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Jim Cummings

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James Jonah "Jim" Cummings (born November 3, 1952[1] in Youngstown, Ohio) is an American voice actor. He is perhaps the busiest and most successful voice-over actor working today. Cummings is well-known for his appearance as Dr. Robotnik on the Sonic The Hedgehog series. His vocal imitation skills; he was able to imitate Sterling Holloway's voicework as Winnie the Pooh and Kaa, and Paul Winchell as the voice of Tigger when Winchell retired. When Jeremy Irons's vocal cords blew out during production of The Lion King, Cummings was chosen to imitate Irons's voice in the last part of the song "Be Prepared". He also duplicated the voice of actor Christopher Lloyd for the song "In the Dark of the Night" in the animated film Anastasia. His imitation of Louis Prima's voice of King Louie in Talespin (which led to a controversy with Prima's widow).

Cummings is the only Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles actor to come back for the 2007 movie, as one of the additional voices; his first 3 TMNT appearances were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. The 2007 movie is also the sixth computer-animated movie appearance of Jim Cummings as well, his first 5 computer-animated movie appearances are Antz, The Nuttiest Nutcracker, Shrek, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, and Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas.

Biography

After moving to New Orleans and working as a constructor of Mardi Gras floats, Cummings eventually found himself in Anaheim, California working odd jobs. In 1983, the increasing illness of longtime Winnie the Pooh voice actor Sterling Holloway led to an open call to replace him for the movie Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore. Hal Smith (Otis from Andy Griffith) took over, Jim Cummings later offered an uncanny substitute for Sterling Holloway in the New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Over the next 20 years, Cummings' role in voice acting evolved from bit characters to leading roles in major series at a number of studios, including Nickelodeon, Warner Bros., Hanna-Barbera, Dreamworks, and 20th Century Fox studios. However, his most famous and long-lasting roles have occurred at Walt Disney Studios, where he has provided voices for many television series, including leading roles in Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears, (taking over the character of Zummi Gummi after Paul Winchell's departure from the role), Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck, Goof Troop, Bonkers, Gargoyles, and House of Mouse, and movies such as Hercules, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas and the Disney special edition of Alice in Wonderland (as the Cheshire Cat singing "I'm Odd"). Cummings also voiced the non-speaking role of Ed the laughing hyena in 1994's The Lion King.

Other roles include Mr. Bumpy in the cult Claymation show Bump in the Night, Dr. Robotnik on Sonic The Hedgehog, Psy-Crow and Bob the Killer Goldfish on Earthworm Jim and Taz Tazmanian Devil on Taz-Mania and a number of other projects. In addition to Taz and Pooh, Cummings has over the years become the official voice for a number of legendary cartoon characters, including Tigger, Pete, Dick Dastardly, the Slag Brothers, Big Gruesome, Private Meekly, Clyde, and Morocco Mole . He also did some voices on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles such as Leatherhead the mutant alligator and some additional characters. He also did the voice of Don Karnage in Disney's TaleSpin. Cummings has also provided voices for video games, television commercials, and movie trailers, and is the current official announcer for Kids' WB!. Recently, he returned to his role as Taz on Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas.

In the world of video games, Cummings has done the voice of Minsc (probably his most popular role) of Baldur's Gate/Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn and Drizzt Do'Urden in the first Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance game. He is also prominently displayed in the credits of Kingdom Hearts as Pooh, Tigger, and Pete. Cummings provided his voice for Bad Mr. Frosty, Hougan, and Sumo Santa in Clay Fighter 63 1/3. He voices Sarge and the other soldiers in the Army Men games. In Ys Book I and II for the Turbografx -16 CD system, he is credited as voicing Dalles and also did some side characters' voices for Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers.

Cummings also narrates the current Epcot fireworks show, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.

Cummings has a notable cameo in Comic Book: The Movie as an inebriated party-goer. This is one of his few live-action appearances. The movie stars many other voice actors, including Tom Kenny, Billy West and Mark Hamill.

Voiceography

Workplace

Notes

  1. ^ State of California. Lists James J. Cummings on 3 November 1952. No James J. Cummings born in 1953.
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