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.