to animate with CGI back then. Humans are widely considered to the most difficult things to execute in animation. Pixar’s animators filmed themselves walking to better grasp proper human motion. It also required creating new technology to animate detailed human anatomy, clothing, and realistic skin color. Although the technical team had some experience with animating hair and cloth in Monsters, Inc., the amount of hair and cloth required had ever been done by Pixar up to this point. Didn’t help that Bird wouldn’t tolerate compromises for the sake of technical simplicity. In addition, animators had to adapt having hair both underwater and blowing through the wind. Disney was initially reluctant to make the film due to these issues. The story was bigger than any previous film, had a longer running time, and had quadruple the number of locations. New technical challenges included animating fire, water, air, smoke, steam, and explosions. There were at least 781 visual effects shots in the film, and they were quite often visual gags, such as window shattering when Bob angrily shuts the car door. Upon its release in 2004, The Incredibles earned widespread critical acclaim, 2 Academy Awards, and $632 million at the box office. It was also the first entirely animated film to win the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. In this post, we’ll meet the voice behind one more character from Home on the Range as well as filmmakers Bud Luckey, Brad Bird, Lou Romano, and Peter Sohn, and the voices behind Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Violet, Syndrome, and Mirage.

321.  Dennis Weaver

Dates: 1924-2006

Early Life and Career: Born Billy Dennis Weaver in Joplin, Missouri. Wanted to be an actor from childhood. Lived in Shreveport, Louisiana for several years and for a short time in Manteca, California. Studied at Joplin Junior College, then transferred to University of Oklahoma at Norman, where he studied drama and was a track star, setting records in several events. During World War II, he served as a pilot for the US Navy, flying a Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter aircraft. After the war, he tried out for the 1948 US Olympic team in the decathlon, finishing sixth behind 17-year-old high school track star Bob Mathias. However, only 3 finishers were selected. Weaver later commented, “I did so poorly [in the Olympic Trials], I decided to … stay in New York and try acting.” First role on Broadway came as an understudy to Lonny Chapman as Turk Fisher in Come Back, Little Sheba and eventually took over the role from Chapman in a national touring company. Solidifying his choice as an actor, Weaver enrolled in the Actors Studio, where he met Shelley Winters. In the early days of his acting career, Weaver supported his family by doing odd jobs, including selling vacuum cleaners, tricycles, and women’s hosiery. In 1952, Winters helped him get a contract for Universal Studios and he made his film debut the same year.

Movies and Cartoons: Home on the Range (2004) as well as Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.

Characters: Abner Dixon

Also Known For: Actor and onetime president of the Screen Actors Guild who’s best known for his work in television and films from the 1950s until just before his death in 2006. Best known as Deputy Chester Goode in Gunsmoke, Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud in McCloud, and the twitchy motel attendant in Touch of Evil. Film appearances include Horizons West, The Raiders, The Redhead from Wyoming, The Lawless Breed, The Mississippi Gambler, It Happens Every Thursday, Law and Order, Column South, The Man from the Alamo, The Golden Blade, The Nebraskan, War Arrow, Dangerous Mission, Dragnet, The Bridges at Tokyo-Ri, Ten Wanted Men, Seven Angry Men, Chief Crazy Horse, Storm Fear, Navy Wife, The Gallant Hours, Duel at Diablo, Gentle Giant, A Man Called Sledge, What’s the Matter with Helen?, and Two Bits & Pepper. TV appearances include Cavalcade of America, Dragnet, The Lone Ranger, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Playhouse 90, Have Gun – Will Travel, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, Kentucky Jones, Dr. Kildare, Gentle Ben, That Girl, The Virginian, Duel, Rolling Man, The Great Man’s Whiskers, Centennial, Pearl, Ishi: The Last  of His Tribe, Police Story, The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd, Emerald Point N.A.S., Cocaine: One Man’s Seduction, Magnum P.I., Buck James, Disaster at Silo 7, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, The Simpsons, Touched by an Angel, and Wildfire.

Personal Life: Married to his high school sweetheart Gerry Stowell from 1945 until his death. Had 3 sons named Richard, Robert, and Rustin. Was a vegetarian from 1958 for ethical reasons but occasionally ate fish. In the late 1980s, Weaver commissioned architect Michael Reynolds to design and construct a new residence at his Ridgway, Colorado property that that incorporated various recycled materials in its construction such as old car tires and discarded cans as well as featured solar panels and other ecotechnologies. He called his home Earthship. He and his family lived there until 2004. Lost his daughter-in-law Ann when a car driven at high speed plowed through shoppers at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. She was among the 10 people killed in the incident.

Later Life: Weaver was an environmentalist who promoted alternative fuels such as hydrogen and wind power, through the Institute of Ecolomics, a non-profit environmental organization he established in 1993 in Berthoud, Colorado. Was also involved with John Denver’s WindStar Foundation as well as founded an organization called L.I.F.E. (Love Is Feeding Everyone) which provided food for 150,000 people in Los Angeles every week. In 2004, Weaver led a fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles across the United States to raise awareness about America’s dependence on oil. Was also involved in the Genesis Awards, which honor those in entertainment media who bring attention to the plight and suffering of animals. Died from prostate cancer in 2006 at his Ridgway, Colorado home at 81.

Trivia: None.

322. Craig T. Nelson

Dates: 1944-present

Early Life and Career: Born Craig Theodore Nelson in Spokane, Washington. Mother was a dancer. Father was a businessman. Attended Lewis and Clark High School where he played football, baseball, and basketball. After graduation, he studied at Central Washington University. After flunking out, Nelson went to Yakima Valley College where his teacher Mr. Brady inspired him to study acting and from there, he went on to study drama at the University of Arizona on a scholarship. In 1969, Nelson dropped out of school and moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. When he first moved to California, he took a job as a security guard at a soap factory until finding work as a comedy writer. Began his show business career as a comedy writer. Was an early member of The Groundlings improv and sketch comedy troupe. Soon Nelson, Barry Levinson, and Rudy DeLuca formed their own comedy team and were regular performers at The Comedy Store and the short-lived The Tim Conway Comedy Hour. In 1973, Nelson left the comedy world, explaining “the standup comedy life was pretty unfulfilling for me” and settled in Montgomery Creek, California where he had no electricity and no running water. Had different jobs during this time including janitor, plumber, carpenter, surveyor, and high school teacher in Burney, California. He returned to acting 5 years later with …And Justice for All.

Movies and Cartoons: The Incredibles (2004) and The Incredibles 2 (2018) as well as various video games and The Incredicoaster theme park attraction.

Characters: Mr. Incredible/Bob Parr

Also Known For: Actor best known as Hayden Fox in Coach, Deputy Warden Ward Wilson in Stir Crazy, Steve Freeling in Poltergeist, Burt Nickerson in All the Right Moves, Peter Dellaplane in Action Jackson, Chief Howard Hyde in Turner & Hooch, Alex Cullen in The Devil’s Advocate, Chief Jack Mannion in The District, The Warden in My Name Is Earl, Zeek Braverman in Parenthood, and Dale Ballard in Young Sheldon and George and Mandy’s First Marriage. Film appearances include …And Justice for All, Where the Buffalo Roam, Private Benjamin, Silkwood, The Killing Fields, Rachel River, Red Riding Hood, Ghosts of Mississippi, Wag the Dog, The Family Stone, Blades of Glory, The Proposal, The Company Men, Soul Surfer, Get Hard, Book Club, and Green and Gold. TV appearances include The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Charlie’s Angels, Wonder Woman, WKRP in Cincinnati, Chicago Story, Call to Glory, The Josephine Baker Story, The Fire Next Time, If These Walls Could Talk, The Huntress, CSI: NY, Monk, Hawaii Five-O, Grace and Frankie, and Pupstruction.

Personal Life: Married twice. First wife was Robin McCarthy from 1965 until their divorce in 1978. They have 3 children. Second wife is Doria Cook since 1987. Cook is a freelance writer, president of a martial arts association, karate instructor, tai chi teacher, and former actress who had a featured role in the movie musical Mame. Struggled with alcohol and substance addiction early in his career. Ex father-in-law of actress Ashley Jones.

Later Life: A lifelong Green Bay Packers fan, Nelson sang the National Anthem at one of their games in January 2025.

Trivia: Has won a Primetime Emmy for his role in Coach. Is a motorsports fan and avid racer and co-founded Screaming Eagles Racing in 1993.

323. Holly Hunter

Dates: 1958-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Conyers, Georgia as the youngest of 6. Father was a part-time sporting goods representative and farmer of a 250-acre farm. Parents encouraged Hunter’s talent at an early age and her first role was that of Helen Keller in a fifth-grade play. Is unable to hear in her left ear due to a childhood case of the mumps, which has led to complications at work and some movie scenes have to be altered from the script so she can use her right ear. Began acting at Rockdale County High School during the early 1970s, performing in local productions of Oklahoma!, Man of La Mancha, and Fiddler on the Roof. Earned a degree in drama from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and for a while, performed in local theater, performing ingenue roles at City Theater, then named the City Players. Later moved to New York City and roomed with fellow actress Frances McDormand, living in the Bronx, “at the end of the D (subway) train, just off 205th Street, on Bainbridge Avenue and Hull Avenue.” A chance encounter with playwright Beth Henley and appeared her plays such as the Broadway Crimes of the Heart and the Off-Broadway The Miss Firecracker Contest. Made her film debut in the 1981 slasher film The Burning.

Movies and Cartoons: The Incredibles (2004) and The Incredibles 2 (2018) as well as various video games and the Incredicoaster theme park attraction.

Characters: Elastigirl/Helen Parr

Also Known For: Actress best known for her performance as a mute Scottish woman in The Piano, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Film appearances include Broadcast News, The Firm, Thirteen, Raising Arizona, Always, Home for the Holidays, Copycat, Crash (1996), O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Big Sick, The Burning, Swing Shift, Blood Simple, A Life Less Ordinary, Woman Wanted, Festival in Cannes, Searching for Debra Winger, Moonlight Mile, Levity, Little Black Book, Nine Lives, Won’t Back Down, Jackie, Paradise, Strange Weather, Breakable You, Song to Song, and The Electric State. TV appearances include Roe vs. Wade, The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleading-Murdering Mom, Svengali, A Gathering of Old Men, Crazy in Love, Harlan County War, When Billie Beat Bobby, Peep and the Big Wide World, Saving Grace, Top of the Lake, Bonnie & Clyde, Here and Now, Succession, Bless the Harts, The Comey Rule, Mr. Mayor, Mulligan, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Personal Life: Married to cinematographer Janusz Kaminski from 1995 until their divorce in 2001. Has been in a relationship with Gordon MacDonald since 2001. Had twin sons named Claude and Press in 2006.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Has won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Piano. Has also been nominated for Academy Awards for Broadcast News, The Firm, and Thirteen. Won 2 Primetime Emmys for the TV films Roe vs. Wade and The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleading-Murdering Mom. Received a Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement. Awarded an honorary doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University in 2016. Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008.

324. Sarah Vowell

Dates: 1969-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Family moved to Bozeman, Montana when she was 11 and graduated from Bozeman High School. Earned a B.A. from Montana State University in 1993 in Modern Languages and Literature. Earned an M.A. in Art History from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1999.

Movies and Cartoons: The Incredibles (2004) and The Incredibles 2 (2018) as well as various video games and the Incredicoaster theme park attraction.

Characters: Violet Parr

Also Known For: Historian, journalist, essayist, social commentator, and actress who’s written 7 nonfiction books on American history and culture. Was a contributing editor for the radio program This American Life on Public Radio International from 1996 to 2008. Articles have been published in The Village Voice, Esquire, Spin Magazine, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, SF Weekly, and The Washington Post. Has been a regular contributor to Salon.com and was one of the original contributors to McSweeney’s. Books include Radio On: A Listener’s Diary, Take the Cannoli: Stories from the New World, The Partly Cloudy Patriot, Assassination Vacation, The Wordy Shipmates, Unfamiliar Fishes, and Lafayette in the Somewhat United States. Film appearances include End of the Line, Gigantic, Please Give, Hit So Hard, and A.C.O.D. TV appearances include Six Degrees, The Colbert Report, Bored to Death, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Last Call with Carson Daly, The Tavis Smiley Show, Conan, and The Who Was? Show.

Personal Life: Has a fraternal twin sister named Amy with whom she retraced the path of the Cherokee’s forced removal from the southeastern US to Oklahoma, which This American Life would devote an hour to. Spends many vacations with her sister and nephew visiting historical sites. Also suffers from celiac disease.

Later Life: Currently lives in Manhattan within New York City. Is on the advisory board of 826 NYC, a nonprofit tutoring and writing center for students aged 6-18 in Brooklyn.

Trivia: None.

325. Jason Lee

Dates: 1970-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Santa Ana, California. Father was a car dealership manager. Raised in Huntington Beach and attended Ocean View High School. A hyperactive and energetic child, Lee took up took up skateboarding after his mom bought him a skateboard hoping he’d use it to burn off excess energy. As he developed his interest in skateboarding, Lee spent most of his time perfecting his craft, leading him to drop out of school in order to pursue a professional career in the sport during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Co-founded the company Stereo Sound Agency with fellow skateboarder Chris “Dune” Pastras, which they’d later revive in 2003. After taking some minor roles in 1992-1994, Lee eventually left professional skateboarding for a full-time acting career. First film was Mallrats in 1995.

Movies and Cartoons: The Incredibles (2004) as well as the short Jack-Jack Attack and several video games.

Characters: Buddy Pine/IcrediBoy/Syndrome

Also Known For: Actor, filmmaker, photographer, and former professional skateboarder best known as Earl Hickey in My Name Is Earl, Bones in Monster House, Underdog in Underdog, and Dave Seville in the Alvin and the Chipmunks films. Film appearances include Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jersey Girl, Clerks II, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, Cop Out, Mumford, Almost Famous, Heartbreakers, Big Trouble, Dreamcatcher, Columbus Circle, Mi Vida Loca, Drawing Files, A Better Place, Kissing a Fool, Enemy of the State, Vanilla Sky, Stealing Harvard, A Guy Thing, I Love Your Work, The Ballad of Jack and Rose, Drop Dead Sexy, Behaving Badly, Tell, Growing Up Smith, We Bare Bears: The Movie, and The 4:30 Movie. TV appearances include Weapons of Mass Destruction, Saturday Night Live, American Dad!, Memphis Beat, Up All Night, Raising Hope, Men at Work, Peter Rabbit, We Bare Bears, and The Harper House. Video game appearances include Tony Hawk’s Project 8, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and Skate 3.

Personal Life: Married twice. First wife was actress and photographer Carmen Llewelyn from 1995 until their divorce in 2001. Lee later admitted their split was mainly due to his commitment to Scientology at the time as well as admitting to talent manager Gay Ribisi that she read A Piece of Blue Sky (a Scientology critical book), which resulted in her “disconnection letter” from Lee and being labeled a suppressive person. Was engaged to actress Beth Riesgraf from 2001 to 2007. They have a son named Pilot Inspektor born in 2003. Second and current wife is Turkish model Ceren Alkac since 2008. They have a daughter named Casper born in 2008, a son named Sonny born in 2012, and a daughter named Alberta “Birdy” born in 2017. As of 2016, Lee has left Scientology and he and his family have lived in Denton, Texas for 4 years.

Later Life: Has published of books of his instant photography since the late 2010s. In 2019, his photos of Oklahoma were exhibited in OK: Jason Lee Photographs in the Philbrook Museum of Art. Currently lives in Los Angeles.

Trivia: Was nominated twice for a Golden Globe for My Name Is Earl. Has won an Independent Spirit Award for Chasing Amy. Is 1/5 owner of the restaurant Barley and Board.

326. Elizabeth Pena

Dates: 1959-2014

Early Life and Career: Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Father was Cuban actor, playwright, director, and designer. Mother was a producer. Wanted to be an actress since she was 8. Family moved to Cuba when she was less than a year old but returned when she was 9 and resided in New York City where her parents founded the Latin American Theatre Ensemble. Graduated from New York School of the Performing Arts in 1977. Made her film debut in 1979.

Movies and Cartoons: The Incredibles (2004) as well as a couple of video games.

Characters: Mirage

Also Known For: Actress best known as Rosa Santos in Maya & Miguel. Film appearances include Down and Out in Beverly Hills, *batteries not included, La Bamba, Jacob’s Ladder, Rush Hour, Nothing Like the Holidays, Lone Star, El Super, Times Square, They All Laughed, Crossover Dreams, Vibes, Blue Steel, The Waterdance, Dead Funny, Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home, Lone Star, Gridlock’d, Strangeland, Seven Girlfriends, Tortilla Soup, Impostor, Zig-Zag, How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer, Transamerica, Down in the Valley, Sueno, Adrift in Manhattan, D-War, Love Comes Lately, A Single Woman, Mother and Child, Down for Life, The Perfect Family, Plush, Grandma, The Lost City, Girl on the Edge, Ana Maria in Novela Land, and The Song of Sway Snake. TV appearances include Cagney & Lacey, Hill Street Blues, Tough Cookies, I Married Dora, Shannon’s Deal, Drug Wars: The Camarena Story, Dream On, L.A. Law, Roommates, The Outer Limits, The Invaders, Boston Public, CSI: Miami, Suburban Madness, NCIS, Justice League, Without a Trace, American Dad!, Racing for Time, Ghost Whisperer, Major Crimes, Modern Family, and Matador.

Personal Life: Married twice. First husband was TV producer William Stephen Kibler from 1988 to their divorce. Second husband was Hans Rolla from 1994 until her death. Had 2 children named Fiona and Kaelan.

Later Life: Died in 2014 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at 55. Death certificate reads cause of death as liver cirrhosis due to alcohol, which caused acute gastrointestinal bleeding, cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest.

Trivia: Co-founded Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors. Won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Bravo Award for Lone Star.

327. Brad Bird

Dates: 1957-present

Early Life and Career: Born Philip Bradley Bird in Kalispell, Montana but grew up in Corvallis, Oregon. Father worked in the propane business. Paternal grandfather was an Irish immigrant who was president and chief executive of Montana Power Company. Fascination with filmmaking began at an early age. Started drawing at 3, his first cartoons clear attempts at sequential storytelling. Became particularly enamored with animation after a screening of The Jungle Book (1967), and a family friend who had taken animation classes explained how the medium worked. Father found a used camera that could shoot one frame at a time, and helped Bird set up the device for making films. Bird started his first short subject at 11. That same year, his family connection introduced him to composer George Bruns. Bruns then set Bird up a tour of Walt Disney Productions in Burbank, California. There, he met the Nine Old Men and proclaimed that he’d join them one day. After 2 years, Bird completed his first short, a 3-minute adaptation of The Tortoise and the Hare and sent the film to his idols at Disney. The studio responded with an open invitation for Bird to stop whenever in town, which led him to make several visits to Disney’s headquarters in the ensuing years. This opportunity was an “unofficial apprenticeship” of sorts that was “never offered” to anyone previously. Worked closely with Mitt Kahl and began work on another film Ecology American Style, which was ambitious and in color while the workload was intense. Instead, Bird focused on other interests during his high school years and would later graduate from Corvallis High School. That year, Disney awarded Bird a scholarship to the California Institute of the Arts, which he attended after a 3-year break. Classmates included prominent future animators and filmmakers such as John Lasseter, Tim Burton, and Harry Selick. He would accept a job as animator for Walt Disney Productions in 1978. Only to leave disillusioned with the studio to work with Steven Spielberg and later on The Simpsons.  After completing The Iron Giant, Bird reconnected with Lasseter and went on to work for Pixar.

Movies and Cartoons: The Incredibles (2004), Ratatouille (2007), and The Incredibles 2 (2018) as well as the Auntie Edna short, a few video games, and the Incredicoaster theme park attraction.

Characters: Edna Mode and Ambrister Minion

Also Known For: Filmmaker, animator, and voice actor who’s had a career spanning 4 decades in animation and live-action. Worked behind the scenes for films like The Incredibles (2004), Ratatouille (2007), The Incredibles 2 (2018), The Fox and the Hound (1981), The Black Cauldron (1985), WALL-E (2008), Up (2009), Toy Story 3 (2010), Cars 2 (2011), Brave (2012), Monsters University (2013), Inside Out (2015), The Good Dinosaur (2015), Finding Dory (2017), Coco (2017), Toy Story 4 (2019), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003), Cars (2006), Frozen II (2019), and Lightyear (2022) as well as various shorts. Non-Disney work include Animalympics, Plague Dogs, The Brave Little Toaster, The Iron Giant, batteries not included, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Tomorrowland, An American Tail, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Thumbelina, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Balto, Ice Age, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Corpse Bride, Fog City Mavericks, The Pixar Story, Jurassic World, The Angry Birds Movie, Werewolf by Night, Amazing Stories, Family Dog, Rugrats, The Critic, King of the Hill, and The Simpsons as well as the Canvas short.

 Personal Life: Married to Elizabeth Canney since 1988. They have 3 sons named Nicholas (Squirt), Rusty (Bike Boy), and Michael (Tony Rydinger). Has often been characterized as controlling with an exquisite attention to detail. While his “demanding and punishing” direction has led some to consider him difficult to work with. Also had an older sister named Susan who was killed by her estranged husband.

Later Life: The Incredibles 3 is set to be released soon.

Trivia: Has won 2 Academy Awards for The Incredibles (2004) and Ratatouille (2007). Has won 8 Annie Awards in which he holds the record. Received the Winsor McCay Award in 2011. Designed Sideshow Bob. Believes animation to be an art form, not a genre. Is close friends with John Lasseter. Was offered to direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens but turned it down.

328. Bud Luckey

Dates: 1934-2018

Early Life and Career: Born William Everet Luckey in Billings, Montana. Served in the US Air Force during the Korean War. Later served as an illustrator with the NATO Occupied Forces in Europe and North Africa from 1953-1954 and with Strategic Air Command from 1954-1957. His first Air Force duty station were Noasseur Air Base, a nuclear bomber strike base and storage depot south of Casablanca, Morocco. There, he served with the Third Air Force Material Command, Southern District. Additional stations were Lackland AFB, Kelly AFB, and Portland AFB. Was an Air Force reservist through the mid-1960s. After leaving active duty in the Air Force, Luckey attended what is now California Institute of the Arts under the G. I. Bill from 1957 to 1960. Received professional animation training at the University of Southern California with Disney veteran animator Art Babbitt. After graduation, Luckey worked as Babbitt’s assistant/apprentice for a time at Quartet Films in Los Angeles. After a few animation jobs, Luckey became Art Director and Producer at the Guild, Bascom, & Bonfigli advertising agency from 1961-1969. There, he worked on TV commercials for Kellog’s Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, and Rice Krispies as well as Interstate Bakeries’ Dolly Madison products featuring Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts characters. Created the “Bosco Dumbunnies” characters for the Best Foods Chocolate Milk Amplifier product Bosco Chocolate Syrup. It was in advertising where Luckey worked copywriter and future collaborator Don Hadley and the legendary Jim Henson. These friendships would result in Luckey working for Sesame Street through his own animation studio Luckey-Zamora Picture Moving Company during the 1970s.

Movies and Cartoons: The Incredibles (2004), Toy Story 3 (2010), and Winnie the Pooh (2011) as well as the shorts Jack-Jack Attack, Boundin’ and Hawaiian Vacation.

Characters: Rick Dicker, Chuckles the Clown, and Eeyore

Also Known For: Artist, cartoonist, illustrator, musician, singer, and voice actor. Best known for writing and animating many short films for Sesame Street and the Children’s Television Workshop, often doing voice work as well. Also known for his work at Pixar where he worked as a character designer for films like Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2 (1999), A Bug’s Life (1998), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003), Cars (2006), Ratatouille (2007), WALL-E (2008), Up (2009), and Toy Story 3 (2010). John Lasseter credits Luckey with the creation of Woody who was originally a ventriloquist dummy like Edgar Bergren’s Charlie McCarthy but evolved into a pullstring doll with an empty gun holster. Also, designed and illustrated over 100 children’s books containing his characters.

Personal Life: Father of animator, director, and producer Andy Luckey, best known as producer of the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Later Life: Luckey-Zamora merged with Colossal Pictures during the late 1980s. Luckey himself later joined Pixar in 1992 as its fifth animator and oldest employee. Worked there as a storyboard artist, character designer, and voice performer until his retirement in 2014. Died at his home of a stroke in 2018 in Newtown, Connecticut at 83.

Trivia: Won an Annie Award for Boundin’ which was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Was close friends with Jim Henson.

329. Lou Romano

Dates: 1972-present

Early Life and Career: Born in San Diego, California. Had an interest in drawing and painting at an early age and studied theater arts, performing in plays throughout junior and senior high school. Studied acting at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. After graduating in 1990, Romano studied animation at the California Institute of the Arts. He then completed workshops at The Goundlings in Los Angeles. Later went on to work as an art director and designer for animated projects. Joined Pixar in 2000.

Movies and Cartoons: The Incredibles (2004), Cars (2006), and Ratatouille (2007) as well as the short Your Friend the Rat, and the Kinect-Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure video game.

Characters: Bernie Kropp, Snot Rod, and Alfredo Linguini

Also Known For: Animator and voice actor best known for his work at Pixar and Laika. Has worked behind the scenes in Monsters, Inc. (2001), The Incredibles (2004), Up (2009), Luca (2021) and the live-action Dumbo (2019) as well as various shorts. Non-Disney projects include The Pagemaster, The Powderpuff Girls, Cats Don’t Dance, The Iron Giant, Dexter’s Laboratory, ParaNorman, The Box Trolls, The Little Prince, Kubo and the Two Strings, Samurai Jack, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Wonder Park, and Wendell & Wild.

Personal Life: Resides in the Bay Area with his wife.

Later Life: Left Pixar to work at Laika in 2009.

Trivia: Has won an Annie Award for his work on The Incredibles (2004). Artwork has been exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art and the Gallery at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City as well as been published on the cover of The New Yorker.

330. Peter Sohn

Dates: 1977-present

Early Life and Career: Born in the Bronx in New York City to Korean immigrants. While studying at CalArts, Sohn got a summer job working on The Iron Giant. After graduation, he worked at the Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. before coming to Pixar in the art and story departments for Finding Nemo (2003).

Movies and Cartoons: The Incredibles (2004), Ratatouille (2007), Monsters University (2013), The Good Dinosaur (2015), Cars 3 (2017), Luca (2021), and Lightyear (2022) as well as various shorts and a few video games.

Characters: Mugger, Emile, Forrest Woodbrush, Ciccio, and Sox

Also Known For: Filmmaker, animator, storyboard artist, and voice actor best known for his work at Pixar. Has worked behind the scenes of Finding Nemo (2003), The Incredibles (2004), Ratatouille (2007), WALL-E (2008), Up (2009), Toy Story 3 (2010), Brave (2012), Inside Out (2015), The Good Dinosaur (2015), Finding Dory (2016), Cars 3 (2017), Coco (2017), The Incredibles 2 (2018), Toy Story 4 (2019), Onward (2020), Soul (2020), Luca (2021), Turning Red (2022), Lightyear (2022), Elemental (2023), and Inside Out 2 (2024) as well as the Win or Lose show and various shorts. Has worked behind the scenes of non-Disney movies including The Iron Giant, Osmosis Jones, Ponyo, Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse, and Borrowed Time.

Personal Life: Married to his college sweetheart, artist Anna Chambers. Has 2 children.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for Elemental (2023).