Pondering the origins of human personalities with the concept of determinism, filmmaker Pete Docter pitched the idea of an idea set in the astral plane involving souls with personalities back in 2016. With co-writer Mike Jones, Docter worked on the main character’s development for 2 years. Initial ideas include portraying Joe as a scientist, which didn’t feel “so naturally pure.” So they eventually settled on portraying Joe Gardner as a musician because they wanted an appealing profession for the audience. Since they decided that he’d specialize in jazz, he was also created to black since in the US, jazz history has been tied to black people. Co-filmmaker Kemp Powers also based several elements of Joe on his personal life but wanted the character to “transcend his own experience” in order to make him more accessible. Powers also placed additional emphasis on authentically depicting Joe’s relationships with the black community. In order to accurately portray African-American culture within the film, Pixar worked with an internal “Cultural Trust” composed of black Pixar employees and hired several consultants. These included musicians Herbie Hancock, Terri Lyne Carrington, Quincy Jones, and Jon Batiste; educator Johnetta Cole, as well as stars Questlove and Daveed Diggs. While Mike Jones came up with the idea of Joe’s soul entering a therapy cat’s body, which allowed Joe to “be able to look at his own life from a different perspective” and appreciate it. Mindful of the history of racist imagery (like the caricatured depictions of African Americans) in animation and wanted to create black characters as well as integrate authentic African-American culture into the film’s “DNA” to prevent caricatures, stereotypes, and tropes. Pixar sought to capture the fine character details, including black hair texture and the wavy light plays on various tones of black skin. Animators also used footage of several music performers including Batiste as reference for the film’s musical sequences. By capturing MIDI data from these sessions, animators retraced the exact key played on the piano with each note and animated the performances authentically. Animators assigned to specific instruments often had experience either playing them or appreciating them. Unlike other Pixar movies and due to the Covid 19 pandemic in late 2020, Soul didn’t have a theatrical release so I can’t really give you the box office receipts. But it did receive critical acclaim as well as 2 Academy Awards. In this post, we’ll meet the voices behind Wilden Lightfoot, the Jerrys, Libba Gardner, Dez, Paul, Street Singer, and Doctor.
511. Kyle Bornheimer
Dates: 1975-present
Early Life and Career: Born in Mishawaka, Indiana. Attended St. Monica Grade School and Marian High School, graduating in 1994. Is a founding member of The Curtainbox Theatre Company. With a string of national commercials, Bornheimer established an “always on TV” reputation with 30-second spots for companies like Geico, Staples, Coors Light, Imodium, Stanley, and T-Mobile.
Movies and Cartoons: Onward (2020)
Characters: Wilden Lightfoot
Also Known For: Actor and comedian best known for his appearances on sitcoms and commercials. Film appearances include Spokane, Blades of Glory, For Christ’s Sake, She’s Out of My League, You Again, Bachelorette, The Big Wedding, Veronica Mars, The D Train, Me Him Her, Rules Don’t Apply, Little Failure, Marriage Story, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, and The Lovebirds. TV appearances include Worst Week, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Casual, Playing House, Monk, The O.C., How I Met Your Mother, Medium, Will & Grace, Weeds, The Office, Girlfriends, Breaking Bad, Jericho, Party Down, Better Off Ted, Chuck, Royal Pains, Romantically Challenged, Perfect Couples, Arrested Development, Workaholics, Justified, Agent Carter, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Angel from Hell, The Mindy Project, Westworld, Modern Family, Love, Drunk History, Avenue 5, Amazing Stories, Broke, High School, and St. Denis Medical.
Personal Life: Married to Shannon Ryan. They have 2 children.
Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.
Trivia: None.
512. Alice Braga
Dates: 1983-present
Early Life and Career: Born Alice Braga Moraes in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Mother’s an actress and often accompanied her and her aunt on film sets. Began her career by appearing in school plays and commercials. With her first commercial being for yogurt when she was 8. In her teens, she began pursuing roles in television and films. Made her film debut in 1998 then returned to her schooling. Breakthrough came in 2002 with City of God.
Movies and Cartoons: Soul (2020) as well as the short 22 vs. Earth.
Characters: Soul Counselor Jerry A
Also Known For: Brazilian actress producer best known as Angelica in City of God, Karinna in Lower City, Dolores in God Only Knows, and Teresa Mendoza in Queen of the South. Film appearances include I Am Legend, Predators, The Rite, Elysium, The Shack, The Suicide Squad, Journey to the End of Night, Drained, Redbelt, Blindness, Crossing Over, Repo Men, On the Road, Latitudes, The Ardor, Kill Me Three Times, The Duel, The New Mutants, and Hypnotic. TV appearances include Dark Matter, Superbonita, The Brazilians, Samantha!, We Are Who We Are, Slumberkins, and A Murder at the End of the World.
Personal Life: Niece of actress Sonia Braga. Speaks fluent Portuguese, Spanish, and English. Has been in 2 long-term relationships. First was with actress Bianca Comparato from 2020-2023. Second and currently is with producer Renata Brandao.
Later Life: Resides in Los Angeles and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Trivia: Friends with actor Diego Luna and Wagner Moura.
513. Richard Ayoade
Dates: 1977-present
Early Life and Career: Born in Hammersmith, London in England. Mother’s Norwegian. Father’s Nigerian. Family moved to Ipswich when he was young. Studied at the independent St. Joseph’s College in Ipswich. From 1995 to 1998, Ayoade studied law at St. Catharine’s College at Cambridge University where he won the Martin Steele Prize for play production and was president of the amateur theatrical club Footlights. Wrote and performed in several productions with vice-president John Oliver, appearing in the 1997 and 1998 touring shows: Emotional Baggage and Between a Rock and a Hard Place. Later teamed with Footlights colleague Matthew Holness to write and perform the stage show Garth Mareghi’s Fright Knight which later landed them a TV show.
Movies and Cartoons: Soul (2020) as well as the short 22 vs. Earth and a few series.
Characters: Soul Counselor Jerry B
Also Known For: British comedian, actor, writer, director, and presenter best known as Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd and Dean Learner in the Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place and Man to Man with Dean Learner. Film appearances include The Watch, The Double, The Boxtrolls, Early Man, Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, The Bad Guys, Festival, Bunny and the Bull, Paddington 2, The Souvenir, The Souvenir Part II, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, and The Rat Catcher. TV appearances include The Mighty Boosh, Nathan Barley, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, Was It Something I Said?, Gadget Man, Travel Man, The Crystal Maze, Strange Hill High, Apple & Onion, Krapopolis, Time Trumpet, Snuff Box, Full English, Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy, The Vicar of Dibley, Danger Mouse, Neo Yoko, Have I Got News for You, Moominvalley, The Mandalorian, Code 404, Question Team, Disenchantment, Birdgirl, Rugrats, Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight, Black Mirror, Transformers: EarthSpark, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Hamster & Gretel.
Personal Life: Married to Lydia Fox since 2007, which makes him related to the show-business Fox family by marriage. They have 2 children. Brother-in-law of actor Lawrence Fox with whom he engaged in a vocal feud in 2020, when Fox asked Ayoade to support him on Twitter after a controversial appearance on Question Time. The episode in question was condemned for allowing Fox on as a guest, particularly when he told a black woman in the audience that discussing racism was “boring.” According to Fox, Ayoade told him that “You have never encountered racism.” Fox stated that he told Ayoade that he had, because he “he worked in Kenya once” and “racism can be deferential.”
Later Life: Lives in East Dulwich, London. Has written books titled Ayoade on Ayoade: A Cinematic Odyssey in 2014, The Grip of Film in 2017, Ayoade on Top in 2019, The Book That No One Wanted to Read in 2022, The Fairy Tale Fan Club: Legendary Letters collected by C.C. Cecily in 2024, and The Unfinished Harauld Hughes in 2024.
Trivia: Footlights contemporaries include David Mitchell and John Oliver. Has directed music videos for Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Hosted the British Academy Television Awards from 2020 to 2022.
514. Wes Studi
Dates: 1947-present
Early Life and Career: Born Wesley Studie in Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma, a rural area in Cherokee County named after his mother’s family. Stepfather was a ranch hand. Although a man named Eugene Philpott was listed as his father on his birth certificate, it turns out that his real biological father is either one of 2 brothers Jess and Bobby Blair. Only spoke Cherokee at home until elementary school. Attended the Chiloco Indian Agricultural School for high school and graduated 1964 with his vocational major in dry cleaning. At 17, Studi enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard and had his basic combat training and advanced individual training in Fort Polk, Louisiana. Also, volunteered for active service and went to Vietnam with the 3rd Battalion 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division where he served for a year. After his discharge, Studi became politically involved in Native American activism. He participated in the Wounded Knee Incident at Pine Ridge Reservation in 1973. Became interested in acting while attending Tulsa Community College and had a role in the play The Royal Hunt of the Sun at the American Indian Theater Company. After his studies, Studi taught the Cherokee language and syllabary as well as helped a establish a Cherokee language newspaper. He then went into ranching until his first marriage ended in divorce. After a recommendation from a friend as a field to meet women, Studi decided to study acting.
Movies and Cartoons: Planes Fire & Rescue (2014) and Soul (2020) as well as the series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.
Characters: Windlifter and Soul Counselor Jerry C
Also Known For: Actor and film producer who’s garnered critical acclaim and awards throughout his career, particularly for his portrayal of Native Americans. Best known as Sagat in Street Fighter. Film appearances include Dances with Wolves, The Last of the Mohicans, Geronimo: An American Legend, The New World, Hostiles, Heat, Mystery Men, Avatar, A Million Ways to Die in the West, The Doors, Deep Rising, The Horse Whisperer, Ice Planet, Christmas in the Clouds, Road to Redemption, Undisputed, Animal, Trail of Tears: A Cherokee Legacy, Seraphim Falls, Older Than America, The Only Good Indian, Being Flynn, Sugar, Road to Paloma, Badland, A Dog’s Way Home, A Love Song, and Mending the Line. TV appearances include Penny Dreadful, Longarm, The Flash, Highlander, Ned Blessing: The Story of My Life and Times, The Broken Chain, 500 Nations, Streets of Laredo, Crazy Horse, Adventures from the Book of Virtues, Skinwalkers, The Lone Ranger, The Thief of Time, The Coyote Waits, Into the West, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Comanche Moon, We Shall Remain, Kings, Saving Grace, The Mentalist, Hell on Wheels, The Red Road, In Plain Sight, Grey’s Anatomy, Miracle Workers, Reservation Dogs, Spirit Rangers, and Launchpad.
Personal Life: Married twice. First wife was Rebecca Graves from 1974 to their divorce in 1982. They have a daughter named Leah and a son named Daniel. Second and current wife is Maura Dhu since 1986. They have a son named Kholan. Son-in-law of actor Jack Albertson.
Later Life: Has lived on his farm in Santa Fe, New Mexico since the 1990s. Performs in the band Firecat of Discord with his wife. Serves as honorary chair of the national endowment campaign of the Indigenous Language Institute in Santa Fe.
Trivia: In 2019, The New York Times ranked him #19 on its list of the “25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century (So Far).” 6th great-grandson of Ghiagu and Cherokee leader Nancy Ward. Received an honorary Academy Award in 2019 becoming the first Native American and one of indigenous heritage to receive one. That same year, he was inducted into the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum. Was a presenter at the Golden Globes in 1994.
515. Fortune Feimster
Dates: 1980-present
Early Life and Career: Born Emily Fortune Feimster in Charlotte, North Carolina. Grew up in Belmont, North Carolina where she attended Belmont Central Elementary School and Belmont Junior High. Graduated from South Point High School in 1998, where she played basketball, softball, and tennis. That same year, she was presented to society at the Gastonia Debutante Ball. Attended Peace College where she was elected class president, majored in communications, and played soccer and tennis. Graduated summa cume laude and was the student speaker at her college’s commencement ceremony in 2002. After spending a year living in Spain, Feimster moved to Los Angeles in 2003 to become a personal assistant to actress Emily Procter and pursue comedy. After connecting with Procter’s neighbor, a journalist for the Lost Angeles Daily News, she began a 7-year career in entertainment journalism. In 2005, she joined The Groundlings Theatre, studying improv and sketch comedy. After 4 years, she was selected to join The Groundlings Sunday Company. Made her TV debut in Last Comic Standing.
Movies and Cartoons: Soul (2020)
Characters: Soul Counselor Jerry D
Also Known For: Writer, comedian, and actress best known as Colette in The Mindy Project and Heather in The L Word: Generation Q. Film appearances include The Secret Life of Dorks, Life in Color, Office Christmas Party, Social Animals, Father of the Year, The Happytime Murders, Friendsgiving, Chick Fight, Bar and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, Yes Day, Sex Appeal, Family Switch, and You’re Cordially Invited. TV appearances include Last Comic Standing, After Lately, Chelsea Lately, 2 Broke Girls, Workaholics, Mulaney, Glee, Drunk History, Chelsea, Life in Pieces, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nobodies, Another Period, Dear White People, Champions, Summer Camp Island, Craig of the Creek, Historical Roasts, Tales of the City, Sunnyside, Bless the Harts, Nailed It!, iCarly, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Kenan, Is It Cake?, RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars, Madagascar: A Little Wild, Frog and Toad, Strange Planet, The Morning Show, Velma, The Sex Lives of College Girls, and StuGo. Podcast appearances include Queery, The Margaret Cho, Anna Faris Is Unqualified, Lovett or Leave It, The Joe Rogan Experience, Good for You, Life Is Short with Justin Long, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Scam Goodness, Don’t Ask Tig, We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, and You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes.
Personal Life: Came out as a lesbian in 2005. Married to kindergarten teacher Jacklyn Smith since 2020. But they’ve been separated as of 2025.
Later Life: Is said to appear as Nibbles in Zootopia 2. Owns homes in Los Angeles and Belmont, North Carolina.
Trivia: None.
516. Zenobia Shroff
Dates: 1965-present
Early Life and Career: Born in Bombay, India (now Mumbai) to a Parsi family. Began her professional career as a commercial print model at 16. After 7 successful modeling years, she switched to acting. Got her acting start in Mumbai under the mentorship of Pearl Padmanese before moving to study acting at New York City’s Circle in the Square Theatre School. Soon after, she appeared at the Broadway Castillo Theatre and the La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. Appeared in her first film in 1989.
Movies and Cartoons: Soul (2020)
Characters: Soul Counselor Jerry E
Also Known For: Indian-American actress best known as Muneeba Khan in Ms. Marvel and The Marvels. Film appearances include The Big Sick, Percy, Little Zizou, When Harry Tries to Marry, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Save Yourselves!, and 7 Days. TV appearances include The Resident, The Affair, and Madam Secretary.
Personal Life: Has a master’s degree in psychology.
Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.
Trivia: Has also been a lifelong dancer and is a founding member of the Shiamak Davar dance company with whom she toured nationally doing musical theatre.
517. Phylicia Rashad
Dates: 1948-present
Early Life and Career: Born in Houston, Texas. Mother was Pulitzer Prize-nominated artist, poet, playwright scholar, and publisher Vivian Ayers. Father was an orthodontist. Parents divorced when she was 6. At 13, she moved with her mother and sister to Mexico City, Mexico in order to avoid segregation. Rashad later returned to the United States to study at Howard University, graduating in magna cume laude in 1970 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and was a member of the Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. First became known for her Broadway performances before she appeared on The Cosby Show.
Movies and Cartoons: Soul (2020) as well as the special Mickey’s 60th Birthday and the series Sofia the First and The Rocketeer.
Characters: Libba Gardner
Also Known For: Actress best known as Clair Huxtable in The Cosby Show, Ruth Lucas in Cosby, and Brenda Glover in Little Bill. Film appearances include For Colored Girls, Good Deeds, Creed, Creed II, The Beekeeper, Once Upon a Time…When We Were Colored, The Visit, Just Wright, Frankie & Alice, Gods Behaving Badly, Emily & Tim, A Fall from Grace, Black Box, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, Tick, Tick…Boom!, Creed III, and Our Son. TV appearances include A Raisin in the Sun, This Is Us, One Life to Live, Santa Barbara, The Love Boat, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, A Different World, False Witness, Polly, Reading Rainbow, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Earth Day Special, Blossom, Jailbirds, American Playhouse, Ghostwriter, The Cosby Mysteries, Touched by an Angel, Intimate Portrait, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, Bull, Biography, Everybody Hates Chris, Psych, Steel Magnolias, The Cleveland Show, Do No Harm, Jean-Claude Van Johnson, Empire, When We Rise, David Makes Man, Station 19, 13 Reasons Why, Grey’s Anatomy, The Good Fight, Curses!, and Diarra from Detroit. Stage appearances include A Raisin in the Sun, Skeleton Crew, Into the Woods, Jelly’s Last Jam, Gem of the Ocean, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death, The Wiz, Dreamgirls, A Wonderful Life, Cymbeline, and August: Osage County.
Personal Life: Sister of actress, choreographer, and director Debbie Allen. Aunt of DeVaughn and Vivian Nixon. Married 3 times. First husband was William Lancelot Bowles Jr. from 1972 to their divorce in 1975. They have a son named William Lancelot Bowles III born in 1973. Second husband was original Village People front man Victor Willis from 1978 to their divorce in 1982. Third husband was former NFL wide receiver and sportscaster Ahmad Rashad from 1985 to their divorce in 2001. Their daughter is actress Condola Phylea Rashad who was born in 1986. Is a vegetarian.
Later Life: Has long been friends with Bill Cosby who gave her away at her third wedding. She also defended him during his 2018 sexual assault trial. Appointed dean of Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts from 2021 to 2024. Has directed 3 revivals of August Wilson plays in Princeton, New Jersey and Los Angeles. Also directed Purpose during its 2024-2025 run at the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway.
Trivia: Has won 2 Tony Awards and is the first black woman to win a Tony Award for Best Actress. Has been nominated for 6 Emmys and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Dubbed “Mother of the Black Community” by the NAACP Image Awards. Received an honorary doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University.
518. Donnell Rawlings
Dates: 1968-present
Early Life and Career: Born in Washington D.C. Grew up in Alexandria, Virginia with his mother where he attended T.C. High School. Served in the US Air Force. Stationed in South Korea and at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington D.C. during the late 1980s to early 1990s. Made his first screen appearance in 1996.
Movies and Cartoons: Soul (2020)
Characters: Dez
Also Known For: Comedian, actor, and radio host best known as a cast member on Chappelle’s Show and The Wire. Film appearances include Fever, Spider-Man 2, Fifty Pills, Car Babies, Legacy, Last Day Summer, The Last Film Festival, Inside the Rain, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, and Clerks III. TV appearances include Def Comedy Jam, Law & Order, The Corner, It’s Showtime at the Apollo, Third Watch, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Premium Blend, BET’s Top 25 Countdown, Reality Bites Back, Laugh Factory, Guy Code, Black Dynamite, Guy Court, Black Jesus, Unsung Hollywood, Saturday Night Live, The Last O.G., Historical Roasts, Twenties, BMF, Phat Tuesdays: The Era of Hip Hop Comedy, and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.
Personal Life: Has a son named Austen.
Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.
Trivia: None.
519. Daveed Diggs
Dates: 1982-present
Early Life and Career: Born in Oakland, California. Mother’s a Jewish social worker. Father’s a black bus driver. Attended Berkeley High School and graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts. Although he was originally recruited by Brown for his track skills and broke his college’s record for the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.21 seconds. Worked as substitute teacher after graduating. Began his career in experimental theater. Met Lin-Manuel Miranda through Thomas Kail while performing with freestyle rap group Free Love Supreme or FLS. In 2012, Miranda invited Diggs to read and hear the demo versions of Hamilton. The rest is history.
Movies and Cartoons: Soul (2020) as well as the live action The Little Mermaid.
Characters: Paul
Also Known For: Actor, rapper, and singer-songwriter. Vocalist of the experimental hip-hop group Clipping. Best known for originating the roles of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton. Film appearances include Wonder, Velvet Buzzsaw, Blindspotting, Ferdinand, The Starling, Trolls Band Together, Nickel Boys, DC League of Super Pets, A Tree Fell in the Woods, and Magic Hour. TV appearances include Black-ish, Snowpiercer, Blindspotting, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Get Down, Sesame Street, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, BoJack Horseman, Bob’s Burgers, Green Eggs and Ham, Star Wars Resistance, Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, Star Trek: Prodigy, Central Park, The Good Lord Bird, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Extrapolations, The Crossover, and Star Wars: Visions. Stage appearances include Temptation, The Tempest, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, Six Degrees of Separation, Troilus and Cressida, Red Light Winter, In the Red Brown Water, A Behanding in Spokane, White Noise, and Freestyle Love Supreme. Albums include Small Things to a Giant, midcity, CLPPNG, Wriggle, Splendor & Misery, There Existed an Addiction to Blood, Visions of Bodies Being Burned, Thumbs, Good for You, and x Infinity.
Personal Life: In a relationship with actress and singer Emmy Raver-Lampman since 2015.
Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.
Trivia: Wrote and performed “Parlez-Vous Rap” for Zootopia (2016). Has won a Tony and a Grammy as well as been nominated for a Grammy for Hamilton.
520. Cody Chesnutt
Dates: 1968-present
Early Life and Career: Born in Atlanta, Georgia. After moving to Los Angeles, Chesnutt found work with Death Row Records, writing and producing 5 songs for the R&B Group Six Feet Deep. Chesnutt and his former band, The Crosswalk with James (Jaime) O’Connell, John Maggio and Jay Gordon, had a brief stint with Hollywood Records. But the label later released them and the band later broke up. He released a double LP called The Headphone Masterpiece, which was recorded on a 4-track cassette recorder in his bedroom recording studio that he calls “The Sonic Promisedland.” Closest he came to mainstream success was when The Roots remade his song “The Seed” for their album Phrenology in 2002.
Movies and Cartoons: Soul (2020)
Characters: Street Singer
Also Known For: R&B and neo soul musician whose music blends rock, funk, soul, hip hop, and blues. Albums include The Headphone Masterpiece and Landing On A Hundred. Single includes “The Seed (2.0).”
Personal Life: I can’t find anything about his personal life.
Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.
Trivia: Wrote and performed “Parting Ways” for Soul (2020).
The Lone Girl in a Crowd 