Pixar’s 2003 hit film Finding Nemo has been a beloved story for almost 2 decades, a story about family, friendship, and heartbreak. Who knew so many feelings could be wrapped up in one film about sea creatures? One of the most heartwarming parts of the film is the scene where the other sea creatures in the fish tank at the dentist’s office attempt to help Nemo find his way back to his dad. They provide comedic relief to the film, and also bring a sense of friendship to the little lost clownfish. Many of the voices behind the fish tank creatures are popular actors and actresses, some of which worked with Disney before. Let’s look at the voices behind these iconic fish tank friends.

Some of the cast of Finding Nemo at the movie premiere. Image from: http://vickilewis1.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/151805646_CG_4516_DCDE42A07B02271C5FE50501B3DBE4CB.jpg

Gill - Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe is best known to the world as the Green Goblin, first appearing in 2002’s Spider-Man featuring Toby Maguire. The Green Goblin has remained one of the most iconic villains of all time, with Dafoe reprising his role in the recent Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Outside of the Spider-Man franchise, Dafoe has had an incredible career. He began his journey into acting in university by joining a theatre group, and later making his film debut in 1980 in Heaven’s Gate. In 1986 he earned his very first Academy Award nomination, something he would later get again in 2000, 2017, and 2018. Dafoe took on many controversial roles, some in big box office hits, spanning a 42 year long career and counting. He recently was commended for his portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh in At Eternity’s Gate in 2018. Willem hasn’t done a lot of work for Disney, but he did take on the role of Gill in Finding Nemo, the mysterious fish with a dark past that ultimately motivates Nemo and the others to escape.

“Gill commands respect just out of sheer weight and bravado.”

— Willem Dafoe

Bloat - Brad Garrett

Garrett is a standup comedian who started in improv, and was a winner of the television show “Star Search”, which kickstarted his career after appearing on late night shows and interviews. One of his first voice acting jobs was as Hulk Hogan in Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n Wrestling from 1985 to 1986. He was a part of the original Transformers series as well. Brad began working with Disney pretty early on, guest starring in the Goof Troop series in 1992, lended his voice to Eeyore in the Animated Storybook: Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree video game, and played various roles in the 1990s series Timon and Pumbaa. He moved onto voice acting for Pixar, becoming Dim in A Bug’s Life, and shortly after taking on the role of Bloat in Finding Nemo. His deeper voice was perfect for the short-tempered puffer fish. He also was a part of the Hercules TV series, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command TV series, and House of Mouse. He came back to Pixar to play Gusteau in 2007’s Ratatouille. He became Hook Hand Thug in Tangled in 2010, and continued to take on supporting Disney roles. Garrett is best known for the series ‘Til Death and Everybody Loves Raymond.

“How many fish can inflate, deflate, and spike?”

— Brad Garrett

Deb - Vicki Lewis

Vicki has starred in over 20 TV sitcoms, her most notable being NBC’s Newsradio from 1995 to 1999. Other sitcoms she has been a part of include Seinfeld, Home Improvement, Bones, and Curb your Enthusiasm. She starred alongside Matthew Broderick in one of the many remakes of Godzilla in 1998. Not only is she an actress but also a singer, performing as Velma Kelly in the popular Broadway musical Chicago. Vicki has done some incredible voice work as well, including in Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Phineas and Ferb, Rugrats, and An Extremely Goofy Movie. Of course, she became the overly imaginative Deb in Finding Nemo, as well as her twin sister, Flo.

Peach - Allison Janney

Through the 1990s, Allison Janney was on a search for stardom on the New York stage as a theatre performer. In 1996, this opportunity presented itself with Neil Crafowd’s Present Laughter. This was the start of a fruitful career in entertainment for Allison, as she then went on to collect a Tony award nomination for her next performance in A View from the Bridge in 1997. She began taking on small TV and movie roles in the 90s as well, including in 10 Things I Hate About You, Frasier, and King of the Hill. Her very first voice acting role was as Peach in Finding Nemo, the cheeky starfish messenger who always had the front row view of the dentist’s office. Allison’s breakout role was in The West Wing from 1999 to 2006, and after it ended, she landed roles in 2007’s Juno and Hairspray. She also played Charlene Doofenshmirtz on Phineas and Ferb.

“Very sarcastic, very trying, and that’s hard to do in an aquarium.”

— Allison Janney

Gurgle - Austin Pendleton

Austin Pendleton is a Broadway legend, making his big Broadway debut in Fiddler on the Roof. With over 100 credits, he began his career in the 1950s writing musicals and joining a comedy group. He has starred alongside Meryl Streep, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tim Allen. He has taken on many Shakespearean roles in his theatre career, while also staying relevant in the movie and television scene. The only Disney role that Austin has ever taken on is Gurgle, the germophobic fish who is afraid of the ocean. He reprised his role as Gurgle in the sequel Finding Dory.

Bubbles - Stephen Root

Some of Stephen’s filmography has had some crossover with his costars, including on Newsradio with Vicki Lewis, and King of the Hill with Allison Janney. Stephen has also sometimes taken on roles where he plays a blind man, like in O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the Fantastic Racist Val-Yor, and Get Out. Stephen has done a lot of voice acting in his day, starring in the revival of DuckTales in 2020, Uncle Danny in Dallas & Robo, various characters in Adventure Time, in the Kung-Fu Panda spinoff television series, as well as Gravity Falls. Stephen plays Bubbles, the fish who generally doesn’t get out much and is fascinated by the simplest of things.

Jacques - Joe Ranft

Joe Ranft was a key member of the original Pixar crew when Toy Story’s development began. He had always been interested in the arts, something that his family supported him with. He began studying character animation after high school and became friends with John Lasseter and Brad Bird, prominent Pixar directors. Disney hired Joe and he worked on many big-name Disney animated movies, like Beauty and the Beast, Oliver & Company, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Lion King, Fantasia 2000, and more. He eventually transitioned over to Pixar when Pixar began it’s feat into computer animation, becoming a key writer on Toy Story and developing scenes like Sid’s Room and the Green Army Men characters. He also co-wrote for A Bug’s Life and was offered a voice role in that film as Heimlich. He also voiced Wheezy in Toy Story 2, and then Jacques, the french shrimp in Finding Nemo. The last Pixar film that Ranft worked on was Cars, playing a huge part in the creation of Mater. He tragically passed away in a terrible car accident before Cars would be finished.