The Lionhearts
Encyclopedia
The Lionhearts is an animated series from MGM studios that aired on Saturday and Sunday mornings in syndication
from 1998 to 2000.
, and his family. The series shows The Lionhearts living in a normal house and living a normal life just like non-celebrity families. Most of the members of the family are named after famous MGM movie stars.
. A DVD release is not planned at this time. Currently the series may be seen on Hulu.
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
from 1998 to 2000.
Plot
The Lionhearts focuses on the behind the scenes life of MGM's mascot, Leo LionheartLeo the Lion (MGM)
Leo the Lion is the mascot for the Hollywood film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and one of its predecessors, Goldwyn Pictures, featured in the studio's production logo, which was created by the Paramount Studios art director Lionel S. Reiss....
, and his family. The series shows The Lionhearts living in a normal house and living a normal life just like non-celebrity families. Most of the members of the family are named after famous MGM movie stars.
Lionheart Family
- Leo Lionheart Jr. (voiced by William H. MacyWilliam H. MacyWilliam Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
): Leo Lionheart is the father, husband and provider of the family. He works as the mascot for MGM's Movies, a role which was passed onto him by father Leo Sr. One of Leo's favorite things to do when gets the chance is to nap.
- Lana Lionheart (voiced by Peri GilpinPeri GilpinPeri Gilpin is an American actress known for her role as Roz Doyle in the U.S. television series Frasier from 1993 until 2004. Along with the principal cast, Gilpin won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2000...
): Lana Lionheart is the mother and wife of the family, she is also the glue that keeps the family from falling apart. She used to work as an acrobat in the circus, and still applies that when she doing some of the housework or when she is playing games with her 4-year old daughter Judy. She was named after Lana TurnerLana TurnerLana Turner was an American actress.Discovered and signed to a film contract by MGM at the age of sixteen, Turner first attracted attention in They Won't Forget . She played featured roles, often as the ingenue, in such films as Love Finds Andy Hardy...
.
- Kate Lionheart (voiced by Natasha SlaytonNatasha SlaytonNatasha Slayton is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress actress. She is probably best known for her role in the 2005 film Me and You and Everyone We Know....
): Kate Lionheart is the oldest of the three children Leo and Lana have, she likes to e-mailE-mailElectronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
and talk to her friends, ride horses and go to school. She is very tolerant of her brother and sister, whenever it's Spencer playing his guitar and singing off key or Judy taking one of her dolls, claiming that it is hers. Kate, overall, is a very polite nice young 10-year old girl. Kate is named after Katharine HepburnKatharine HepburnKatharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
.
- Spencer Lionheart (voiced by Cameron FinleyCameron FinleyJoseph Cameron Finley is an American former child actor.Finley was born in Garland, Texas, the son of Lexa Iann , a spiritual healer, and Charles David "Chuck" Finley, a software developer. He has two siblings, Taz and Stopher. When he was three, he was taken by his parents to an acting seminar...
): Spencer Lionheart is the second oldest of the three children. His dreams are to one day be a big-time rock n' roll star; he shows this by playing his guitar and singing loudly off-key, which, at most times, gets on his family's nerves, especially his sister Kate; he does, however, with Kate's help, learn to sing on-key when she joins in the chorusRefrainA refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
. One of his major flaws at times is he doesn't finish what he starts, though he does learn his lesson later in the series when his sister gets stuck in an unfinished treehouseTreehouseA treehouse, tree house, or treefort is a habitable structure built in trees. "Treehouse" may also refer to:*Tree House, Crawley, a listed 14th-century building in Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom; originally the manor house....
; this makes Spencer finally decide to finish the treehouse. He takes his name from Spencer TracySpencer TracySpencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
.
- Judy Lionheart (voiced by Nicolette Little): Judy Lionheart is the youngest of the three and very full of life. She likes to take things from her brother and sister and claim it as her own. She also likes to hide in areas she's not supposed to. But the one thing she does like is when her mom performs her acrobat swinging trick with her. She also looks up to her sister Kate as her heroine. Although she may get into tons of mischief, she is a very loving daughter. Judy's name was inspired by Judy GarlandJudy GarlandJudy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
.
- Grandpa Leo (voiced by Harve PresnellHarve PresnellHarve Presnell was an American actor and singer. He began his career in the mid 1950s as a classical baritone, singing with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States...
): The grandfather of Kate, Spencer, and Judy.
Other characters
- Director (voiced by Joe PantolianoJoe PantolianoJoseph Peter "Joe" Pantoliano is an American film and television actor. He played the character of Ralph Cifaretto on The Sopranos, Bob Keane in La Bamba, Cypher in The Matrix, Teddy in Memento, Francis Fratelli in The Goonies, Guido "the Killer Pimp" in Risky Business, and Jennifer Tilly's...
): A director who works with Leo at MGM Studios.
- Dorothy (voiced by Betty WhiteBetty WhiteBetty White Ludden , better known as Betty White, is an American actress, comedienne, singer, author, and former game show personality. With a career spanning seven decades since 1939, she is best known to modern audiences for her television roles as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and...
): Leo's makeup artist who can't see very well.
- Freddy (voiced by Wallace ShawnWallace ShawnWallace Michael Shawn , sometimes credited as Wally Shawn, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, author, voice artist, and intellectual. His best-known film roles include Wally Shawn in My Dinner with Andre , Vizzini in The Princess Bride , and debate teacher Mr...
): Leo's talent agent.
- Hank (voiced by Jeffrey TamborJeffrey TamborJeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
): MGM's president.
- Jennings (voiced by Carlos AlazraquiCarlos AlazraquiCarlos Jaime Alazraqui is an American actor, comedian, impressionist and voice actor. He is best known for his role as Deputy James Garcia on the Comedy Central series Reno 911!. His voice-over work includes the role of Bobbi Fabulous on Phineas and Ferb, the Taco Bell chihuahua, Denzel Q...
): Grandpa Leo's chauffeur who drives the limo.
Episodes
- Family Circus — 1998·Sep·19
- Survive — 1998·Sep·26
- But Some of My Best Friends are Clowns — 1998·Oct·03
- No Place Like Home — 1998·Oct·10
- Singin' in the Mane — 1998·Oct·17
- The Poem — 1998·Oct·24
- Greta Garbo Ears — 1998·Oct·31
- The Treehouse — 1998·Nov·07
- Brown Dog Day — 1998·Nov·14
- Leo's Diet — 1998·Nov·21
- The Pony Show — 1998·Nov·28
- Don't Bug the Neighbors (Part 1) — 1998·Dec·05
- Don't Bug the Neighbors (Part 2) — 1998·Dec·12
Principal voice actors
- Cameron FinleyCameron FinleyJoseph Cameron Finley is an American former child actor.Finley was born in Garland, Texas, the son of Lexa Iann , a spiritual healer, and Charles David "Chuck" Finley, a software developer. He has two siblings, Taz and Stopher. When he was three, he was taken by his parents to an acting seminar...
- Spencer Lionheart - Peri GilpinPeri GilpinPeri Gilpin is an American actress known for her role as Roz Doyle in the U.S. television series Frasier from 1993 until 2004. Along with the principal cast, Gilpin won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2000...
- Lana Lionheart - Nicolette Little - Judy Lionheart
- William H. MacyWilliam H. MacyWilliam Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
- Leo Lionheart - Harve PresnellHarve PresnellHarve Presnell was an American actor and singer. He began his career in the mid 1950s as a classical baritone, singing with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States...
- Grandpa Leo Lionheart - Natasha SlaytonNatasha SlaytonNatasha Slayton is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress actress. She is probably best known for her role in the 2005 film Me and You and Everyone We Know....
- Kate Lionheart
Additional voices
- Carlos AlazraquiCarlos AlazraquiCarlos Jaime Alazraqui is an American actor, comedian, impressionist and voice actor. He is best known for his role as Deputy James Garcia on the Comedy Central series Reno 911!. His voice-over work includes the role of Bobbi Fabulous on Phineas and Ferb, the Taco Bell chihuahua, Denzel Q...
- Jennings - Tom ArnoldTom Arnold (actor)Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
- - Dee Bradley BakerDee Bradley BakerDee Bradley Baker is an American voice actor. He is noted as his long-running-role as Klaus Heissler in American Dad! and other various characters including Squilliam Fancyson in the hit TV series SpongeBob SquarePants, Nightcrawler in X-Men: Legends and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance...
- - Sheryl Bernstein -
- Clancy BrownClancy BrownClarence J. "Clancy" Brown III is an American actor and voice actor. He is known for his roles in live action as The Kurgan in the cult classic film Highlander, Byron Hadley in the award-winning The Shawshank Redemption, Brother Justin Crowe in HBO's critically acclaimed Carnivàle, and Career...
- - Jesse David Corti -
- Eddie DeezenEddie DeezenEddie Deezen is an American character actor, voice actor and comedian, best known for his bit parts as nerd characters in 1970s and 1980s films such as Grease, Grease 2, Midnight Madness, 1941 and WarGames, as well as for larger roles in a number of independent cult films, including Surf II: The...
- - Taylor Emerson -
- Craig FergusonCraig FergusonCraig Ferguson is a Scottish American television host, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, author, and producer. He is the host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, an Emmy Award-nominated, Peabody Award-winning late-night talk show that airs on CBS...
- - FleaFlea (musician)Michael Peter Balzary , better known by his stage name Flea, is an Australian-American musician and occasional actor. He is best known as the bassist, co-founding member, and one of the composers of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers...
- - Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
- - Tom KennyTom KennyThomas James "Tom" Kenny is an American actor, voice actor and comedian. He is especially known for his long-running-role as SpongeBob SquarePants in the television series of the same name, as well as the live-action character Patchy the Pirate, Gary the Snail and the French narrator based on...
- - Richard KindRichard KindRichard John Kind is an American actor known for his roles in the sitcoms Mad About You and Spin City .- Early life :...
- - Andrew LawrenceAndrew LawrenceAndrew Lawrence may refer to:* Andrew Lawrence , American actor* Andrew Lawrence , British comedian* Andrew Lawrence , British basketball player...
- - Edie McClurgEdie McClurgEdie McClurg is an American character actress. She is known for her perky North Central dialect , common to persons from Middle America.-Career:...
- - Ian Meltzer -
- John O'HurleyJohn O'HurleyJohn George O'Hurley is an American actor, voice actor, and television personality. He is known for the role of J. Peterman on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld and was the host of the game show Family Feud from 2006 to 2010.-Early life:...
- - Wallace ShawnWallace ShawnWallace Michael Shawn , sometimes credited as Wally Shawn, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, author, voice artist, and intellectual. His best-known film roles include Wally Shawn in My Dinner with Andre , Vizzini in The Princess Bride , and debate teacher Mr...
- Freddy - Justin ShenkarowJustin ShenkarowJustin Moran Shenkarow is an American actor best known for his roles of Matthew Brock in Picket Fences, Simon Holmes in Eerie, Indiana, and the voice of Harold Berman on Hey Arnold!.-Life and career:...
- - Liz Sroka -
- Ben SteinBen SteinBenjamin Jeremy "Ben" Stein is an American actor, writer, lawyer, and commentator on political and economic issues. He attained early success as a speechwriter for American presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
- - Jeffrey TamborJeffrey TamborJeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
- Hank - Whitney Taubman -
- Betty WhiteBetty WhiteBetty White Ludden , better known as Betty White, is an American actress, comedienne, singer, author, and former game show personality. With a career spanning seven decades since 1939, she is best known to modern audiences for her television roles as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and...
- Dorothy
Crew
- Maria EstradaMaría EstradaMaría de Estrada was a woman to arrive in Mexico with the expedition of Hernán Cortés as well as one of the very few women of European descent to take part in and survive the Spanish conquest of Mexico....
- Casting and Voice Director - Randy Crenshaw - Theme Song Performer
Airing history
The series is not currently being shown on American television. However, it is being seen in other countries, like AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. A DVD release is not planned at this time. Currently the series may be seen on Hulu.