Neil Kaplan
Encyclopedia
Neil Kaplan is an American voice actor, entertainer and comedian.
. He got his start as a comedian doing impressions of presidents such as Ronald Reagan
and Richard Nixon
. He also impersonated a little known journalist at the time, Dan Rather
. He then started work on video games, including many Star Wars
titles. From there he went on to do such shows as Power Rangers
, Digimon: Digital Monsters, and most recently, Transformers: Robots in Disguise
.
One of his most famous voices is Hawkmon
from Digimon
. His favorite role was the "utility guy" on a show called The Mouse and the Monster, which aired on UPN
in 1996–1997. He played stomachs, ghosts, and Sappy the Clown, among dozens of other characters on that show. Kaplan was also once a contestant on the popular comedy game show, Street Smarts
. On that appearance he showed off some of his other impressions, including one of Gilbert Gottfried
.
Kaplan was invited as a guest to the Power Morphicon (in Los Angeles) in June 2007 as well as August 2010, and to Armageddon (in Australia and New Zealand) in October 2007.
He created the TV show ,The Way it WASN'T!, as well as the graphic novel, I, of the Wolf.
He also voices the main character in the "Adult" video game BoneCraft which will be released on January 12th.
Biography
Kaplan grew up in San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. He got his start as a comedian doing impressions of presidents such as Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. He also impersonated a little known journalist at the time, Dan Rather
Dan Rather
Daniel Irvin "Dan" Rather, Jr. is an American journalist and the former news anchor for the CBS Evening News. He is now managing editor and anchor of the television news magazine Dan Rather Reports on the cable channel HDNet. Rather was anchor of the CBS Evening News for 24 years, from March 9,...
. He then started work on video games, including many Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
titles. From there he went on to do such shows as Power Rangers
Power Rangers
Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes...
, Digimon: Digital Monsters, and most recently, Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
Transformers: Robots in Disguise, known in Japan as , is a Japanese anime television series and serves as a self-contained universe separate from any of the other existing Transformers universes...
.
One of his most famous voices is Hawkmon
Hawkmon
is a Digimon creature from the Japanese Digimon media franchise that comprises anime, manga, toys, video games, trading card games and other media."Hawkmon" is the name that all members of this particular Digimon species share...
from Digimon
Digimon
, short for , is a Japanese media franchise encompassing digital toys, anime, manga and video games. The franchise's eponymous creatures are monsters of various forms living in a "Digital World", a parallel universe that originated from Earth's various communication networks.-Conception and...
. His favorite role was the "utility guy" on a show called The Mouse and the Monster, which aired on UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
in 1996–1997. He played stomachs, ghosts, and Sappy the Clown, among dozens of other characters on that show. Kaplan was also once a contestant on the popular comedy game show, Street Smarts
Street Smarts (game show)
Street Smarts was a United States game show that features two in-studio contestants trying to predict the outcome of interviews of people that were found on the street. The show aired in syndication from October 2, 2000 to September 23, 2005, hosted by Frank Nicotero.A French-Canadian version, Les...
. On that appearance he showed off some of his other impressions, including one of Gilbert Gottfried
Gilbert Gottfried
Gilbert Gottfried is an American actor, voice actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his trademark comedic persona of speaking in a loud, grating tone of voice. He has played numerous roles in film and television, perhaps most notably voicing the parrot Iago in Disney's Aladdin , and...
.
Kaplan was invited as a guest to the Power Morphicon (in Los Angeles) in June 2007 as well as August 2010, and to Armageddon (in Australia and New Zealand) in October 2007.
He created the TV show ,The Way it WASN'T!, as well as the graphic novel, I, of the Wolf.
He also voices the main character in the "Adult" video game BoneCraft which will be released on January 12th.
Anime roles
- BleachBleach (manga)is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Noriaki "Tite" Kubo. Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a —a death personification similar to the Grim Reaper—from another Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki...
- Gesell, Ruzaburō "Enryū" Enkōgawa - Blue Dragon - Saber Tiger
- Digimon Adventure 02Digimon Adventure 02, also commonly referred as Digimon Zero Two, is the direct sequel to the previous series and takes place three years after the original series. With most of the original characters now in junior high school, the Digital World was supposedly secure and peaceful. However, a new evil has appeared in...
- Halsemon, Hogan, Ilya, HawkmonHawkmonis a Digimon creature from the Japanese Digimon media franchise that comprises anime, manga, toys, video games, trading card games and other media."Hawkmon" is the name that all members of this particular Digimon species share... - Digimon Data Squad - Pumpkinmon #1 (Eps. 30-34), Ninjamon #3 (Ep. 31), Piximon (Ep. 32), Franz' Agent #1 (33), Desk Man #1 (33)
- Digimon FrontierDigimon Frontieris the 4th Digimon TV series first broadcast in 2002. After prompted to do so by unusual phone messages, the five main characters go to a subway station and take a train to the Digital World. Once there, they meet two secondary characters, Bokomon and Neemon, who act as guides, and tell the...
- Eldest Mushroomon/Woodmon (Ep. 4), Kokuwamon|Kokuwamon Elder (Ep. 5), Baromon (Ep. 40) - Digimon TamersDigimon Tamersis the third animated series based on the Japanese Digimon franchise, first broadcast in 2001 on Fuji TV in Japan and on Fox Kids in the United States. The story takes place initially in a "alternative" universe, on a world much like Earth where Digimon is just a franchise, composed of video games,...
- Indramon, Babel - Marvel Anime: Iron ManMarvel AnimeMarvel Anime is a four-part anime project with collaborations from both Marvel Entertainment and Madhouse. The project took famous Marvel characters and reintroduced them for a Japanese audience in a 12-part series. The announcement was confirmed at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con...
- Minister Defense Kuroda - NarutoNarutois an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of...
- Kiyoyasu - Tokyo PigTokyo PigTokyo Pig, known in Japan as , is a Japanese anime television series. The anime was based on a book titled Fair, then Partly Piggy , written by Shiro Yadama and translated into English by Keith Holeman .Tokyo Pig is about a young boy and the adventures he...
: Principal - Transformers: Robots in DisguiseTransformers: Robots in DisguiseTransformers: Robots in Disguise, known in Japan as , is a Japanese anime television series and serves as a self-contained universe separate from any of the other existing Transformers universes...
- Optimus PrimeOptimus PrimeOptimus Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. Prime is the leader of the autobots, a faction of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron. The autobots are constantly waging war against a rival faction of transforming robots called Decepticons...
, Ro-Tor - Zatch Bell!Zatch Bell!Zatch Bell!, known in Japan as is a shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Makoto Raiku. It was published in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday...
: Belgim E.O.
Video games
- Baten Kaitos OriginsBaten Kaitos Originsis a 2006 role-playing video game first unveiled at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show by Namco and Monolith Soft. The official name was revealed at E3 2006 on May 10, 2006....
- Wiseman - Cartoon Network: Punch Time ExplosionCartoon Network: Punch Time ExplosionCartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion is a fighting video game developed by Papaya Studio and published by Crave Entertainment, for the Nintendo 3DS. The game was released on June 2, 2011 in North America. While, in Europe it is set to release on December 1, 2011...
- Grim - EverQuest II: Kingdom of SkyEverQuest II: Kingdom of SkyEverQuest II: Kingdom of Sky is the second expansion for Sony Online Entertainment's EverQuest II, released on February 21, 2006. It features a new region to explore, located high above the skies of Norrath, known as the Overrealm...
- Final Fantasy XIIIFinal Fantasy XIIIis a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Released in 2009 in Japan and 2010 in North America and PAL regions, it is the thirteenth major installment in the Final Fantasy series...
- Additional Voices - Justice League HeroesJustice League HeroesJustice League Heroes is a console video game for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable systems. It is based on DC Comics' premiere superhero team, the Justice League of America. It was developed by Snowblind Studios and published and distributed by Warner Bros...
- Gorilla GroddGorilla GroddGorilla Grodd is a supervillain appearing in DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of The Flash. He debuted in Flash v.1 #106 , and was created by writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino.... - Spider-Man: Battle for New YorkSpider-Man: Battle for New YorkSpider-Man: Battle for New York is a Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS game loosely based within the Ultimate Spider-Man universe. It features Spider-Man and the Green Goblin as the main characters. The Green Goblin is a playable character, like Venom is in another Spider-Man game, Ultimate Spider-Man...
- Norman Osborn/Green GoblinGreen GoblinThe Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 .... - Spider-Man 3: The GameSpider-Man 3 (video game)Spider-Man 3 is an action game loosely based on the Spider-Man 3 film and released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions were developed by Treyarch, the PC version by Beenox while...
- Kraven the HunterKraven the HunterKraven the Hunter is a fictional character, a supervillain and enemy of Spider-Man appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Kraven's name is Sergei Kravinoff. He also appears as Xraven, with white-grey skin and red eyes, possessing the powers of X-Men. He is the half-brother of Dmitri... - ConanConan (2007 video game)Conan is a 2007 action-adventure video game that puts players in control of the titular hero, Conan the Barbarian, from Robert E. Howard's fantasy literature. The game was published by THQ for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game consoles...
- Bone Cleaver - Ninja Gaiden II - GenshinGenshinGenshin , also known as Eshin Sozu, was the most influential of a number of Tendai scholars active during the tenth and eleventh centuries in Japan...
- Transformers: Revenge of the FallenTransformers: Revenge of the Fallen (video game)Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Game is a 2009 third-person shooter video game based on the 2009 live action film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were developed by Luxoflux, and ported to the PC by Beenox Studios...
- Long Haul - StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty - Tychus Findlay,ReaperReaperA reaper is a person or machine that reaps crops at harvest, when they are ripe.-Hand reaping:Hand reaping is done by various means, including plucking the ears of grains directly by hand, cutting the grain stalks with a sickle, cutting them with a scythe, or with a later type of scythe called a...
- Jaws UnleashedJaws UnleashedJaws Unleashed is a 2006 video game licensed from the 1975 motion picture, Jaws. It was developed by Appaloosa Interactive and released by Majesco. Like the Grand Theft Auto series, the game is open-ended; the player can roam free throughout the water, feeding on other animals & humans and...
- Cruz Ruddock - Gears of War 3Gears of War 3Gears of War 3 is a third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Studios exclusively for the Xbox 360. Originally due for release in April 2011, the game was delayed and eventually released on September 20, 2011....
- Stranded crew #7
Live-action roles
- Beetleborgs MetallixBig Bad BeetleborgsBig Bad Beetleborgs is an American television series produced by Saban Entertainment. It aired for two seasons on Fox Kids between September 7, 1996 and March 2, 1998. Reruns later aired on UPN Kids during 1998-1999...
- Witch Doctor (voice) - Power Rangers: Lost GalaxyPower Rangers: Lost GalaxyPower Rangers Lost Galaxy is the fifth television series and seventh installment of the Power Rangers franchise that aired in 1999. It featured familiar elements from previous incarnations. It is based on the Japanese Super Sentai television series Seijuu Sentai Gingaman...
- Destruxo (voice), Mutantrum (2nd voice) - Power Rangers: Lightspeed RescuePower Rangers: Lightspeed RescuePower Rangers Lightspeed Rescue is the 2000 incarnation of the Power Rangers TV franchise, based on the Super Sentai series Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive....
- Diabolico, Gold Beaked Monster (voices) - Power Rangers: Time ForcePower Rangers: Time ForcePower Rangers Time Force is the 2001 incarnation of the Power Rangers series, based on the Super Sentai series Mirai Sentai Timeranger, running for 40 half-hour episodes from February to November 2001. It was the 9th season of Power Rangers...
- Gluto (voice), Recap Narrator (voice, uncredited) - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The MovieMighty Morphin Power Rangers: The MovieMighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie is a 1995 American superhero action fantasy based on the television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on Fox Kids. It featured the characters and actors from the series itself, and used the zords from Ninja Sentai Kakuranger...
- Oozemen (voice, uncredited)