Famous 20th Century Voice Actors

Jeremy Irons is a popular English actor. In the US, Irons is best known as one of the few actors to have achieved the famous Triple Crown of Acting. Also an activist known for his charity work, Jeremy Irons works closely with the United Nations. He also supports charities, such as The Prison Phoenix Trust.

Jim Henson was an American animator, puppeteer, cartoonist, inventor, actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, and composer. He is credited with creating The Muppets, an ensemble cast of puppet characters, for which he achieved worldwide popularity. He is also credited with co-founding Muppets, Inc. in 1958, which eventually became The Jim Henson Company. In 2011, Jim Henson was named a Disney Legend.

Trey Parker is an American animator, writer, composer, filmmaker, actor, and voice actor. Parker is credited with co-creating one of the most popular animated sitcoms of all time, South Park. He is also credited with co-developing The Book of Mormon along with Matt Stone.

Mel Blanc was an American radio personality and voice actor. Dubbed The Man of a Thousand Voices, Blanc contributed immensely to the success of several theatrical cartoons by voicing famous characters, such as Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Barney Rubble, and Mr. Spacely. He was considered one of the most influential and important personalities in the voice acting industry.

Adam West was an actor best known for his portrayal of Batman in the 1960s live-action TV series of the same name. One of the first actors to play Batman, West is considered the most popular actor to play the iconic character. After his death, the Bat-Signal was projected on Los Angeles’ City Hall as a tribute to the actor.

Dan Castellaneta is an American actor, screenwriter, comedian, and voice actor. Over the years, Castellaneta has played a major role in the success of the animated sitcom The Simpsons in which he has been voicing one of the main protagonists, Homer Jay Simpson. Unlike Homer Simpson, Dan Castellaneta is a teetotaler and vegetarian and exercises regularly.

Jason Lee is an American actor, photographer, producer, writer, and former professional skateboarder. The recipient of the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, Lee has also received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his work as an actor. A multi-talented personality, Jason Lee is credited with co-founding a company named Stereo Skateboards which manufactures skateboard decks, apparel, and equipment.

Although best known for her surreal and digressive stand-up comedies, Eddie Izzard is also a popular film and television actor. Born as Edward John Izzard, she began her career as a street performer, eventually making her first stage appearance at the age of twenty-five, quickly drawing larger and larger audience with her stream-of-consciousness delivery, achieving fame both home and abroad.

Wil Wheaton is best known for his roles in Stand by Me and Star Trek: The Next Generation. He has voiced countless animation films, audiobooks, and video games. An avid blogger, he has also written several books. He loves poker and has hosted many web shows, such as TableTop.

Best known for his villainous roles, American actor Clancy Brown is the son of renowned publisher and politician Clarence J. "Bud" Brown Jr. He soared to fame with his performance as Captain Byron Hadley in The Shawshank Redemption. He also voiced Mr. Krabs in the Nickelodeon animated series Spongebob Squarepants.

The younger brother of iconic comedian and actor John Belushi, Jim Belushi followed in his brother's footsteps to become a comedian and actor. He is also a passionate cannabis cultivator and plans to open a cannabis dispensary in Downtown Portland.

American actor Josh Lucas was born to anti-nuclear activist parents and was 19 when he moved to Hollywood and began guest-starring in TV sitcoms. He is known for his roles in series such as The Mysteries of Laura and in movies such as Sweet Home Alabama and American Psycho.

Ben Whishaw is an English actor best known for his portrayal of Norman Scott in a British TV comedy-drama series titled A Very English Scandal, which earned him several prestigious awards, such as a Primetime Emmy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award. Ben Whishaw has also received other prestigious awards, including British Independent Film Award.

Richard Crispin Armitage is an English actor whose portrayal of Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit film series earned him international recognition and a Saturn Award. Well-known for his baritone voice, Richard Armitage has also recorded many audiobooks; in 2014, he won an Audiobook of the Year award for his work on Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel.

Laura Bailey wanted to become a biologist but ended up being one of the busiest voice actors of the US instead. She was 18 when she debuted as Kid Trunks in the anime Dragon Ball Z and never looked back. She later appeared in the web series Critical Role and Dungeons & Dragons.

Best known as C-3PO from the Star Wars film franchise, Anthony Daniels remains the only actor to have appeared in all films, shows, video games, and spin-offs of the franchise. Ironically, he hated science-fiction movies in his youth and had walked out of the theater while watching 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Actor, director, and screenwriter Clark Gregg joined the show business after a series of odd jobs. He co-founded the off-Broadway Atlantic Theater Company at the beginning of his career in entertainment and proceeded to join films. He gained international fame for playing Agent Phil Coulson in many Marvel Cinematic Universe films in the 2010s.

Bruce Greenwood is a Canadian actor best known for playing John F. Kennedy in the historical political thriller film Thirteen Days. His performance in the film earned him the Satellite Award under the Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture category. Bruce Greenwood has also received several other awards like Gemini Award and Boston Society of Film Critics Award.