Maurice LaMarche
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| Maurice LaMarche | ||
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 Maurice LaMarche
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| Born | March 30, 1958 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Occupation(s) | Voice actor | |
Maurice LaMarche (born March 30, 1958) is a Canadian voice actor and former stand up comedian.
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[edit] 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 wasn't 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]
[edit] Stand up
At the age of 19, LaMarche took his high school act to an open mic night in New York, 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, Maurice 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." - Maurice LaMarche[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, Louis Anderson, Yakov Smirnov, 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] Unfortunately, LaMarche wouldn't get that chance.
On March 9, 1987, Maurice 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.[8] 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 eighteen-year-old sister was killed in a car accident in September of that year.[9] At this point, though he remained sober, LaMarche decided he just couldn't do standup comedy anymore.
"Oh, that's it. I don't have any funny left in me. I'm done."[10] - Maurice LaMarche
During his standup career, Maurice 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.[11]
[edit] Voiceover acting
Maurice's first entrance into the voiceover industry was in 1979 in Easter Fever and Take Me Up To The Ballgame, two Canadian films.[12] LaMarche didn't venture into voiceover acting again until years later as a side endeavor during his full-time standup comedy career.
[edit] Television
Maurice 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 Talespin, 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 Duckman, Hey Arnold!, Queer Duck, King of the Hill, and The Chimp Channel. It was at this time, 1999, that Maurice LaMarche began work on Futurama. Since Futurama LaMarche has continued to work steadily in television, including guest roles on The Simpsons. His most recent regular role came as Hovis the butler on the Nickelodeon series Catscratch.
LaMarche has done various voice work for many Warner Bros. Animation and DiC Entertainment cartoons. He also performed the infamous burping of Wakko in the short "The Great Wakkorotti" in Animaniacs.
[edit] Pinky and the Brain
Maurice 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,[13] although the character wasn't modeled after Welles.[14] Voicing Brain gave LaMarche the opportunity to make use of his signature impersonation of Welles. Many Pinky and the Brain episodes are nods to Welles' career.
[edit] The Critic
While working on The Critic LaMarche once voiced 29 characters in one 30 minute episode.[15]
His time on The Critic also afforded LaMarche the opportunity to once again parody Welles, this time after a video reading of a will (the Critic's family was so wealthy, they'd hired Orson Welles to narrate it) dissolves into a commercial for Mrs. Pells Fishsticks (as well as another for Rosebud Frozen Peas).
[edit] The Inspector Gadget universe
LaMarche has voiced Inspector Gadget (originally voiced by Don Adams) in two Inspector Gadget films (direct-to-video and television movies) as well as two television series (the original, and Gadget and the Gadgetinis), plus a live-action appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Film
LaMarche has appeared in many films including the voice of Orson Welles in Ed Wood, Pepe Le Pew in Space Jam, the voice of Alec Baldwin 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.
[edit] Roles in television, film and video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Tripping the Rift: The Movie | Gus | direct-to-video CGI animated movie |
| 2007 | Futurama: Bender's Big Score | Kif Kroker Morbo Calculon Lrrr Additional characters |
direct-to-video animated movie |
| 2006 | Tak & the Power of JuJu | Chief | animated series |
| Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas | Yosemite Sam | animated movie | |
| Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law | Apache Chief Fred Flintstone Quick Draw McGraw Inch High Private Eye Atom Ant Various |
animated series | |
| Shuriken School | Mr. No Naginata Kubo Utamaro Zumichito Daisuke Togakame |
animated series | |
| Operation Z.E.R.O. | Father | animated television movie | |
| Casper's Scare School | Pirate Thurdigree Burns |
animated television movie | |
| Barnyard | Igg the Cow | animated movie | |
| Queer Duck: The Movie | Oscar Wildcat | direct-to-video | |
| 2005 | Tripping the Rift | Gus | CGI animated series |
| Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever | Inspector Gadget | direct-to-video animated movie |
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| Catscratch | Hovis | animated series | |
| 2004 | Team America: World Police | Alec Baldwin | voice only |
| Balto III: Wings of Change | Balto | direct-to-video animated movie |
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| Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers | Shorty, one of The Beagle Boys | direct-to-video animated movie |
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| Comic Book: The Movie | Himself | "Behind the Voices" special feature live action |
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| 2003 | 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure | Horace | direct-to-video animated movie |
| K10C: Kids' Ten Commandments | Omri and Amos | animated series | |
| 2002 | Inspector Gadget's Last Case: Claw's Revenge | Inspector Gadget | direct-to-video animated movie |
| Hey Arnold!: The Movie | Big Bob Pataki Head of Security |
animated movie | |
| Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring | Spike and Alley Cat | direct-to-video animated movie |
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| My Gym Partner's a Monkey | Mr. Hornbill Mr. Blowhole Pixie Frog, Mandrill | animated series | |
| Codename: Kids Next Door | Father | animated series | |
| Balto II: Wolf Quest | Balto | direct-to-video animated movie |
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| 2001 | The Oblongs | Tommy Vinegar | animated series |
| 2000 | Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman | Mr. Lawrence Talbot | voice only animated movie |
| 1999 | Inspector Gadget: Gadget's Greatest Gadgets | Inspector Gadget Chief Quimby |
voice only animated movie |
| Wakko's Wish | Brain Squit |
direct-to-video animated movie |
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| The Chimp Channel | Harry Waller Bernard the Sarcastic Cockatoo |
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| Dilbert | Garbage Man | animated series | |
| Queer Duck | Oscar Wildcat Mr. Duckstein Other Characters |
animated series | |
| Futurama | Kif Kroker Morbo Calculon Lrrr Horrible Gelatinous Blob Walt Hedonism Bot DonBot Additional characters |
animated series | |
| Sonic Underground | Sleet SWATbots |
animated series | |
| 1998 | Histeria! | Abraham Lincoln | animated series |
| 1997 | Space Goofs | Etno | animated series |
| Extreme Ghostbusters | Egon Spengler | animated series | |
| 1996 | Space Jam | Pepe Le Pew | |
| Rocko's Modern Life | Conglomo Lizard | animated series | |
| All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 | Lost & Found Officer | animated movie | |
| 1995 | Duckman | Merv Griffin | animated series |
| Freakazoid! | Longhorn The Brain Dan Captain "K" |
animated series | |
| The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries | Yosemite Sam and others | animated series | |
| Pinky and the Brain | The Brain | animated series | |
| 1994 | The Tick | Human Ton & Handy Various other characters |
animated series |
| The Critic | Additional Voices | animated series | |
| Ed Wood | Orson Welles | voice only | |
| Pom Poko | Narrator | animated movie (english dub) | |
| 1993 | Animaniacs | Brain Spartacus Bob Hope Squit Wakko (burping only) |
animated series |
| Bonkers | Mr. Blackenblue | animated series | |
| 1991 | Taz-Mania | Hugh Tasmanian Devil | animated series |
| 1990 | Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Verminous Skumm | animated series |
| Tiny Toon Adventures | Dizzy Devil | animated series | |
| TaleSpin | General Patton | animated series | |
| Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series | Zoltan Ketchuck Tomato Guy |
animated series | |
| 1988 | Beany and Cecil | Dishonest John | animated series |
| 1987 | The Facts of Life | Rod Sperling | live action |
| Popeye and Son | Popeye | animated series | |
| 1986 | The Real Ghostbusters | Egon Spengler | animated series |
| Transformers | Six-Gun | animated series | |
| Dennis the Menace | George Wilson Henry Mitchell |
animated series | |
| Popples | Puzzle | animated series | |
| 1983 | Inspector Gadget | Chief Quimby | animated series |
[edit] Other media
- Commercials
- Kellogg's Froot Loops spokesbird Toucan Sam.
- The animated Willy Wonka character in Nestlé's Willy Wonka Candy Company' commercials
- Video games
- 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 (video game)
- Vekk in Guild Wars Eye of the North
- The Brain in Animaniacs: The Great Edgar Hunt
[edit] References
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (5th question) {http://www.quickstopentertainment.com/?p=1153&page=1 Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (8th question)]
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (12th question)
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (18th question)
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (questions 19-21)
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (Questions 22-26)
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (40th question)
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (Questions 42-43)
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (43rd question)
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (51st question)
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (51st question)
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (45th question)
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (2nd page, Questions 33 and 39
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (5th question)
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (3rd page, 27th question)
- ^ Interview with Quick Stop Entertainment (4th page, 19th question)
[edit] External links
- Maurice LaMarche at the Internet Movie Database
- Maurice LaMarche at TV.com
- Maurice LaMarche at the Voice Chasers Database
- Interview with Maurice LaMarche on "The Joe Cook Program"
- International Creative Management (Talent Agent)
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