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{{quote|''"Heroes? Frank Welker, Frank Welker and Frank Welker. He is hands down my most giant hero in the animation VO community. He is an amazingly gifted genius. He can create every sound that you might hear in a jungle: the drip of the raindrops, the wind rustling in the trees, and all of the inhabitants that you might encounter there. I love animals. I mean I love animals and Frank's great ability is that not only can he make the sounds of the animals; he can give them a true voice. I've done episodes of cartoons that had an environmental bent focusing on things like ivory poaching, global warming. He portrayed a mother elephant being torn from her baby by ivory poachers for her tusks. The mother's cry and the baby's anguish were all there in Frank's voice. ''[[Captain Planet and The Planeteers (Animation)|Captain Planet]]'' did a show centering on puppy mills and what he did in that show... there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I've heard him do dozens of sensitive performances through the years and he always, always delivers something so special and unique and moving."''|'''[[Kath Soucie (Creator)|Kath Soucie]]'''}}
{{quote|''"Heroes? Frank Welker, Frank Welker and Frank Welker. He is hands down my most giant hero in the animation VO community. He is an amazingly gifted genius. He can create every sound that you might hear in a jungle: the drip of the raindrops, the wind rustling in the trees, and all of the inhabitants that you might encounter there. I love animals. I mean I love animals and Frank's great ability is that not only can he make the sounds of the animals; he can give them a true voice. I've done episodes of cartoons that had an environmental bent focusing on things like ivory poaching, global warming. He portrayed a mother elephant being torn from her baby by ivory poachers for her tusks. The mother's cry and the baby's anguish were all there in Frank's voice. ''[[Captain Planet and the Planeteers|Captain Planet]]'' did a show centering on puppy mills and what he did in that show... there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I've heard him do dozens of sensitive performances through the years and he always, always delivers something so special and unique and moving."''|'''[[Kath Soucie]]'''}}


Franklin Wendell Welker (born March 12, 1946) is an American voice actor. He is responsible for a broad spectrum of character voices, and other vocal effects that have appeared over the last 40 years in American television and motion pictures.
Franklin Wendell Welker (born March 12, 1946) is an American voice actor. He is responsible for a broad spectrum of character voices, and other vocal effects that have appeared over the last 40 years in American television and motion pictures.


Welker is listed as the number one "All Time Top 100 Stars at the Box Office," not as a box office draw, but in terms of the total revenue generated by the films in which he has participated, for the sheer number of voices he has done -- over 1,200 -- ranging from his work on ''[[Scooby Doo (Animation)|Scooby Doo]]'' to the present day. (In fact, besides [[The Movie]] and the 1988-91 series ''[[A Pup Named Scooby Doo (Animation)|A Pup Named Scooby Doo]]'' where Carl Stevens did the voice, he has been the only voice of Freddy since the beginning.) Go look him up on [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919798 IMDB]. Depending on your monitor resolution and DPI settings, his resume is anywhere from 50-60 pages long. It'd be easier to list the works where he ''hasn't'' performed...
Welker is listed as the number one "All Time Top 100 Stars at the Box Office," not as a box office draw, but in terms of the total revenue generated by the films in which he has participated, for the sheer number of voices he has done—over 1,200—ranging from his work on ''[[Scooby-Doo (animation)|Scooby Doo]]'' to the present day. (In fact, besides [[The Movie]] and the 1988-91 series ''[[A Pup Named Scooby-Doo]]'' where Carl Stevens did the voice, he has been the only voice of Freddy since the beginning.) Go look him up on [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919798 IMDB]. Depending on your monitor resolution and DPI settings, his resume is anywhere from 50-60 pages long. It'd be easier to list the works where he ''hasn't'' performed...


As it should be, Welker's reputation is astounding and alongside [[Mel Blanc]] is likely the most famous voice actor in the world, he is revered as a voice acting god. Frank's ability goes beyond creating human voices and is often cast as animals and used for animal vocals, where he has has an uncanny talent at imitation. If the movie or show has any sort of budget and it has a regular animal character, he probably does the voices for it.
As it should be, Welker's reputation is astounding and alongside [[Mel Blanc]] is likely the most famous voice actor in the world, he is revered as a voice acting god. Frank's ability goes beyond creating human voices and is often cast as animals and used for animal vocals, where he has has an uncanny talent at imitation. If the movie or show has any sort of budget and it has a regular animal character, he probably does the voices for it.


Welker hasn't been entirely on animated shows, either. Animal sounds or otherwise "beastly" characters in live action work also keeps him in high demand. As an interesting side-note, he provided the voice of a screaming Spock in ''[[Star Trek III the Search For Spock (Film)|Star Trek III the Search For Spock]]'', while Leonard Nimoy took on the role of Galvatron (an altered Megatron) in ''[[Transformers the Movie]]''. He also cameoed in ''[[The Informant (Film)|The Informant]]'' as Matt Damon's character's father.
Welker hasn't been entirely on animated shows, either. Animal sounds or otherwise "beastly" characters in live action work also keeps him in high demand. As an interesting side-note, he provided the voice of a screaming Spock in ''[[Star Trek III: The Search For Spock|Star Trek III the Search For Spock]]'', while Leonard Nimoy took on the role of Galvatron (an altered Megatron) in ''[[Transformers: The Movie]]''. He also cameoed in ''[[The Informant (film)|The Informant]]'' as Matt Damon's character's father.


Largely because of the demand of his animal voice work, Welker more often plays a side-character instead of being the Hero. His most famous high profile work has been ''[[Scooby Doo (Animation)|Scooby Doo]]'' as Freddy (and Scooby since Don Messick's death), ''[[The Transformers (Animation)|The Transformers]]'' as Megatron and Soundwave, and more recently has provided the voice (both speaking and non-speaking) of Nibbler in ''[[Futurama (Animation)|Futurama]]''.
Largely because of the demand of his animal voice work, Welker more often plays a side-character instead of being the Hero. His most famous high profile work has been ''[[Scooby-Doo (animation)|Scooby Doo]]'' as Freddy (and Scooby since Don Messick's death), ''[[The Transformers (animation)|The Transformers]]'' as Megatron and Soundwave, and more recently has provided the voice (both speaking and non-speaking) of Nibbler in ''[[Futurama]]''.


One interesting little story about Welker is that he was nearly included in some cartoon's credits for voice work, until the guys remembered that no, they'd used an actual horse. He's just that ubiquitous. In terms of voice acting, he's a bit of a [[Memetic Badass]].
One interesting little story about Welker is that he was nearly included in some cartoon's credits for voice work, until the guys remembered that no, they'd used an actual horse. He's just that ubiquitous. In terms of voice acting, he's a bit of a [[Memetic Badass]].
----
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==== Frank Welker has provided voices for: ====
== Frank Welker has provided voices for ==
* ''[[Adventures From the Book of Virtues (Animation)|Adventures From the Book of Virtues]]'' - Socrates, additional voices
* ''[[Adventures from the Book of Virtues]]'' - Socrates, additional voices
* ''[[The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron (Animation)|The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron]]'' - Goddard, Poultra, Roxy, various animals and people
* ''[[The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius|The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron]]'' - Goddard, Poultra, Roxy, various animals and people
* Disney's ''[[Aladdin (Disney)|Aladdin]]'' - Abu, Rajah, Cave of Wonders, additional voices
* Disney's ''[[Aladdin (Disney film)|Aladdin]]'' - Abu, Rajah, Cave of Wonders, additional voices
* ''[[Animaniacs (Animation)|Animaniacs]]'' - Ralph, Thaddeus Plotz, Runt, Buttons, Chicken Boo, Flavio, Narrator, additional voices
* ''[[Animaniacs]]'' - Ralph, Thaddeus Plotz, Runt, Buttons, Chicken Boo, Flavio, Narrator, additional voices
* ''[[Baldur's Gate (Video Game)|Baldurs Gate]]'' - Most monsters, as well as the avatar of Amaunator and the sahuagin king Ixilthetocal
* ''[[Baldur's Gate|Baldurs Gate]]'' - Most monsters, as well as the avatar of Amaunator and the sahuagin king Ixilthetocal
* ''[[Batman Beyond (Animation)|Batman Beyond]]'' - Woof, various animals and mutants
* ''[[Batman Beyond]]'' - Woof, various animals and mutants
* ''[[Beauty and The Beast (Disney)|Beauty and The Beast]]'' - Philippe the horse, the Footstool, and the wolves
* ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'' - Philippe the horse, the Footstool, and the wolves
* ''[[Bill and Ted (Film)|Bill and Ted]]'s Bogus Journey'' - The Stations/Station
* ''[[Bill and Ted (film)|Bill and Ted]]'s Bogus Journey'' - The Stations/Station
* ''Disney's [[Bonkers (Animation)|Bonkers]]'' - Fall-a-part Rabbit, additional voices
* ''Disney's [[Bonkers]]'' - Fall-a-part Rabbit, additional voices
* ''[[Brian Froud|Brian Froud's Faeries]]'' - [[Snarky Non Human Sidekick|Puck]], [[Cool Old Guy|Fir Darrig]], Trow, and Hunter
* ''[[Brian Froud|Brian Froud's Faeries]]'' - [[Snarky Non-Human Sidekick|Puck]], [[Cool Old Guy|Fir Darrig]], Trow, and Hunter
* ''[[Carn Evil]]''
* ''[[Carn Evil]]''
* ''[[Cars (Animation)|Cars]]'' - Frank the combine
* ''[[Cars]]'' - Frank the combine
* ''[[Cats Don't Dance (Animation)|Cats Don't Dance]]'' - Farley Wink
* ''[[Cats Don't Dance]]'' - Farley Wink
* ''[[Cinderella (Disney)|Cinderella]]'' - Lucifer in the sequels.
* ''[[Cinderella (Disney film)|Cinderella]]'' - Lucifer in the sequels.
* ''[[Codename Kids Next Door (Animation)|Codename Kids Next Door]]'' - Professor XXX Large, president, truck driver, giant rainbow monkey, Mr. Uno, additional voices
* ''[[Codename: Kids Next Door]]'' - Professor XXX Large, president, truck driver, giant rainbow monkey, Mr. Uno, additional voices
* ''[[Curious George (Literature)|Curious George]]'' - George
* ''[[Curious George]]'' - George
* ''[[Dave the Barbarian (Animation)|Dave the Barbarian]]'' - Faffy, additional voices
* ''[[Dave the Barbarian]]'' - Faffy, additional voices
* ''[[Dexters Laboratory (Animation)|Dexters Laboratory]]'' - Monkey, Krunk, Mr. Luvinsky, Quackor, additional voices
* ''[[Dexter's Laboratory|Dexters Laboratory]]'' - Monkey, Krunk, Mr. Luvinsky, Quackor, additional voices
* ''[[Dinosaur (Disney)|Dinosaur]]'' - The Carnotaurus
* ''[[Dinosaur]]'' - The Carnotaurus
* ''[[Epic Mickey (Video Game)|Epic Mickey]]'' - [[Oswald the Lucky Rabbit]]
* ''[[Epic Mickey]]'' - [[Oswald the Lucky Rabbit]]
* ''[[Duck Tales (Animation)|Duck Tales]]'' - Bubba Duck, the Phantom Blot, additional voices
* ''[[DuckTales (1987)]]'' - Bubba Duck, the Phantom Blot, additional voices
* ''[[Dungeons and Dragons (Animation)|Dungeons and Dragons]]'' - Tiamat, Uni, various one-off characters (mostly human)
* ''[[Dungeons and Dragons (animation)|Dungeons and Dragons]]'' - Tiamat, Uni, various one-off characters (mostly human)
* ''[[Dynomutt Dog Wonder (Animation)|Dynomutt Dog Wonder]]'' - Dynomutt
* ''[[Dynomutt Dog Wonder]]'' - Dynomutt
* ''[[Evil Con Carne (Animation)|Evil Con Carne]]'' - Boskov
* ''[[Evil Con Carne]]'' - Boskov
* ''[[Futurama (Animation)|Futurama]]'' - Nibbler (in, [[Large Ham|surprisingly]], his natural voice), Seymour, Fleb, various animals and aliens
* ''[[Futurama]]'' - Nibbler (in, [[Large Ham|surprisingly]], his natural voice), Seymour, Fleb, various animals and aliens
* ''[[Garfield and Friends (Animation)|Garfield and Friends]]'' - Bo, Booker, Sheldon, Mort, additional voices
* ''[[Garfield and Friends]]'' - Bo, Booker, Sheldon, Mort, additional voices
* ''[[Gargoyles (Animation)|Gargoyles]]'' - Bronx, Cagney, dragon, additional voices
* ''[[Gargoyles]]'' - Bronx, Cagney, dragon, additional voices
* ''[[G.I. Joe (Franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' - Wild Bill, Torch, Polly, additional voices
* ''[[G.I. Joe]]'' - Wild Bill, Torch, Polly, additional voices
* ''[[The Golden Child]]'' - Demon vocal effects
* ''[[The Golden Child]]'' - Demon vocal effects
* ''[[Goof Troop (Animation)|Goof Troop]]'' - Waffles the cat, Chainsaw the dog
* ''[[Goof Troop]]'' - Waffles the cat, Chainsaw the dog
* ''[[Gremlins (Film)|Gremlins]]'' - All the gremlins, except Brain, who was Tony Randall
* ''[[Gremlins]]'' - All the gremlins, except Brain, who was Tony Randall
* ''[[Hercules (Disney)|Hercules]]'' - Pegasus
* ''[[Hercules (1997 film)|Hercules]]'' - Pegasus
* ''[[Histeria (Animation)|Histeria!]]'' - Father Time, Fetch, Pule Howser, [[Abraham Lincoln]], additional voices
* ''[[Histeria!]]'' - Father Time, Fetch, Pule Howser, [[Abraham Lincoln]], additional voices
* ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'' - Djali and Achilles
* ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'' - Djali and Achilles
* ''[[Inspector Gadget (Animation)|Inspector Gadget]]'' - Dr. Claw, Brain, Mad Cat, additional voices
* ''[[Inspector Gadget]]'' - Dr. Claw, Brain, Mad Cat, additional voices
* ''[[The Island of Doctor Moreau]]'' - creature voice effects
* ''[[The Island of Doctor Moreau]]'' - creature voice effects
* ''[[Jabberjaw (Animation)|Jabberjaw]]'' - Jabberjaw
* ''[[Jabberjaw]]'' - Jabberjaw
* ''[[The Jetsons (Animation)|The Jetsons]]'' - Orbitty
* ''[[The Jetsons]]'' - Orbitty
* ''[[Jim Henson]]'s [[Muppet Babies (Animation)|Muppet Babies]]'' - Kermit, Skeeter (replaced Howie Mandel), Beaker
* ''[[Jim Henson]]'s [[Muppet Babies]]'' - Kermit, Skeeter (replaced Howie Mandel), Beaker
* ''[[The Lion King (Disney)|The Lion King]]'' - animal vocal effects
* ''[[The Lion King]]'' - animal vocal effects
* ''[[The Little Mermaid (Disney)|The Little Mermaid]]'' - Max the sheepdog, animal vocal effects
* ''[[The Little Mermaid]]'' - Max the sheepdog, animal vocal effects
* ''[[Mars Attacks (Film)]]'' - Martian vocals
* ''[[Mars Attacks!]]'' - Martian vocals
* ''[[Mc Donaldland]]'' - Grimace (the purple thing)
* ''[[Mc Donaldland]]'' - Grimace (the purple thing)
* ''[[Mighty Max (Animation)|Mighty Max]]'' - Warmonger
* ''[[Mighty Max]]'' - Warmonger
* ''[[Mulan (Disney)|Mulan]]'' - Kahn, Crikee
* ''[[Mulan]]'' - Kahn, Crikee
** ''Mulan II'' - Little Brother (replaced Chris Sanders)
** ''Mulan II'' - Little Brother (replaced Chris Sanders)
* ''[[My Neighbor Totoro (Anime)|My Neighbor Totoro]]'' - Totoro
* ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]'' - Totoro
* ''[[Pac-Man (Animation)|Pac-Man]]'' - Chomp Chomp, Morris
* ''[[Pac-Man (animation)|Pac-Man]]'' - Chomp Chomp, Morris
* ''[[The Pagemaster]]'' - Horror
* ''[[The Pagemaster]]'' - Horror
* ''[[The Pirates of Dark Water (Animation)|The Pirates of Dark Water]]'' - Nibbler (retroactively dubbed in to replace Roddy McDowall on the earlier episodes.)
* ''[[The Pirates of Dark Water]]'' - Nibbler (retroactively dubbed in to replace Roddy McDowall on the earlier episodes.)
* ''[[Pocahontas (Disney)|Pocahontas]]'' - Flit
* ''[[Pocahontas]]'' - Flit
* ''[[Punky Brewster]]'' (animated) - Glomer
* ''[[Punky Brewster]]'' (animated) - Glomer
* ''[[Quest for Camelot]]'' - Ayden
* ''[[Quest for Camelot]]'' - Ayden
* ''[[Jonny Quest the Real Adventures (Animation)|Jonny Quest the Real Adventures]]'' - Bandit, Jeremiah Surd, additional voices
* ''[[Jonny Quest: The Real Adventures|Jonny Quest the Real Adventures]]'' - Bandit, Jeremiah Surd, additional voices
* ''[[The Real Ghostbusters (Animation)|The Real Ghostbusters]]'' - Ray Stanz, Slimer, The Boogeyman, additional voices
* ''[[The Real Ghostbusters]]'' - Ray Stanz, Slimer, The Boogeyman, additional voices
* ''[[The Rescuers (Disney)|The Rescuers Down Under]]'' - Marahute and Joanna
* ''[[The Rescuers (Disney film)|The Rescuers Down Under]]'' - Marahute and Joanna
* ''[[Richie Rich]]'' (Hanna-Barbera) - Dollar
* ''[[Richie Rich (comics)|Richie Rich]]'' (Hanna-Barbera) - Dollar
* ''[[Sea Quest DSV]]'' - Darwin
* ''[[SeaQuest DSV]]'' - Darwin
* ''[[The Schnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show (Animation)|The Schnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show]]'' - Meat
* ''[[The Schnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show]]'' - Meat
* ''[[Scooby Doo (Animation)|Scooby Doo]]'' - Fred, Scooby Doo (2002-present)
* ''[[Scooby-Doo (animation)|Scooby Doo]]'' - Fred, Scooby Doo (2002–present)
* ''[[Shrek (Animation)|Shrek]]'' - Dragon (uncredited)
* ''[[Shrek]]'' - Dragon (uncredited)
* ''[[The Simpsons (Animation)|The Simpsons]]'' - Santa's Little Helper, Snowball, various animals
* ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]'' - Santa's Little Helper, Snowball, various animals
* ''[[The Smurfs (Animation)|The Smurfs]]'' - Hefty Smurf, Pewit, Poet Smurf, Clockwork Smurf, Azrael, additional voices
* ''[[The Smurfs (animation)|The Smurfs]]'' - Hefty Smurf, Pewit, Poet Smurf, Clockwork Smurf, Azrael, additional voices
* ''[[The Snorks (Animation)|The Snorks]]'' - Occy, Tooter
* ''[[The Snorks]]'' - Occy, Tooter
* ''[[Spawn]]'' - Malebolgia
* ''[[Spawn]]'' - Malebolgia
* ''[[Species (Film)|Species]]'' - Sil's alien vocals
* ''[[Species]]'' - Sil's alien vocals
* ''[[Spiral Zone (Animation)|Spiral Zone]]'' - Ned Tucker, Dr. Lawrence and Razorback
* ''[[Spiral Zone]]'' - Ned Tucker, Dr. Lawrence and Razorback
* ''[[Superfriends (Animation)|Superfriends]]'' - Marvin White, Wonder Dog, Darkseid, Kalibak, Mxyzptlk, Toyman, [[The Joker]], additional voices.
* ''[[Superfriends]]'' - Marvin White, Wonder Dog, Darkseid, Kalibak, Mxyzptlk, Toyman, [[The Joker]], additional voices.
* ''[[Swat Kats (Animation)|Swat Kats]]'' - Dr. Viper
* ''[[Swat Kats]]'' - Dr. Viper
* ''[[Tangled (Disney)|Tangled]]'' - Maximus
* ''[[Tangled]]'' - Maximus
* ''[[Tarzan (Disney)|Tarzan]]'' - Sabor
* ''[[Tarzan (Disney film)|Tarzan]]'' - Sabor
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Film)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]: The Secret of the Ooze'': Tokka & Rahzar
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (film)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]: The Secret of the Ooze'': Tokka & Rahzar
* ''[[Tiny Toon Adventures (Animation)|Tiny Toon Adventures]]'' - Gogo Dodo, Furrball, Little Beeper, Calamity Coyote, Byron Basset, additional voices
* ''[[Tiny Toon Adventures]]'' - Gogo Dodo, Furrball, Little Beeper, Calamity Coyote, Byron Basset, additional voices
* ''[[Titan Maximum (Animation)|Titan Maximum]]'' - Newscaster
* ''[[Titan Maximum]]'' - Newscaster
* ''[[Transformers (Franchise)|Transformers]]''
* ''[[Transformers]]''
** ''[[The Transformers (Animation)|The Transformers]]'' - He did a ''lot'' of voices on that show, including most of the first year Decepticons. In fact, the only first-year Decepticons he didn't voice were Starscream (Chris Latta) and Thundercracker (John Stephenson). Most remember Welker as the voice of Megatron and Soundwave. He also took over the role of Galvatron after [[Leonard Nimoy]] voiced him in [[Transformers the Movie|the movie]].
** ''[[The Transformers (animation)|The Transformers]]'' - He did a ''lot'' of voices on that show, including most of the first year Decepticons. In fact, the only first-year Decepticons he didn't voice were Starscream (Chris Latta) and Thundercracker (John Stephenson). Most remember Welker as the voice of Megatron and Soundwave. He also took over the role of Galvatron after [[Leonard Nimoy]] voiced him in [[Transformers: The Movie|the movie]].
** ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Film)|Transformers Revenge of the Fallen]]'' - Soundwave, Devastator, Grindor, Ravage, and Reedman (Ravage's nanobots)
** ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'' - Soundwave, Devastator, Grindor, Ravage, and Reedman (Ravage's nanobots)
** ''[[Transformers Dark of the Moon (Film)|Transformers Dark of the Moon]]'' - Soundwave, Shockwave, and Barricade
** ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]'' - Soundwave, Shockwave, and Barricade
** ''[[Transformers Prime (Animation)|Transformers Prime]]'' - Megatron (with a ''fantastic'' display of [[Vocal Evolution]])
** ''[[Transformers Prime]]'' - Megatron (with a ''fantastic'' display of [[Vocal Evolution]])
* ''[[Trollkins (Animation)|Trollkins]]'' - Bogg Swampley, Flooky
* ''[[Trollkins]]'' - Bogg Swampley, Flooky
* ''[[Yogi Bear (Animation)|Yogi's Space Race]]'' - Jabberjaw, Buford (also appeared on "The Buford Files"), Nuggetnose (also appeared on "The Galloping Ghost"), Captain Good/Phantom Phink, Kleen Kat/Sludge
* ''[[Yogi Bear|Yogi's Space Race]]'' - Jabberjaw, Buford (also appeared on "The Buford Files"), Nuggetnose (also appeared on "The Galloping Ghost"), Captain Good/Phantom Phink, Kleen Kat/Sludge


And many, '''many''' more. Frank Welker is a [[Man of a Thousand Voices]] (probably even more than [[Mel Blanc]], with whom he worked over 20 times).
And many, '''many''' more. Frank Welker is a [[Man of a Thousand Voices]] (probably even more than [[Mel Blanc]], with whom he worked over 20 times).

Latest revision as of 01:17, 30 March 2018

/wiki/Frank Welkercreator
"Heroes? Frank Welker, Frank Welker and Frank Welker. He is hands down my most giant hero in the animation VO community. He is an amazingly gifted genius. He can create every sound that you might hear in a jungle: the drip of the raindrops, the wind rustling in the trees, and all of the inhabitants that you might encounter there. I love animals. I mean I love animals and Frank's great ability is that not only can he make the sounds of the animals; he can give them a true voice. I've done episodes of cartoons that had an environmental bent focusing on things like ivory poaching, global warming. He portrayed a mother elephant being torn from her baby by ivory poachers for her tusks. The mother's cry and the baby's anguish were all there in Frank's voice. Captain Planet did a show centering on puppy mills and what he did in that show... there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I've heard him do dozens of sensitive performances through the years and he always, always delivers something so special and unique and moving."
—Kath Soucie

Franklin Wendell Welker (born March 12, 1946) is an American voice actor. He is responsible for a broad spectrum of character voices, and other vocal effects that have appeared over the last 40 years in American television and motion pictures.

Welker is listed as the number one "All Time Top 100 Stars at the Box Office," not as a box office draw, but in terms of the total revenue generated by the films in which he has participated, for the sheer number of voices he has done—over 1,200—ranging from his work on Scooby Doo to the present day. (In fact, besides The Movie and the 1988-91 series A Pup Named Scooby-Doo where Carl Stevens did the voice, he has been the only voice of Freddy since the beginning.) Go look him up on IMDB. Depending on your monitor resolution and DPI settings, his resume is anywhere from 50-60 pages long. It'd be easier to list the works where he hasn't performed...

As it should be, Welker's reputation is astounding and alongside Mel Blanc is likely the most famous voice actor in the world, he is revered as a voice acting god. Frank's ability goes beyond creating human voices and is often cast as animals and used for animal vocals, where he has has an uncanny talent at imitation. If the movie or show has any sort of budget and it has a regular animal character, he probably does the voices for it.

Welker hasn't been entirely on animated shows, either. Animal sounds or otherwise "beastly" characters in live action work also keeps him in high demand. As an interesting side-note, he provided the voice of a screaming Spock in Star Trek III the Search For Spock, while Leonard Nimoy took on the role of Galvatron (an altered Megatron) in Transformers: The Movie. He also cameoed in The Informant as Matt Damon's character's father.

Largely because of the demand of his animal voice work, Welker more often plays a side-character instead of being the Hero. His most famous high profile work has been Scooby Doo as Freddy (and Scooby since Don Messick's death), The Transformers as Megatron and Soundwave, and more recently has provided the voice (both speaking and non-speaking) of Nibbler in Futurama.

One interesting little story about Welker is that he was nearly included in some cartoon's credits for voice work, until the guys remembered that no, they'd used an actual horse. He's just that ubiquitous. In terms of voice acting, he's a bit of a Memetic Badass.

Frank Welker has provided voices for

And many, many more. Frank Welker is a Man of a Thousand Voices (probably even more than Mel Blanc, with whom he worked over 20 times).

Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Frank_Welker?oldid=1584679"