10 Disney Voice Actors Who Also Appeared In Live-Action Productions
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Famous faces behind Disney live-action movies like Hannah Montana’s Miley Cyrus often offer their voice talents to other projects from the brand.
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Disney has a wide range of voice actors who have really brought their animated characters to life. Whether they are huge Hollywood stars or talented performers who are more well known for their vocal roles, many of these actors have been brought into some of Disney’s live-action productions as well.
It could be to pay homage to a character they previously played, or it may be due to the undeniable skills of the actor, but it is always fun to see Disney go back to performers that they have previously worked with in order to capture brand new protagonists or antagonists in a different medium.
10 Jim Cummings: Jungle Book & Christopher Robin
Jim Cummings is a voice acting legend, yet it’s difficult to actually find a live-action production he has had some role in. Cummings is well known for voicing Winnie The Pooh in the titular franchise but has also starred in animated hits like The Jungle Book and Star Wars Rebels.
When it came to producing a live-action iteration of the silly old bear there was definitely some skepticism. How could this animated project really be captured in an authentic way on the big screen? Luckily, the warmth and charm of Cummings’ voice helped to cement this as one of Disney’s most successful live-action remakes.
9 James Earl Jones: The Lion King & Star Wars
James Earl Jones is another actor who is perhaps most comfortable in a sound recording booth, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t made his impact in the realms of live-action as well. Jones was brought in to provide the regal voice of Mufasa in the animated hit The Lion King.
He made his return to the very same franchise for the live-action remake; the only actor who was able to do so. However, James Earl Jones is also iconic for playing the incredibly influential Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise. The voice of the villain is unlike anything else in cinema.
8 Jodi Benson: The Little Mermaid & Enchanted
Sometimes Disney looks to lesser-known names when it comes to capturing the essence of their Princesses. For The Little Mermaid, the sweet tones of Jodi Benson provided both the singing and the speaking voice of Ariel, the protagonist of the classic.
In honor of her status as a Princess, Disney looked to Benson again in order to make a much smaller cameo in their live-action production of Enchanted. With a combination of both the animated and live-action Disney styles crashing together, Benson was a great nod to the company’s animation past.
7 Ming-Na Wen: Mulan, Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. & The Mandalorian
Ming-Na Wen has actually been named a Disney Legend thanks to her stellar work amongst many of the company’s most popular franchises. Wen brought the classic animated character of Mulan to life, voicing her with the strength, emotion, humor, and elegance needed for such an important role.
Ming-Na Wen also made a cameo in the live-action iteration of Mulan, which acted as a passing of the torch moment. What’s more, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wen plays S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Melinda May, while in the Star Wars universe she has recently taken on the part of Bounty Hunter Fennec Shand.
6 Josh Gad: Frozen & Beauty & The Beast
Josh Gad has continued to showcase his brilliant comedy chops in his multiple film projects in both live-action and animated mediums. For Disney, Josh Gad was the perfect voice to bring the snowman Olaf to life as the comedic foil in Frozen and its sequel.
However, this wouldn’t be the only famous Disney role that Gad would be taking on. When creating the cast needed for the live-action remake of Beauty And The Beast, The Walt Disney Company looked to Josh Gad to play LeFou, one of their first LGBTQ+ roles and the sidekick to villain Gaston.
5 John C. Reilly: Wreck-It Ralph & Guardians Of The Galaxy
John C. Reilly is also incredibly famous for his comedy work, usually in the realms of live-action. He also isn’t a typical Disney actor considering the more adult themes of his filmography. However, Disney tapped Reilly to voice the lovable villain Ralph in the video game franchise Wreck-It Ralph.
Surprisingly though this wouldn’t be his only work with the company as under the Marvel banner John C. Reilly got to portray someone within the MCU. As the Nova Corpsman Dey, Reilly interacted with the loveable rogues in Guardians Of The Galaxy.
4 Dwayne Johnson: Moana & Jungle Cruise
Dwayne Johnson’s star is constantly on the rise as he continues to take on massive action roles. Disney first used the actor’s incredible voice when casting for Moana, a movie which would celebrate The Rock’s Samoan heritage as he played the deity Māui.
With Disney always looking for new intellectual properties to develop, they turned to their theme parks and looked to adapt Jungle Cruise into a summer blockbuster. Dwayne Johnson has a starring role in the film, alongside Emily Blunt and Jack Whitehall.
3 Idina Menzel: Frozen & Enchanted
Idina Menzel is a Broadway icon, but those talents have translated incredibly well to screen. Disney’s Frozen franchise was truly brought to life after Menzel was brought on board to portray the ice queen herself, Elsa. It’s a role of a lifetime and one the actress has completely made it her own.
Before this though, Idina Menzel has a live-action credit to her name from The Walt Disney Company. She plays Nancy Tremaine, the love interest to Patrick Dempsey’s Robert Philip and eventual animated princess in Enchanted. She adds a magical quality to each role in her filmography.
2 Tom Hanks: Toy Story & Saving Mr. Banks
Tom Hanks has one of the most iconic careers in film history. There’s really only one animated role he’ll always be remembered for though due to its cultural impact and link to the history of Pixar Animation Studios. It’s of course the cowboy Woody in the Toy Story franchise.
Hanks hasn’t just portrayed one important Disney icon though. In the live-action production Saving Mr. Banks, a re-telling of how Mary Poppins was adapted to screen, Hanks plays the man himself Walt Disney in a particularly charismatic part of his filmography.
1 Miley Cyrus: Bolt & Hannah Montana
Miley Cyrus was a Disney Channel star through and through. She’s since enjoyed a successful music career but actually stepped into Disney’s animated world too. In the company’s production Bolt, Cyrus voiced the young owner of the superhero dog.
The singer and actress will likely owe her career to the Hannah Montana franchise though, where she portrayed a version of herself; a normal girl by day and a pop star by night. The TV show also spawned a feature-length production featuring the same characters.
Link Source : https://screenrant.com/disney-voice-and-live-action-actors-miley-cyrus-josh-gad/