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

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

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

391. Peter Jacobson

Dates: 1965-present

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

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

Characters: Acer

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

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

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

392. Stanley Townsend

Dates: 1961-present

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

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

Characters: Vladimir Trunkov, Ivan, and Victor Hugo

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

Personal Life: Currently married to Orla Charlton.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

393. Franco Nero

Dates: 1941-present

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

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

Characters: Uncle Topolino

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

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

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

Trivia: None.

394.  Velibor Topic

Dates: 1970-present

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

Movies and Cartoons: Cars 2 (2011)

Characters: Alexander Hugo

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

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

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

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

395. Huell Howser

Dates: 1945-2013

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

Movies and Cartoons: Winnie the Pooh (2011)

Characters: Backson

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

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

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

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

396. Kristen Anderson-Lopez

Dates: 1972-present

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

Movies and Cartoons: Winnie the Pooh (2011)

Characters: Kanga

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

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

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

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

397. Craig Ferguson

Dates: 1962-present

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

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

Characters: Owl and Lord Macintosh

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

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

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

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

398. Kelly MacDonald

Dates: 1976-present

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

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

Characters: Princess Merida

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

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

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

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

399. Kevin McKidd

Dates: 1973-present

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

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

Characters: Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin

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

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

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

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

400. Patrick Doyle

Dates: 1953-present

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

Movies and Cartoons: Brave (2012)

Characters: Martin

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

Personal Life: Married to Lesley and has 4 children.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

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

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

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

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

371. Delroy Lindo

Dates: 1952-present

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

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

Characters: Beta

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

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

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

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

372. David Kaye

Dates: 1964-present

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

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

Characters: Newsreel Announcer

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

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

Later Life: Has lived in Los Angeles since 2007.

Trivia: None.

373. Anika Noni Rose

Dates: 1972-present

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

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

Characters: Tiana

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

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

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

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

374. Bruno Campos

Dates: 1973-present

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

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

Characters: Prince Naveen

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

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

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

Trivia: None.

375. Michael-Leon Wooley

Dates:1971-present

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

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

Characters: Louie

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

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

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

376. Jennifer Cody

Dates: 1969-present

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

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

Characters: Charlotte “Lottie” La Bouff

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

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

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

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

377. Paul Briggs

Dates: 1974-present

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

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

Characters: Two Fingers, Marshmallow, and Yama

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

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

Later Life: Still working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

378. Ned Beatty

Dates: 1937-2021

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

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

Characters: Lots-o’ Huggin’ Bear/Lotso

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

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

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

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

379. Blake Clark

Dates: 1946-present

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

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

Characters: Slinky Dog

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

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

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

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

380. Bea Miller

Dates: 1999-present

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

Movies and Cartoons: Toy Story 3 (2010)

Characters: Molly

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

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

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

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

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

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

351. Jake Steinfeld

Dates: 1958-present

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

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

Characters: Git

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

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

Later Life: Still actively working since 2025.

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

352. Ben Burtt

Dates: 1948-present

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

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

Characters: WALL-E and M-O

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

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

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

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

353. Jeff Garlin

Dates: 1962-present

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

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

Characters: Captain B. McCrea, Buttercup, and Otis

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

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

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

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

354. MacInTalk

Dates: 1984-present

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

Movies and Cartoons: WALL-E (2008)

Characters: AUTO

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

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

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

Trivia: None.

355. Kathy Najimy

Dates: 1958-present

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

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

Characters: Mary

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

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

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

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

356. Angus MacLane

Dates: 1975-present

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

357. Lori Alan

Dates: 1966-present

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trivia: None.

358. Susan Essman

Dates: 1955-present

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

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

Characters: Mittens

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

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

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

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

359. Nick Swardson

Dates: 1976-present

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

Movies and Cartoons: Bolt (2008)

Characters: Blake

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

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

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

360. Diedrich Bader

Dates: 1966-present

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

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

Characters: Guard #2, Veteran Cat, and Borthos

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

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

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.