Behind The Mic: 5 Iconic Voice Actors You Should Know!

Animation has been a storytelling medium that has slowly become more and more prevalent in film, television, and, of course, video games. Over the years, there have been countless iconic characters that possess crazy, evocative, and powerful voices, yet the identities of the people providing these voices often go unnoticed. Here are a few notable voice actors with voices you might not even realize you know -- revealing the people behind the characters we’ve come to know and love!

1. Tara Strong

You probably don’t know it, but if you’re a kid of the early-2000s, Tara Strong was the voice of your childhood. With an incredible range, from little boys to animals, Strong has been a staple of animated voice acting since her first big break as the beloved blue Powerpuff Girl, Bubbles. Originally a stage actress, Strong has since voiced many other iconic characters, such as Dil Pickles in "Rugrats", Raven in "Teen Titans", Harley Quinn in the Batman video game Arkham City, and, her most notable role, "Fairly OddParents"’s Timmy Turner.

2. Tom Kenny

Tom Kenny may be the most well-known voice actor alive, as his name is almost synonymous with his superstar role as the titular SpongeBob SquarePants. Beginning as a stand-up in San Francisco then later becoming a player on the HBO sketch show "Mr. Show", Kenny’s pop culture-defining voice can be found all over early-2000s and contemporary animation. Aside from his role as the sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea, Kenny has also lent his voice to classics such as "Rocko’s Modern Life", "The Powerpuff Girls", "Adventure Time", "CatDog", "Teen Titans Go", and "Rick and Morty".

3. Keith David

Originally breaking into screen acting playing a lead role in John Carpenter’s iconic 1982 horror film The Thing, Keith David became one of the most sought-out voice actors in the industry. His uniquely commanding voice exudes both authority and soul, as his vocal chords have been honored with 3 Emmys for narration and voice work. With roles like The President in "Rick and Morty", Goliath in "Gargoyles", Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog, and Arbiter in the Halo franchise, David is a versatile and highly-regarded voice actor whose voice you may not even realize you recognize.

4. Phil LaMarr

Though you may recognize him as Martin from Pulp Fiction, Phil LaMarr has voiced some of the greatest animated characters of the 21st century. Beginning with the titular character in "Samurai Jack", LaMarr’s career highlights also include the Green Lantern in "Justice League", Hermes Conrad in "Futurama", and Wilt from "Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends", to name a few. LaMarr, alongside Keith David, has been regarded as a pioneer of Black voice acting, with over 400 voice credits across several mediums.

5. Mel Blanc

Mel Blanc is the most important and notable voice actor in history, and his resume speaks for itself. Living up to his moniker “The Man of a Thousand Voices”, Blanc is credited for creating the iconic voices of Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Sylvester the Cat, Yoesmite Sam, the Tasmanian Devil, and Foghorn Leghorn. Apart from his Looney Tunes showcase of characters, Blanc also voiced manny Hanna-Barbera characters as well, such as "The Flintstones"'s Barney Rubble, Mr. Spacely in "The Jetsons", and many more guest and side characters. Blanc is accredited for paving the way for voice actors today, and even engraved on his tombstone is “That’s All Folks!”. A true legend of the craft.

Honorable Mention: Don LaFontaine

Don LaFontaine, also known as “The Voice of God”, was the master of movie trailers. Notably coining the intro “In a world..”, LaFontaine was the voice behind 5,000 trailers, including Terminator 2, The Godfather Part II, Lethal Weapon, Batman Returns, Shrek, and Spider-Man.