Tress MacNeille

Tress MacNeille

Tress MacNeille in 2007
Born June 20, 1951 (1951-06-20) (age 60)
California, United States
Occupation Voice actress
Years active 1979–present

Tress MacNeille (born June 20, 1951) is an American voice actress best known for providing various voices on the animated series The Simpsons, Futurama, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, Disney's House of Mouse, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Rugrats, All Grown Up!, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, and Dave the Barbarian.

Contents

Early life

MacNeille was born in California. She loved cartoons as a child and wanted to be a voice actress from the age of eight, but instead chose a "practical" career, feeling she would never be able to realize her ambition. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and attended broadcasting school, becoming a disc jockey.[1]

Career

MacNeille worked in a variety of jobs and had numerous minor voiceover roles before becoming a regular on an animated TV show. She had "been doing radio spots, some TV, demos, sound-alikes, industrial narrations -- anything that came my way for about two years."[1] She was also a member of the improvisational comedy group The Groundlings for 10 years.[2] MacNeille took acting workshops and worked as a casting assistant for voice acting talent agent Bob Lloyd in what she calls "The University of Voice-over". Lloyd and fellow agent Rita Vennari got MacNeille her first role on an animated show with a part in a 1979 episode of Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo.[1]

She sang and appeared in the music video (as Lucille Ball) for "Weird Al" Yankovic's song "Ricky" (1983), which was based on the I Love Lucy television show and parodied the song "Mickey" by Toni Basil.[2] MacNeille also appeared on Yankovic's 1999 album Running with Scissors, on the track "Jerry Springer".

MacNeille was cast as Babs Bunny in Tiny Toon Adventures (1990–1995). Writer Paul Dini said that MacNeille was good for the role because she could do both Babs' voice and the voices of her impressions.[3] MacNeille commented: "The best part of doing Babs is that she's a mimic, like me...In the show I do Babs doing Billie Burke, Hepburn, Bette Davis, Madonna and Cher. I even have her doing Jessica Rabbit."[2] The success of Tiny Toon Adventures led to the series Animaniacs. MacNeille was brought over to voice Dot Warner, one of the show's three main characters, as Dot's character was very similar to Babs Bunny.[4] Andrea Romano, the voice director and caster for Animaniacs, said that the casters had "no trouble" choosing the role of Dot: "Tress MacNeille was just hilarious (...) And yet [she had] that edge."[5] MacNeille was nominated for an Annie Award for her performance on the show in 1995.[6]

She has provided for voices for numerous films, television shows, video games and commercials, receiving over 200 credits.[1] MacNeille says "the characters that I do all come from people in my own life -- as well as the material I've stolen from my friends!"[1] Her TV roles include on The Simpsons, where she voices Agnes Skinner, Brandine Spuckler and Lindsey Naegle, and Futurama, while her performance as Mom is her main role.[1] MacNeille has also provided voices on numerous other television shows and cartoons such as Rugrats (as Charlotte Pickles), Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (as Chip and Gadget),[1] Histeria!, Hey Arnold!, as well as dubbing work on English language anime translations.

She is the current voice of Daisy Duck and Wilma Flintstone.[1] MacNeille also appeared as an angry anchorwoman in Elvira, Mistress of the Dark and served as the voice of Elvira's Great-Aunt Morganna Talbot.

Characters voiced by Tress MacNeille

Voices on The Simpsons

Voices on Futurama

Disney character roles

Other roles

Video game roles

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Alexis Uribes (2008-12-18). "Nancy Cartwright Chats with Tress MacNeille". Animation World Network. http://www.awn.com/articles/people/nancy-cartwright-chats-tress-macneille. Retrieved 2011-03-23. 
  2. ^ a b c Meisler, Andy (July 8, 1990). "Television; Steven Spielberg Promises: 'Th-Th-That's Not All, Folks'". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/08/arts/television-steven-spielberg-promises-th-th-that-s-not-all-folks.html?pagewanted=3. Retrieved 5 June 2010. 
  3. ^ Miller, Bob (1990). "NEW TOONS ON THE BLOCK: They’re attending Acme Looniversity & hoping to graduate as classic cartoon characters". Comic Scene (15): pp. 33–39, 68. 
  4. ^ Ross, Curtis (1996-01-19). "It's time for Animaniacs! - The Kids' WB network cartoon has gained a huge adult following and several Internet sites, with its zany stories, hip references and irreverent attitude.". The Tampa Tribune: p. 18. 
  5. ^ Maurice LaMarche, et al (2006). Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs: Volume 1. Special Features: Animaniacs Live! (DVD). Warner Home Video. 
  6. ^ Legacy: 23rd Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1995), Annie Award Database, http://annieawards.org/23rdwinners.html, retrieved 2007-05-19 

External links

Main cast
Recurring cast
Recurring guest stars
Former cast
Characters
Production
Media releases
Seasons
Films
Themes
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