PERSONAL DATA
|
ARRIVAL |
VENUE |
GIVEN NAME |
|
Feb 16 1945 |
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. |
Franklin W. Welker |
CLAIM TO FAME
From all appearances, Frank Welker may be just about the most prolific voice actor that ever lived. Starting out in standup comedy in the late 1960s, he entered the voice-over business through commercials, which in turn led to being cast as Fred Jones on SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU! in 1969, a role he has had ample opportunity to reprise over the years, even as recently as 2002's interactive video game SCOOBY-DOO: NIGHT OF 100 FRIGHTS and 2003's direct-to-video feature SCOOBY-DOO AND THE LEGEND OF THE VAMPIRE. Although it would take the somewhat reclusive Welker a couple of decades to reach the status he now enjoys in the industry as a "voice-over god," he has always been busy, and it seems he can do anything with his voice, from imaginary telephone calls to the sound of doors opening and closing. His perhaps greatest (and most often utilized) specialty is animalistic sounds of any imaginable type. Rangy, dexterous, and durable, Welker's talents have been used to great effect in literally hundreds of projects -- and who knows how many thousand single series installments -- and be his efforts on-screen or off, they comprise a truly exhaustive (and exhausting) body of work. Perhaps paradoxically, Welker has performed so many characters over the years -- many of whom were only seen and heard for one season -- that finding many signature roles can be difficult, but among the more distinctive personas he has limned are Shmoo, the cuddly creature from Hanna-Barbera's THE NEW SHMOO (1979, animated series), Dr. Claw, the sinister villain from DIC's INSPECTOR GADGET (1983, animated series), and even Abu, the monkey, from various films, TV series, and even DISNEY ON ICE shows following the character's debut in Disney's Oscar-winning animated feature ALADDIN (1992). Welker is currently working on a new feature for Disney, THE SEARCH FOR MICKEY MOUSE, to be released in 2004.
GETTING CAST ON THE SHOW
It is unclear at this point precisely how he came to be a part of THE TRANSFORMERS, but it is reasonable to assume that voice director Wally Burr, who had done inestimable amounts of work with Frank at Hanna-Barbera, included him on the basis of this previous experience. Like a natural reflection of his myriads of voice roles, Frank is the actor who performed the highest amount of regular voices on THE TRANSFORMERS, leading him to work on a staggering 93 of the 98 episodes produced, as well as the feature film.
PRINCIPAL
CHARACTERS
TRANSFORMERS, ALIENS & MACHINES
--Click on Character Names for More Information--
AUTOBOTS
|
Protectobot |
Vocal Description |
|
Headmaster |
Vocal Description |
|
Protectobot |
Vocal Description |
|
Autobot |
Vocal Description |
|
Dinobot |
Vocal Description |
|
Aerialbot Composite |
Vocal Description |
|
Autobot |
Vocal Description |
|
Autobot |
Vocal Description |
DECEPTICONS
|
Decepticon |
Vocal Description |
|
Decepticon |
Vocal Description |
|
Decepticon Leader |
Vocal Description |
|
Decepticon |
Vocal Description |
|
Decepticon Leader |
Vocal Description |
|
Constructicon |
Vocal Description |
|
Decepticon |
Vocal Description |
|
Decepticon |
Vocal Description |
|
Decepticon |
Vocal Description |
|
Decepticon |
Vocal Description |
|
Decepticon |
Vocal Description |
OTHER NOTABLE CHARACTERS
|
PINPOINTER |
Nebulan Warrior |
Vocal Description |
|
SHARKTICONS |
Quintesson Enforcers |
Vocal Description |
|
Autobot Computer |
Vocal Description |
GUEST
STARS
& INCIDENTALS
HUMANS, ALIENS & MACHINES
--Click on Character Names for More Information--
S E A S O N O N E
1984 - 1985
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE - PART 1
|
OILRIG WORKER |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN
|
PERUVIAN VILLAGER # 3 |
Voice-over Only |
Vocal Description |
WAR OF THE DINOBOTS
|
JEFF |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
S E A S O N T W O
1985 - 1986
AUTOBOT SPIKE
|
"DR. FRANKENSTEIN" |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
TRAITOR
|
SCIENTIST # 2 |
Supporting Character |
Vocal Description |
DESERTION OF THE DINOBOTS - PART 2
|
NARRATOR |
Voice-over Only |
Vocal Description |
CHILD'S PLAY
|
BOOPER |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
|
NITRO |
Supporting Character |
Vocal Description |
KREMZEEK!
|
JAPANESE MAN |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
|
SERGEANT # 2 |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
PRIME TARGET
|
NEWSCASTER |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
AUTO-BOP
|
DANCITRON PUNK # 1 |
Voice-over Only |
Vocal Description |
|
DANCITRON PUNK # 2 |
Voice-over Only |
Vocal Description |
|
HYPNOTIZED MAN |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
|
POP-LOCK |
Featured Character |
Vocal Description |
S E A S O N T H R E E
1986 - 1987
CHAOS
|
CAPTIVE ROBOT # 1 |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
STARSCREAM'S GHOST
|
ALIEN CUSTOMER # 6 |
Voice-over Only |
Vocal Description |
|
JUNKION |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
THIEF IN THE NIGHT
|
RUSSIAN NEWSCASTER |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
SURPRISE PARTY
|
COMPUTER VOICE # 1 |
Voice-over Only |
Vocal Description |
|
SENTRY ROBOT # 3 |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
MADMAN'S PARADISE
|
WINGED CREATURE |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
NIGHTMARE PLANET
|
CLOWN |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
|
GIANT GALVATRON |
Supporting Character |
Vocal Description |
WEBWORLD
|
ASYLUM INMATE # 5 |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
|
ASYLUM INMATE # 6 |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
THE ULTIMATE WEAPON
|
GRANDFATHER |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
THE BIG BROADCAST OF 2006
|
CAT PEOPLE |
Incidental Characters |
Vocal Description |
|
"JACK'S SOLDIERS" |
Incidental Characters |
Vocal Description |
FIGHT OR FLEE
|
PARADRONIAN AUTOBOT # 6 |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
THE DWELLER IN THE DEPTHS
|
THE DWELLER |
Featured Character |
Vocal Description |
THE FACE OF THE NIJIKA
|
BRUTALO |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
|
NIKODON |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
THE BURDEN HARDEST TO BEAR
|
JAPANESE OFFICIAL |
Incidental Character |
Vocal Description |
SELECTED CREDITS
THE TROUBLE WITH GIRLS (AND HOW TO GET INTO IT) (1969, with Elvis Presley), THE COMPUTER WORE TENNIS SHOES (1969), THE DON KNOTTS SHOW (1970, TV series), SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH (1971, TV series), THE ABC SATURDAY SUPERSTAR MOVIE (1972, TV series), NOW YOU SEE HIM, NOW YOU DON'T (1972), CATCH-22 (1973, TV movie), SUPERFRIENDS (1973, animated TV series), WHEELIE AND THE CHOPPER BUNCH (1974, animated TV series, his first foray into "mechanical" roles), HONG KONG PHOOEY (1974, animated TV series), THE NEW TOM & JERRY SHOW (1975, animated TV series), THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (1975, animated TV series), JABBERJAW (1976, animated TV series), DYNOMUTT, DOG WONDER (1976, animated TV series), FRED FLINTSTONE AND FRIENDS (1977, animated TV series), CHALLENGE OF THE SUPERFRIENDS (1978, animated TV series), FANGFACE (1978, animated TV series), THE ALL-NEW POPEYE HOUR (1978, animated TV series), THE FLINTSTONES LITTLE BIG LEAGUE (1979, animated TV series), THE HECKLE AND JECKLE SHOW (1979, animated TV series), THE NEW ADVENTURES OF TOM AND JERRY (1980, animated TV series), FONZ AND THE HAPPY DAYS GANG (1980, animated TV series), SPIDER-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS (1981, animated TV series), THE SMURFS (1981, animated TV series), MEATBALLS AND SPAGHETTI (1982, animated TV series), PAC-MAN (1982, animated TV series), G. I. JOE (1983, animated TV series), DONKEY KONG, JR. (1983, animated TV series), STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984, performing Spock's screams), GREMLINS (1984, performing various gremlin voices), CHALLENGE OF THE GOBOTS (1984, animated TV series), THE GET-ALONG GANG (1984, animated TV series), ROBOTIX (1985, animated direct-to-video feature, later adapted for the small screen), THE CENTURIONS (1986, animated TV series), GOBOTS: WAR OF THE ROCK LORDS (1986, animated feature), MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE (1986, animated feature), JONNY QUEST (1986, animated TV series), THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS (1986, animated TV series), BIONIC SIX (1987, animated TV series), SPIRAL ZONE (1987, animated TV series), G. I. JOE: THE MOVIE (1987, animated feature), DINO-RIDERS (1988, animated TV series), GARFIELD AND FRIENDS (1988, animated TV series), PRYDE OF THE X-MEN (1989, animated TV series), DINK, THE LITTLE DINOSAUR (1989, animated TV series), TALE SPIN (1990, animated TV series), GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH (1990, performing the voice of the Mohawk gremlin), GARFIELD GETS A LIFE (1991, animated feature), DARKWING DUCK (1991, animated TV series), BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991, animated feature), PIRATES OF DARKWATER (1991, animated TV series), GOOF TROOP (1992, animated TV series), DENVER, THE LAST DINOSAUR (1992, animated TV series), I YABBA DABBA DO! (1993, animated TV movie), ANIMANIACS (1993, animated TV series), THE LION KING (1994, animated feature), THE ITSY BITSY SPIDER (1994, animated TV series), A GOOFY MOVIE (1995, animated feature), POCAHONTAS (1995, animated feature), FREAKAZOID! (1995, animated TV series), THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1996, animated feature), SPACE JAM (1996, performing the sounds of Charles the Dog), TOONSTRUCK (1996, interactive video game), MIGHTY DUCKS (1996, animated TV series), THE REAL ADVENTURES OF JONNY QUEST (1996, animated TV series), MIGHTY DUCKS THE MOVIE: THE FIRST FACE-OFF (1997, animated direct-to-video feature), THE LEGEND OF CALAMITY JANE (1997, animated TV series), CLAYFIGHTER 63 1/3 (1997, interactive video game), CHANNEL UMPTEE-3 (1997, animated TV series), MULAN (1998, animated feature), HERCULES (1998, animated TV series), THE POWERPUFF GIRLS (1998, animated TV series), BALDUR'S GATE (1998, interactive video game), FUTURAMA (1999, animated TV series), MICKEY MOUSE WORKS (1999, animated TV series), XYBER 9: NEW DAWN (1999, animated TV series), SNAKE MAN & THE DESERTED ISLAND (1999, interactive video game), DISNEY'S ARCADE FRENZY (1999, interactive video game), THE TIGGER MOVIE (2000, animated feature), CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG (2000, animated TV series), FLINTSTONES BEDROCK BOWLING (2000, interactive video game), THE LITTLE MERMAID II: RETURN TO THE SEA (2000, animated direct-to-video feature), STAR TREK: STARFLEET COMMAND: VOLUME II: EMPIRES AT WAR (2000, interactive video game), BUZZ LIGHTYEAR OF STAR COMMAND (2000, animated TV series), BALDUR'S GATE II: SHADOWS OF AMN (2000, interactive video game), HOUSE OF MOUSE (2001, animated TV series), LADY AND THE TRAMP II: SCAMP'S ADVENTURE (2001, animated direct-to-video feature), GRIM & EVIL (2001, animated TV series), THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (2001, animated TV series), FLINTSTONES: ON THE ROCKS (2001, animated TV movie), BALDUR'S GATE: DARK ALLIANCE (2001, interactive video game), STAR WARS: GALACTIC BATTLEGROUNDS (2001, interactive video game), BLOOD OMEN II: LEGACY OF KAIN (2002, interactive video game), THE POWERPUFF GIRLS MOVIE (2002, animated feature), THE ADVENTURES OF JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS (2002, animated TV series), STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS (2002, interactive video game), and JIMMY NEUTRON'S NICKTOON BLAST (2003, animated feature). He has also performed guest roles on various TV series, such as THE BATMAN/SUPERMAN HOUR (1968), THE SIMPSONS (1989), BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992), GARGOYLES (1994), STAR TREK: VOYAGER (1995), and SOUTH PARK (1997).