In 2019, the Walt Disney Company acquired 21^st Century Fox’s assets from Rupert Murdoch for $71 billion, making it the biggest acquisition in Disney’s history. The New York Times described Disney as “an entertainment colossus the size of which the world has never seen.” Through this deal, Disney got 20^th Century Fox, 20^th Century Fox Television, Fox Searchlight Pictures, National Geographic Partners, Fox Networks Group, a 30% stake in Hulu, and more. That same year, it became the first studio to have 7 films gross $1 billion. In November, Disney launched the Disney+ streaming service which had 500 movies and 7,500 TV episodes from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and other brands. Within its first day, the streaming service had over 10 million subscriptions. By 2022, it had over 135 million. In 2020, Disney removed the name Fox from its assets. During the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020, Disney temporarily closed all its theme parks, delayed the releases of several movies, and stopped all cruises. Due to closures, Disney then announced it would cease paying 100,000 employees but still provide healthcare benefits, as well as urged US employees to apply for government benefits, saving the company $500 million a month. While Disney executive chairman Bob Iger gave up his salary and CEO Bob Chapek took a 50% pay cut. The company later reported a $1.4 billion loss with earnings declining 91% to $475 million from $5.4 billion in 2019. By August financial institutions owned 2/3 of the company. The next month, it dismissed 28,000 employees, 67% who were mostly part-time from its Parks, Experiences, and Products Division. Division chairman Josh D’Amaro wrote: “We initially hoped that this situation would be short-lived, and that we would recover quickly and return to normal. Seven months later, we find that has not been the case.” In its third quarter, Disney lost $4.7 billion and laid off another 4,000 employees. While Touchstone Television ceased operations that December. In 2021, Disney announced it would be launching 20^th Century Animation for mature audiences and closed down Blue Sky Studios. In 2022, Disney ceased operations in Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine and was the first major Hollywood studio to do so. Other studios followed. In 2023, Disney began its “100 Years of Wonder” in celebration of its centennial anniversary of the company’s founding. Today the Walt Disney Company is one of the world’s largest entertainment companies and is considered a pioneer in the animation industry.

In 2014, producer Peter Del Vecho said that he, Chris Buck, and Jennifer Lee made a good team and he envisioned another Frozen-related project. However, Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan F. Horn said that a sequel won’t immediately happen because the studio was more focused on the Frozen Broadway adaptation. While Disney CEO Bob Iger said in an CNBC interview that the company won’t force any sequel development, because it was concerned about not living up to the first film. Later saying that the Frozen franchise “is something that is kind of forever for the company”, similar to The Lion King. That summer, Lee confirmed that John Lasseter had authorized her and Buck to explore Frozen sequel ideas. While working on the short Frozen Fever, they realized that they missed the characters and decided to go ahead. But although they didn’t get all the details right, Del Vecho, Buck, and Lee decided to end the sequel with Anna as Queen of Arendelle and Elsa as “free.” Once again, the production team traveled to Norway, Finland, and Iceland for background research. They also decided to make Elsa a “mythic hero” with magic ice powers and Anna a “fairytale hero” who lives in a magical world but has no magical powers to speak of. In addition, the filmmakers collaborated with Sami experts on the Northuldra people’s depiction with Verdett, and advisory group which was a result of an agreement with the Walt Disney Company, the transnational Saami Council, and the Sami parliaments of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Frozen II later underwent significant revisions in order to clarify the Voice and the point of Elsa’s transformation as well to add more comedy and the shots of Bruni the salamander. One scene of expository dialogue where the lead characters explained to the people trapped in the Enchanted Forest why they had come there was switched with Olaf’s Frozen recap. While technological advancements allowed the designer to create more detailed outfits with extra beads and sequins. Upon its 2019 release, Frozen II received positive reviews from critics but wasn’t seen as good as the first film. Yet, it also grossed $1.45 billion at the box office and 2 Academy Award nominations.

              While directing Monsters University, filmmaker Dan Scanlon was encouraged to develop personal stories. He didn’t tell his brother about the film since these movies take long to make. In 2017,then-Pixar chief John Lasseter announced a “suburban fantasy” at the D23 Expo was in development. The inspiration behind Onward was the death of Scanlon’s father when he was only a year old and his older brother was 3, and their relationship with each other. They had seen home videos of their dad but there was no audio. Scanlon became inspired to write the story after a family member found an old cassette with his dad’s voice on it. He listened to it along with his mom and brother with only the words “Hi” and “Goodbye” being heard from his dad, which Scanlon described as “magical.” When it came to animation, animators first developed Onward’s magic using hand-drawn animated drawings before turning them into computer-animated effects. With effects supervisor Vincent Serritella saying, that “[they] made shapes and graphic elements that really lend themselves to what’s happening in a 2D environment.” He also said that “the key” was mixing hand-drawn and computer animation, arguing that “[g]oing one way or the other didn’t work. Going too graphic didn’t fit into the world that the background and the characters were created in. And going too physical in an animated world seemed too real” so “[they] found the right balance” by turning hand-drawn animated graphics into “light objects” and giving them “[a] true volumetric, glowing atmosphere.” Unfortunately, while Onward received positive reviews, it only grossed $142 million at the box office against a $175-200 million budget. And that was mainly because it came out during the start of the Covid 19 pandemic. But it found greater success through streaming. In this post, we’ll meet the voices behind Harmony’s Mom, Young Elsa, Yelena, Ryder, Honeymaren, Queen Iduna, King Runeard, the Voice, Cold Bronco, and Gaxton.

501. Patricia Arquette

Dates: 1968-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Chicago, Illinois. Father was an alcoholic actor and puppeteer Lewis Arquette who’s best known as J.D. Pickett from The Waltons. Mother was involved in the arts and worked as a therapist but was violently abusive. Grandfather was comedian Cliff Arquette. Refused to get braces as a child because she didn’t want to look perfect. For a time, her family lived in a commune in Bentonville, Virginia where she claimed the longer they lived there, the poorer they became. At 7, her family moved back to Chicago and later settled in Los Angeles, California. Attended Catholic school and wanted to be a nun as a teenager (although she was clearly not raised Catholic). At 14, she ran away from home after learning that her dad was having an affair, ultimately settling with her sister Rosanna in Los Angeles. Before pursuing an acting career, Arquette also considered working as a midwife. Yet, she briefly put the career prospect aside in an attempt to gain acting jobs and gained success in the industry. Made screen debut in 1987.

Movies and Cartoons: Toy Story 4 (2019)

Characters: Harmony’s Mom

Also Known For: Actress best known as Kristen Parker in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Allison DuBois in Medium, and Dee Dee Blanchard in The Act. Film appearances include True Romance, Ed Wood, Flirting with Disaster, Lost Highway, The Hi-Lo Country, Bringing Out the Dead, Holes, Boyhood, Pretty Smart, Uncle Buck, Prayer of the Rollerboys, The Indian Runner, Inside Monkey Zetterland, Trouble Bound, Ethan Frome, Holy Matrimony, Infinity, The Secret Agent, Nightwatch, Goodbye Lover, Stigmata, Little Nicky, Searching for Debra Winger, The Badge, Tiptoes, A Single Woman, Girl in Progress, A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, Vijay and I, Electric Slide, The Wannabe, Permanent, Waves for Water, Otherhood, You Cannot Kill David Arquette, and Gonzo Girl. TV  appearances include Escape at Dannemora, Severance, CBS Schoolbreak Special, Tales from the Crypt, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Boardwalk Empire, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Cyber, Inside Amy Schumer, and High Desert.

Personal Life: Sister of Rosanna, Alexis, and David Arquette. Married twice. First husband was actor Nicholas Cage from 1995 to their divorce in 2000. Although they separated 9 months into their marriage (which doesn’t surprise me because she probably had no idea what being married to a guy like Cage would entail. Seriously, the guy has a reputation). Second husband was actor Thomas Jane from 2006 to their divorce in 2011. She has a daughter named Harlow Jane with her second husband born in 2003 and a son named Enzo Rossi with musician Paul Rossi born in 1989. Was in a relationship with painter Eric White from 2014-2023.

Later Life: After the 2010 Haitian earthquake, she and childhood friend Rosetta Millington-Getty formed GiveLove, a non-profit organization supporting ecological sanitation and composting, community development projects and housing construction in Haiti. After losing her mother to breast cancer in 1997, Arquette has run for the Race for the Cure and was a spokesperson for Lee Denim Day in 1999. In 2010, she teamed up with welding students of the Robert Morgan Education Center in Miami, Florida to build shelters in Haiti from 20 used shipping containers to provide housing to those the earthquake displaced. In 2017, Arquette participated in in the Women’s March against Donald Trump.

Trivia: Has won an Academy Award, 3 Golden Globes, 2 Emmys, 2 SAG Awards, a Critics’ Choice, and an Independent Spirit Award.

502. Mattea Conforti

Dates: 2006-present

Early Life and Career: Born in West Caldwell, New Jersey. First appeared onscreen in a Charmin commercial at 7. At a young age, Conforti bought tickets to see Matilda the Musical with her grandmother. But she felt a “tinge of disappointment” since she could “easily see herself [starring as the lead character]” and “[she] could have done that.” At 8, Conforti attended an open casting call for Matilda the Musical where she was later cast as the titular character as a replacement 2 months later.

Movies and Cartoons: Frozen II (2019) and the stage version of Frozen in 2017.

Characters: Young Elsa

Also Known For: Actress best known as Matilda Wormwood in Matilda the Musical (2015), Louise in Sunday in the Park with George, and Moon in The Ollie & Moon Show. Film appearances include 3 Generations, The Super, Viper Club, and The Many Saints of Newark. TV appearances include Gotham, Power, The Good Cop, and NOS4A2.

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

Later Life: Enrolled in Harvard University in the fall of 2024 and is a member of Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals.

Trivia: None.

503. Martha Plimpton

Dates: 1970-present

Early Life and Career: Born in New York City. Daughter of actors Keith Carradine and Shelley Plimpton. Granddaugther of actor John Carradine. Attended the Professional Children’s School in Manhattan. First stage appearance was when her mother brought her on stage for the curtain call of a short-lived Broadway play The Leaf People and another called The Ass in the Heart. Began her career as a model, securing an early 1980s campaign for Calvin Klein, making an impression as a sophisticated but tomboyish little girl. Made her film debut in 1981.

Movies and Cartoons: Frozen II (2019) as well as the series Doc McStuffins.

Characters: Yelena

Also Known For: Actress from the Carradine family who began her career in her teens in film before transitioning to adult roles. Best known as Virginia Chance in Raising Hope. Film appearances include Rollover, The Goonies, The Mosquito Coast, Running on Empty, Parenthood, Samantha, Beautiful Girls, Small Town Murder Songs, Mass, The River Rat, Stars and Bars, Another Woman, Stanley & Iris, Inside Monkey Zetterland, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, Last Summer in the Hamptons, I Shot Andy Warhol, Colin Fitz, Eye of God, Music from Another Room, Pecker, 200 Cigarettes, Hair High, Marvelous, Dante’s Inferno, Remember Me, Company, Hello Again, and Honey Bee. TV appearances include The Good Wife, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Rea O’Neals, Family Ties, ER, 7^th Heaven, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Surface, Medium, Grey’s Anatomy, Fringe, How to Make It in America, The Blacklist, Generation, Sprung, A Town Called Malice, Family Guy, The Regime, and Prime Target. Stage appearances include The Coast of Utopia, Top Girls, Pal Joey, Shining City, Cymbeline, A Delicate Balance, The Heidi Chronicles, SubUrbia, Uncle Vanya, The Playboy of the Western World, The Glass Menagerie, Hedda Gabler, Absolution, Hobson’s Choice, Boston Marriage, The False Servant, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Company, Other Desert Cities, Sweat, As You Like It, and Here We Are.

Personal Life: Niece of actor David and Robert Carradine. Had a romantic relationship with River Phoenix from 1986-1989.

Later Life: Is an active campaigner for abortion rights who’s lobbied for Congress on behalf of Planned Parenthood and is on the board of directors of the women’s rights organization “A Is For.” In 2014, she wrote a lengthy article both U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby and McCullen v. Coakley, revealing that she’s had at least 2 abortions in the past. She wrote that her purpose was “A) to contribute to the dismantling of an oppressive, artificial and unfair shaming of women who seek abortion care, B) make clear just how normal, common, and healthy a decision it is for the women who make it, and C) to encourage women who are part of this one third to be unashamed and come out of the abortion closet.” Is also a big campaigner for LGBT+ rights. In addition, she resides part-time in London.

Trivia: Has won a Primetime Emmy and an Independent Spirit Award. Has been nominated for 3 Tony Awards.

504. Jason Ritter

Dates: 1980-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Los Angeles. Son of actors John Ritter and Nancy Morgan. Grandson of country singer Tex Ritter and actress Dorothy Fay. Stepson of Amy Yasbeck. Began his career by appearing as a toddler on his father’s show Three’s Company with Joyce DeWitt. His appearance was unplanned but the producers liked the added touch so they kept it. Attended middle and high school at the Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California. Attended and graduated from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University where he studied at the Atlantic Theater Company. Later studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Made his professional acting debut at 10, playing Harry Neal Baum in the 1990 TV movie The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story.

Movies and Cartoons: Frozen II (2019) as well as the series Gravity Falls.

Characters: Ryder

Also Known For: Actor known as Mark Cyr in Parenthood. Film appearances include Mumford, Swimfan, Freddy vs. Jason, Raise Your Voice, Happy Endings, The Education of Charlie Banks, W., The Perfect Family, Wild Canaries, The Meddler, Carrie Philby, Bitch, The Tale, Our Very Own, The Wicker Man (2006), The Deal, Good Dick, The Perfect Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Peter and Vandy, The Dry Land, Hammer, The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best, The End of Love, Free Samples, The Big Ask, The East, Hits, About Alex, We’ll Never Have Paris, The Steps, Embers, and The Intervention. TV appearances include Joan of Arcadia, Another Period, Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, Raising Dion, Matlock, Days of Our Lives, Undressed, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Class, All Grown Up!, WWII HD, The Event, Robot Chicken, Drunk History, Person of Interest, Key & Peele, Garfunkel and Oates, Girls, Wander Over Yonder, Goliath, Gillmore Girls: A Year in the Life, The Long Road Home, Skylanders Academy, A Million Little Things, Superstore, Candy, The Last of  Us, and  Captain Fall.

Personal Life: Brother of Tyler River. Was in a relationship with Scottish actress Marianna Palka from 1999-2013. Married to New Zealand actress Melanie Lynskey since 2020. They have a daughter together born in 2018. Has also struggled with alcoholism and credits his relationship with Lynskey for giving him the strength to get sober.

Later Life:

Trivia: Was roommates with actor and comedian Simon Helberg at New York University. Has been nominated for 2 Primetime Emmy Awards.

505. Rachel Matthews

Dates: 1993-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Los Angeles. Daughter of actress Leslie Landon. Granddaughter of actor Michael Landon Sr. Became interested in acting at an early age after watching Shirley Temple movies, leading to tap and voice classes, and ultimately joining a local theater program at 10. Continued to pursue the stage by studying acting at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Made her film debut in 2017.

Movies and Cartoons: Frozen II (2019)

Characters: Honeymaren

Also Known For: Actress best known for starring in Happy Death Day and Happy Death Day 2U. Film appearances include Tankhouse, Do Revenge, and Upgraded.  TV appearances include Batwoman and Looking for Alaska.

Personal Life: Niece of Michael Jr., Christopher, Jennifer, and Mark Landon.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Friends with actress Camilla Mendes and musician Maggie Rogers.

506. Evan Rachel Wood

Dates: 1987-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mother’s an actress, director, and acting coach. Father is actor, theater director, and playwright Ira Wood III. Father also co-founded and serves as executive director of a community theater company called Theater in the Park, where she was an active member since she was a few months old. Attended Cary Elementary School in Cary, North Carolina. When her parents divorced, she moved to Los Angeles with her mother to further her acting career. Attended public school in California before leaving at 12 for homeschooling, earning her high school diploma at just 15. Began her career by appearing in several made-for-television movies that were shot in her native North Carolina from 1993 onwards. Made Hollywood debut in 1997. Made her teenage debut as a leading actress in 2001.

Movies and Cartoons: Frozen II (2019)

Characters: Queen Iduna

Also Known For: Actress best known as Sophie-Anne Leclerq in True Blood, Veda Pierce in Mildred Pierce (miniseries), Dolores Abernathy in Westworld, and Madonna in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Film appearances include Digging to China, Thirteen, The Wrestler, Whatever Works, The Ides of March, Practical Magic, Little Secrets, Simone, The Missing, Pretty Persuasion, The Upside of Anger, Down in the Valley, Asterix and the Vikings, Shark Bait, Running with Scissors, King of California, The Life Before Her Eyes, Battle for Terra, Across the Universe, The Conspirator, Charlie Countryman, Barefoot, Strange Magic, Into the Forest, Allure, Flavors of Youth, Kajillionaire, Viena and the Fantomes, and Backspot. TV appearances include Once and Again, Search for Grace, A Father for Charlie, American Gothic, Profiler, Touched by an Angel, The West Wing, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Robot Chicken, Doll & Em, Drunk History, What We Do in the Shadows, and Phoenix Rising.

Personal Life: Aunt was a Hollywood production designer. Admitted to being bisexual in 2011. Has been married to British actor Jamie Bell from 2012 to their divorce in 2014. They have a son born in 2013 who was subject to a heated custody battle between the two during the early 2020s. Was in a relationship with bandmate Zach Villa from 2015-2017. In the late 2010s, she claimed that singer Marilyn Manson raped her twice during their relationship when she as 18 and he was 37. Although she was among 16 women who accused him while 4 had sued him for sexual assault, Wood was the most high profile name that Manson sued her in 2022 for defamation. Despite that he later dropped the case and later agreed to pay  her legal fees, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department declined to file charges against Manson  due to lack of evidence.

Later Life: In 2012, she recorded “I’d Have You Anytime” which is on the fourth CD of Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International, a compilation production for the benefit of the organization. Performed as electro-pop duo Rebel and a Basketcase with multi-instrumentalist Zach Villa in 2016. But they disbanded in 2017. Is currently one half of cover band Evan + Zane which she formed with guitarist/singer-songwriter Zane Carney with whom she released the album Dreams in 2022. Told some of the stories of the Orlando night club shooting in a video that the Human Rights Campaign released in 2016. Testified before the United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations in support of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act in 2018. Also testified before the California State Senate to help pass the Phoenix Act, which extended the statute of limitations in domestic violence cases from three to five years and requires police to have additional training. In her testimonies, Wood said that singer Marilyn Manson had physically, sexually, and emotionally abused her and that she was subsequently diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder.

Trivia: Earned a black belt in taekwondo at 12 and participated in the AAU Junior Olympic Games. Has received a Critics’ Choice Award. Has been nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys and 3 Golden Globes.

507. Jeremy Sisto

Dates: 1974-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Grass Valley, California. Mother’s an actress. Father’s a jazz musician and educator. Parents divorced and his father later remarried a fabric artist. He lived with his mother and said that his father’s absence has made parenting his own son difficult. Was raised in the lower Sierra Nevada Mountains before moving to Chicago at 7. Attended The Hayfield Montessori School in Louisville, Kentucky for first grade, then the Francis Parker School in Chicago. He and his sister performed in A House Not Meant to Stand at the Goodman Theatre. Also, Sisto worked with local theater companies such as the Cherry Street Theater and the Absolute Theater Company. Appeared in the film Grand Canyon while in high school. Despite his lack of achievement in high school, Sisto was accepted to the University of California, Los Angeles with the stipulation that he sign a non-disclosure agreement to keep it quiet unless or until he became a well-known actor. However, he didn’t really attend UCLA or any other college because his career took off and he began acting full-time.

Movies and Cartoons: Frozen II (2019)

Characters: King Runeard

Also Known For: Actor best known as Billy Chenowith in Six Feet Under, NYPD Detective Cyrus Lupo in Law & Order, George Altman in Suburgatory, Jubal Valentine in FBI, Shane Mungitt in Take Me Out, and Freddy Green in Ice. Film appearances include Clueless, Suicide Kings, Thirteen, Waitress, Break Point, Grand Canyon, Hideaway, Moonlight and Valentino, White Squall, Bongwater, Some Girl, Without Limits, Playing by Heart, The Space Between Us, Track Down, Don’s Plum, Angel Eyes, May, Showboy, Now You Know, The Movie Hero, Wrong Turn, In Enemy Hands, Dead & Breakfast, The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, A Lot Like Love, In Memory of My Father, Population 436, The Thirst, Unknown, Broken, Gardens of the Night, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Into Temptation, Robot & Frank, Sironia, Hangman, The Other Side of the Door, Ferdinand, and Last Straw. TV appearances include Jesus, The Return, The Shaggy Dog, Duckman, Rugrats, The Day Lincoln Was Shot, The Wild Thornberrys, The Outer Limits, Julius Caesar, The Twilight Zone, Dawson’s Creek, Ancient Egyptians, Punk’d, Celebrity Poker Showdown, World Poker Tour, American Dad!,  Kidnapped, Numb3rs, Saturday Night Live, Hell’s Kitchen, Last Week with John Oliver, Wicked City, The Long Road Home, Hollywood Game Night, Robot Chicken, and To Tell the Truth.

Personal Life: Younger brother of actress Meadow Sisko. Married twice. First wife was actress Marisa Ryan from 1993 to 2002. Although they separated shortly after their wedding. Second and current wife is Addie Lane since 2009. They have 2 children born in 2009 and 2012.

Later Life: Resides in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles.

Trivia: Has been nominated for a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series.

508. Aurora

Dates: 1996-present

Early Life and Career: Born Aurora Aksnes at Stavanger University Hospital in Stavanger, Norway. Mother’s a midwife. Father’s a garage door salesman. Spent her first 3 years in Hole where she developed her taste in nature, singing, and traditional clothing. Family later moved further north in western Norway to a house in the small village of Drange, located in the woodlands of the Os mountains, a remote municipality in Hordaland, near Bergen and Lysefjord. One of her earliest memories is finding an electric piano in her parents’ attic that once belonged to one of her sisters and was fascinated by the melodies that instrument could produce. Started learning how to play the piano at 6 by playing the songs she listened to. Began writing songs at 9, crediting Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Enya, and the Chemical Brothers as influences. Parents didn’t encourage her to pursue music as a career or hobby. But Aurora went from imitating classical music to composing her own music, preferring to keep her music private. Also aspired to be a doctor, physicist, or a dancer. Took dancing lessons from 6 to 16 and performed in a contemporary dance group that twice participated in the Norwegian Youth Festival of Art. First song she finished writing was “The Lonely Man.” First job before embarking on her music career was washing a pizza restaurant on the outside using a hose. Wrote several songs at this stage in her life. Another of her songs is “I Had a Dream” which she performed at her high school’s graduation ceremony. Her recording and video of “Puppet” was uploaded online without permission, which angered her. Although this soon led to her discovery by Artists Made Management who invited Aurora to visit their office for a meeting in 2013. Although she initially declined, she later agreed. In a few hours, her songs “I Had a Dream” and “Puppet” received thousands of visits in Norway, earning her a fan base on Facebook.

Movies and Cartoons: Frozen II (2019)

Characters: The “Voice”

Also Known For: Norwegian singer, songwriter, and record producer. Referred as the “Norwegian Art-pop Pioneer,” she’s one of the biggest breakout acts in the country during the 2010s. Her debut studio album All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend charted in various European countries and earned a platinum certificate in Norway twice. Music is primary electro-pop, folk, and art pop with vocals referred as “ethereal.”

Personal Life: Her 2 older sisters are her personal costume designer and makeup artist. Is an admitted introvert and bisexual. Experienced a string of tragedies from an early age including a family friend at 11, a friend who died in a car accident, a friend who died by suicide, and a friend who died in the Utoya Massacre.

Later Life: Lives is Bergen but often travels to Os to visit her parents. Identifies as a feminist as well as done work for causes related to environmental protection and human rights.

Trivia: Worked alongside film composer Hans Zimmer, providing vocal work for the soundtrack to Frozen Planet II.

509. Mel Rodriguez

Dates: 1973-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Miami, Florida. Grew up in its Little Havana neighborhood. First pursued a career in boxing until a high school teacher at his encouraged him to pursue acting, first starring in a play about AIDS awareness titled The Inner Circle with Pedro Zamora. Dropped out of high school but managed to receive a scholarship at the prestigious arts and film conservatory at SUNY Purchase. After his graduation, he stayed in New York, managed a cigar shop, and worked primarily in theatre. After his first screen role on Law & Order in 1999, he moved to Los Angeles.

Movies and Cartoons: Onward (2020)

Characters: Colt Bronco

Also Known For: Actor best known as Nurse Patsy de la Seda in Getting On, Todd Rodriguez in The Last Man on Earth, Ernie Gomes in On Becoming a God in Central Florida, and Marco Pasternak in Better Call Saul. Film appearances include Wirey Spindle, Panic Room, Deuces Wild, Showtime, The Terminal, Garfield: The Movie, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, Shark Bait, Unknown, Little Miss Sunshine, Lakeview Terrace, The Watch, Fat, Suburban Gothic, Brave New Jersey, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Overboard (2018), The Last Thing He Wanted, and We Bare Bears: The Movie. TV appearances include Running Wilde, Enlisted, CSI: Las Vegas, Law & Order, Third Watch, Spin City, George Lopez, Malcolm in the Middle, Gillmore Girls, CSI: NY, NYPD Blue, The Bernie Mac Show, Ghost Whisperer, Without a Trace, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, The Middle, Big Love, Workaholics, Community, Hot in Cleveland, Grace and Frankie, Animals, The Afterparty, Carol & The End of the World, and The Residence.

Personal Life: Has 2 daughters named Stella and Pearl.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

510. Wilmer Valderrama

Dates: 1980-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Miami, Florida. Moved to Venezuela at 3 but family returned to the United States when he was 13. Father is Venezuelan. Mother is Colombian. Got his start performing in numerous plays. Made his debut in a Spanish-language Pacific Bell commercial. At his drama teacher’s suggestion, he got an agent and was cast in a couple of series. Made his big-screen debut in Summer Catch.

Movies and Cartoons: Onward (2020) and Encanto (2021) as well as various series for the Disney Channel.

Characters: Gaxton and Augustin Madrigal

Also Known For: Actor best known as Fez from That ‘70s Show, Special Agent Nick Torres in NCIS, Manny in Handy Manny, Carlos Madrigal in From Dusk till Dawn: The Series, and Prince Philippe Charming in Charming. Film appearances include Party Monster, Beauty Shop, Fast Food Nation, Unaccompanied Minors, Larry Crowne, The Adderall Diaries, Summer Catch, Clifford’s Really Big Movie, The Darwin Awards, Zoom, El Muerto, The Condor, Columbus Day, Days of Wrath, The Dry Land, From Prada to Nada, The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best, Trouble, Blast Beat, and A Sudden Case of Christmas. TV appearances include Grey’s Anatomy, The Ranch, Four Corners, Grounded for Life, MADtv, Punk’d, Robot Chicken, Yo Momma, Higglytown Heroes, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Cleveland Show, Royal Pains, Suburgatory, Awake, Men at Work, Raising Hope, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Minority Report, Lip Sync Battle, NCIS: New Orleans, The Price Is Right, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, NCIS: Hawai’i, NCIS: Los Angeles, and The ‘90s Show.

Personal Life: Has dated actress Mandy Moore, actress Lindsay Lohan, and singer Demi Lovato. Has been engaged to Amanda Pacheco since 2020. They have a daughter and are currently expecting a second child as of February 2025.

Later Life: Has taken multiple tours with the United Services Organization since 2007, traveling more than 46 times as well as made hosting appearances in Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany, Poland, South Korea, and Bahrain. Was named USO global ambassador in 2021. Co-founded Harness with America Ferrera and Ryan Piers Williams in 2017 that aims to improve representation in historically marginalized communities. Has also worked with the organization Voto Latino since its founding in 2004 and currently serves on its impact council. From 2009-2012, Valderrama served as spokesman for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Ready to Lead program. Launched a podcast called Essential Voices with Wilmer Valderrama which highlights the experiences of key workers.

Trivia: Is an avid car collector.