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Frank Welker
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Franklin W. Welker (born March 12, 1946) is a veteran 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 he has participated in.
er was born in Denver, Colorado.

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Encyclopedia
Franklin W. Welker (born March 12, 1946) is a veteran 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 he has participated in.
Biography
Early life
Welker was born in Denver, Colorado. He attended college in California, where he later began his career appearing in commercials. While in college he appeared in numerous plays, and developed a stand-up comedy act which got him started on the concert circuit touring with The Righteous Brothers and Sergio Mendes. He continued with stand up, appearing in places including Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe as the opening act for headliners like Sonny and Cher, Diana Ross, Loretta Lynn, Ann-Margret and Neil Sedaka.
Acting career
Welker's first on camera film role was as a bar fight participant in Stan Dragoti’s Dirty Little Billy. He played a college kid from Rutgers University in the Elvis Presley picture The Trouble with Girls. He later co-starred with Don Knotts in Universal’s How to Frame a Figg. Welker also appeared in two Disney films, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and Now You See Him, Now You Don't.
His on camera television appearances included Love American Style, The Partridge Family and The Don Knotts Show. He played a prosecutor in highly acclaimed ABC special The Trial of General Yamashita and as Captain Pace beside Richard Dreyfuss' Yossarian in Paramount television’s pilot, Catch-22. He appeared on Laugh In, The Dean Martin Roast, The Mike Douglas Show, The Tonight Show, Merv Griffin, The Smothers Brothers Show, The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour and Laugh Trax. In the latter show, he was a cast member alongside Jim Staahl and Howie Mandel. Frank also played an on camera role of a voice actor on an episode of Simon and Simon. He is set to return to an on camera role in the film The Informant (2009 film) playing Matt Damon's character's father.
Voice acting career
Welker has been referred to as a "voice acting god" (by John DiMaggio and Billy West in the DVD commentary for Futurama) in Hollywood for the sheer number of voices he has done—over 1,200—ranging from his work on Scooby-Doo to the present day. His voice acting credits include television shows and films such as Curious George, Aladdin, Pocahontas and computer games such as the Baldur's Gate series, and CarnEvil. Frank's ability goes beyond creating human voices and is often cast as animals and used for animal vocals, for example the animal-spirit Totoro and Catbus in the Disney 2005 re-dub of My Neighbor Totoro.
Welker starred in more live action movies during the 1990s. His work includes vocal effects for the character of Sil in Species, Goro in 1995's Mortal Kombat, the Devil in 1986's The Golden Child, and Malebolgia in 1997's Spawn. Welker also provided the voice (both speaking and non-speaking) of Nibbler in the cartoon TV series Futurama.
As of 2002, Welker is the voice of both Fred Jones and Scooby Doo. This includes the most recent What's New, Scooby-Doo?, and the series-based spinoff, Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! Also, Welker starred in most of the 2000s Scooby-Doo projects as Fred Jones and Scooby-Doo. He also was Sasquatch in The Legend of Sasquatch. Welker's talent was also recognized in Disney's Stitch: Experiment 626, voicing the jealous and maniacal Experiment 6-2-1.
Transformers
In the 1980s, Welker voiced many recurring characters in the Transformers animated series. He voiced eight of the original 14 Decepticons: Megatron/Galvatron, Soundwave, Skywarp, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, and Ratbat. He also did voicework as the Autobots Mirage and Trailbreaker. With the release of the animated film in 1986, he took on the role of the Autobot Wheelie and afterwards, took over the role of Galvatron from Leonard Nimoy. Having already provided the screams for Nimoy's character Mr. Spock in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, this marked the second time he had inherited a role from Nimoy. Welker was asked to audition to reprise his original role of Megatron in the 2007 live action Transformers movie. Apparently due to a conflict in schedules, Welker never met with the producers or director Michael Bay. Bay, however, had Welker send him a couple of recorded lines and concluded that Welker's Megatron did not fit his new interpretation of the character and that having him use a different voice would defeat the purpose of casting him. Although this did not occur in the film itself, Welker reunited with Transformers co-star Peter Cullen in the 2007 Transformers: The Game, with both returning to voice their signature roles. He also reprised his role in the animated prequel, a bonus premium of the DVD package.
Welker also returned to two of his most famous Transformers roles when he portrayed Megatron and Soundwave as part of a spoof in the third season episode of Robot Chicken, aired shortly after the release of the live action film.
According to imdb.com, Frank Welker's voice archives of Ravage will be used for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Filmography
Animated roles
- 101 Dalmatians: The Series - Scorch, Steven the Aligator
- Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda - Don Coyote, Dapple the Donkey
- Adventures from the Book of Virtues - Socrates
- Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius - Goddard, others
- Aladdin (TV series) - Abu, Rajah, Xerxes, additional voices
- Alvin and the Chipmunks - Additional voices
- American Dad! - Additional voices
- Animaniacs - Runt, Flavio Hippo, Buttons, Ralph the Guard, Thaddeus Plotz, and Chicken Boo, occasional segment narration
- Arthur - Pal (1996-2000), Various animals (uncredited)
- Astro & the Space Mutts - Cosmo
- Batman: The Animated Series - Isis the cat, werewolf sound effects, henchman, demon
- Batman Beyond - Ace the Bathound
- Bionic Six - Glove, Mechanic, Chopper
- The Berenstein Bears - Raffish Ralph, Weasel McGreed, Farmer Ben, and Henchweasels
- Bobby's World - Roger the Dog
- Bonkers - Fall-Apart Rabbit, Toots, Roderick the Toon Radio, Toon Handbag, Cadet Quark, Elmo, additional voices
- Buzz Lightyear of Star Command - Grubs, Brain Pods, and others
- Captain N: The Game Master - Game Boy (Seasons 2 & 3)
- Captain Planet and the Planeteers - Suchi the Monkey
- Capitol Critters - Presidential Cats
- Challenge of the Gobots - Scooter, Zeemon, Blaster, Rest-Q
- Challenge of the Superfriends - The Toyman
- Chowder - Various animal and creature vocal effects
- Codename: Kids Next Door - Professor XXXL, Mr. Uno
- Cro - Gogg, Bobb, Earle, Big Red
- Curious George - George
- Dave the Barbarian - Faffy
- Dexter's Laboratory - Monkey, Quackor, The Infraggible Krunk, Mr. Luzinsky and possibly Master Computer ('Game Over' episode)
- Dink, the Little Dinosaur - Scat and Crusty
- Dino Riders - Krulos and Rasp
- Droopy, Master Detective - Mighty McWolf, Dweeble
- DuckTales - Bigtime and Baggy Beagle, Bubba, Tootsie and Poe De Spell
- Dungeons & Dragons - Uni and Tiamat
- Dynomutt, Dog Wonder - Dynomutt, the dog wonder
- Evil Con Carne - Boskov the Bear
- The Fairly Oddparents - Doidle, Dinkledog, The Sewer Gator, Evil Bug
- Fangface - Fangs/Fangface
- Family Guy - Freddy Jones, Kermit the frog, Megatron
- Foofur - Foofur
- Freakazoid! - Mr. Chubbikins
- Futurama - Nibbler (both talking and non-talking versions), Seymour, and numerous other animal and humanoid voices
- G.I. Joe - Copperhead, Flash, Freedom, Junkyard, Polly, Short-Fuse, Timber, Torch, and Wild Bill
- Garfield and Friends - Booker, Sheldon, Bo, Mort, Fred Duck, Dr. Garbanzo Bean
- Gargoyles - Bronx, Baby Alex, and numerous animals
- Goof Troop - Waffles and Chainsaw
- Hercules: The Animated Series - Pegasus, Abu ("Hercules and the Arabian Night"), additional voices
- House of Mouse - Gus Goose
- Inspector Gadget - Brain, Doctor Claw, and Mad Cat
- Jabberjaw - Jabberjaw
- The Jetsons - Orbity (Seasons 2 & 3, 1984-1987)
- Jim Henson's Muppet Babies - Kermit, Beaker, and Skeeter (1985-1990)
- Kim Possible - Different villains and creatures
- The Legend of Tarzan - Manu
- Lloyd in Space - Bork
- The Mask: The Animated Series - Milo and Baby Forthwright
- The Mighty Ducks - Chameleon
- Mighty Man & Yukk! - Yukk
- Mighty Max - Warmonger
- Mucha Lucha! - Masked Dog
- The New Woody Woodpecker Show - Chilly Willy, Chilly Lilly, Maxie the Polar Bear, Billy, Louie, Gabby Gator, and Badger
- The Pirates of Dark Water - Niddler, Dark Dweller, Morpho, Lugg Brother #2
- Pound Puppies - Catgut / Nabbit
- Rambo: The Force of Freedom - Mad Dog
- The Real Ghostbusters - Slimer, Ray Stantz, Samhaine, The Marshmallow Man and The Bogeyman
- Road Rovers - Muzzle and Shag
- The Robonic Stooges - Curly
- Roger Rabbit
- Roller Coaster Rabbit - Bull
- Trail Mix-Up - Beaver / Bear
- Scooby-Doo - Freddy Jones (1969-present) and Scooby-Doo (succeeding Scott Innes in 2002)
- Scooby's All-Star Laff-a-Lympics - Tinker, Yakky Doodle, Magic Rabbit, Sooey Pig, Dynomutt
- Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! - Scooby-Doo
- occasionally provides the voice of Fred if the character appears in this incarnation
- The Simpsons - Santa's Little Helper and Snowball II, among others (1991-2002)
- The Smurfs - Clockwork Smurf, Hefty Smurf, Peewit, Poet Smurf, Puppy, Wild, additional voices
- The Snorks - Occy, Tooter
- South Park - The Big Giant Black and Dark Monster, Nibblet and Stray Dog in episode Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery
- Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends - Bobby Drake/Iceman, Flash Thompson, Ms. Lion (Firestar's pet Dog)
- SpongeBob Squarepants - Giant clams, Mystery the seahorse, gorilla, misc. voices.
- Superfriends - Marvin
- Superfriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show - Darkseid, Kalibak, Mr Mxyzptlk, Dollmaker
- Superman: The Animated Series - Kryto the alien, Titano, Parademons,scientist, henchman, giant alien, various animals
- The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians - Darkseid, Kalibak, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Joker (comics), Toyman
- Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron - Dr. Viper
- Time Squad - French Captains, Horses, James Sherman/Zombie
- Timon and Pumbaa - Various animals and characters
- Tiny Toon Adventures - Gogo Dodo, Little Beeper, Calamity Coyote, Furrball, Byron Basset, and Barky Marky
- This Is America, Charlie Brown - Various characters.
- The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show - Spike, Droopy, Slick Wolf, Barney Bear
- Total Drama Island - Various animal vocal effects including the bear and Sasquatch (uncredited)
- Transformers - Megatron/Galvatron/Soundwave/Trailbreaker/Mirage/Teletraan II/Ravage/Rumble, and many others
- What's New, Mr. Magoo? - McBarker
- What's New, Scooby-Doo? - Fred
- Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch - Wheelie and Chopper
- The Wild Thornberrys - Various animal vocal effects
- Yogi's Great Escape - Bopper, Yapper, the Real Ghost
Live-action roles
- 101 Dalmatians and 102 Dalmatians - Various animal vocal effects including Pongo, Perdita, and the puppies
- Anaconda - Vocal effects for Anaconda and other animals as well
- Born To Be Wild - Special Vocal Effects including Katie Gorilla's growls and roars
- Caddyshack 2 - Vocal effects for the gopher
- The Cat in the Hat - voice of Nevins
- Cat's Eye - Vocal effects for General the cat and troll
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - Various animal vocal effects including Aslan, Maugrim, Fox, and others
- Dollman vs. Demonic Toys - Voices of Babay Oopsy Daisy, Jack Attack, and Zombietoid
- Eight Legged Freaks - Various giant spider vocal effects
- George of the Jungle - Little Monkey, Shep, Tooki Tooki Bird, and gorilla sound effects
- Godzilla - Vocal effects for Godzilla and the Godzilla Jrs.
- The Golden Child - Vocal effects for Charles Dance's Demon form.
- Gremlins - voice of Stripe and other Mogwai and Gremlins
- Gremlins 2: The New Batch - voice of the Mohawk, George & Lenny Gremlins
- Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey - Special Vocal Effects including Sassy's yowls and Chance's grunts and growls
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Max
- Hudson Hawk - Bunny the fox terrier
- Independence Day - Alien vocal effects
- The Island of Dr. Moreau - Various hybrid creature vocal effects
- The Jungle Book - Various animal vocal effects including Baloo, Bagheera, Grey Brother, Shere Khan, and King Louie
- Mafia! - Various animal vocal effects including the guard sheep, Vincenzo Cortino's cat, and the dinosaurs.
- Man's Best Friend - Vocal effects for Max the expiramental dog, Ed the parrot, and Boo the cat.
- Mars Attacks! - Martians
- Monkey Shines - Vocal effects for Ella the Monkey
- Mortal Kombat - Voice of Shao Kahn (provided vocal effects for Goro)
- Munchies - Arnold and other munchies voices
- Prancer (film) - Prancer's vocal effects
- Prehysteria - Vocal effects for Elvis, Paula, Jagger, Hammer, and Madonna
- Raiders of the Lost Ark - Seig Heil the monkey, snakes, scorpions, demons
- The Santa Clause - Reindeer vocal effects
- Spawn - Malebolgia
- Species - Alien Sil's vocal effects
- Stargate - mastadge pack animal
- Super Mario Bros. - Vocal effects for Yoshi, Goombas, and other creatures.
- Tales From The Darkside: The Movie - The cat (segment The Cat From Hell)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze - Tokka and Rahzar
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - voice of Ravage
- Troll - voice of Torok the troll and various other creatures.
- Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast - voice of Goddard, Paultra
Movie roles
- 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure - Various animal vocal effects including Thunderbolt, Lil' Lightning, and the puppies
- Aladdin, The Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves - Abu, Rajah
- All Dogs Go to Heaven and All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 - Other dogs, demon, additional voices
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Meet Frankenstein - "Frankie" The Monster, Sammy Squirrel
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Meet the Wolfman - Werewolf Vocal Effects
- Atlantis: Milo's Return - Obby/Mantell
- Barnyard - The Coyotes, and barnyard vocal effects (uncredited)
- Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker - Woof, Ace
- Beauty and the Beast - Footstool, Wolves
- Cats Don't Dance - Farley Wink
- The Chipmunk Adventure - Sophie Vorstein/Furschtein
- Curious George - voice of George
- Dinosaur - The Carnotaurus, Velociraptors, and dinosaur sound effects
- Doug's 1st Movie - Herman Melville
- Felix the Cat: The Movie - Master Cylinder
- Garfield Gets Real - Garfield, Goth Kid, Hardy, Keith, Nerd, Prop Boy, and Two Headed Guy
- A Goofy Movie - Bigfoot
- The Great Mouse Detective - Toby the Dog, Felicia the Cat
- Hercules - Pegasus, various animals and monsters.
- Horton Hears a Who! - The Wickersham Brothers
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame II - Achilles, Djali
- Jetsons: The Movie - Space Basketball Coach, Lead Grungee, other Grungees
- Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure - Various animal vocal effects including Scamp, and the Junkyard Dogs
- The Land Before Time - T-Rex / Pachycephalosaurus (uncredited)
- The Lion King - Various animal vocal effects including Adult Simba, and the hyenas.
- The Little Mermaid - Max the Sheepdog, shark, other animal vocal effects
- The Little Troll Prince - Prag #2
- Madagascar and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - Animal vocal effects
- Mulan - Khan, Cri-kee
- My Neighbor Totoro - Totoro / Catbus (2006 Disney dub only)
- Noah's Ark - Various animal vocal effects
- Oliver & Company - Louie the Hotdog Man, additional voices
- Open Season - Rabbits
- The Pagemaster - Horror, Parrot, Raven, Dragon
- Pocahontas - Flit
- The Powerpuff Girls Movie - Whole Lotta Monkeys
- Quest For Camelot - Ayden the falcon, dragons
- The Rescuers Down Under - Joanna, Marahute, additional special vocal effects
- The Road to El Dorado - Altivo the horse, armadillo
- The Rugrats Movie - Scar Snout, and The Circus Monkeys (uncredited)
- Scooby-Doo film series - Fred Jones, Scooby-Doo, and others
- Tarzan - The Leopard / Baby Baboon
- Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring - Jerry and Tyke
- Tom and Jerry: Blast Off to Mars - Jerry and Spike
Video game roles
External links
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