Rob Paulsen

Robert Fredrick Paulsen III (born March 11, 1956) is an American voice actor and singer, who has done many voice roles in various films, television shows, and video games, including Raphael and Donatello from the 1987 and 2012 cartoons respectively of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yakko Warner, Dr. Otto Scratchansniff, and Pinky from Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain, Carl Wheezer from Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and its spin-off television show series The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Eubie from The Happy Elf, Peck the Rooster from Barnyard and its spin-off television show series Back at the Barnyard, and the title character in The Mask: Animated Series. In total, Paulsen has been the voice of over 250 different animated characters and performed in over 1000 commercials. He received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for his role as Pinky, and three Annie Awards.

Early Life
Paulsen was born in Detroit, Michigan to Lee and Robert Frederick Paulsen Jr. He was raised in Grand Blanc, Michigan and attended Grand Blanc High School, from which he graduated in 1974. Paulsen later briefly attended University of Michigan-Flint but dropped out to pursue a career in show business.

Career
He began his voice-over career in 1983 with the mini-series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, where he played "Snow Job" and "Tripwire". A few years later, his career launched into more roles such as "Cobra Slavemaster" and reprising "Snow Job" and "Tripwire" on G.I. Joe, "Corky" on The Snorks, "Marco Smurf" on the later seasons of The Smurfs, "Boober" on the animated version of Fraggle Rock, "Hadji" in The New Adventures of Jonny Quest and the title character – "Saber Rider" and the villain "Jesse Blue" on Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs.

During the 1980s, Paulsen also explored the field of live action films. His first movie was Eyes of Fire in 1983. He played supporting roles in Body Double, Stewardess School, Warlock, and Mutant on the Bounty. He appeared in television shows during this time as well, such as MacGyver and St. Elsewhere. He mentioned in an interview, regarding his role in Body Double, that he would not want his child (who was very young at the time of the interview) to see the movie, so he could not really be proud of his work.

Paulsen became more prevalent in the world of advertising as well. In the 1980s, he had been the announcer for the sitcom Cheers and continued to secure roles as an announcer. He appeared as the voice of "Mr. Opportunity", spokesman of Honda commercials on TV and radio, the announcer for Buffalo Dick's Radio Ranch, and the spokesman for Lucky Stores, a West Coast grocery store chain, before it was acquired by Albertsons in 1998. He provided the voice of "Dog" in the Taco Bell kids meal commercials from 1996 to mid-1997, with Eddie Deezen as the voice of "Nacho" the cat.

However, Paulsen's most famous advertising role was in the original commercial of the now ubiquitous Got Milk? campaign. The famous commercial, Who shot Alexander Hamilton in that famous duel?, aired in 1993, and launched the Got Milk? campaign into a monstrously successful enterprise. Paulsen continues to be one of the most sought-after commercial voice actors in the industry.

He can be currently heard as the voice of singing Mr. Mini-Wheat in the Mini-Wheats commercials in Canada.

From 1987 to 1995, Paulsen voiced Raphael and various supporting characters in the original 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Originally starting as a five-part miniseries, the series continued for ten seasons and 193 episodes. It was a great success and became an instant pop culture symbol. Paulsen has said that Raphael's voice is very similar to his natural voice.

He returned to the franchise as Donatello for the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series on Nickelodeon, which ran for five seasons and 124 episodes from September 29, 2012 until November 12, 2017. He also reprised his role as 1987 Raphael in the multiple 1987/2012 crossover episodes.

Paulsen serves as the voice director for the subsequent series, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which premiered in July 2018.

Throughout the early 1990s, Paulsen continued to co-star in animated series, which allowed him to branch further into radio and television announcements and dropped live action acting from his repertoire. In 1993, he voiced "Antoine D'Coolette" in ABC's series Sonic the Hedgehog, and "Arthur", an insecure accountant in a moth costume (wings included), in the superhero series The Tick in 1995, replacing Micky Dolenz, who had originally played Arthur.

In 1993, he starred as the title character in both Mighty Max and The Mask. Also at this time, he starred in what became one of his most popular roles, "Yakko Warner" of Animaniacs. Paulsen also provided the voice of "Pinky" from both Animaniacs and its spin-off Pinky and the Brain, a show which won him several Annie Awards and a Daytime Emmy in 1999. He also did a number of characters in Tiny Toon Adventures, including "Fowlmouth", "Arnold the Pit Bull", and "Concord Condor". In the direct-to-video movie Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation, he did the voices for "Banjo Possum", "Mr. Hitcher" (who would also appear in other episodes), and "Johnny Pew".

Paulsen will continue to voice Yakko and Pinky in the upcoming Animaniacs revival on Hulu.

Paulsen was married twice. He first married Carol Anne Schnarr in 1979, they divorced in 1982 after three years of marriage. Paulsen married his second wife Parrish Todd, a photographer, in 1983. Together they have a son, Ashton "Ash" Paulsen. In an interview with a Chicago TV station, Paulsen described himself as "a singer who decided to become an actor." Growing up in Grand Blanc, Michigan, Paulsen sang in choirs throughout his youth and adolescence and began performing in plays in grammar schools. However, his idol growing up was Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings; he considered the arts to be a secondary career choice, primarily interested in becoming a professional hockey player.

Paulsen has long supported charity organizations and donated considerably for cancer research. He has worked a lot for GOALmodels, a program for adolescents, and is a sponsor of Camp Will-A-Way, a camp for mentally and physically disabled children. Paulsen also donates funds from autographs to the Wounded Warrior Project and Operation Smile.

In February 2016, Paulsen was diagnosed with Stage III throat cancer. Paulsen has since undergone treatment, and his cancer is now in remission.

Animated Series

 * The Magician (1997) - Cosmo, Diamond, "Sonny Boy" Serge, Captain Friedrichs, Jim Speed (ep. 1), Mr. Alexandre (ep. 5) , Fred Barskin (ep. 7) , Security Guard (ep. 11) , Mr. Banks (ep. 14) , Rutger Schoendorf (ep. 13) , Moody Grib (ep. 17) , Professor Kabalyev (ep. 20) , Stick (ep. 24, 33) , Mr. Wolfe (ep. 32) , Count Hebron (eps. 37, 39)
 * Totally Spies! (2001-2013) - Diminutive Smalls (ep. 14), Jason (ep. 14) , Guard (ep. 14)
 * Rintindumb (2006) - Additional Voices

Animated Specials

 * Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire (1999) - Head Elf, Bus Driver (US Dub)
 * Robbie the Reindeer in Legend of the Lost Tribe (2002) - Magnus 4 (US Dub)

Animated Films

 * Dragon Hunters (2008) - Gwizdo, Lensflair, Bats

Anime

 * Saber Rider & the Star Sheriffs (1984-1985) - Saber Rider, Commander Jesse Blue, Miguel's Father
 * Thundercats (2011-2012) - Rezard (ep. 7), Shen (ep. 7)

OVAs & Specials

 * Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) - Sal Maroni, Mole Man (ep. 4), Youth 4 (ep. 5)

Anime Films

 * Porco Rosso (1992) - Additional Voices (Buena Vista Dub)

Video Game Dubbing

 * Stupid Invaders (2000) - Male Robot, Additional Voices
 * Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (2010) - Jaq, Grand Duke