Based on the Chinese poem, “The Song of Fa Mu Lan,” Mulan was originally supposed to be a Tootsie-inspired romantic comedy, where the heroine’s a misfit tomboy and a daddy’s girl who’s engaged to Shang, a man whom she’s never met. On her betrothal day, her dad Fa Zhou carves her destiny on a stone tablet in the family temple, which she shatters in anger, running away to forge her own destiny. As Head of Story, Chris Sanders had misgivings and wanted the film to be more faithful to the original legend where Mulan leaves home out of love for her father. General Li wasn’t originally going to be Li Shang’s dad but the writers did so to mirror Shang and Mulan’s love for their fathers. While story artist Joe Grant and Roy E. Disney had Cri-Kee and Mushu added. The latter becoming Eddie Murphy’s Shrek audition. Visual design was based on watercolor paintings derived from the Ming and Qing Dynasties since they’re the ones we know most about. Although German Expressionist silents, British and American epics from the 1950s and 1960s, and Spaghetti Westerns. They also used crowd simulation software for the Hun Army soldiers during the Huns’ attack sequence. Upon its 1998 release, Mulan grossed over $304 million over a $90 million budget at the box office as well as received positive reviews (it also swept the Annie Awards). However, Chicago Tribune critic Gene Siskel wasn’t pleased writing the film, “a big disappointment when compared with the studio’s other recent films about a female hero searching for independence.” He was further critical of Mulan’s characterization in comparison to Ariel and Belle and claimed the “design of the film does not take advantage of the inspiration provided by classic Chinese artists, and the songs are not memorable.” As someone who grew up with Mulan, I have to disagree, especially in regards to “Make a Man Out of You.” Also, today it holds a 92% Rotten Tomatoes rating for its exploration of themes such as strength, feminism, and gender roles. Yet, it didn’t do well in China with overall negative audience reception who accused Disney of westernizing the tale. Box office income was low due to an unfavorable release date and piracy. In this post, we’ll meet the people behind 5 more Hercules characters as well as the voices behind Mulan, Li Shang, Yao, Ling, and Chi-Fu.

231. Amanda Plummer

Dates: 1957-present

Early Life and Career: Born Amanda Michael Plummer in New York City. Father was Canadian actor and screen legend Christopher Plummer and American actress Tammy Grimes. Attended the elite Trinity School and graduated from the United Nations International School. Attended Middlebury College for 2 ½ years before studying acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as Phineas and Ferb and the Hercules video game.

Characters: Clotho

Also Known For: Actress known for her work on stage and film including Joe Versus the Volcano, The Fisher King, Pulp Fiction, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and the third season of Star Trek: Picard. Film appearances include Cattle Annie and Little Britches, The World According to Garp, Daniel, The Hotel New Hampshire, Static, Made in Heaven, Freejack, So I Married an Axe Murderer, Needful Things, Pax, Butterfly Kiss, Nostradamus, The Final Cut, The Prophecy, Hysteria, L. A. Without a Map, You Can Thank Me Later, October 22, The Million Dollar Hotel, My Life Without Me, Satan’s Little Helper, Inconceivable, Red, The Making of Plus One, Vampire, Small Apartments, Abigail Harm, Reversion, The Dancer, We Are Boats, Spiral Farm, Night Raiders, and Showing Up. TV appearances include The ABC Afterschool Special, The Dollmaker, Moonlighting, The Equalizer, Miami Vice, Tales from the Crypt, HBO Storybook Musicals, L. A. Law, Kojak, The Hidden Room, The Outer Limits, Duckman, The Right to Remain Silent, Don’t Look Back, Under the Piano, The Apartment Complex, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Battlestar Galactica, WordGirl, Hannibal, The Blacklist, and Ratched. Stage appearances include A Month in the Country, A Taste of Honey, Agnes of God, The Glass Menagerie, Lee Harvey Oswald, A Lie of the Mind, You Can Never Tell, Pygmalion, Killer Joe, Lark, Summer and Smoke, The Two-Character Play, and The Night of the Iguana.

Personal Life: Granddaughter of artist Isabella Mary Abbott and stepdaughter of actress Elaine Taylor. Dated screenwriter and director Paul Chart during the late 1990s and lived together in Los Angeles.

Later Life: Still working as of 2025.

Trivia: Won a Tony and a Drama Desk Award for her 1982 performance in Agnes of God. Has won 3 Emmys and an Independent Spirit Award.

232. Paul Shaffer

Dates:1949-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Toronto and raised in Fort William, Ontario, Canada. Was raised in a Jewish family. Mother volunteered in local charities, donated to Hadassah Women’s Zionist Organization of America, and loved show tunes. Father was a lawyer and jazz afficionado. At 12, his parents took him on a trip to Las Vegas where they took in Nat King Cole and other shows, an experience that Shaffer has described as “life changing” and led to his decision to become a performer. Took piano lessons as a child and played organ in a band called Fabulous Fugitives with his schoolmates during his teenage years in Thunder Bay. Later performed with the Flash Landing Band at different venues around Edmonton and the interior of British Columbia. While attending the University of Toronto, he began playing with jazz guitarist Tisziji Munoz, performing in bands around the bars there, where he found an interest in musicals and completed his studies. Graduated with a degree in sociology in 1971. Began his music career in 1972 when invited by Stephen Schwartz to be the musical director in  the Toronto production of Godspell starring Victor Garber, Gilda Radner, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, and Andrea Martin.  Went on to play piano in the Schwartz Broadway show The Magic Show in 1974 and became a member of the house band on Saturday Night Live from 1975 until 1980. Began serving as musical director for David Letterman’s late night talk shows in 1982.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997)

Characters: Hermes

Also Known For: Canadian singer, keyboardist, actor, author, comedian, and musician who served as David Letterman’s musical director, band director, and sidekick on the entire run of Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Show with David Letterman. Has also served as musical director and producer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony since its inception in 1986. Hosts the Musicians Hall of Fame Museum induction concert and ceremonies. Recorded music with a wide range of artists such as  Donald Fagen, Ronnie Wood, Grand Funk Railroad, Diana Ross, B.B. King, Asleep at the Wheel, Cyndi Lauper, Carl Perkins, Yoko Ono, Blues Traveler, Jeff Healey, Cher, Barry Manilow, Chicago, Luba, Robert Burns, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Nina Hagen, Robert Plant, Peter Criss, Scandal, Brian Wilson, Warren Zevon, Miles Davis, Lew Soloff, Lou Marini and Earl Scruggs. Film appearances include North in Superior, Blues Brothers 2000, This Is Spinal Tap, Scrooged, Look Who’s Talking Too, and Small Talk About Sly. TV appearances include Saturday Night Live, A Year at the Top, Fats Domino and Friends, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Happy New Year America, Cover Wars, The Concert for New York City, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, How I Met Your Mother, A Very Murray Christmas, Schitt’s Creek, and The Masked Singer.

Personal Life: Married to former Good Morning America talent booker Cathy Vasapoli since 1990. Has 2 children with her.

Later Life: Published his memoir We’ll Be Here for the Rest of Our Lives: A Swingin’ Show-biz Saga (co-authored by David Ritz) in 2009. Began hosting a monthly radio talk show called Paul Shaffer Plus One on Sirius XM and AXS TV in 2019. 

Trivia: Was musical director and producer for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Was once considered for the role of George Costanza in Seinfeld. Received a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2006. Has been a spokesman for Epilepsy Canada since 2002. In 2005, he made a major contribution to Lakehead University to dedicate the 5^th floor ATAC boardroom to his father, inaugural member of the board of governors. Is a member of Artists Against Racism. Inducted into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2002 for his part in opening doors in the entertainment industry for African Americans. Inducted into the Order of Canada in 2007. In 2015, the Ride of Fame honored him with a double-decker bus in New York City to commemorate his long run as leader of the CBS Orchestra for the Late Show with David Letterman. A street in Ontario’s Thunder Bay is named Paul Shaffer Drive.

233. Keith David

Dates: 1956-present

Early Life and Career: Born Keith David Williams in Harlem and raised in Corona, Queens in New York City. Mother was a manager at New York Telephone. Father was a director of payroll operations. Decided to become an actor after playing the Cowardly Lion in a school production of The Wizard of Oz and attended Manhattan’s High School of the Performing Arts. Later attended the Julliard’s Drama Division and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1979. Toured with John Houseman’s The Acting Company from 1980-1981. Went to star as Childs in The Thing less than 2 years later, kicking off his lengthy on-screen career.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997), The Princess and the Frog (2009), and the live action Mufasa (2024) as well as various cartoon series, The Princess and the Frog video game, and the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom theme park attraction.

Characters: Apollo, Dr. Facilier, and Musego as well as Goliath in the series Gargoyles.

Also Known For: Actor known for his deep voice and screen presence in over 300 roles in film, stage, television, and interactive media. Film appearances include The Thing, Platoon, Road House, Men at Work, Final Analysis, The Quick and the Dead, Larger Than Life, Armageddon, Where the Heart Is, Novocaine, Head of State, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Gamer, American Fiction, Coraline, Bird, Disco Godfather, Hot Pursuit (1987), Off Limits, Nails, The Puppet Masters, Dead Presidents, Loose Women, Never Met Picasso, There’s Something About Mary, Princess Mononoke, Requiem for a Dream, The Replacements, Barbershop, Kaena: The Prophecy, Agent Cody Banks, Hollywood Homicide, The Chronicles of Riddick, Crash, If I Had Known I Was a Genius, Delta Farce, First Sunday, My Mom’s New Boyfriend, All About Steve, Death at a Funeral (2010), Pastor Brown, Lottery Ticket, Chasing 3000, Chain Letter, Meet Monica Velour, Cloud Atlas, The Last Fall, Christmas in Compton, Free Birds, The Frog Kingdom, Field of Lost Shoes, Secrets of the Magic City, Birds of Paradise, The Nice Guys, Night School, Savage Dog, American Dresser, Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, The Wedding Year, In Search of Darkness, The Getaway, Pups Alone, Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, A Snow Day in Oakland, and Shelby Oaks. TV appearances include Community, Greenleaf, Jazz, The War, Muhammad Ali, Todd McFarlane’s Spawn, Adventure Time, Amphibia, Transformers: EarthSpark, Rick and Morty, Pluto, Hazbin Hotel, Hit-Monkey, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, The Equalizer, Ladykillers, Christmas in Tattertown, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, American Playhouse, Fantastic Four, New York Undercover, Vanishing Point, Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest, Don King: Only in America, The Tiger Woods Story, The Outer Limits, Law & Order, Going to California, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites, Justice League, Inside Mecca, The Big House, Teen Titans, Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, City Confidential, Grey’s Anatomy, Everwood, ER, 7^th Heaven, Canterbury’s Law, World War II: Behind Closed Doors, Numb3rs, Psych, Funny or Die Presents, Ken Burns’ Baseball: The Tenth Inning, The Cape, Hawaii Five-0, Robot Chicken, The Bible, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Scorpion, Archer, Mr. Robot, Person of Interest, Kulipari, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ben 10, BoJack Horseman, We Bare Bears, The Flash, SpongeBob SquarePants, Fresh Off the Boat, Family Guy, NCIS: New Orleans, MacGyver, Black-Ish, Summer Camp Island, Central Park, Love Life, From Scratch, American Dad!, Firebuds, My Dad the Bounty Hunter, Krapopolis, Abbott Elementary, and High Potential. Video game appearances include Halo, Saints Row, Mass Effect, Dissidia Final Fantasy, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Destiny 2: the Final Shape, Fallout, Planetscape: Torment, Lords of EverQuest, Coraline, Megamind, Marvel Heroes, Darksiders: Genesis, Mortal Kombat 11, and Pocket Mortys. Stage appearances include The Lady from Dubuque, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, Macbeth, Jelly’s Last Jam, Hedda Gabler, Seven Guitars, Hot Feet, and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.

Personal Life: Married twice. First wife was Margit Edwards from 1990 to their divorce in 1999. They have a son. Second and current wife is Dionne Lea since 2001. They have 2 daughters.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Played Keith the Southwood Carpenter during the Neighborhood of Make-Believe segments of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood during the 1980s. Was nominated for a Tony Award in 1992. Has won 3 Emmy Awards.

234. Wayne Knight

Dates: 1955-present

Early Life and Career: Born in New York City. Family moved to Cartersville, Georgia where his father worked in the textile industry. Attended local schools and was a lineman on his high school’s football team. Attended the University of Georgia as an honors student but left one credit shy of completing his degree to pursue acting. And actually didn’t graduate until 2008. Received an internship at the Barter Theatre in Abington, Virginia, which produces repertory works. After completion, he joined the company and gained standing as an Equity Actor. Moved back to New York City and landed his first role on Broadway two years later and worked as a private investigator for 5 years after that.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997), Tarzan (1999), and Toy Story 2 (1999) as well as several series, the direct-to-video Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, and the Toy Story 2 video game.

Characters: Demetrius, Tantor, and Al McWhiggan as well as Baron Von Sheldgoose in The Legend of the Three Caballeros.

Also Known For: Actor whose best known as Newman in Seinfeld, Officer Don Orville in 3^rd Rock from the Sun, Igor in Toonsylvania, Mr. Blik in Catscratch, Dennis Nedry in Jurassic Park, and The Elf Elder in Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon. Film appearances include Dead Again, JFK, Basic Instinct, To Die For, Space Jam, For Richer or Poorer, Rat Race, Dirty Dancing, Born on the Fourth of July, My Favorite Martian, Cheaper by the Dozen, Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda 3, Hail, Caesar!, Blindspotting, The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee, 12 Mighty Orphans, Back to the Outback, and Darby and the Dead. TV appearances include The Burning Bed, Mathnet, Square One TV, The Day After, The Edge, Fallen Angels, The Second Half, Golden Gate, Dilbert, That ‘70s Show, Becker, Midnight Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story, The Twilight Zone, Xiaolin Showdown, Gary the Rat, The Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy, The Drew Carey Show, Listen Up, Justice League Unlimited, CSI: NY, Brandy & Mr. Whiskers, How I Met Your Mother, Tak and the Power of Juju, The Penguins of Madagascar, WordGirl, Woke Up Dead, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Nip/Tuck, The Super Hero Squad Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Hot in Cleveland, Bones, Torchwood, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, The Exes, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Narcos, The Young and the Restless, Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, Harley Quinn, Robot Chicken, Infinity Train, Monster High, Them, and That 90’s Show. Video game appearances include NickToons: Attack of the Toybots, Jurrassic Park: The Game, The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr. Blowhole Returns – Again!, and Jurassic Park (pinball). Stage appearances include Gemini, Mastergate, Art, Sweet Charity, Measure for Pleasure, The Front Page, The Odd Couple, and Elf.

Personal Life: Married twice. First wife was makeup artist Paula Sutor from 1996 to their divorce in 2003. They held their wedding in Michael Richards’ house. Second and current wife is Clare de Chenu from 2006. They have a son named Liam.

Later Life: Currently lives in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, where he’s resided for many years. Ahead of the 2020 Election, Knight appeared in an advertisement that examined “ethical breaches” of mail workers in the United States and the lack of government support they received during the Covid – 19 Pandemic under that fucking piece of shit Donald Trump. The ad was in support of the Democratic Party and anti-Trump.

Trivia: Was the first actor cast in Jurassic Park, which earned him a Saturn Award nomination.

235. Kathleen Freeman

Dates: 1923-2001

Early Life and Career: Born in Chicago, Illinois. Mother was a soprano Jessica Dixon who was known as “The Overseas Girl” at the end of World War I. Because she entertained American troops in England, France, and post-war Germany. Father was Frank Freeman known as “The Minstrel Man” since he headed Freeman’s Forty Minstrels in 1918. Freeman began her career at 2 by dancing in her parents’ vaudeville act. According to her, she eventually “got caught” at 10 and began to attend school. Attended the University of California at Los Angeles where she majored in music to be a pianist. Until she “got in a play and got a laugh.” After college, Freeman joined the Circle Players on Santa Monica Boulevard: “I became part of a theater group that came from ULCA, the Circle Players, which got to be at one point fairly internationally famous. And then we split off from that and started our own, Player’s Ring and Gallery Theater.” In 1948, actress and writer Peggy Webber saw Freeman on stage at the Circle Theatre and hired her for Webber’s local live TV series Treasures of Literature. Appeared in more than 50 productions of the California Artists Radio Theatre which records live performances of classic books and plays for KPCC, KPFK, NPR Playhouse, and National Public Radio. Also taught acting classes as well.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as series such as Duck Tales, The Magical World of Disney, and Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

Characters: Heavyset Woman

Also Known For: Actress whose career spanned over 50 years of portraying acerbic maids, secretaries, teachers, busybodies, nurses, and battle-axe neighbors and relatives, almost invariably to comic effect. Best remembered for appearing in 12 Jerry Lewis comedies during the 1950s and 1960s and The Blues Brothers. Was Madame Xima in The Curse of Monkey Island video game. Film appearances include The Naked City, Mr. Belvedere Goes to College, No Man of Her Own (1950), The Secret Fury, House by the River, The Reformer and the Redhead, Once a Thief, Lonely Hearts Bandits, The Second Face, The Company She Keeps, A Place in the Sun, Appointment with Danger, Strictly Dishonorable, Come Fill the Cup, Let’s Make It Legal, The Wild Blue Yonder, The Greatest Show on Earth, Singin’ in the Rain, Talk About a Stranger, Love Is Better Than Ever, Skirts Ahoy!, O. Henry’s Full House, Monkey Business, The Prisoner of Zenda (1952), The Bad and the Beautiful, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Far Country, The Seven Year Itch, Artists and Models, Pawnee, Kiss Them for Me, The Missouri Traveller, The Fly (1958), Houseboat, The Buccaneer (1958), North to Alaska, Madison Avenue, The Ladies Man, The Errand Boy, The Nutty Professor (1963), Who’s Minding the Store?, Mail Order Bride, The Patsy, The Disorderly Orderly, The Rounders, That Funny Feeling, Marriage on the Rocks, Three on a Couch, Point Blank, Support Your Local Sheriff!, Death of a Gunfighter, Myra Breckinridge, The Norseman, Inside Out (1986), Dragnet (1987), Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, FernGully: The Last Rainforest, Hocus Pocus, Blues Brothers 2000, Baby Geniuses, Joe Dirt, and Shrek. TV appearances include Fireside Theatre, Dragnet, Our Miss Brooks, Schlitz Playhouse, Cavalcade of America, Lux Video Theatre, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Matinee Theatre, Father Knows Best, Warner Bros. Presents, December Bride, Lassie, Wagon Train, Lux Playhouse, General Electric Theatre, 77 Sunset Strip, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Rawhide, Laramie, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Hogan’s Heroes, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bonanza, Gomer Pyle U. S. M. C., The Mod Squad, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Kojak, ABC Weekend Special, Police Woman, CHiPs, AfterMASH, Mama’s Family, The Facts of Life, Simon & Simon, Murphy Brown, ALF, Growing Pains, The Hogan Family, Mr. Belvedere, The Golden Girls, Tales from the Crypt, Beverly Hills 91210, Matlock, MacGyver, Doogie Houser M. D., Herman’s Head, Party of Five, Married…with Children, The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest, Roseanne, ER, Duckman, Coach, Home Improvement, Providence, Rugrats, Detention, Becker, Batman Beyond, and As Told by Ginger.

Personal Life: Never married. But when she died, newspapers did mention that she lived with a long-time companion Helen Ramsey whom she met in college. They referred to her as a “best friend.” However, I’m fairly sure that they were more than “best friends.”

Later Life: Died of lung cancer in 2001 at Lenox Hill Hospital at 78. Cremated and had her ashes interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Trivia: Was nominated for a Theater World Award.

236. Ming-Na Wen

Dates: 1963-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Coloane, Macau, then a possession of the Portuguese. Mother moved there from Suzhou, China to escape Communism during the 1950s. Father is of Malaysian Chinese descent. Parents divorced during her infancy leading her to move with her mother and brother to Hong Kong. Attended Catholic school while her mother worked 3 jobs to support the family. That is, until her mother remarried a Chinese American which resulted in the family moving to New York City when she was 4 years old. 5 years later, they moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where her mother and stepfather operated the Chinatown Inn which is still in business. They resided in Mt. Lebanon where Wen attended Mt. Lebanon High School. Later went to Carnegie Mellon University as a theatre major where she graduated in 1986. First role on TV was as a royal trumpeter in a 1985 episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Movies and Cartoons: Mulan (1998) and Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) as well as a direct-to-video sequel, various series, and various video games.

Characters: Fa Mulan

Also Known For: Actress and model who’s best known as June Woo in The Joy Luck Club, Dr. Jing-Mei “Deb” Chen in ER, Agent Melinda May in Agents of S. H. I. E. L. D., Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, and The Book of Boba Fett, Chun-Li in Street Fighter, Detective Ellen Yin in The Batman, and Camile Wray in Stargate Universe. Film appearances include Rain Without Thunder, Hong Kong 97, Terminal Voyage, One Night Stand, Final Fantasy: Spirits Within, Teddy Bears’ Picnic, Prom Night, Push, BoyBand, The Darkness, and Karate Kid: Legends.  TV appearances include Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Another World, As the World Turns, All-American Girl, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, Todd McFarlane’s Spawn, Oh Yeah! Cartoons, Hollywood Squares, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Inconceivable, Robot Chicken, George Lopez, American Masters, Two and a Half Men, Private Practice, Boston Legal, Eureka, Adventure Time, Nashville, We Bare Bears, Fresh Off the Boat, Iron Chef America, Celebrity Family Feud, Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel Rising, Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart, Awkwafina Is Norah from Queens, Yasuke, Young Sheldon, Hacks, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Mech Cadets, Velma, Blue Eye Samurai, and Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. Video game appearances include Street Fighter: The Movie and Lego Marvel’s Avengers.

Personal Life: Married twice. First to screenwriter Kirk Aanes from 1990 to their divorce in 1993. Second and currently to Eric Michael Zee since 1995. They have a daughter and a son. Daughter Michaela Zee voices Princess Jun in Sofia the First.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Named Disney Legend in 2019. Made cameo appearance in the live-action Mulan (2020). Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023. Has won an Annie Award and a Saturn Award. Fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

237. B.D. Wong

Dates: 1960-present

Early Life and Career: Born Bradley Darryl Wong in San Francisco, California. Mother was a telephone company supervisor. Father was a postal worker. Attended Lincoln High School where he discovered his love of acting and starred as lead in numerous school plays. Later attended San Francisco State University during the 1970s where he was the only Asian American in the theater department and there were no roles for him. Gained widespread attention as a result of his Broadway debut in M. Butterfly opposite John Lithgow, which led him to win several awards including a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Clarence Derwent Award, and Theatre World Award. And has gone down as the only Broadway actor in history to win all those awards for the same role.

Movies and Cartoons: Mulan (1998) as well as a direct-to-video sequel, series Kim Possible and Duck Tales, The Duck Tales World Showcase Adventure, and a few video games.

Characters: Captain Li Shang

Also Known For: Actor best known for his role as Song Liling in M. Butterfly, Whiterose in Robot Chicken, Howard Weinstein in Father of the Bride (1991), Dr. George Huang in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Father Ray Mukada in Oz, Dr. John Lee in Awake, Dr. Henry Wu in the Jurassic Park franchise, Hugo Strange in Gotham, and Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme in Seven Years in Tibet. Film appearances include The Karate Kid Part II, Family Business, The Freshman, Mystery Date, And the Band Played On, The Ref, Men of War, Executive Decision, The Salton Sea, Stay, Ira & Abby, White Fog, Focus, The Space Between Us, Bird Box, Blue’s Big City Adventure, Heart of Stone, and The Monkey King. TV appearances include Simon & Simon, Sesame Street, And the Band Played On, All-American Girl, ABC Afternoon Specials, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, The X-Files, Chicago Hope, Welcome to New York, Marco Polo, NCIS: New Orleans, Madam Secretary, Nurse Jackie, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, American Horror Story: Apocalypse, The Flash, Awkwafina Is Norah from Queens, and Gremlins. Video game appearances include Lego Jurassic World and Jurassic World Evolution.

Personal Life: Was in a long-term relationship with Richie Jackson from 1988 until 2004. They had twin sons via surrogacy in 2000 named Boaz Dov who died shortly after birth and Jackson Foo. Wrote a memoir about his experiences with surrogacy called Following Foo: The Electronic Adventures of the Chestnut Man. Co-parented Jackson with his ex-partner and his husband theater producer Jordan Roth. Has been with his current husband Richert John Frederickson since 2010 and whom he’s been married to since 2018.

Later Life: Donates his time and resources to a number of LGBT and arts-related charities such as Ali Forney Center, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Materials for the Arts, and Rosie’s Theater Kids, of which he’s also a board member.

Trivia: Has been nominated for an Emmy and a Crtic’s Choice Award. Also received a GLAAD Media Award.

238. Harvey Fierstein

Dates: 1952-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn in New York City. Mother was a school librarian. Father was a handkerchief manufacturer. Family belonged to a Conservative Jewish temple. Was a soprano in a professional boy’s choir before hitting puberty. Graduated from the High School of Art and Design and received a BFA from the Pratt Institute from 1973. Began working in theater as a founding member of The Gallery Players of Park Slope before being cast in Andy Warhol’s only play Pork. Other early roles include a transvestite in his own Flatbush Tosca…a 300-year-old woman, Lillian Russell, and 26 other parts in Ronald Tavel’s My Fetus Lived on Amboy Street.” Also performed his own drag routine in Greenwich Village, including an impersonation of Ethel Merman singing, “You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun.” As one of  the first openly gay celebrities in the United States, Fierstein helped turn gay and lesbian life into a viable subject for contemporary drama “with no apologies and no climactic suicides.”

Movies and Cartoons: Mulan (1998) as well as a direct-to-video sequel, the series Hercules, and a few video games.

Characters: Yao

Also Known For: Actor, playwright and screenwriter known for his distinctly gravelly voice.  Film appearances include Independence Day, Mrs. Doubtfire, Garbo Talks, The Times of Harvey Milk, Torch Song Trilogy, Bullets Over Broadway, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1995), The Celluloid Closet, Elmo Saves Christmas, White Lies, Kull the Conqueror, Safe Men, Jump, Playing Mona Lisa, Death to Smoochy, Duplex, Animal Crackers, and Bros. TV appearances include Miami Vice, The Simpsons, ABC Afterschool Specials, Cheers, Murder, She Wrote, Daddy’s Girl, The Larry Sanders Show, Fame L.A., Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, Ellen, Double Platinum, Common Ground, Behind the Music, Biography, Sesame Street, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Family Guy, How I Met Your Mother, The Good Wife, Nurse Jackie, Submissions Only, Smash, Watch What Happens with Andy Cohen, Saturday Night Live, Family Guy, The Wiz Live!, Hairspray Live!, BoJack Horseman, Big Mouth, and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Stage appearances include Torch Song Trilogy, Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, A Catered Affair, La Cage aux Folles, The Little Mermaid: An Immersive Live-to-Film Concert Experience, and Guys and Dolls. Wrote the book for Torch Song Trilogy, La Cage aux Folles, Legs Diamond, A Catered Affair, Newsies, Kinky Boots, Casa Valentina, and Funny Girl.

Personal Life: Reportedly dated journalist Ted Casablanca from 1987 to 1992. Said his distinct gravelly voice is a result of an overdeveloped vestibular fold in his vocal chords, essentially giving him a “double voice” when he speaks.

Later Life: Has a history of alcohol abuse but stopped drinking after a suicide attempt in 1996. His book, I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir was released in 2022 and became an instant New York Times bestseller.

Trivia: Is Jewish but claims to pray 3-4 times a day despite not believing in God. Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016. Inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2007. Has won 4 Tony Awards, an Emmy Award, and 3 Drama Desk Awards.

239. Gedde Watanabe

Dates: 1955-present

Early Life and Career: Born Gary Watanabe in Ogden, Utah within a Japanese American family. Mother was a seamstress for the Utah Tailoring Company. Performed in several dramatic productions in high school, both acting and singing. After graduation, he moved to San Francisco where he worked as a street musician while honing his acting skills. First role was an original Broadway cast member of Pacific Overtures in 1976 where he originated the roles of the Priest, Girl, and Boy. Has played many roles with caricatured East Asians with heavy accents. Although he himself doesn’t speak Japanese.

Movies and Cartoons: Mulan (1998) as well as in a direct-to-video sequel, the series Kim Possible, and several video games.

Characters: Ling

Also Known For: Actor best known as Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles, Takahara “Kaz” Kazihiro in Gung Ho, Nurse Yosh Takata in ER. Film appearances include UHF, Volunteers, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Boys on the Side, That Thing You Do!, Nick and Jane, Perfect Alibi, Armageddon, Guinevere, EDtv, Slackers, Alfie (2004), The Onion Movie, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Not Forgotten, Parental Guidance, 47 Ronin, The Last Word, Kung Fu Panda 4, and Ultraman: Rising. TV appearances include The New Adventures of Beans Baxter, Sesame Street, Grand, Murphy Brown, Newhart, Down Home, Pacific Station, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, Duckman, Mad About You, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Rugrats, Home Improvement, Batman Beyond, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Jackie Chan Adventures, The Proud Family, What’s New, Scooby-Doo?, Whatever Happened to…Robot Jones?, Everwood, All Grown Up!, Family Guy, American Dad!, Bravest Warriors, Pickle and Peanut, Puppy Dog Pals, Perfect Harmony, Call Me Kat, and The Sex Lives of College Girls. Stage appearances include Pacific Overtures, Poor Little Lambs, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Pippin, La Cage aux Folles, and The Fantastiks.

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

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

240. James Hong

Dates: 1929-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Chinese immigrant parents. Father was a restaurant owner from Hong Kong and leader of the Hip Sing Tong. Moved to Hong Kong for his education, residing in Kowloon before returning to the United States at 10. During his childhood, Hong was the only Asian student in a class of 500 kids as well as experienced racism and bullying as a result. Especially since his looks and limited English proficiency made him stand out as a foreigner. Graduated from Minneapolis Central High School. First developed his interest in acting after watching Peking opera performers at his father’s shop. Studied civil engineering at the University of Minnesota, where he concentrated most of his free time moving plates and fixing templates for the drill squad. He also joined the Minnesota National Guard with his studies interrupted when his unit was mobilized during the Korean War and sent to Camp Rucker, Alabama for training. Spent 18 months training there and Fort McClellan. Yet, after training time was over each day, Hong would entertain his fellow soldiers. After witnessing the young man’s performing prowess, the camp general asked Hong to stay and be in charge of the camp’s live shows than deploy overseas. Hong reflected on this experience stating how it may have saved his life: “I do not know if I would have liked to go to war in Korea but let’s admit it that with a G.I. cap and this face charging at the Korean army, the Koreans would try to kill me. But then if we were to retreat and I turned around and ran back the Americans would try to kill me too because they would think I am an enemy in disguise. I definitely think I would have been shot from one side and the other.” After the Korean War, Hong moved to Los Angeles with a friend, where he’d finish completing his degree at the University of California. He soon began working full time as a road engineer for Los Angeles County during the day, while acting during the evenings, weekends, as well as his vacation and sick days. After 5 ½ years, he eventually quit engineering for good, devoting himself to acting and voice work full time. Career in show business began in the last days of the Golden Age of Hollywood when he redubbed soundtracks to several Asian films. In 1954, he appeared on the radio and game show You Bet Your Life with Groucho Marx where he did a number of impressions, including one of Groucho himself. Hong and his partner won $140 in the quiz. Although they contested the $2000 prize, they didn’t win.

Movies and Cartoons: Mulan (1998) and Turning Red (2022) as well as the Disney Animated Storybook video game.

Characters: Chi-Fu and Mr. Gao

Also Known For: Actor, producer, and director who’s one of the most prolific character actors of all time and has worked in numerous productions since the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1950s. Has played in over 600 film and television roles. Early in his career, he founded East West Players, the first Asian American theatre organization and the longest continuously running minority theatre in the US, to increase Asian representation in the industry. Roles include Daolon Wong in Jackie Chan Adventures, Professor Chang in Teen Titans, Mr. Ping in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, Zong Shi in Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans, Father Level Bests in Wendell & Wild, Bruce in the Seinfeld episode “The Chinese Restaurant,” and Gong Gong in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Film appearances include Soldier of Fortune, Flower Drum Song, The Sand Pebbles, Chinatown, The Two Jakes, The In-Laws, Airplane!, True Confessions, Blade Runner, Big Trouble in Little China, Wayne’s World 2, Balls of Fury, Safe, R. I. P. D., Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing, Blood Alley, Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, Battle Hymn, The Seventh Sin, Blood and Steel, Never So Few, China Gate, The Human Vapor, One Spy Too Many, Destination Inner Space, The Bamboo Saucer, Colossus: The Forbin Project, The Hawaiians, Fearless Fighters, Dynamite Brothers, The Carey Treatment, Bound for Glory, The World’s Greatest Lover, Breathless (1983), Missing in Action, The Golden Child, China Girl, Black Widow (1987), Vice Versa, Hot to Trot, Tango & Cash, The Vineyard, Caged Fury, Bethune: The Making of a Hero, Talons of the Eagle, The Shadow, Bad Company, Tank Girl, Operation Dumbo Drop, Infinity, McHale’s Navy, The Art of War, The Biggest Fan, Forbidden Warrior, Adventures of Johnny Tao, The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008), Monkey King: Hero Is Back, Sherlock Gnomes, Abominable, and The Thundermans Return. TV appearances include The New Adventures of Charlie Chan, Hawaii Five-O, Bonanza, Perry Mason, The Man from U. N. C. L. E., I Spy, Kung Fu, TV Reader’s Digest, Fireside Theatre, Cavalcade of America, Crossroads, Sky King, NBC Matinee Theater, Four Star Playhouse, Tombstone Territory, General Electric Theater, Playhouse 90, Dragnet, The Californians, The Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin, Cimarron City, Peter Gunn, Zorro, Bat Masterson, Death Valley Days, Johnny Ringo, Alcoa Presents One Step Beyond, Cheyenne, Have Gun – Will Travel, Checkmate, Wagon Train, The Outer Limits, The Fugitive, The Wackiest Ship in the Army, I Dream of Jeannie, The Donna Reed Show, Gomer Pyle U. S. M. C., CBS Playhouse, Family Affair, Mission: Impossible, All in the Family, The Bob Newhart Show, McMillan & Wife, S. W. A. T., Baretta, The Rockford Files, The Streets of San Francisco, Starsky & Hutch, Days of Our Lives, Wonder Woman, Maude, Charlie’s Angels, Taxi, Hart to Hart, Diff ‘rent Strokes, Fantasy Island, Soap, Dalls, The Dukes of Hazzard, St. Elsewhere, Dynasty, General Hospital, Falcon Crest, The A-Team, American Playhouse, Cagney & Lacey, Airwolf, Who’s the Boss?, McGyver, Magnum P. I., Miami Vice, The Equalizer, Doogie Houser M. D., Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Chicago Hope, Diagnosis: Murder, The X-Files, Home Improvement, Murphy Brown, Ellen, Friends, Dexter’s Laboratory, The Drew Carey Show, The Practice, The West Wing, Charmed, Alias, Malcolm in the Middle, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The King of Queens, Bones, Chuck, The Big Bang Theory, Archer, 2 Broke Girls, Key & Peele, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Agents of S. H. I. E. L. D., Star Wars Rebels, The Blacklist, Elementary, Star Wars: Visions, Cake, The Muppets Mayhem, American Born Chinese, Family Guy, and Gremlins. Video game appearances include Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon, True Crime: Streets of LA, Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction, Project Snowblind, True Crime: New York City, Def Jam: Icon, Alpha Protocol, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Diablo III, Sleeping Dogs, World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death, Prey, and Judgement.

Personal Life: Married twice. First wife was Pearl Huang from 1967 to their divorce in 1973. Second and current wife is Susan Tong since 1977. They have 3 daughters and 8 grandchildren.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022 for his work in film and television and became the oldest person honored at 93. All thanks to actor Daniel Dae Kim’s GoFundme campaign. Has also won a Screen Actors Guild Award. Has possibly been in more movies than anyone in history. Established the Association of Asian Pacific American Actors and has served as its president.

Had the Disney followed the traditional mythology of Hercules, this next film would’ve been a very different movie. But definitely not one suitable for children since it’s a very messed up mythology. In the original mythology, Hercules is the son of Zeus and Alcmene while Hera’s basically his antagonist mainly because he’s her husband’s illegitimate son who just happens to exist. While he undertakes his 12 Labors to a jerkass king not because he wants to be a true hero. But as penance for Hera driving him homicidal against Megara and their children. As to Hades, well, he only appears when Hercules asks him to borrow Cerberus for his 12^th Labor to which Hades says, “As long as you don’t do anything to hurt him and bring him back when you’re done.” Of course, I don’t need to explain why Disney decided to go in the direction they did. With the result being a delightful romantic comedy with the Muses singing in Gospel and not a single unlikeable character in sight. Aside from maybe Nessus and Cyclops but they’re monsters. However, I have to attest that although Hercules may be the hero in this film, this movie belongs to Hades thanks to James Woods’ comedic performance. Although Hades was originally planned to be a much more conventional villain, Woods’ interpretation as “a Hollywood agent, car salesman type,” makes this Disney baddie truly unforgettable and impossible to hate. Still, while Hercules received positive reviews and even has a higher rating than its predecessor on Rotten Tomatoes, takes over its animation style and music were mixed. While it ultimately earned $252.7 million at the box office at its 1997 release as well as a legion of fans, which is good. But for a Disney movie during the 1990s, a little underwhelming. Also, the Greeks weren’t too thrilled with this movie. In this post, you’ll meet the voices behind Zeus, Hera, Amphytrion, Alcmene, 4 of the Muses, along with Pain and Panic.

221. Rip Torn

Dates: 1931-2019

Early Life and Career: Born Elmore Rual Torn Jr. in Temple, Texas. Father was an agriculturalist and economist who worked to promote the consumption of black-eyed peas, particularly as a custom on New Year’s Day. Nickname “Rip” came from a family tradition among the Torn men, having been used by his father, uncle, and a cousin. Graduated from Taylor High School in Taylor, Texas in 1948. Was a member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. Although he graduated from the University of Texas, where he studied under Shakespearean professor B. Iden Payne and was a member of the Alpha Nu chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity. After graduation, Torn served in the Korean War with the 2^nd Infantry Division with the US Army military police. After moving to Hollywood, he starred in the 1956 film Baby Doll. Studied at the Actors Studio in New York under Lee Strasberg, becoming a prolific stage actor.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as a few video games.

Characters: Zeus

Also Known For: Actor whose career spanned roughly 60 years. Best known roles are Marsh Turner in Cross Creek, Artie in The Larry Sanders Show, Judas Iscariot in King of Kings, Thomas J. Finley Jr. in Sweet Bird of Youth, Dr. Nathan Bryce in The Man Who Fell to Earth, Bob Diamond in Defending Your Life, Zed in the Men in Black franchise, Jim Brody in Freddy Got Fingered, Patches O’Houlihan in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Don Geiss in 30 Rock, and King Louis XV in Marie Antoinette. Film appearances include Baby Doll, A Face in the Crowd, Pork Chop Hill, The Cincinnati Kid, Tropic of Cancer, Maidstone, Slaughter, Payday, Birch Interval, Nasty Habits, Coma, One Trick Pony, The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover, First Family, The Beastmaster, Airplane II: The Sequel, Flashpoint, City Heat, Summer Rental, Beer, Beautiful Dreamers, For Better or Worse, Dolly Dearest, Beyond the Law, Canadian Bacon, How to Make an American Quilt, Down Periscope, Trial and Error, Wonder Boys, Forty Shades of Blue, Love Object, Welcome to Mooseport, The Sisters, Zoom, Bee Movie, The Golden Boys, Happy Tears, The Afterlight, and The Legend of Awesomest Maximus. TV appearances include Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Untouchables, Dr. Kildare, The Man from U. N. C. L. E., Rawhide, Bonanza, Mannix, The Naked City, The Blue and the Gray, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Atlanta Child Murders, Dream West, Laguna Heat, Sweet Bird of Youth, Columbo, Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster, Heaven and Hell: North and South Book III, Ghost Stories, Passing Glory, Balloon Farm, Will & Grace, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Personal Life: First cousin of Sissy Spacek. Married 3 times. First wife was actress Anne Wedgeworth from 1956 to their divorce in 1961. They had a daughter Danae. Second wife was Geraldine Page from 1963 to her death in 1987. Had 3 children including actors Angelica Page and Tony Torn as well as Jon Torn who became an associate professor of electronic media and film at Northern Arizona University. Third wife was actress Amy Wright from 1989 until his death. They had 2 children, at least one of whom was born before they married and while Page was still alive. Which I think is very Zeus of him. Had 4 grandchildren by the time of his death. He also wasn’t a great guy to work with. While filming Maidenstone during the 1960s, he struck Norman Mailer in the head with a hammer. Mailer bit Torn’s ear and they wrestled to the ground until other cast and crew broke up the fight. It’s possible that Torn may have planned the scene since it was featured in the film. In 1994, he filed a defamation lawsuit against Dennis Hopper over a story Hopper told on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno where Torn pulled a knife on him during the pre-production of Easy Rider. According to Hopper, Torn was originally cast in the film but was replaced by Jack Nicholson because of the incident. But Torn claimed that Hopper pulled the knife on him. A trial court judge ruled in Torn’s favor and ordered Hopper to pay $475,000 in damages. But denied Torn’s request for punitive damages ruling that Hopper hadn’t acted with malice. Hopper appealed. In 1998, a California judged upheld the compensatory damages ruling as well as allowed Torn’s request for punitive damages, leading Hopper to pay $475,000 more.

Later Life: In 2010, Torn was arrested after breaking into a Litchfield Bancorp branch in Lakeville, Connecticut. He was charged with carrying a weapon without a permit, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, first-degree burglary, second-degree criminal trespassing, and third-degree criminal mischief. Connecticut State Police said Torn, who lived in Lakeville, broke into the bank thinking it was his home. In court, his attorney argued that Torn needed help with alcohol abuse and that he could start treatment in New York. Torn was released on $100,000 bail. As a condition for release, Torn was evaluated for substance abuse. That August, he was denied special probation, which would’ve cleared his name of all charges. The judge cited Torn’s history of alcohol abuse and the possession of a weapon while intoxicated, which carries a minimum of a one-year sentence. At the end of the year, Torn pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, and possession of a firearm, and received a 2 ½ – year suspended jail sentence and 3 years’ probation. Died in 2019 from complications from Alzheimer’s Disease at his home in Lakeville, Connecticut at 88. He was buried in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Trivia: Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Cross Creek in 1983. Received 6 Emmy nominations for The Larry Sanders Show.

222. Samantha Eggar

Dates: 1939-2025

Early Life and Career: Born Victoria Louise Samantha Marie Elizabeth Therese Eggar in Hampstead, London, England. Father was a brigadier general in the British Army. Soon after her birth, her family moved to rural Bledlow, Buckinghampshire due to World War II, where she spent her childhood. Raised Roman Catholic and was educated at St. Mary’s Providence Convent in Working, Surrey. Eggar once said of her schooling, “The nuns didn’t have too much success with me – I’ve always had a violent temper. In fact, once I almost killed one of the nuns.” Began to go by Samantha at 16. Although she wanted to be an actress from a very young age, her parents urged her against a theater career. Was offered a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts but studied fashion at the Thanet School of Art instead. After completing her studies, Eggar enrolled in the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Her career began in several Shakespearean companies, notably playing Titania in a 1962 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Tony Richardson. Also appeared on stage in a production of Douglas Seale’s Landscape with Figures where a talent scout noticed her. Made her first film that same year with Dr. Crippen. Moved to the United States in 1973.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as the Hercules TV series.

Characters: Hera

Also Known For: British-American actress best known as Emma Fairfax in Doctor Doolittle (1967) and Charlotte Devane in All My Children. Film appearances include Dr. Crippen, The Wild and the Willing, Return from the Ashes, The Collector, Walk, Don’t Run, The Molly Maguires, The Lady in the Car with the Glasses and the Gun, The Light at the Edge of the World, The Dead Are Alive, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, The Uncanny, Welcome to Blood City, Why Shoot the Teacher?, The Brood, The Exterminator, The Hot Touch, Curtains, Love Among Thieves, Dark Horse, The Phantom, Everything to Gain, and The Astronaut’s Wife. TV appearances include The Saint, Anna and the King, Love Story, Columbo, Starsky and Hutch, Fantasy Island, Hawaii Five-O, The Love Boat, Hart to Hart, Murder, She Wrote, Magnum P. I., Tales of the Unexpected, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Legend of Prince Valiant, L. A. Law, and Commander in Chief. Stage appearances include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, The Seagull, and Auntie Mame.

Personal Life: Married to actor Tom Stern from 1964 to their divorce in 1971. They had 2 children: a son named Tom who became a producer and a daughter named Jenna who became an actress.

Later Life: Held dual UK and US citizenship. Retired from acting in 2012 and resided in Los Angeles until her death at 86 in 2025.

Trivia: Has won a prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Golden Globe, and a Sant Jordi Award as well as received an Academy Award nomination.

223. Lillias White

Dates: 1951-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Brooklyn, New York City. Made her Broadway debut in Barnum in 1981. That same year, she understudied for the role of Effie White in the original production of Dreamgirls and later played her in the 1987 revival.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as the direct-to-video Hercules: Zero to Hero and the series Hercules and Mickey Mouse Funhouse.

Characters: Calliope

Also Known For: Actress and singer best known for her performances in Broadway musicals. Best known roles include Sonja in The Life, Funmilalyo in Fela!, Evette in Pieces of April, Fat Annie in The Get Down, and Bloody Mary in South Pacific. Is also an active cabaret singer who’s appeared in concert with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Boston Philharmonic, and at Carnegie Hall. Film appearances include Me and Him, North, Bleeding Hearts, Anastasia (1997), Gloria, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Interview with the Assassin, Game 6, Then She Found Me, Nasty Baby, The Chaperone, and The Drummer. TV appearances include Sesame Street, The Jury, Gotham, Person of Interest, Russian Doll, Search Party, and Grotesquerie.

Personal Life: Has a son named Mwambu and a daughter named Jamilah.

Later Life: During a 2022 production of Hadestown, White twice reprimanded an audience member from the stage for recording. Yet, she was unaware that the person was disabled and was in fact using a captioning device to understand the musical’s dialogue. Theater and production issued official apologies, affirming their commitments to accessibility, and offered a complimentary ticket to the audience member in question in order to make up for the incident. White didn’t comment on the incident herself. While the audience member has taken to social media to urge users not to harass her, as White’s social media profiles had been flooded with ageist and racist insults in response to the matter.

Trivia: Has won a Tony, an Obie, and a Drama Desk Award.

224. LaChanze

Dates: 1961-present

Early Life and Career: Born Rhonda LaChanze Sapp in St. Augustine, Florida. Got her stage name from her grandmother which is Creole for “charmed one.” Family later moved to Connecticut where her childhood love of singing and dancing cause her mother to enroll her in the Bowen Peters Cultural Arts Center in New Haven. There she discovered her art of performing. At Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, LaChanze made her debut as Lola in a school production of Damn Yankees. After graduating high school, La Chanze studied drama at Baltimore’s Morgan State University before transferring to Philadelphia’s University of the Arts where she studied theater and dance. First summer job was as a tap dancer in the ensemble of Uptown…It’s Hot! at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Show later opened on Broadway in 1986 where LaChanze began her professional career in theater.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as 2 direct-to-video installments, the series Hercules, and a video game. Was also a featured artist on the album Disney’s Princess Favorites.

Characters: Terpsichore

Also Known For: Actress, singer, and dancer who won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2006 as Celia Harris Johnson in The Color Purple. Film appearances include My New Gun, Leap of Faith, For Love or Money, Heartbreak Hospital, Breaking Upwards, The Help, Side Effects, Diane, Birth/Rebirth, and Genie. TV appearances include The Cosby Show, Sex and the City, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, One Life to Live, Person of Interest, The Village, The Good Fight, The Underground Railroad, East New York, and Gossip Girl. Stage appearances include Uptown…It’s Hot!, Dreamgirls, Once on This Island, Company, Ragtime, Out of This World, The Vagina Monologues, Funny Girl, Dessa Rose, The Wiz, If/Then, Cabin in the Sky, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, The Secret Life of Bees, A Christmas Carol, and Trouble in Mind.

Personal Life: Married twice. First husband was securities trader Calvin Gooding from 1998 until Gooding’s untimely death during the 9/11 attacks where he was working at Cantor Fitzgerald in Tower One of the World Trade Center. Had 2 daughters including actress and singer Celia Rose and Zaya born a month after her father’s death. Second husband was artist and educator Derek Fordjour from 2005 until their divorce in 2014.

Later Life: Became a Broadway producer in 2022, launching Tima Productions with fellow actress Marylee Fairbanks. In 2024, she launched a multimedia company called LC Productions.

Trivia: Has won 4 Tony Awards. In 2002, she sang the National Anthem at a joint meeting of Congress in Federal Hall Memorial, the first congressional meeting in New York since 1790. Also sang “Amazing Grace” at the dedication of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in 2014, dedicating her performance to her late husband. Also she and her daughter appeared simultaneously on Broadway in 2019.

225. Roz Ryan

Dates: 1951-present

Early Life and Career: Born Rosalyn Bowen in Detroit, Michigan. Father worked for the local Board of Education. Graduated from Mackenzie High School in 1969. Worked as a nightclub singer for 13 years before a friend suggested that she audition for the Fats Waller revue Ain’t Misbehavin.’ Her audition was successful and she was on stage 10 days later. Continued to star in numerous Broadway musicals, including the Tony Award-winning Chicago, for which she holds the longest tenure for the character of Matron “Mama” Morton.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as the direct-to-video Hercules: Zero to Hero, various series, and a couple of video games.

Characters: Thalia

Also Known For: Actress, singer, and comedian who’s worked for productions in film, television, and Broadway theatre for over 40 years. Film appearances include Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God…Be Back by Five, I Think I Love My Wife, Divine Intervention, Whatever Lola Wants, Steppin: The Movie, The Invention of Lying, Waiting for Forever, and Hello, My Name Is Doris. TV appearances include Amen, Sparks, Good News, Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, The Journey of Allen Strange, Danny, All About the Andersons, Half & Half, JAG, Barbershop, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, The Looney Tunes Show, Adventure Time, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, General Hospital, Bee and PuppyCat, Teen Titans Go!, Mighty Magiswords, Summer Camp Island, and That Girl Lay Lay. Video Game appearances include Tonic Trouble and Multiversus. Stage appearances include Ain’t Misbehavin,’ Dreamgirls, Chicago, One Mo’ Time, The Pajama Game, Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson.

Personal Life: Married and divorced to a guy named Lance. Said to have a son named Dante with him.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

226. Vaneese Thomas

Dates: 1952-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Memphis. Attended Swarthmore College where she was part of the gospel choir. Enjoyed some success during the late 1980s, with her solo releases made on the Geffen label. Her self-titled debut album spawned a couple of top 20 R&B hit singles in “Let’s Talk It Over,” featuring a saxophone solo by Najee and “(I Wanna Get) Close to You.” However, follow up release didn’t sustain her earlier success levels. So she switched to working as a backup singer appearing on many recordings made by other musicians.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997)

Characters: Clio

Also Known For: Jazz, R&B, and soul singer best known for her 1987 hit single, “Let’s Talk It Over.”  Yet, in more recent times, she supplied backing vocals on a long list of other musicians’ work. Her session duties include working alongside artists like Lenny White, Bob James, Carl Anderson, Freddie Jackson, Beau Williams, Melba Moore, Joe Cocker, Sarah Dash, Luciano Pavarotti, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Eric Clapton, Carly Simon, and Dr. John. Work has also included record producing, supervising vocal arrangements, and songwriting duties. Material has been recorded by Patti Austin, Freddie Jackson, Larry Coryell, and Diana Ross with “One Shining Moment” that was a Top 10 UK single. Film appearances include Anastasia, The Mighty Aphrodite, and The First Wives Club. Also appeared in Shining Time Station.

Personal Life: Younger sister of musician Marvell and singer Carla Thomas. Lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband Wayne Warnecke.

Later Life: Once taught school in France when she lived there for a time. Also most recently taught at the City College of New York.

Trivia: None.

227. Bobcat Goldthwait

Dates: 1962-present

Early Life and Career: Born Robert Francis Goldthwait in Syracuse, New York. Mother worked in a department store. Father was a sheet metal worker. Decided on a career as a comedian from a very young age, inspired by enjoying making his friends laugh. During his time at St. Matthew’s Grammar School, he’d regularly host performances for his friends. He’d also experiment with new content and develop a strong liking for props. Graduated from Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School. Golthwait and Tom Kenny then formed a comedy troupe called The Generic Comics and adopting the monikers “Bobcat” and “Tomcat” after seeing an ad for an open-mic night at the Snakeateles that featured comedian Barry Crimmins under the name “Bear Cat.” He also co-wrote with Martin Olson, who’s listed as a writer in his first 2 comedy specials. When he embarked on a solo stand-up career, Goldthwait became known for combining elements of political satire with often bizarre or unsettling black humor. All delivered through an energetic stage persona with an unusual raspy and high-pitched voice.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as a couple direct-to-video installments and several series.

Characters: Pain

Also Known For: Comedian, actor, director, and screenwriter who’s known for his black comedy stand-up act and who came to prominence with his stand up specials: An Evening with Bobcat Goldthwait, Share the Warmth and Bob Goldthwait, and Is He Like That All the Time?. Best known roles are Zed in the Police Academy franchise, Eliot Loudermilk in Scrooged, and Pop Fizz in the Skylanders video game franchise. Film appearances include Massive Retaliation, Twisted Sister: Come Out and Play, One Crazy Summer, Burglar, Hot to Trot, Tapeheads, Cranium Command, Meet the Hollowheads, Little Vegas, Shakes the Clown, Freaked, Radioland Murders, Destiny Turns on the Radio, Back to Back, Sweethearts, Dog’s Best Friend, Rusty: A Dog’s Tale, Lion of Oz, G-Men from Hell, Blow, Hansel and Gretel, Grind, A Halfway House Christmas, Sleeping Dogs Lie, World’s Greatest Dad, and Henchmen. TV appearances include Tales from the Crypt, Married…with Children, The Golden Palace, Capitol Critters, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Herman’s Head, Eek! The Cat, The Moxy Show, Duckman, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, ER, Beavis and Butt-Head, Unhappily Ever After, Living Single, The Tick, Mad TV, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Hollywood Squares, The Simpsons, The Army Show, Penn & Teller’s Sin City Spectacular, Strip Mall, The Man Show, Crank Yankers, That ‘70s Show, Chapelle’s Show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Windy City Heat, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Random! Cartoons, Back at the Barnyard, Important Things with Demetri Martin, Fish Hooks, Randy Cunningham: 9^th Grade Ninja, Adventure Time, Regular Show, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Maron, Bob’s Burgers, Patton Oswalt: Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time, Community, Those Who Can’t, Summer Camp Island, AJ and the Queen, DC Super Hero Girls, and The Patrick Star Show.  

Personal Life: Married 3 times. First wife was Amy Luly from 1986 to their divorce in 1998. Was engaged to actress Nikki Cox from 1997 until 2005. Second wife was Sara Sa Rego from 2009 to their divorce in 2014. Third and current wife is actress and director Pollyanna McIntosh since 2024. Has 2 children. Also hasn’t drank alcohol or used drugs since he was 19.

Later Life: Has been a regular panelist on the radio quiz show Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! Since 2012.

Trivia: Childhood friends with Tom Kenny. Was best man at Robin Williams’ 3^rd wedding.

228. Matt Frewer

Dates: 1958-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Washington D.C. to Canadian parents. Father was a Royal Canadian Navy officer. Raised in Peterborough, Ontario where he graduated from Lakefield College School. Went on to train at the British Old Vic Theatre School, graduating from its 3-year acting course in 1980.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as the direct-to-video Hercules: Zero to Hero, various series, and a few video games.

Characters: Panic as well as Jackal in Gargoyles.

Also Known For: Canadian-American actor and comedian best known for portraying Max Headroom in the 1985 TV film and the 1987 TV series. Other roles include Russell Thompson Sr. in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Jobe Smith in Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace, Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of Four (2001), Frank in Dawn of the Dead, Moloch in Watchmen, Mitch in 50/50, Archibald Stanley in Night at the Museum: Secrets of the Tomb, Dr. Mike Stratford in Doctor Doctor, Bob in Shaky Ground, Trashcan in The Stand, Matt Prager in Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal, Dr. Jim Taggart in Eureka, Dr. Leekie in Orphan Black, General #2 in The BFG, Carnage in Altered Carbon, Logan in Fear the Walking Dead, Binder in The Magicians, Peter Morton in The Order, Inspector 47 in The Magic School Bus, The Pink Panther in The Pink Panther animated series, Lloyd Christmas in the Dumb and Dumber animated series, and Dedgar Deadman in Toonsylvania. Film appearances include The Lords of Discipline, The Crimson Permanent Assurance, Spies Like Us, The Fourth Protocol, Supergirl, Ishtar, Speed Zone, Far from Home, Short Time, Return to Moon Junction, National Lampoon’s Senior Trip, Cyberworld, A Home at the End of the World, Going the Distance, Geraldine’s Bullet, Weirdsville, Rampage, Darfur, Frankie and Alice, Foreverland, and Pixels. TV appearances include The First Olympics: Athens 1896, Robin of Sherwood, St. Elsewhere, Miami Vice, Sesame Street, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Bonkers, In Search of Dr. Seuss, American Playhouse, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Bruno the Kid, The Outer Limits, Apollo 11, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Quicksilver Highway, Dead Man’s Gun, DaVinci’s Inquest, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Royal Scandal, The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire, Masters of Horror, How I Met Your Mother, The Librarians, Olympus, Castlevania, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, and Perry Mason.

Personal Life: Married to British actress Amanda Hillwood since 1984 and has a daughter.

Later Life: He and his wife bought a house in Marina del Ray, California in 1989.

Trivia: None.

229. Hal Holbrook

Dates: 1925-2021

Early Life and Career: Born Harold Rowe Holbrook Jr. in Cleveland, Ohio. Mother was a vaudeville dancer. When he was 2, his parents abandoned him and his 2 older sisters. They were raised by their paternal grandparents in Weymouth, Massachusetts and later the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, Ohio. Graduated from the Culver Military Academy and then from Denison University, where an honors project of Mark Twain led him to develop the one-man show that he’s best known for, a series of performances called Mark Twain Tonight!. Also studied acting at HB Studio in New York City. Served in the US Army during World War II from 1942 until 1946, achieving the rank of staff sergeant while stationed in Newfoundland. There, he performed in theater productions such as the play Lady Precious Stream. First solo performance as Mark Twain was at what is now Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania in 1954. Ed Sullivan saw Holbrook and gave him his first national exposure on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956. Was also a member of the Valley Players from 1941-1962, a summer stock theater company based in Holyoke, Massachusetts which performed at Mountain Park Casino Playhouse at Mountain Park. Joined the Lambs Club in 1955 where he began developing his one-man show. Was a cast member for several years and performed Mark Twain Tonight! as the 1957 season opener. The State Department even sent him on a European tour, which included pioneering appearances behind the Iron Curtain. Continued to play Twain for over 60 years, only retiring the show in 2017 due to failing health.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) and Planes: Fire and Rescue (2014) as well as Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.

Characters: Amphitryon and Mayday

Also Known For: Actor who first received critical acclaim in 1954 for a one-man stage show that he developed called Mark Twain Tonight! while at Denison University, which won him a Tony for Best Actor in a Play in 1966. Gained international fame for his portrayal of Deep Throat in All the President’s Men. Also played President Abraham Lincoln in the 1974 miniseries Lincoln and the 1985 miniseries North and South. Other roles include Ron Franz in Into the Wild, Abner Meecham in The Evening Sun, and Francis Preston Blair in Stephen Spielberg’s Lincoln. Film appearances include The Group, Magnum Force, Julia, Capricorn One, The Fog, Creepshow, Wall Street, The Firm, Men of Honor, Wild in the Streets, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Brotherhood, The Girl from Petrovka, Midway, The Kidnapping of the President, Girls Nite Out, The Star Chamber, The Unholy, Fletch Lives, Carried Away, Cats Don’t Dance, Eye of God, Hush, Judas Kiss, Rusty: A Dog’s Tale, Waking the Dead, The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus, The Majestic, Purpose, Country Music: The Spirit of America, Flying Lessons, Promised Land, Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey, Water for Elephants, Savannah, and Blackway. TV appearances include The Brighter Day, Mr. Citizen, The Glass Menagerie, Coronet Blue, The F.B.I., The Name of the Game, That Certain Summer, Pueblo, Great Performances, 33 Hours in the Life of God, Our Town, The Awakening Land, Murder by Natural Causes, The Legend of the Golden Gun, George Washington, The Three Wishes of Billy Grier, Designing Women, Plaza Suite, The Fortunate Pilgrim, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Emma: Queen of the South Seas, A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle, A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Grimacing Governor, A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Jealous Jokester, Operation Delta Force, The Outer Limits, The West Wing, Becker, Hope & Faith, The Sopranos, NCIS, ER, Sons of Anarchy, Monday Mornings, Rectify, Bones, Grey’s Anatomy, and Hawaii Five-O.

Personal Life: Married 3 times. First wife was Newfoundlander Ruby Elaine Johnston from 1945 until their divorce in 1965. They had 2 children. Second wife was Carol Eve Rossen from 1966 until their divorce in 1983. They had one child. Third wife was actress and singer Dixie Carter from 1984 until her death from endometrial cancer in 2010. Had a home in McLemoresville, Tennessee that he said had the feel of Mark Twain’s Hartford, Connecticut home and there was no other place to which he felt so ideally suited. Also had a residence in Beverly Hills.

Later Life: Memoir Harold: The Boy Who Became Mark Twain was published in 2011 by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. In 2016, Holbrook wrote a letter to The New York Times defending director Nate Parker over his alleged 1999 rape of a woman and Parker’s controversial film The Birth of a Nation (2016). He urged readers to “move on” from Parker’s past and see the movie, which was “an exceptional piece of artistry and a vital portrait of our American experience.” Retired from acting in 2017 due to failing health. Died in 2021 in his Beverly Hills home at 95. No cause was made public. Buried in McLemoresville Cemetery next to his wife, Dixie Carter.

Trivia: Was honored with a National Humanities Medal by George W. Bush in 2003. Has won a Tony and 5 Primetime Emmy Awards as well as been nominated for an Academy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Carter’s hometown of McLemoresville, Tennessee built the Dixie Theatre for Performing Arts in nearby Huntington, which features the Mark Twain Auditorium.

230. Barbara Barrie

Dates: 1931-present

Early Life and Career: Born Barbara Ann Berman in Chicago, Illinois but raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. Graduated from Corpus Christi High School in 1948. Briefly attended Del Mar College as a journalism major before transferring to The University of Texas at Austin where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama in 1952. During her time at UT-Austin, she received 2 scholarships, including the Kappa Kappa Gamma Donna Dellinger annual scholarship for Most Outstanding Junior in the Drama Department as well as awards for specific performances, such as the Atlas Award from the Globe Theatre in San Diego for “Best Female Performance for 1950–51” based on her role in the California Theatre’s summer production of Much Ado About Nothing as Beatrice. Made her Broadway debut in 1955.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as the Hercules TV series.

Characters: Alcmene

Also Known For: Actress and author. Breakthrough role was Julie in the 1964 film One Potato, Two Potato for which she won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Best known roles include Evelyn Stohler in Breaking Away, Elizabeth Miller in Barney Miller, and Sarah in Company. Film appearances include Giant, The Caretaker, Summer of My German Soldier, The Bell Jar, Private Benjamin, End of the Line, Real Men, Judy Berlin, 30 Days, Second Best, The Six Wives of Henry LeFay, and Twelve Thirty. TV appearances include Pond’s Theater, Kraft Television Theatre, Playwrights ’56, Robert Montgomery Presents, Play of the Week, Armstrong Circle Theatre, The United States Steel Hour, Route 66, The Untouchables, Dr. Kildare, The Virginian, The Twilight Zone, Alcoa Premiere, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Defenders, The Fugitive, Ben Casey, Rawhide, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, Play for Today, The ABC Afternoon Playbreak, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, McMillan & Wife, 79 Park Avenue, Lou Grant, Roots: The Next Generations, American Playhouse, Trapper John M. D., Double Trouble, Family Ties, Law & Order, ABC Afterschool Special, CBS Schoolbreak Special, Suddenly Susan, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies, Surviving Suburbia, Army Wives, and Enlightened. Has written 4 books including Lone Star, Adam ZigZag, Second Act, and Don’t Die of Embarrassment.

Personal Life: Married to actor, director, and producer Jay Malcolm Harnick from 1964 until his death in 2007. Had 2 children including a daughter named Jane Caroline in 1965 and a son named Aaron Louis in 1969. Harnick founded Theatreworks USA and was brother of Tony Award-winning musical lyricist Sheldon Harnick.

Later Life: Was successfully treated for colorectal cancer in 1994. In 2014, Barrie announced that she had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which is incurable. She lives in New York City.

Trivia: Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1979 and an Emmy Award in 1981. Also nominated for a Tony in 1971.

              Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame is far from a faithful adaptation. But it’s an excellent one whose 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t quite do it justice and a reflection that it doesn’t receive the kind of attention that it richly deserves as Disney’s most underrated masterpiece. Unlike other Disney movies, The Hunchback of Notre Dame tackles mature themes such as infanticide, lust, racism, genocide, damnation, sin, religion, as well as that of a loving and forgiving God and does it so masterfully in ways that both seem relatable and that surpass many adult films. While its music by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz is nothing short of breathtaking that it’s hard to believe Disney has never made a Broadway musical based on this film. When the movie came out in France in 1997, French critics and audience found resonance in the film which recounted a real-life incident from August 1995 when French police raided a Parisian church and seized over 200 undocumented immigrants seeking refuge from deportation under France’s strict expulsion laws. With one reviewer stating, “It is difficult not to think of the undocumented immigrants of St. Bernard when Frollo tries to sweep out the rabble.” In the United States with the prominence of Trumpism and all the evils having Donald Trump president has unleashed amongst the American populace, The Hunchback of Notre Dame’s relevance has never diminished since its 1996 release. In fact, watch it today and doesn’t feel like it has aged a bit. Judge Claude Frollo’s perhaps one of Disney’s greatest villains whose religious conviction and arrogance make him uniquely terrifying and very real. Especially in how he treats Quasimodo like absolute shit that you have to wonder how he could grow up to become such a sweetheart who can release a baby bird from the palm of his hands. And even though Quasimodo is essentially a saint, he still felt very upset when he finds out that Esmeralda prefers Phoebus over him as a romantic prospect. But he still did right by her anyway and still respected her choice after he sees that Phoebus is a good guy. And let’s just say, we can always use a guy like him. For what makes a monster and what makes a man? In this post, we’ll meet voice actors Rodger Bumpass, Jess Harnell, Jeff Bennett, Paul Eiding, the voices behind Victor and the Oafish Guard, and 4 characters from Hercules, which I’ll discuss in the next post.

211. Charles Kimbrough

Dates: 1936-2023

Early Life and Career: Born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Studied theater and drama at Indiana University Bloomington in 1958 and earned a Masters of Fine Arts degree at Yale University School of Drama. During the 1960s and the 1970s, Kimbrough and his first wife Mary Jane Wilson were part of the resident Repertory Theatre. Made his first film in 1976.

Movies and Cartoons: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and Recess: School’s Out as well as a direct-to-video sequel, the series Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins and Hercules, and several video games.

Characters: Victor and Mort Chalk

Also Known For: Actor best known as the straight-faced anchor Jim Dial in Murphy Brown. Film appearances include The Front, The Sentinel, The Seduction of Joe Tynan, Starting Over, It’s My Turn, Switching Channels, Whisper of the Heart, The Wedding Planner, and Marci X. TV appearances include Kojak, Great Performances, Tales of the Unexpected, Spenser: For Hire, Another World, Hothouse, Dinosaurs, Mighty Max, Pinky and the Brain, The Love Boat: The Next Wave, Family Guy, The Angry Beavers, Batman Beyond, Ally McBeal, and The Zeta Project.

Personal Life: Married twice. First wife was actress Mary Jane Wilson from 1961 to their divorce in 1991. Had a son named John who founded, sang, and played guitar for the St. Paul-based alternative rock band Walt Mink. Second wife was actress and onetime Company castmate Beth Howland who’s best known as Very Louise Gorman-Novak from Alice. They were married from 2002 until her death from lung cancer in 2015. Her death wasn’t announced until 2016.

Later Life: Retired from acting in 2018. Died in Culver City, California in 2023 at 86.

Trivia: Has been nominated for a Tony and a Primetime Emmy. Appeared in a Chef Boyardee spaghetti and meatballs commercial in 1976 and 1977.

212. Bill Fagerbakke

Dates: 1957-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Fontana, California. Moved to Rupert, Idaho in his youth where he graduated from Minico High School in 1975 where he was a 3-sport athlete for the Spartans in football, basketball, and track. Although he had multiple scholarship offers for college football, he decided to stay in state and attended The University of Idaho in Moscow where he was a defensive lineman for the Vandals and was ticketed to redshirt in 1976. But was called to action during his sophomore season. Although they had a winning season and coach Ed Troxel considered moving him to offensive line, a knee injury in 1977 but a spring drill knee injury ended his athletic career. First theatrical role was in Godspell. Was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1981. Later attended graduate school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Made his screen debut in Coach in 1984.

Movies and Cartoons: The Hunchback of Notre Dame as well as its Disney Storybook video game, a couple of direct-to-video installments, and several series.

Characters: Oafish Guard

Also Known For: Actor best known as Patrick Star in SpongeBob SquarePants, Michael “Dauber” Dybinski in Coach, and Marvin in How I Met Your Mother. Film appearances include Perfect Strangers, Porco Rosso, The Secret of My Success, Funny Farm, Under Wraps, Ken Park, Quigley, Finding Amanda, Space Buddies, Halloween II, Jennifer’s Body, The Artist, Rosewood Lane, and The Babymakers. TV appearances include The Stand, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Oz, Weeds, Growing Up Fisher, Black-ish, Mom, I’m Dying Up Here, Unbelievable, Young Sheldon, Dynasty, Beethoven, Aaah!!! The Real Monsters, Dumb and Dumber, Jumanji, The Wild Thornberrys, Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles, Batman Beyond, Lloyd in Space, Jackie Chan Adventures, The Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy, A.T.O.M., Family Guy, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Transformers Animated, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Sym-Bionic Titan, Young Justice, Handy Manny, Robot and Monster, Wander Over Yonder, All Hail King Julien, American Dad!, and Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz.

Personal Life: Has been married to actress Catherine McClenahan since 1989 until their legal separation in 2012. They have 2 daughters.

Later Life:

Trivia: Has been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for The Artist (as ensemble).

213. Rodger Bumpass

Dates: 1951-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Little Rock, Arkansas. Parents owned a dry cleaning business. As a child, he idolized Mel Blanc and would do impressions of Looney Tunes and other cartoon characters. Also memorized comedy albums by Jonathan Winters and Bill Cosby and was inspired by Tim Conway’s physical comedy. Attended Little Rock Central High School where he received his initial theater training. Majored in radio-TV and minored in theater at Arkansas State University. Worked at the campus radio station and at Jonesboro’s ABC affiliated station KAIT-TV, where he had multiple duties as announcer, film processor, cameraman, audio technician, and technical director. While at KAIT, wrote, produced, and performed in a late-night comedy show called Mid-Century Nonsense Festival Featuring Kumquat Theater. Graduated from Arkansas State in 1976 and when encouraged by a professor to enter professional theater, he moved to New York in 1977. Has been voicing and acting in films since the 1960s as well as appeared on stage from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s. Was involved in National Lampoon during the 1970s.

Movies and Cartoons: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Hercules (1997), A Bug’s Life (1998), Doug’s 1^st Movie (1999), Toy Story 2 (1999), Tarzan (1999), The Emperor’s New Groove (2000), Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Treasure Planet (2002), Lilo & Stitch (2002), Brother Bear (2003), The Incredibles (2004), Cars (2006), and Monsters University (2013) as well as various direct-to-video installments and series.

Characters: Frollo’s Soldiers, Man Pointing at Young Hercules, Harry Mosquito, Clerk, Elephant #2, David, Male Villager #8, Male Villager #1, Chief of Watch Mr. Hickenbottom, CDA, News Anchor, Turnbuckle, Police Robot #1, Man, Male Bear #2, Mr. Incredible’s Lawyer, Claude Scruggs, and Jerry Jablonski

Also Known For: Actor best known as Squidward Tentacles in SpongeBob SquarePants. Has also voiced other characters on the show as well including a purple doctor fish and various anchovies. Also voiced The Chief in Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Professor Membrane in Invader Zim, and Mr. Besser in The Kids from Room 402. Film appearances include Escape from New York, The Running Man, Bio-Dome, Heavy Metal, Porco Rosso, Theodore Rex, Quest for Camelot, The Iron Giant, Titan A.E., Spirited Away, Osmosis Jones, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Kung-Fu Magoo, and Seal Team. TV appearances include Disco Beaver from Outer Space, Wizards and Warriors, Silk Stalkings, Just Desserts, Santa Jr., Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Jetsons, Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures, Ring Raiders, The Real Ghostbusters, Tiny Toon Adventures, Toxic Crusaders, Raw Toonage, Batman: The Animated Series, Bonkers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Angry Beavers, CatDog, Oh Yeah! Cartoons, Monster Farm, Rugrats, Batman Beyond, Time Squad, The Zeta Project, Teen Titans, ChalkZone, Random! Cartoons, We Bare Bears, and Mixels. Video game appearances include Sacrifice, Blood Omen 2, Command & Conquer: Renegade, Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, X-Men Legends, Teen Titans, Buzz!: The Mega Quiz, and Lego DC Super-Villains.

Personal Life: Married to Angel VanZandt since 2019 whom he met in high school 50 years prior. Not sure what their story is.

Later Life: In 2016, Bumpass was arrested for an alleged DUI in Burbank, California. Police report of the incident alleged that Burbank Police Department officers found Bumpass in a car within the middle of the road, allegedly leaning against the vehicle. When officers approached him for questioning, Bumpass attempted to walk away and lost his balance (nearly falling to the ground). Bumpass later admitted to drinking and driving after leaving a Burbank bar before the police spotted him and he was soon handcuffed after failing a sobriety test. His blood alcohol levels were said to be twice the legal limit and he was later released on a $15,000 bail the next morning. TMZ first reported this incident several days after it occurred. Bumpass later told the website that the Burbank police had lied about the DUI report. He claimed that he wasn’t leaning against the car when officers spotted him and that officers had pulled him over before arresting him. Though he again confessed to the DUI charges. Anyway, Nickelodeon knew about the incident, but said that Bumpass would remain on SpongeBob SquarePants for the foreseeable future.

Trivia: Received a Daytime Emmy nomination for his role as Squidward Tentacles.

214.  Jess Harnell

Dates: 1963-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Englewood, New Jersey. Raised in Teaneck. Father was jazz composer Joe Harnell.

Movies and Cartoons:  The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), A Bug’s Life (1998), The Emperor’s New Groove (2000), Lilo & Stitch (2002), Finding Nemo (2003), WALL-E (2008), Up (2009), Toy Story 3 (2010), Wreck-It-Ralph (2012), Monsters University (2013) as well as various the live action The Country Bears, direct-to-video installments, series, video games, and theme park attractions.

Characters: Frollo’s Soldiers, Bus Beetle, Guard, Hawaiian Man, Seagulls, Axiom Passenger #9, Nurse AJ, Army Man, Don, Fraternity Brother, and MU Security Monster

Also Known For: Voice actor best known as Wakko Warner in Animaniacs, Captain Hero in Drawn Together, Jerry in Totally Spies!, Ironside in the Transfomers film franchise, Crash Bandicoot in the Crash Bandicoot franchise, Tosh Gopher in The Looney Tunes Show, and Wooton Basset in Adventures in Odyssey. Announcer for America’s Funniest Home Videos since 1989. Has also been the lead vocalist in the pop/metal mashup rock bands Rock Sugar and Loud & Clear. Film appearances include Pom Poko, Casper, Quest for Camelot, Lion of Oz, Max Keeble’s Big Move, Little Nicky, Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring, Scooby-Doo, Clifford’s Really Big Movie, Racing Stripes, Ice Age: The Meltdown, The Wild, Tales from Earthsea, Underdog, Horton Hears a Who!, Dragon Hunters, Igor, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Norm of the North, The Secret Life of Pets, Deep, and History of Swear Words. TV appearances include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Bonkers, 2 Stupid Dogs, Tiny Toon Spring Break Special, Empty Nest, What a Cartoon, Freakazoid!, Cow and Chicken, Fantastic Four, Road Rovers, The Spootacular New Adventures of Casper, I Am Weasel, The Weird Al Show, Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys, The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs, The Simpsons, The Drew Carey Show, Horrible Histories, ChalkZone, Clifford: The Big Red Dog, The Powderpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Duck Dodgers, Clifford’s Puppy Days, The Fairly OddParents, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Higglytown Heroes, Pet Alien, The Replacements, The Land Before Time, Ben 10, Chowder, Foster’s House of Imaginary Friends, The Super Hero Squad Show, The Cleveland Show,  Rick and Morty, TripTank, The Loud House, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Big Mouth, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, Pickle and Peanut, Life in Pieces, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?, and Megamind Rules!. Video game appearances include Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness, Clay Fighter 63 1/3, Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time, NASCAR Rumble, Star Wars Episode  I:  Jedi Power Battles, Escape from  Monkey Island, Star Wars: Obi-Wan, Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, Spyro: A Hero’s Tail, The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge, Crash Team Tag Racing, Over the Hedge, Shrek the Third, Surf’s Up, Biker Mice from Mars, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, The Secret Saturdays: Beasts of the 5^th Sun, Skylanders: Swap Force, Heroes of the Storm, and Sea of Thieves.

Personal Life: Proposed to his longtime girlfriend Cara Leanne in 2019 and have been married since later that year.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

215. Jeff Bennett

Dates: 1962-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Houston, Texas. Got his acting training on stage at its Alley Theatre before moving to California with his family in 1990.

Movies and Cartoons: The Lion King (1994), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Return to Neverland (2002), Enchanted (2007), Bolt (2008), Planes (2013), and Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers (2020) as well as several direct-to-video installments, series, and video games.

Characters: Zazu (singing), Frollo’s Soldiers, Smee, Pirate Crew, Pip, Lloyd, and Lumiere

Also Known For: Prominent voice actor best known as Johnny Bravo, Dexter and DeeDee’s Dad in Dexter’s Laboratory, Ace, Grubber, and Big Billy in The Powderpuff Girls, Brooklyn in Gargoyles, Peter Puppy in Earthworm Jim, Dr. Jacques von Hämsterviel in Lilo & Stitch: The Series, Clay Bailey in Xiaolin Showdown, Petrie in The Land Before Time franchise, The Man with the Yellow Hat in Curious George, and Kowalski in the Penguins of Madagascar series. Is listed among the top names in the voice-over field. Film appearances include Batman: The Mask of Phantasm, Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins, Siegfried & Roy: Masters of the Impossible, James and the Giant Peach, Mighty Ducks the Movie: The First Face-Off, Tweety’s High-Flying Adventure, The Powderpuff Girls Movie, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Asterix and the Vikings, Queer Duck: The Movie, TMNT, Dead Space: Downfall, Dr. Dolittle Million Dollar Mutts, Gaturro, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, Kung Fu Magoo, Foodfight!, Khumba, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbors the Yamadas, Porco Rosso, Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind, Whisper of the Heart, Tales from Earthsea, Afro Samurai, and Turbo. TV appearances include Where’s Waldo?, James Bond Jr., The Legend of Prince Valiant, Raw Toonage, Tiny Toon Adventures, The Plucky Duck Show, Batman: The Animated Series, Wild West C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa, 2 Stupid Dogs, Animaniacs, Rugrats, The Schnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show, The Tick, The Ren & Stimpy Show, The Savage Dragon, Freakazoid!, The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat, Pinky and the Brain, The Sylvester & Tweet Mysteries, Adventures from the Book of Virtues, The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest, Superman: The Animated Series, Mighty Ducks, The New Batman Adventures, Nightmare Ned, The Wild Thornberrys, Histeria!, The New Woody Woodpecker Show, Batman Beyond, Detention, Static Shock, The Zeta Project, Samurai Jack, Teamo Supremo, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, The Mummy, Time Squad, ChalkZone, Duck Dodgers, Xiaolin Showdown, The Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy, Dave the Barbarian, The Batman, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, American Dad!, Teen Titans, The Life and Times of Juniper Lee, Camp Lazlo, Justice League Unlimited, Loonatics Unleashed, The Replacements, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, Higglytown Heroes, Tak and the Power of Juju, Transformers: Animated, Chowder, Back at the Barnyard, Random Cartoons, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Ben 10: Alien Force, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, The Secret Saturdays, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Fanboy & Chum Chum, Generator Rex, Hero Factory, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Pound Puppies, Regular Show, Adventure Time, Young Justice, The Looney Tunes Show, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Robot and Monster, Motorcity, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Transformers: Rescue Bots, The Fairly OddParents, Teen Titans Go!, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., Wander Over Yonder, All Hail King Julien, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, Guardians of the Galaxy, Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures, The Loud House, Bunsen Is a Beast, Puppy Dog Pals, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny, Voltron: Legendary Defender, The Stinky & Dirty Show, Scooby Doo and Guess Who?, Dreamworks Dragons: Rescue Riders, Green Eggs and Ham, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, The Ghost and Molly McGee, Pretzel and the Puppies, X-Men ’97, and Jellystone!. Video game appearances include Leisure Suit Larry 6: Shape Up or Ship Out!, Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, Quest for Glory IV: Shadoes of Darkness, Stonekeep, Goosebumps: Escape from Horrorland, Toonstruck, Fallout, The Lost Vikings 2, Animaniacs Game Pack, Baldur’s Gate, The Powderpuff Girls: Chemical X-Traction, X-Squad, Star Wars: Force Commander, Escape from Monkey Island, Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader, Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Stupid Invaders, The Powderpuff Girls: Relish Rampage, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter, Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Mayhem, Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku, The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning, Cartoon Network Racing, Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall, Ghostbusters: The Video Game, Ben 10 Ultimate Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks, Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 2, Star Wars: The Old Republic, The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr. Blowhole Returns – Again!, Young Justice: Legacy, and SpongeBob HeroPants.

Personal Life: Married to Susan E. Welby since 1988. Has a daughter born in 1998.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Has won an Annie and a Daytime Emmy.

216. Paul Eiding

Dates: 1957-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Cleveland, Ohio. Was inspired to become an actor while serving in the US Army’s 3^rd Infantry Division in Wurzburg, Germany. During this time, he joined a performing group called the Marne Glee Club. Despite being among the group’s youngest G.I.s, Eiding was soon promoted to a directing position due to his musical background. The group performed across Germany, Belgium, Denmark, and France for soldier and civilian audiences. During the 1970s, he was a prolific commercial actor, appearing in advertisements for snowmobiles, granola bars, department stores, and clothing. He also worked for theater groups across the Midwest including Dudley Riggs’ Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis. Later moved to Wausau, Wisconsin where he led a number of workshops and was a guest director for its community theater production of the comedy-mystery What the Butler Saw in 1980. Was an actor and director for the Chanhausen Dinner Theater in Minneapolis. In 1981, Eiding hosted the Twin Cities’ first award ceremony for distinguished achievement in local theater, which was held at the Children’s Theatre Company. Made his screen debut in 1978.

Movies and Cartoons: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Mulan (1998), A Bug’s Life (1998), Tarzan (1999), Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Treasure Planet (2002), Finding Nemo (2003), Brother Bear (2003), Home on the Range (2004), The Incredibles (2004), Chicken Little (2005), Cars (2006), WALL-E (2008), Up (2009), Monsters University (2013), and Incredibles 2 (2018) as well as a couple of direct-to-video installments.

Characters: Frollo’s Soldiers, Ping Soldier #2, Male Ants, Larry, Loop Group, Sergeant, Frank, Interviewee #2, Verne, Grey Fish, Inuit Tribe Member #1, Buck, Metroville Man, Bear #1, Haul Inngas, Sage Vanderspin, Axiom Passenger #12, Horrified Dog, Clive Carver, and Gus Burns/Reflux

Also Known For: Actor best known as Colonel Roy Campbell in the Metal Gear series, Perceptor in The Transformers, and Max Tennyson in the Ben 10 franchise. Film appearances include F.I.S.T., The Personals, Madhouse, American Zombie, The Submarine Kid, Adventures in Dinosaur City, Once Upon a Forest, Porco Rosso, Cats Don’t Dance, Quest for Camelot, Antz, Prince of Egypt, The Iron Giant, Chicken Run, Spirited Away, Shrek, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, The Polar Express, Madagascar, Curious George, Flushed Away, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. TV appearances include Cheers, Empty Nest, Star Trek: The Next Generation, ER, The West Wing, CSI: Miami, My Name Is Earl, Sky Commanders, Fantastic Max, Toxic Crusaders, Batman: The Animated Series, Animaniacs,  Daisy-Head Mayzie, The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest, The Tick, Cow and Chicken, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Amphibia, and The Loud House. Video game appearances include Math Blaster Episode I: In Search of Spot, Diablo, StarCraft, Evil Zone, Battle Zone II: Combat Commander, Sword of the Berserk: Guts’ Rage, Sacrifice, Orphen: Scion of Sorcery, Tenchu 2: Birth of Stealth Assassins, Escape from Monkey Island, Grandia II, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, EOE: Eve of Extinction, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain, Onimusha 3, God of War, Jade Empire, Samurai Western, Total Overdose, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Chili Con Carnage, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Guild Wars: Eye of the North, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Ninja Gaiden II, Condemned 2: Bloodshot, Fallout 3, Lost: Via Domus, Too Human, Rise of the Argonauts, Fusion Fall, Avatar: The Game, Dead to Rights: Retribution, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, Resistance 3, Spec Ops: The Line, Doom 3: BFG Edition, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., and Shin Megami Tensei V.

Personal Life: Married to Colleen Kelly. They have 2 children.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

217. Tate Donovan

Dates: 1963-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Tenafly, New Jersey as the youngest of 6 kids. Father was a surgeon. Attended Dwight-Englewood High School in Englewood, New Jersey before transferring to Tenafly High School. Attended the University of Southern California. Has appeared on television since his teenage years.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as some TV series, a few direct-to-video installments, and several video games.

Characters: Hercules

Also Known For: Actor, comedian, and television director best known as Tom Shayles in Damages, Jimmy Cooper in The O.C., Brian Sanders in Hostages, White House Chief of Staff Mark Bourdeau in 24: Live Another Day, and Joshua Burgin in Friends. Film appearances include Love Potion No. 9, Goodnight, and Good Luck, Argo, SpaceCamp, Clean and Sober, Memphis Belle, Inside Monkey Zetterland, Ethan Frome, Holy Matrimony, Murder at 1600, Waiting for Woody, October 22, G-Men from Hell, Swordfish, The Pacifier, Nancy Drew, Wild About Harry, Sunbelt Express, Manchester by the Sea, Elvis & Nixon, The Only Living Boy in New York, 3 Generations, Rocketman, Worth, Respect, Ghosted, and The Holdovers. TV appearances include Family Ties, Hill Street Blues, Magnum P.I., Tales from the Crypt, Homicide: Life on the Street, Ally McBeal, Trinity, Godzilla: The Series, The Outer Limits, Max Steel, The Guardian, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Cleaner, Deception, No Ordinary Family, Masters of Sex, Elementary, Limitless, The Man in the High Castle, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, MacGyver, and FBI. Directed episodes of The O.C., Medium, Nip/Tuck, Damages, Weeds, The Good Guys, Gossip Girl, Glee, Weeds, Madam Secretary, and The Fosters.

Personal Life: Had relationships with Sandra Bullock and Jenifer Aniston during the 1990s. Married twice. First wife was Corinne Kingsbury from 2005 to their divorce in 2008. Second and current wife is Corry Scheuerman since 2015.

Later Life: As of 2011, he voices radio and radio advertising for PNC Bank and volunteers with the Young Storytellers Program.

Trivia: Has been nominated for an Emmy and an Independent Spirit Award. Had a regular gig with traditional Irish band the MacGuffins, with whom he released an album Wake Amusements where he plays the fiddle and the bodhran. Worked as producer for 30 for 30 Shorts.

218. Josh Keaton

Dates: 1979-present

Early Life and Career: Born Joshua Luis Wiener in Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles. Dad is from New York City and Jewish. Mom is from Lima, Peru and Catholic. Fluent in Spanish and English as well as knows some Quecha from his maternal grandparents. As a baby, he appeared in an OshKosh B’gosh commercial and was in a 1990s boy band called No Authority.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as a some video games and the series Elena of Avalor.

Characters: Young Hercules

Also Known For: Actor known for his many voice roles such as Takashi “Shiro” Shirogane in Voltron: Legendary Defender, Spider-Man in various media in addition to Electro in the video game Marvel’s Spider-Man, Jack Darby in Transformers: Prime, Ryu Hyabusa in the console versions of Ninja Gaiden, Revolver Ocelot in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, King Anduin in the MMORPG World of Warcraft, and Tyler in Pokemon Concierge. Film appearances include The Wild, Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom, Winx Club 3D: Magical Adventure, The Laws of the Universe, Birds of a Feather, All I Want for Christmas, Newsies, Judge and Jury, Infinity, Just Write, The Souler Opposite, Chimera House, and Suzume. TV appearances include New Kids on the Block, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Snoopy’s Reunion, Peter Pan and the Pirates, Batman: The Animated Series, Adventures from the Book of Virtues, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Bratz, Ben 10, The Spectacular Spider-Man, The Super Hero Squad Show, Winx Club, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Scooby-Doo! Spooky Games, Young Justice, Hero Factory, Doc McStuffins, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, DC Super Hero Girls, Kulipari, Justice League Action, Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants, What If…?, Arcane, Tales of the Jedi, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Invincible, X-Men ’97, Boy Meets World, Sister, Sister, Saved by the Bell: The New Class, The Secret World of Alex Mack, Chicago Hope, Baywatch, General Hospital, Touched by an Angel, The Young and the Restless, ER, Will & Grace, Bones, Scorpion, and Ranma ½. Video game appearances include Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, Area 51, Psychonauts, X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, Naruto: Clash of Ninja 2, Age of Empires III: War Chiefs, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, God of War II, Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man: Friend or Foe, No More Heroes, Cloudy with the Chance of Meatballs, Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust, Marvel Super Hero Squad, Jak and Dexter: The Lost Frontier, Star Craft II: Wings of Liberty, Splatterhouse, Spider-Man: Edge of Time, Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Knack, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, Battlefield Hardline, Infinite Crisis, Lego Jurassic World, Mad Max, Lego Dimensions, King’s Quest, World of Final Fantasy, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, Horizon Zero Dawn, Prey, Death Standing, Horizon Forbidden West, Apex Legends Mobile, Star Trek: Resurgence, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Batman: Arkham Shadow, and Marvel Rivals.

Personal Life: Married to Elizabeth Melendez since 2009. They have 2 children.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

219. James Woods

Dates: 1947-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Vernal, Utah. Father was a US Army intelligence officer who died in 1960 after a routine surgery. His mother ran a pre-school after his father’s death and later remarried. Grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island where he graduated from Pilgrim High School in 1965. Attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology with aspirations to become an eye surgeon but dropped out after one semester before graduating to pursue an acting career. Although he was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity and the student theater group Dramashop where he acted and directed a number of plays. Appeared in 36 plays before debuting on Broadway in 1969. Made his first film during the 1970s.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) and Recess: School’s Out (2001) as well as the direct-to-video Mickey’s House of Villains, the TV series Hercules and House of Mouse along with several video games.

Characters: Hades and Dr. Phillium Benedict

Also Known For: Prominent character actor who’s appeared in over 130 films and television series within a career that’s spanned over 50 years. Did voice work for a few video games in the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Film appearances include The Visitors, The Way We Were, Night Moves, The Onion Field, Ghosts of Mississippi, Videodrome, Once Upon a Time in America, The Hard Way, Chaplin, Nixon, Casino, Contact, Vampires, Another Day in Paradise, Any Given Sunday, The Virgin Suicides, Stuart Little 2, Surf’s Up, The Black Marble, Cat’s Eye, Salvador, Straight Talk, Diggstown, Citizen Cohn, John Q., White House Down, Jobs, Riding in Cars with Boys, Northfork, Straw Dogs, and Bling. TV appearances include Promise, My Name Is Bill W., Citizen Cohn, Too Big to Fail, Shark, Ray Donovan, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Kojak, The Rockford Files, Welcome Back, Kotter, The Streets of San Francisco, Police Story, Family, Holocaust, The Disappearance of Aimee, The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel, Young Maverick, In Love and War, Saturday Night Live, Fallen Angels, Indictment: The McMartin Trial, The Summer of Ben Tyler, Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story, ER, Entourage, Coma, and Justice League Action. Stage appearances include The Borstal Boy, The Trial of the Catonsville Nine, and Moonchildren.

Personal Life: Married 3 times. First wife was costume designer Kathryn Pahoa from 1980 to their divorce in 1983. Second wife was then 26-year-old equestrian and boutique owner Sarah Owen in 1989 but they divorced 4 months later. Third and current wife is Sara Miller whom I’m reasonably sure is probably much younger than him. He also dated actress Heather Graham in 1992.

Later Life: Was involved in a car accident in 2015 while driving through Glenwood Canyon, a speeding driver lost control and crashed into 5 other cars. He swerved his Jeep Grand Cherokee to avoid an accident and collided with a retaining wall. But slid backwards into a guardrail 100 feet above the Colorado River. Got away with a concussion. Has frequently been notorious for expressing his conservative political views on Twitter and has been locked out several times for violating its terms of service. At one point, he did turn his Twitter to a bulletin board for missing California wildfire evacuees that saved lives as well as reunited missing loved ones with their pets and families. However, he claimed that the Gersh Agency dropped him for his political views. Yet, in 2022, the University of Washington’s Center for Informed Public and the Krebs Stamos Group found Woods was the top purveyor of election misinformation on Twitter during the late months of 2020. Journalist Matt Taibbi reported that the Democratic National Committee requested a tweet made by Woods related to Hunter Biden, be removed from his account. While critics of Woods defended Twitter’s decision by pointing out that he posted images of Hunter Biden’s private family jewels to his account. Now his posts strongly criticizing Hamas are reasonable during the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel as well as his criticism of President Biden for failing to do more to secure the release of the 12 American hostages that Hamas abducted to the Gaza Strip during the Israel-Hamas War hostage crisis. However, in November 2023, he advocated against a ceasefire and further called for the killing of all Palestinian activists with the hashtag “#KillThemAll.” He’s also condemned the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses for fomenting anti-Semitism and showing support for Hamas, which is just complete and hateful bullshit on his part. Because those protests are more about supporting a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War and pressuring the Israeli government to stop committing war crimes and enacting oppressive policies against the Palestinian people, which can amount to systemic apartheid at best or genocide at worst. Criticizing the Israeli government’s inexcusable treatment of the Palestinian people within its borders doesn’t make one any more anti-Semite or supporting Hamas any more than criticizing Utah’s state government makes one anti-Mormon. He’s also faced allegations of sexual misconduct from onetime co-star Sean Young for stalking her and overreacting after she spurned his advances after they appeared together in The Boost, which resulted in a lawsuit which led to Woods having to pay Young $227,000. Another allegation came in 2017 when actress Amber Tamblyn accused Woods of inviting her to Las Vegas when she was underage which Woods has dismissed as a lie.

Trivia: Has won 3 Emmys and a Golden Globe. Nominated for 2 Academy Awards and 3 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Is an avid video game and poker player.

220. Susan Egan

Dates: 1970-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Seal Beach, California. Attended Los Alamitos High School and co-located Orange County High School of the Arts and UCLA. Spent much of her childhood taking dance, concentrating on ballet, as well as trained as a figure skater from 5 to 10. During her high school and college years, Egan started her career in community theaters and civic light operas. While attending UCLA, she took time when Tommy Tune cast her in his touring production of Bye Bye Birdie. After that, she was cast in State Fair and won the coveted role of Belle in the original Broadway cast of Beauty and the Beast.

Movies and Cartoons: Hercules (1997) as well as some direct-to-video installments, the series Hercules, and a few video games.

Characters: Megara “Meg”

Also Known For: Actress, singer, and dancer best known for her work on the Broadway stage. Best known roles are Rose Quartz in Steven Universe, Madame Gina in Porco Rosso, and Lina in Spirited Away. Film appearances include Man of the Century, XCU: Extreme Closeup, Revolution OS, 13 Going on 30, and Achmed Saves America. TV appearances include The Drew Carey Show, Nikki, NYPD Blue, Numb3rs, Haunted, House, Modern Family, Amphibia, and The Simpsons. Stage appearances include Bye Bye Birdie, State Fair, Triumph of Love, South Pacific, Cabaret, Putting It Together, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Chess. Has also performed in one-woman, cabaret-style concerts at venues across the United States, has headlined with more than 60 symphonies, and has appeared at the Hollywood Bowl 5 times.

Personal Life: Married to Robert Hartman since 2005. Has 2 daughters with him.

Later Life: Currently produces live stage productions with 2 companies she manages: roadway Princess Party, LLC and 10th & Main Productions. Many shows that she produces are in partnership with Disney Concerts and include such titles as Disney Princess – The Concert and Walt Disney Animation Studios – The Concert. Currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Trivia: Originated the role of Belle in the Broadway version of Beauty and the Beast for which she was nominated for a Tony and a Drama Desk Award.