Famous voice actors: the best voices for 2024 by Voice123

Famous voice actors are talented artists who bring unique characters and personalities to life. You can hear their outstanding vocal skill as a sassy talking rabbit (Bugs Bunny), a menacing villain in a dark hissing helmet (Darth Vader), and a life-size teddy bear with a coarse mouth (Ted). But what makes the most popular voice actors so successful – and how can their talent help you with voice casting?

At Voice123, the place to go for diverse vocal talent – we understand the impact of the most famous voice actors in the audio-video industry. So, as a voice over authority, here’s our take on 10 of the most famous voice actors, 5 famous anime voice actors, and top tips to elevate your future audio projects.

Get ready to find iconic tones that linger long after the credits roll.

What are famous voice actors

Famous voice actors are skilled professionals who voice iconic characters in popular commercials, audiobooks, animated television shows, films, and video games. They infuse these fictitious personalities with unique traits and emotions that are globally recognized. From charismatic heroes in animated films to beloved mascots in commercials and dynamic villains in video games.

Examples of famous voice actors are Tara Strong, the voice of Harley Quinn in Batman, and Grey DeLisle, the voice of Daphne Blake in Scooby-Doo. Here’s a quick breakdown of the 10 most famous voice actors in 2024.

10 famous voice actors

1. Nolan North

Nolan North is one of the most popular voice actors in gaming, voicing fictional characters that appear realistic and dynamic to users worldwide. From Nathan Drake’s charm in Uncharted to Deadpool’s dry, witty humor, North won 5 different performance awards for his incredible voice over work, including Best Performance for Uncharted 4 at The Game Awards.

2. Mark Hamill

Mark Hamill is the actor who played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, but he’s also one of the best voice actors in animation. He created the maniacal, spine-chilling laughs of renowned villains like the Joker in Batman and the Hobgoblin in Spider-Man. Hamil has 10 performance awards, including Best Performer at the British Academy Games Awards.

3. Jim Cummings

Jim Cummings is among the most popular voice actors behind countless beloved Disney characters. From Winnie the Pooh’s honey-loving innocence to the Tasmanian Devil’s splutterings and Darkwing Duck’s charismatic heroics, Cummings infused his characters with warmth and humor. He has appeared in almost 400 films, TV shows, and gaming roles.

4. Jennifer Hale

Jennifer Hale, another of the most famous voice actors, is known for her dynamic range and compelling performances. Her authoritative presence enhances the role of Commander Shepard in Mass Effect, Baldur’s Gate, and Overwatch. The Guinness World Records recognizes Hale as the most prolific (female) video game voice actor.

5. Troy Baker

Troy Baker is one of those popular voice actors with captivating vocal skills. He voices strong male leads like Joel Miller in The Last of Us and Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite, showcasing emotional depth and resonance. Baker received various awards, including the VGX Award for Best Voice Actor for The Last of Us.

6. Frank Welker

Frank Welker is one of TV’s most famous voice actors because of the energy he brings to all his roles. He infuses them with the unique tone and signature catchphrases audiences love to hear. In the Scooby-Doo franchise, Welker voiced numerous characters, including Fred Jones, where his voice adds bravery and resourcefulness to the character. In Megatron from Transformers, however, his voice is cold and menacing, capturing the character’s cruel, calculating nature. 

7. Mel Blanc

Mel Blanc is one of the media’s most famous voice actors. Known as the man of a thousand voices, Blanc used facial and body contortion to create the unique traits of Daffy Duck’s quirky lisp, Porky Pigs’ signature stutter and Bugs Bunny’s cocky Brooklyn accent. Blanc was the first voice actor to receive on-screen credit for his voice over work.

8. Nancy Cartwright

Nancy Cartwright is one of the famous voice actors in the TV series The Simpsons. She can voice characters of any age or gender, creating distinct personalities like 10-year-old Bart Simpson’s mischievous nature. Cartwright received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding voice over Performance for Bart Simpson.

9. James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones is one of America’s most famous voice actors because of his uniquely deep, rich voice quality. From The Lion King’s Mufasa to Star Wars Darth Vader, Jones’ voice adds a wise paternal nature to the character. In 2009, Jones received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.

10. Seth MacFarlane

Seth MacFarlane is one of the best voice actors in animation because of his vibrant speaking voice. His noteworthy performances include the authoritative Peter Griffin from Family Guy and Ted the foul-mouthed teddy with childish pitch. MacFarlane received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.

Top 5 most famous anime voice actors

• Megumi Hayashibara is one of the most famous anime voice actors because of her vocal characterization of Rei Ayanami in Neon Genesis Evangelion. Hayashibara’s contributions span various classic and contemporary anime characters.
• Masako Nozawa, the voice of Goku in the Dragon Ball series, is another of the famous anime voice actors. Although her character is male, Nozawa captures Goku’s playful side mixed with masculine intensity. 
• Rie Kugimiya is one of the famous anime voice actors behind characters like Taiga Aisaka in Toradora. Rie perfectly matches her voice to the intricate facial textures and nuances of all her characters. 
• Yūki Kaji voices Eren Yeager in Attack on Titan, Shoto Todoroki in My Hero Academia, and Meliodas in The Seven Deadly Sins. Kaji won the Best VA Performance (Japanese)  award at the 7th Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
• Mamoru Miyano is one of the most famous anime voice actors, with multiple awards for performances like Light Yagami in Death Note. Miyano embodies his character’s darkest emotions to make them realistic.

How famous voice actors can influence your audio projects

The most famous voice actors created unique styles and skills that shaped the voice over industry. But hiring big names like Mark Hamill or David Attenborough isn’t possible for every project. So, you need the best voice actors with similar vocal styles for character portrayals that resonate with target markets – like fantastic video game voice actors or narrators on Voice123. You can direct a voice actor to read a script in ‘the style of Tara Strong or Mel Blanc. Instead of a direct impersonation, this gives the voice actor a complete idea of the style, tone, inflection, characteristics, and intonation they must employ to deliver a top-quality performance.

Final thoughts on famous voice actors

The world of voice acting has produced some of the most famous voice actors in the entertainment industry. From Nolan North to Mark Hamill, Jim Cummings, Jennifer Hale, Troy Baker, Frank Welker, Mel Blanc, Nancy Cartwright, James Earl Jones, and Seth MacFarlane. Not forgetting the unmatched skill of famous anime voice actors like Megumi Hayashibara, Masako Nozawa, Rie Kugimiya, Yūki Kaji, and Mamoru Miyano.

Now that you know the most popular voice actors, you understand the best styles to use in your next project – hire Voice123 pros or let our Managed Services oversee your entire project.

Now’s the time to embrace the magic of legendary voices that echo into the future.

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