Rob Paulsen
Robert Frederick Paulsen III was born on the 11th of March 1956 in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in Grand Blanc, Michigan, where he graduated from high school in 1974. His childhood idol was ice hockey player Gordie Howe. Paulsen considered the arts to be a secondary career choice due to his primary interest in becoming a National Hockey League player. He briefly attended the University of Michigan-Flint before dropping out. In 1978, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue show business. This move caused disapproval from his father, who was a doctor and wanted Paulsen to pursue a more realistic career. He worked his first job as a musician before pursuing voice acting full time.
Paulsen's first voice acting role came in 1983 with the mini-series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. He played Snow Job and Tripwire during that production. His career launched into more roles such as Cobra Slavemaster and Corky on The Snorks. Marco Smurf appeared on later seasons of The Smurfs while Boober Fraggle joined the cast of Fraggle Rock. Hadji became a key character in The New Adventures of Jonny Quest between 1986 and 1987. Jesse Blue served as the villain on Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs. During the 1980s, Paulsen also explored live action films like Eyes of Fire in 1983. Supporting roles included Body Double, Stewardess School, Warlock, and Mutant on the Bounty. Television appearances spanned MacGyver and St. Elsewhere throughout that decade.
Paulsen became prevalent in advertising as an announcer for the sitcom Cheers during the 1980s. He secured roles as Mr. Opportunity, spokesman of Honda commercials on TV and radio. Buffalo Dick's Radio Ranch featured his voice alongside Lucky Stores, a West Coast grocery store chain before its acquisition by Albertsons in 1998. Dog appeared in Taco Bell kids meal commercials from 1996 to mid-1997 with Eddie Deezen voicing Nacho the cat. The famous commercial Who shot Alexander Hamilton aired in 1993. This launch started the Got Milk? campaign into a successful enterprise. Paulsen continues to be one of the most sought-after commercial voice actors in the industry. Singing Mr. Mini-Wheat appears currently in Mini-Wheats commercials in Canada.
From 1987 to 1995, Paulsen voiced Raphael and various supporting characters in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. The series continued for ten seasons and 193 episodes after starting as a five-part miniseries. It became an instant pop culture symbol. Paulsen has said that Raphael's voice is very similar to his natural voice. In 1993, he starred as Yakko Warner of Animaniacs while providing the voice of Pinky from both Animaniacs and its spin-off Pinky and the Brain. That show won him several Annie Awards and a Daytime Emmy in 1999. He also did characters like Fowlmouth, Arnold the Pit Bull, and Concord Condor in Tiny Toon Adventures. Banjo Possum, Mr. Hitcher, and Johnny Pew appeared in the direct-to-video film Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation. Paulsen reprised roles as Yakko and Pinky for the Animaniacs revival running three seasons on Hulu from 2020 to 2023.
Paulsen voiced characters in video games such as Doom 3 where he played Research Director Larry Bullman. Fluffy the Chinese-crested dog appeared in 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue. An Irish pub landlord named Lugnut existed in the 1996 video game Toonstruck. A floating talking skull named Morte appeared in Planescape: Torment. Anomen Delryn served as a character in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Gray Fox appeared in Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes and both Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as an Assist Trophy. Erik the Swift of The Lost Vikings received his voice in its second installment. Tobli and Lian Ronso appeared in Square Enix's Final Fantasy X-2. He portrayed the lead character Lazarus Jones in the PS2 game Ghosthunter. Alfredo Fettuccini, Bob the Ghost Pirate, Lookout, and Ghost Priest appeared in The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition. The Riddler appeared in Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes before being reprised in Lego Batman: The Movie , DC Super Heroes Unite.
In February 2016, Paulsen was diagnosed with stage III throat cancer. He has since undergone treatment and his cancer went into remission. Following his battle with cancer, he wrote a memoir called Voice Lessons: How a Couple of Ninja Turtles, Pinky, and an Animaniac Saved My Life. Paulsen has long supported various charities and raised donations for cancer research. He worked a lot for GOALmodels, a program for adolescents. He is a sponsor of Camp Will-A-Way, a camp for children with developmental disabilities. Funds from autographs go to the Wounded Warrior Project and Operation Smile. His personal life includes marriage to photographer Parrish Todd in 1983. They have a son together. He lives in Agoura Hills, California with his family.
Paulsen has been a regular industry guest at San Diego Comic-Con as a featured panelist. He appeared at animation industry-related events such as the World Animation Celebration Online in 1998. Several anime conventions included JACON, Mikomicon, and Anime Overdose. Anthrocon hosted him as a guest of honor in 2007. Rob Paulsen Live seminars across the U.S. allow fans to talk about his career and sign autographs. People often request him to sing Yakko's World number without rehearsing. In May 2011, he rolled out a new website called RobPaulsenLive.com alongside a weekly audio podcast called Talkin' Toons with Rob Paulsen. The show started managed by The Tech Jives Network before moving to Nerdist Industries' Nerdist Podcast Network. Some episodes were recorded before live audiences at The Improv in Hollywood, California while later ones occurred at the Nerdist Showroom. The show went on indefinite hiatus following the 23rd of March 2019 episode with Dante Basco. June 2011 announcements brought his tour to Atlanta, Georgia on the 30th of July 2011 and Dallas, Texas on the 17th of September 2011.
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Common questions
When was Rob Paulsen born and where did he grow up?
Robert Frederick Paulsen III was born on the 11th of March 1956 in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in Grand Blanc, Michigan, where he graduated from high school in 1974.
What were Rob Paulsen's first voice acting roles and when did they occur?
Paulsen's first voice acting role came in 1983 with the mini-series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. He played Snow Job and Tripwire during that production.
Which major animated series featured Rob Paulsen as Raphael and Yakko Warner?
From 1987 to 1995, Paulsen voiced Raphael and various supporting characters in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. In 1993, he starred as Yakko Warner of Animaniacs while providing the voice of Pinky from both Animaniacs and its spin-off Pinky and the Brain.
How did Rob Paulsen survive stage III throat cancer and what book did he write about it?
In February 2016, Paulsen was diagnosed with stage III throat cancer and has since undergone treatment until his cancer went into remission. Following his battle with cancer, he wrote a memoir called Voice Lessons: How a Couple of Ninja Turtles, Pinky, and an Animaniac Saved My Life.
When did Rob Paulsen launch his website and podcast Talkin Toons?
In May 2011, he rolled out a new website called RobPaulsenLive.com alongside a weekly audio podcast called Talkin Toons with Rob Paulsen. The show started managed by The Tech Jives Network before moving to Nerdist Industries' Nerdist Podcast Network.