Maurice LaMarche | |
---|---|
Born |
March 30, 1958 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Occupation | Voice actor/Stand-up comedian/ |
Agent | DPN |
Spouse | Robin Eiseman |
Children | Jonathan LaMarche |
Awards |
Annie Awards 1998 Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Television Production Pinky and the Brain |
Maurice LaMarche (born March 30, 1958) is a Canadian voice actor and former stand-up comedian. He is best known for his voicework in Futurama as Zapp Brannigan's beleaguered assistant Kif Kroker, melodramatic soap acting robot Calculon and other characters; The Brain in Animaniacs and Pinky And The Brain, and Egon Spengler on The Real Ghostbusters and Extreme Ghostbusters.
Early life[]
LaMarche was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but his family moved to Timmins, Ontario, very soon after he was born.[1] LaMarche's childhood was filled with his "own little world of cartoons and sixties television".[2] It was not until his sophomore year of high school that he learned of the popularity his talent for mimicry could garner him. This realization came from a coincidental performance in a high school "variety night" when a couple of friends urged him to enter. The act he performed at the variety night was "celebrities as waiters" which he actually used all the way up until the end of his stand-up career.[3]
Stand-up[]
At the age of 19, LaMarche took his high school act to an open mic night in New York City, performing to a reaction in which, as he describes, "they just totally ignored me".[4] This reaction was coupled with the backlash LaMarche received from fellow Canadian comedians who LaMarche describes as discouraging him from pursuing a career outside of Canada.[5]
Three years later, at the age of 22, LaMarche moved straight to Los Angeles to further his stand-up career. This move, LaMarche says, would always be something he regretted doing instead of moving to New York: "... in retrospect, I thought it was a mistake. I think that a couple of years in New York would have made me a stronger comedian."[6]
Over the next five years, LaMarche's career would gradually progress, playing comedy clubs all over the U.S., with several appearances on Merv Griffin and "An Evening At The Improv", but in spite of such interest, LaMarche always believed that, while his impersonations and stage presence were strong, he needed to develop funnier comedy material. Despite being so critical of himself, LaMarche would be granted the opportunity of being part of the 1985 HBO production, Rodney Dangerfield Hosts the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special, on which also appeared Bob Saget, Rita Rudner, Louie Anderson, Yakov Smirnoff, and the breakout first appearance of Sam Kinison. Although he was received (and reviewed) favorably, in looking back on his own performance in that special, LaMarche believed he was "probably about five years away from going from being a good comedian to being a great comedian" and being the "only impressionist that actually comes from somewhere".[7]
During his standup career, LaMarche opened for such acts as Rodney Dangerfield, George Carlin, Howie Mandel, David Sanborn and Donna Summer, usually in the main showrooms of Las Vegas and Atlantic City.[8]
On March 9, 1987, LaMarche's father was murdered, shot to death by a lifelong friend in a Toronto hotel lobby, in front of dozens of witnesses. This sent LaMarche into depression and alcoholism for the next two years, effectively stalling his stand-up career.[9] After getting sober on Inauguration Day in 1989, LaMarche embarked again into the world of his first love, standup comedy, in the early part of 1990. However, just as he was regaining lost momentum, tragedy struck once more, as his 18-year-old sister was killed in a car accident in September of that year.[10] At this point, though he remained sober, LaMarche decided he just could not do standup comedy anymore. He says, "at that point I just threw up my hands and went, 'Oh, that’s it. I don’t have any funny left in me. I’m done.'" [10]
Voiceover acting[]
LaMarche's first entrance into the voiceover industry was in 1980 in Easter Fever and Take Me Up to the Ball Game, two Canadian films from Nelvana.[11] LaMarche did not venture into voiceover acting again until years later as a side endeavor during his full-time standup comedy career.
Television[]
LaMarche began on Inspector Gadget and went on to Dennis the Menace, Popeye and Son and The Real Ghostbusters. After The Real Ghostbusters, LaMarche became a regular mainstay of the voiceover industry appearing in such shows as Tiny Toon Adventures, GI Joe, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series, Taz-Mania, Where's Waldo, The Little Mermaid, Batman: The Animated Series, and Bonkers before landing perhaps his most recognized role in 1993 as The Brain on Animaniacs (and later its spin-off show Pinky and the Brain). Following this, LaMarche worked on The Critic, Freakazoid!, and The Tick before then reprising his role of Egon in Extreme Ghostbusters. The stretch of two years after this saw LaMarche portray characters in such shows as Hey Arnold! as Big Bob Pataki, Queer Duck, The Chimp Channel, and Sonic Underground as Sleet. During this time Maurice would become the voice actor for Mortimer Mouse who he would voice in the television series Mickey Mouse Works and Disney's House of Mouse. It was at this time, 1999, that LaMarche began work on Futurama, and since Futurama LaMarche has continued to work steadily in television, including guest roles on The Simpsons (where he once again parodied Orson Welles). His most recent regular role came as Hovis the butler on the Nickelodeon series Catscratch. LaMarche voice of Victor in Playhouse Disney's Handy Manny Halloween episode.
LaMarche has done various voice work for many Warner Bros. Animation and DiC Entertainment cartoons. He also delivered the protracted belches for the "Great Wakkorotti" shorts on Animaniacs, in which Wakko Warner performed various pieces of music. In 2011, LaMarche reprises his role as Yosemite Sam in Cartoon Network's new series, The Looney Tunes Show.
Pinky and the Brain[]
LaMarche plays the character of The Brain in Pinky and the Brain. In creating the voice for Brain, LaMarche says he looked at a picture of the character and immediately thought of Orson Welles,[12] although the character wasn't modeled after Welles.[13] Voicing Brain gave LaMarche the opportunity to make use of his signature impersonation of Welles.[14] Many Pinky and the Brain episodes are nods to Welles' career. LaMarche won an Annie Award for his role as the Brain, and was nominated for an Emmy.[15] LaMarche would later use this accent to voice Father in Codename: Kids Next Door.
The Critic[]
While working on The Critic, LaMarche once voiced 29 characters in one 30-minute episode.[16]
His time on The Critic also afforded LaMarche the opportunity to once again parody Orson Welles, this time after a video reading of a will (the Sherman family was so wealthy, they had hired Welles to narrate it) dissolves into a commercial for Mrs. Pells Fishsticks, as well as another for Rosebud Frozen Peas ("full of country goodness and green pea-ness"), and another for Blotto Bros. wine.
Futurama[]
Much of his best known voicework is from Futurama where he voiced Zapp Brannigan's beleaguered assistant Kif Kroker, melodramatic soap acting unit Calculon, the Caligula-esque Hedonismbot, and Lrr, Supreme Ruler of Omicron Persei 8, among numerous others. He has also done his Orson Welles impression on the show, winning a 2011 Outstanding Voice-Over Performance Emmy for his portrayal of Lrrr and Orson Welles in episode "Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences". He won another Emmy the following year for Futurama episode "The Silence of the Clamps".
Heroes[]
LaMarche acted, voice only, in the second episode of the hit NBC show Heroes, "Don't Look Back", as the villain Sylar. His voice is heard in a chilling recorded phone conversation on Chandra Suresh's answering machine. The role of Sylar was later played by Zachary Quinto.[17]
Film[]
LaMarche appeared in many films, including dubbing the voice of Orson Welles over Vincent D'Onofrio's on-camera performance in Ed Wood; Pepé Le Pew in Space Jam; supplying the voice of the Alec Baldwin puppet in Team America: World Police, and reprising his roles from Queer Duck and Futurama in the direct-to-video films Queer Duck: The Movie and Futurama: Bender's Big Score, respectively.
His one on-camera theatrical film performance was in the 1981 Canadian feature Funny Farm, not to be confused with a later Chevy Chase vehicle of the same name. The film follows the story of a young standup comedian's attempt to break into the big-time on the L.A. comedy scene. LaMarche played Dickie Lyons, an impressionist who befriends the main character, Mark Champlin. The film also starred Howie Mandel, Eileen Brennan, and Miles Chapin.
In Mark Hamill's 2004 movie Comic Book: The Movie, LaMarche made a rare live appearance to be in the special features of the DVD alongside Pinky and the Brain co-star Rob Paulsen. Among other gags, he re-enacted his impression of Orson Welles' famous frozen peas commercial outtake.
Roles in television, film, and video games[]
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | Easter Fever | Don Rattles Steed Martin Peter Easter Bat |
Animated special |
1980 | Take Me Up to the Ball Game | Animated special | |
1985-1986 | Inspector Gadget | Chief Quimby (second season only) | Animated series |
1986 | The Transformers | Six-Gun | Animated series |
1986 | Popples | Puzzle | Animated series |
1986-1991 | The Real Ghostbusters | Egon Spengler | Animated series |
1987 | The Facts of Life | Rod Sperling | Live action |
1987 | Popeye and Son | Popeye | Animated series |
1988 | Beany and Cecil | Dishonest John | Animated series |
1988 | Dennis the Menace | George Wilson Henry Mitchell |
Animated series |
1989-1992 | G.I. Joe | Copperhead Low-Light Spirit Serpentor Destro Heavy Duty Big Ben Red Star |
Animated series |
1990 | TaleSpin | General Patton | Animated series |
1990-1991 | Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series | Zoltan Ketchuck Tomato Guy |
Animated series |
1990-1995 | Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Verminous Skumm Duke Nukum |
Animated series |
1990-1995 | Tiny Toon Adventures | Dizzy Devil Orsen Whales Yosemite Sam |
Animated series |
1991-1995 | Taz-Mania | Hugh Tasmanian Devil Daffy Duck |
Animated series |
1991 | Felix the Cat: The Movie | The Grandfather | Direct-to-video Animated film |
1992 | Cool World | Interrogator #2 Mash drunken bar patron Dr. Vincent "Vegas Vinnie" Whiskers |
Live action/Animated film |
1993-1995 | Bonkers | Mr. Blackenblue March Hare Smarts Tuttle Turtle |
Animated series |
1993-1998 | Animaniacs | Brain Spartacus Bob Hope Squit Wakko (burping only) |
Animated series |
1994 | Ed Wood | Orson Welles | Voice only |
1994 | The Little Mermaid | Scuttle | 2 episodes |
1994-1995 | The Critic | Jeremy Hawke Orson Welles Additional Voices |
Animated series |
1994-1996 | The Tick | Human Ton & Handy Pigleg Mr. Smartypants Various other characters |
Animated series |
1995 | Full Throttle | Nester | Video game |
1995 | Napoleon | Snake and frill-Necked Lizard | Voice only |
1995-1997 | Freakazoid! | Longhorn Dan Captain "K" |
Animated series |
1995-1998 | Pinky and the Brain | The Brain | Animated series |
1995-1998 | Gadget Boy and Heather | Boris Mulch and Humus Myron Dabble Chief Strombolli G9 |
Animated series |
1995-2001 | The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries | Yosemite Sam Additional voices |
Animated series |
1996 | Space Jam | Pepe Le Pew | Animated film |
1996 | Dexter's Laboratory | Simion | Animated series |
1996 | Rocko's Modern Life | Conglomo Lizard | Animated series |
1996 | All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 | Lost & Found Officer | Animated film |
1996 | Hey Arnold! | Big Bob Pataki Additional Characters |
Animated series |
1997 | Space Goofs | Etno | Animated series |
1997 | Extreme Ghostbusters | Egon Spengler | Animated series |
1997-2004 | Johnny Bravo | Dr. Alphonse Squint Ringo Fish Lips Malone Additional voices |
Animated series |
1998-2000 | Histeria! | George Washington Abraham Lincoln Woodrow Wilson Joseph Stalin Groucho Marx Additional voices |
Animated series |
1999 | Wakko's Wish | Brain Squit |
Direct-to-video Animated film |
1999 | The Chimp Channel | Harry Waller Bernard the Sarcastic Cockatoo |
Voice only |
1999 | Inspector Gadget's Last Case: Claw's Revenge | Inspector Gadget Chief Quimby |
Voice only Animated film |
1999 | Queer Duck | Oscar Wildcat Mr. Duckstein Other Characters |
Animated series |
1999-2000 | Mickey Mouse Works | Mortimer Mouse Professor Ratigan |
Animated series |
1999-2000 | Dilbert | The World's Smartest Garbageman | Animated series |
1999-2000 | Sonic Underground | Sleet SWATbots Athair (Great Grandfather of Knuckles) |
Animated series |
1999-2000 | Sabrina: The Animated Series | Additional Voices | Animated series |
1999–2003, 2008–2013 | Futurama | Kif Kroker Morbo Calculon Lrrr Horrible Gelatinous Blob Walt Hedonismbot DonBot Additional characters |
Animated series |
2000 | Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman | Mr. Lawrence Talbot | Voice only Animated film |
2000 | Hard Drinkin' Lincoln | John Wilkes Booth | Animated series |
2001 | Baby Felix & Friends | Master Cylinder | Animated series |
2001-2002 | The Oblongs | Tommy Vinegar | Animated series |
2001-2003 | The New Adventures of Lucky Luke | Joe Dalton Buffalo Bill |
Animated series |
2001-2003 | Gadget and the Gadgetinis | Lt. Gadget | Animated series |
2001-2003 | Disney's House of Mouse | Mortimer Mouse Professor Ratigan |
Animated series |
2001-2007 | Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law | Azul Falcone Stan Freezoid Apache Chief Fred Flintstone Yogi Bear Der Spuzmacher Inch High Speed Buggy Hi-Riser Doggie Daddy Droopy Quick Draw McGraw Wally Gator Morocco Mole Garok Cavey Jr. Magilla Gorilla Mr. Peebles Benny the Ball Dum Dum Shazzan Atom Ant Nitron |
Animated series |
2002 | Balto II: Wolf Quest | Balto | Direct-to-video Animated film |
2002 | Inspector Gadget's Last Case: Claw's Revenge | Inspector Gadget | Direct-to-video Animated film |
2002 | Hey Arnold!: The Movie | Big Bob Pataki Head of Security |
Animated film |
2002 | Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring | Spike and Alley Cat | Direct-to-video Animated film |
2002-2004 | Teamo Supremo | Baron Blitz | Animated series |
2002-2008 | Codename: Kids Next Door | Father | Animated series |
2003 | 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure | Horace | Direct-to-video Animated film |
2003 | K10C: Kids' Ten Commandments | Omri and Amos | Animated series |
2003-2004 | Sabrina's Secret Life | Salem | Animated series |
2004 | Team America: World Police | Alec Baldwin | Voice only |
2004 | Balto III: Wings of Change | Balto | Direct-to-video Animated film |
2004 | Felix the Cat Saves Christmas | Rock Bottom | Direct-to-video Animated film |
2004 | Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers | One of The Beagle Boys | Direct-to-video Animated film |
2004 | Comic Book: The Movie | Himself | "Behind the Voices" Special feature Live action |
2004-2006 | Duck Dodgers | K'chutha Sa'am Masativo |
Animated series |
2004-2006 | Xiaolin Showdown | Master Fung- Only in season 2 and 3 Chucky Choo |
Animated series |
2005 | A.T.O.M. | Eel Fender |
Animated series 2 episodes |
2005 | Pom Poko | Narrator | Animated film (English dub) |
2005-2007 | Tripping the Rift | Gus | CGI-animated series |
2005-2007 | Catscratch | Hovis | Animated series |
2005-2008 | My Gym Partner's A Monkey | Principal Poncherello Pixiefrog, Mr. Mandrill, Mr. Hornbill, Mr. Blowhole | Animated series |
2006 | Tekkonkinkreet | Fujimura | English dub |
2006 | Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas | Yosemite Sam | Animated film |
2006 | Casper's Scare School | Pirate Thurdigree Burns |
Animated television film |
2006 | Barnyard | Igg the Cow | Animated film |
2006 | Queer Duck: The Movie | Oscar Wildcat | Direct-to-video |
2006 | The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XVII | Orson Welles | Animated series |
2006 | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse | Mortimer Mouse | Animated series |
2006 | Operation: Z.E.R.O. | Father | Animated television film |
2006-2007 | Shuriken School | Mr. No Naginata Kubo Utamaro Zumichito Daisuke Togakame |
Animated series |
2007 | Futurama: Bender's Big Score | Kif Kroker Morbo Calculon Lrrr Additional characters |
Direct-to-video Animated film |
2007-2008 | Tak & the Power of Juju | Chief | Animated series |
2007-2009 | Random! Cartoons | Klemp Birdsdorf Pickle Cop Dog Catcher Elecaptain Sam Bjorn Working Troll #1 |
Animated series |
2008 | Crash: Mind over Mutant | Dr. Nitrus Brio Znu |
Uncredited Video game |
2008 | Futurama: Bender's Game | Various characters | Direct-to-video Animated film |
2008 | The Jewish Nudist Buddhist | God | Independent film |
2008 | Guild Wars: Eye of the North | Vekk Lork |
Video game expansion pack |
2008 | Dead Space: Downfall | White Bavaro |
Direct-to-video Animated film |
2008 | Tripping the Rift: The Movie | Gus | Direct-to-video CGI-animated film |
2008 | Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs | Kif Kroker Various Characters |
Direct-to-video Animated film |
2009 | Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder | Kif Kroker The Donbot Clamps Calculon Morbo Lrrr Various characters |
Direct-to-video Animated film |
2009-2011 | Bob & Doug | Various characters | Animated series |
2011 | Batman: Arkham City | Mr. Freeze, Calendar Man | Video game by Rocksteady Studios |
2011-2013 | Adventure Time | Grand Master Wizard Wizard Policeman Stranson Doughblow Various Criminals in Wizard Prison |
Animated series 2 episodes |
2010-2013 | Pound Puppies | Jean Luc Glaciaire Agent Francois Hench Grocer |
Animated series |
2011-2013 | Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Vincent Van Ghoul | Animated series |
2011-present | The Looney Tunes Show | Yosemite Sam | Animated series |
2012 | Dan Vs. | Gigando-Mart Customer Governor of California Reporter Dock Worker Mel Darwin |
Animated series 1 episode |
2012 | Wreck-It Ralph | Root Beer Tapper | Animated film |
2012 | Robot Chicken | Brain Ricky Recycle Bin |
Animated series |
2012 | Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance | One of the Beagle Boys | Video game by Square Enix |
2012 | The Penguins of Madagascar | Various | Animated series |
2012 | Lego Hero Factory | Splitface | Animated series |
2012 | Have a Laugh! | Mortimer Mouse | Animated series |
2012-present | Robot and Monster | Gart Perry Loudmouth |
Animated series |
2012-present | The Legend of Korra | Equalists Announcer Defence Attourney Additional voices |
Animated series |
2012-present | Ultimate Spider-Man | Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom | Animated series |
2012-present | Transformers: Rescue Bots | Chief Charlie Burns Additional voices |
Animated series |
2013 | Brickleberry | Kurt Thoreau Native American Chief Flamey the Bear Donnie (Connie's Anti-Christ Baby) |
Animated series |
2013 | Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. | Doctor Doom | Animated series |
2013 | Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness | Heilang Lin Kuei |
Animated series |
2013 | Frozen | King of Arendelle | Animated film |
2013-present | Avengers Assemble | Doctor Doom | Animated series |
2013 | I Know That Voice | Himself | Documentary |
2013-present | Rick and Morty | Alien #2 Paramedic Scary Olderson Dog Accountant |
Animated series |
2014 | Gravity Falls | Additional Voices | Animated series |
Other media[]
- Commercials
- Kellogg's Froot Loops spokesbird Toucan Sam.
- The animated Willy Wonka character in Nestlé's Willy Wonka Candy Company commercials
- Narration for Lexus commercials.
- Video games
- Toucan Sam and Willy Wonka (both in Horton Hatches the Egg) in Storybook Weaver
- Toucan Sam and Willy Wonka (both in Horton Hatches the Egg in Storybook Weaver Deluxe
- Several characters in Lucasarts' Full Throttle
- Yoshimo and Renal Bloodscalp in the award-winning RPG, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn.
- Jack O' Lantern in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
- Vekk in Guild Wars Eye of the North
- The Brain in Animaniacs: The Great Edgar Hunt
- Doctor Nitrus Brio in Crash: Mind over Mutant
- Mortimer Mouse Disney Golf
- Toadman in Battle Beast
- Stinky the Skunk in The Great Math/Word/Reading Adventure
- Narrator in the commercial for the video game Nightmare Creatures [18]
- William Shakespeare in The Simpsons Game
- Night Shift in Skylanders: Swap Force
- Web Originals
- Avocado Soldier in Axe Cop Motion [19]
References[]
- ↑ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (5th question) Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (8th question)
- ↑ Plume, Ken. Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (12th question). Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ Plume, Ken. Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (18th question). Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ Plume, Ken. Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (questions 19-21). Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ Plume, Ken. Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (Questions 22-26). Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ Plume, Ken. Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (40th question). Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ Plume, Ken. Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (Questions 42-43). Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ Plume, Ken. Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (45th question). Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ Plume, Ken. Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (43rd question). Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Plume, Ken. Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (51st question). Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (2nd page, Questions 33 and 39. Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (5th question). Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (3rd page, 27th question). Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ War of the Welles: Seven Actors Who’ve Played Orson. IFC (2009-11-26). Retrieved on 2014-02-08.
- ↑ The Magic Behind the Voices: A Who's Who of Cartoon Voice Actors. University Press of Mississippi (2004). Retrieved on 2014-02-08.
- ↑ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (4th page, 19th question). Quickstopentertainment.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-26.
- ↑ Salem, Rob (2008-09-20). Zachary Quinto interview: Vulcan vs. Villain. TheStar.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-20.
- ↑ Blatant Bias: Opposite of Dream Creatures. Blatantbias.blogspot.com (February 9, 2009). Retrieved on August 26, 2010.
- ↑ Axe Cop Episode THREE. YouTube. Retrieved on August 26, 2010.
External links[]
{{{2}}} at the Internet Movie Database
- Interview with Maurice LaMarche on "The Joe Cook Program"
- Maurice LaMarche Interview on Talk Radio Meltdown
- Maurice LaMarche honors at Emmys Official Site
Template:EmmyAward VoiceOver 2001-2025
Links to authority control.