The Voices Behind the Toy Story Villains
The Disney Villains are fairly well known, much like the Disney princesses. One group that seems to get neglected are the Pixar villains, since the original Disney villains are so iconic. When thinking about the ones from Pixar, a large group of them come from the Toy Story franchise. You get to thinking, who are the masterminds behind these masterminds? Today we’re going to dive into the voice actors and their careers with Disney from the Toy Story franchise:
Sid (Toy Story)
Stinky Pete (Toy Story 2)
Al McWhiggin (Toy Story 2)
Emperor Zurg (Toy Story 2)
Lotso (Toy Story 3)
Ken Carson (Toy Story 3)
Gabby Gabby (Toy Story 4)
Erik von Detten (Sid)
Erik started out in Daytime Soap Operas, appearing in Days of Our Lives when he was 10 years old, becoming a part of the main storyline. He continued acting with his role as Sid becoming the next big gig he got, reprising his role again in Toy Story 3 as Sid the garbageman. He is also known for playing Flynt in Tarzan, and most notably Josh Bryant in The Princess Diaries.
Erik von Detten. Image from: https://extratv.com/2019/04/12/teen-heartthrob-erik-von-detten-is-married-and-expecting-his-first-child/
Sid from Toy Story. Image from: https://www.eonline.com/news/594734/you-have-to-read-this-heartwarming-toy-story-theory-about-the-most-hated-character
Kelsey Grammer (Stinky Pete)
Grammer is best known for his hit show Frasier, a follow up to the television series Cheers which he starred on. He attended Julliard, performed in several Broadway productions including Macbeth and Othello. Just before taking on the role as Stinky Pete in 1999, Grammer lent his voice to the narration of Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas, as well as Dr. Ivan Krank later on in Teacher’s Pet.
Kelsey Grammer. Image from: https://www.thefix.com/kelsey-grammer-now-drinks-every-day-after-quitting-aa
Stinky Pete. Image from: https://www.simbasible.com/toy-story-2-movie-review/
Wayne Knight (Al McWhiggin)
Knight began his film career in the late 1980s and early 1990s, starring in Dirty Dancing, JFK, and Jurassic Park. He is best known for his roles on Seinfeld, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and many others within his extensive filmography. For Disney, Knight has provided the voices for Demetrius the Potmaker in Hercules, Tantor in Tarzan, Emperor Zurg in the direct-to-video Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, and of course for Al, the Woody obsessed toy store owner.
Wayne Knight. Image from: https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2014/03/16/Wayne-Knight-Im-not-dead/9801395011296/
Al McWhiggin. Image from: https://screenrant.com/plot-holes-toy-story-franchise/
Andrew Stanton (Emperor Zurg)
Stanton plays a huge role within the Pixar company, joining as the second employee ever to the studio alongside John Lasseter. He was within the group of writers who came up with Toy Story, assisted in writing for A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc, and began fully directing for Finding Nemo. He went on to direct and write for WALL-E, Toy Story 3, Finding Dory, and Toy Story 4. He made cameos as characters in several early Pixar films, including Zurg, Crush, Hamm in the direct-to-video Buzz Lightyear special, along with other background characters in other films.
Andrew Stanton. Image from: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/news/pixar-stalwart-andrew-stanton-signs-uta-944718
Emperor Zurg. Image from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt_kAIHMVds&app=desktop
Ned Beatty (Lotso)
Beatty began his film career in the 1970s, starring in The Thief Who Came to Dinner, The Last American Hero, and Network, among many other films. He has an extensive filmography, including many appearances in television shows, and is an extremely critically acclaimed actor. Toy Story 3 is one of the last films he did, retiring in 2013. He received the IGN award for favorite villain, and was nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
Ned Beatty. Image from: https://www.fandango.com/people/ned-beatty-50613/film-credits
Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear. Image from: https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Lots-o%27-Huggin%27_Bear
Michael Keaton (Ken)
Keaton began his career by working on the show Mister Rogers Neighborhood in the 1970s. He began making appearances on other shows, such as Maude, and the Mary Tyler Moore Show. He then started to take on comedic roles in films, including the lead in Mr. Mom. Keaton is most well known for his portrayal as Batman in 1989. He has featured in major films every year since 2002, and has more lined up for the future as well. With Disney, he starred in Herbie: Fully Loaded, in Cars as Chick Hicks, Ken in Toy Story 3, and V.A Vandemere in 2019’s Dumbo.
Michael Keaton. Image from: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000474/
Ken Carson. Image from: https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a27710947/toy-story-4-ken-doll-barbie/
Christina Hendricks (Gabby Gabby)
Hendricks started out as a model in New York in 1994 until the early 2000s. She pursued acting, and landed a television role on MTV’s Undressed, and Showtime’s Beggars and Choosers. Her career continued upward as she landed more television and film roles through 2007 to the present. She is most well known for her role on Mad Men. The only Disney project she has been a part of is Toy Story 4, supplying the voice for the main villain Gabby Gabby.
Christina Hendricks. Image from: https://www.eonline.com/photos/6113/christina-hendricks-best-looks
Gabby Gabby. Image from: https://popcornerreviews.com/2019/03/20/meet-the-new-toys-from-toy-story-4/
