Podtalk: Voice Artist Rob Paulsen on Steven Spielberg, Gordie Howe and the Cartoon Life

CHICAGO – If the words, “We’re Animaniacs…” immediately makes you think, “While Bill Clinton pays the sax…” then you’ll want to experience voiceover artist Rob Paulsen, the iconic character of Yakko on that series, as well as Pinky (“Pinky and The Brain”) and Donatello/Raphael (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”), among many other cartoon legends. Rob, with Animaniacs composer Randy Rogel, will be appearing in “Animaniacs Live!” at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts in Grayslake, Ill., on Saturday, March 3rd, 2018 (click link below for details).

Rob Paulsen was born in Michigan, and like other hopeful dreamers, moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s to pursue acting work. It was a chance audition in 1983 with the “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” cartoon series that launched him into a lifelong pursuit, leading him to do voice characters for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” the aforementioned “Animaniacs,” “Pinky and the Brain,” “Jimmy Neutron,” “The Tick,” and many many more. As he says below, he began as a dark haired man in his twenties and continues as a white haired man in his sixties, in the sense of what he looks like makes no difference in his particular acting and singing craft.

From the James Lumber Center on March 3rd, 2018
Photo credit: RobPaulsenLive.com

HollywoodChicago.com did a comprehensive talk with Rob Paulsen in anticipation of “Animaniacs Live!” and he spoke in-depth about a career that not only had him work with contemporaries like cartoon partner Maurice LaMarche (voice of “The Brain”) and Steven Spielberg (Executive Producer for Animaniacs), but cartoon voice legends like Daws Butler, June Foray, Don Messick and the great Mel Blanc.

In the Podtalk Part Three, Rob Paulsen and the cartoon geek interviewer talk about the expression of Steven Spielberg, Good Old Number 9 of the Detroit Red Wings and the potential of a particular dinner party. To read and hear PART ONE of the interview, click here. [27] To hear PART TWO, click here. [28]

[30]	By PATRICK McDONALD [31] Writer, Editorial Coordinator HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [30]