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William Richard Werstine (born 1952), known professionally as Billy West, is an American voice actor, comedian, radio personality, impressionist and musician. His voice roles include in the 1996 film , the title characters of Doug and The Ren & Stimpy Show, and several subsequent projects. He also voiced Disney characters, including Ellyvan the Elephant in , Bashful in The 7D, as well as the characters Philip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. , , and many more. In commercials, he voices the Red M&M and formerly voiced Buzz for Honey Nut Cheerios. West also voices other established characters such as , , , , , and . He was a cast member on The Howard Stern Show, during which time he was noted for his impressions of , , , and .


Early life
William Richard Werstine was born in Detroit, Michigan, Billy West Bio (Retrieved from BillWest.com on November 16, 2018) circa 1952. He is of Irish descent, and was born with ADHD and . Timestamps: (00:10:54-00:11:09) He grew up in both , in the neighborhood and in . He graduated from Roslindale High School. After a semester at Berklee College of Music, West found himself in various bands, gigging the Boston scene by night, and selling guitars in a shop during the day.

West has stated that during the , he was subject to the draft lottery under the Nixon administration, receiving a low draft number which would have resulted in his being drafted in 1970. West was ultimately classified "4-F" and excluded from enlistment on medical grounds as he had and . West described his later recurring role as on as his "revenge" against Nixon. In a 2019 video post, West opined that the "biggest joke" about his experience was the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum subsequently including images and footage of the Futurama Nixon character as part of its "Nixon in Popular Culture" exhibit.


Career

Radio career
In 1980, West was part of an oldies band called The Shutdowns. Retrieved May 17, 2014. West worked at WBCN in , performing daily comedic routines on The Big Mattress show, then moved to New York City in 1988, working at K-Rock Radio (92.3 FM ). West became a regular on The Howard Stern Show at that time until leaving in 1995, where he gained notice for his impersonations of middleman , owner and Stern's head writer . West moved to , where he found success as a voice actor and performer.


Television
He left the radio station in 1988 to work on the short-lived revival of Beany and Cecil, which was his first voice role in television. West's first major roles were on Doug and The Ren & Stimpy Show, which were two of the first three on (the other being ). Over his career, West has been the voice talent for close to 120 different characters including some of the most iconic animated figures in television history. He has become one of the few voice actors who can impersonate in his prime, including characterizations of and , the voice Arthur Q. Bryan used for , as well as other characters from Warner Bros. cartoons. In 1998, Entertainment Weekly described West as "the new Mel Blanc" and noted his ability to mimic well-known voices, though he would rather develop original voices. West's favorite characters are Philip J. Fry and Stimpy, both of which he originated. Billy West official site . Retrieved October 26, 2006. West has been very outspoken over his displeasure about the influx of star actors providing for films and major shows. West has stated that he did not like the Disney version of Doug and that he "couldn't watch" the show. West was the voice of the show's namesake, Geeker, throughout s 13-episode run. West was the voice of Zim in the original pilot for . However, according to creator , he was replaced by Richard Steven Horvitz due to his voice being too recognizable. West was the voice of "Red" in numerous M&M commercials, as well as the 3D film I Lost My M in Vegas, currently playing at M&M's World in , . He also voices a number of minor characters in the series . He voiced the character Moobeard in Moobeard the Cow Pirate, a short animation featured on Random! Cartoons and reprises his role as in 's series The Looney Tunes Show. In 1999, he also had a cameo in the Emmy Award-winning cartoon Dilbert.


The Ren & Stimpy Show
West provided the voice of Stimpson J. Cat in 's The Ren & Stimpy Show from 1991 until 1996, and he later provided the voice of Ren Höek from 1993 to 1996 when Ren's original voice and series creator was fired by Nickelodeon (then a division of the original Viacom) for delivering late and objectionable episodes. He performed other characters on the series, such as Mr. Horse (another role he took over after Kricfalusi's departure) and the announcer for the "Log" ads (a voice West would use years later as the narrator for The Weird Al Show).

According to West, he was originally supposed to do the voice of both Ren and Stimpy (and performed both characters on the tape that was used to sell the show to Nickelodeon), but then Kricfalusi decided to do the voice of Ren himself once the show was sold and he had West on board as part of the selling point. However, West provided Ren's laughter with Kricfalusi as Ren's speaking voice.


Futurama
West's roles in include Philip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, , and , among others. As he and other Futurama cast and crew point out in DVD commentaries, he voiced so many characters throughout the series that conversations are often held entirely between characters he is voicing. West went into the Futurama auditions and was asked to try out for, as he says, "just about every part". He eventually landed the roles of Farnsworth, Zoidberg, and Brannigan. He later got the main role of Fry, which originally had gone to Charlie Schlatter.. Retrieved January 29, 2007. While West is known for his original voices, the voice he uses for Fry is often considered to be closer to his natural voice than any other character he has played; in an audio commentary, he states Fry is "just himself at age 25". BioGamerGirl.com interview (9th question) . Retrieved June 15, 2013. This similarity, West acknowledges, was done purposefully in order to make it harder to replace him in the part along with placing more of himself personally into the role.

The role of Zapp Brannigan was written for the late , who died before the show started; West was given the role. West has described his interpretation of Zapp Brannigan's voice as an imitation of Hartman, but described the actual vocalizations of the character as being based on "a couple of big dumb announcers I knew." Futurama was renewed by as four films broken into 16 television episodes. West reprised his roles for these films and was signed on for two new 26-episode production seasons (four 13-episode air seasons) of Futurama which aired summers of 2010 to 2013.

In 2022, it was announced that Futurama would be returning in 2023 with the original cast, including West.


Advertising
West was the announcer of the program Screen Gems Network which ran from 1999 to 2001. He was the promotional announcer for The Comedy Channel before it merged with HA! to become Comedy Central. Over his career, Billy West has voiced multiple characters in television commercials. These include (but are not limited to): West voiced the character in a late 1990s advertisement for , because the commercial's producers could not locate , the original voice of Speed. However, the producers did locate , the original voice for the characters Trixie and Spritle.


Online
West voiced Graham and Julius F. in 's web cartoon and two characters in Tofu the Vegan Zombie. He appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor Podcast on January 30, 2015. The episode was recorded live at The Smell in Downtown Los Angeles during the third annual Riot LA Comedy Festival.

West began his own podcast show in July 2015. It features him doing numerous characters per episode, recurring segments such as "Song Demolition", "Billy Bastard – Amateur Human Being" and special guest Jim Gomez.


Films
In the 1996 film , West voiced and . He reprised both roles in subsequent films and returned as Fudd in the theatrically released . In 1998, West starred in the film Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island as , becoming the second person to portray the character (the first being ). He was one of the top contenders to replace Kasem after his retirement in 2009 but lost the role to . He voiced the role of in the 2020 CGI film Scoob!. In 2000, he provided additional voices in Disney's Dinosaur. In 2004, West voiced the classic character in the 75th-anniversary film , and made his live-action film debut in 's . He also appeared in a in . Other films featuring West's vocal talents include Joe's Apartment, Cats & Dogs, Olive, the Other Reindeer, TMNT, The Proud Family Movie and as Biff Buzzard in two Tom and Jerry direct-to-video films.


Music
West is a guitarist and singer-songwriter with a band called Billy West and The Grief Counselors. They have released their first album, Me-Pod. West has toured as a guitarist for and .

In 1982, West sang lead, doing an impersonation of , on a -inspired tune, "Another Cape Cod Summer This Year", by studio band ROUTE 28, written and produced by on his Arf! Arf! Records label.

West has collaborated with , , and , and he has played live on several occasions with , including the guitar solo on the tune "Do it Again" on Late Show with David Letterman, in the mid-1990s.

The Futurama episode "Proposition Infinity" features the track "Shut up and Love Me" which was written and played by Billy West and Greg Leon, under the name Wailing Fungus.


Radio
Throughout the 1980s, West provided character voices on Charles Laquidara's Big Mattress radio show on Boston's WBCN. West was one-half of the award-winning WBCN Production team from 1980 to 1986. From 1989 through 1995, West provided The Howard Stern Show with character voices such as , , , , , , , , Sammy Davis Jr., , Louis "Red" Deutsch, , , , , , Kathie Lee Gifford, , , Bobcat Goldthwait, the , (as Dr. Zachary Smith), , Evander Holyfield, , , , , , , (as the Jackie puppet), , , (as Will Robinson), Cardinal O'Connor, , , , , Rae Stern (Howard Stern's mother), , and until eventually leaving the show over money. Interview with UGO.com (20th question) . Retrieved January 29, 2007. West was an occasional contributor to The Adam Carolla Show, a syndicated morning radio show that replaced Stern's show on CBS in LA. On February 19 and 20, 2007, The Howard Stern Show ran a special two-part retrospective of West's work with the show. It marked his first work with the show since leaving after his last show on November 1, 1995. On June 9, 2009, West appeared on Jackie Martling's Jackie's Joke Hunt on Stern's channel Howard 101.


Video games
Characters voiced by West include and in numerous Looney Tunes video games.

Other video game characters West has voiced include:

  • Stimpy in The Ren & Stimpy Show: Veediots! (1993), (2000), and (2007)
  • Dr. Zoidberg in The Simpsons Game (2007)
  • Additional voices in (2002)
  • Ricky Sr. and O'Toole in Open Season (2006)
  • Sparx in (2007)
  • Philip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg and in Futurama (2003)
  • Nash and Zam in Crash Nitro Kart (2003)
  • Voices for the player character in (2000)
  • Murfy and other characters in (2003)
  • and L'il Gruesome in (2001)
  • Red in M&M's: The Lost Formulas (2000)
  • Hamton J. Pig in
  • Atomic Bomberman in
  • Emilio Baza in
  • Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd in (1999)
  • The Yak in (2011)
  • Fire Kraken, Freeze Blade, Food Fight, Chill Bill and Rocky Roll in , and
  • The narrator in (2015)
  • Ren and Stimpy in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl (2021; voice added as part of the June 6, 2022 update)


Personal life
West was married to Violet Benny, but they later divorced.

West has spoken openly about the he experienced from his father. He says he developed his impressionist skills as a way to distract himself from his trauma.

West has been critical of and the Republican Party, describing Republican senators as "old men with bad breath and ." He has also mocked the of by reading them in character as , drawing similarities between Trump and the antagonist.

West purchased a home in the Hollywood Hills West neighborhood of for $480,000 in 1998, and sold it for $1.18 million in March 2016.

West is a survivor. He has been open about his experiences with bouts of depression.

In 2019, West revealed on Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast that he is on the , having been diagnosed.


Filmography

Film

+ List of voice performances in feature and direct-to-video films ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"Notes
1996Joe's ApartmentRalph Roach
, Role of Elmer shared with an uncredited A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
1998Scooby-Doo on Zombie IslandDirect-to-video
2000Sumo Singers
2001Cats & DogsNinja Cat
CollinUncredited
Various Voices
FreddieDirect-to-video
2003Elmer Fudd,
2004Dog
, PappyDirect-to-video
2005Biff Buzzard, King Thingg, Gardener #2
Biff Buzzard, Hollywood President, Squirty
2006Curious GeorgeManager
Bi-Polar BearDirect-to-video
Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes ChristmasBugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd
Casper's Scare SchoolFatso, Figurehead
2007TMNTNewscaster
Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey AdventurePirate #8, Miniature Cyclops, Spider Clown Mailman, Beast Master
Philip J. Fry, Lars Fillmore, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg, Zapp Brannigan, Richard Nixon, additional voicesDirect-to-video
2008Philip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg, Zapp Brannigan, Richard Nixon, additional voices
Philip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg, additional voices
2009Philip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg, Zapp Brannigan, Leo Wong, Richard Nixon, additional voices
2012Daffy's RhapsodyElmer FuddShort film
Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue FalconBeckerDirect-to-video
2015Seagull
Elmer FuddDirect-to-video
PixelsAdditional voices
2017Best Fiends: Boot CampGeneral SlugShort film
2020Scoob! Scoob!: A Complete Cast List Cinemablend, May 13, 2020


Animation
+ List of voice performances in television shows ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"Notes
1988The New Adventures of Beany and CecilCecil
1991–1994DougDoug Funnie, Roger Klotz, additional voices
1991–1996The Ren & Stimpy ShowStimpson J. Cat, Ren Höek*, additional voices*Replacing
1994The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon ShowFrance Bug
The Baby Huey ShowFox
1996Earthworm JimMortyEpisode: "Lounge Day's Journey Into Night"
Project G.e.e.K.e.R.GeeKeR
1996–1999Timon & PumbaaAdditional voices
1997–1998The Sylvester & Tweety MysteriesVarious characters5 episodes
Pinky and the BrainVarious characters
1997–2000I Am WeaselAdditional voices
1997–2004Various voices5 episodes
1997Cow and ChickenBag BoyEpisode: "My Friend, the Smart Banana"
The Weird Al ShowShow Announcer, Harvey the Wonder Hamster
Extreme Ghostbusters, Mayor McShane
Additional voices
Aaahh!!! Real MonstersLombar, Construction WorkerEpisode: "Laugh, Krumm, Laugh"
1997–1999King of the HillCigarenders Leader, Mr. Holloway, Sergeant Barber
1998Mad Jack the PirateSnuk
Codger EggbertEpisode: "Hooray for North Hollywood" Pt. 2
The New Batman AdventuresMo, Lar, CurEpisode: "Beware the Creeper"
Oh Yeah! CartoonsVarious characters
1998–2000Histeria!Chit Chatterson, Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, , Porky Pig, , various voices
Pidge, various voices
1998–2005The Powerpuff GirlsAdditional voices
Rancid Rabbit, Mr. Sunshine, Randolph Grant, Mean Bob, additional voices
1999Bi-Polar Bear, additional voices
Lexie #2Episode: "A Fish Story"
DetentionEmmitt Roswell
Olive, the Other ReindeerMr. EskimoTelevision film
DilbertMarketing Guy, additional voices
1999–2000Rayman
1999–2003, 2008–2013, 2023–presentPhilip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg,
Zapp Brannigan, Richard Nixon, additional voices
1999–2002Screen Gems NetworkAnnouncerSyndicated program
Hey Arnold!Various voices2 episodes
The New Woody Woodpecker ShowWoody Woodpecker, , Smedley, various voices
2000Poochini, Walter White, Mr. Garvey, Lockjaw
Buzz Lightyear of Star CommandVoiceEpisode: "Lost in Time"
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at LawDr. ZinEpisode: "Bannon Custody Case"
2000–2001Julius, Graham
2001Horrible HistoriesStitch, Narrator, additional voices
George Klimer, Anita Bidet, additional voices
Lloyd in SpaceLarvelEpisode: "Nerd From Beyond The Stars"
Totally Spies!Lester CrawleyEpisode: "The Eraser"
2002–2006My Life as a Teenage RobotPrincipal Razinski, additional voices
2002Jackie Chan AdventuresMonkey KingEpisode: "Monkey a Go-Go"
Confucious, Moo Shu
Ozzy & DrixMuscle CellEpisode: "Reflex"
2002, 2017Various characters2 episodes
2002–2006Sam Melvick, additional voices
2003Duck DodgersMother Fudd, Zeke
2003As Told by GingerCleetis Boregard, Mrs. Grimley2 episodes
2003Barney the BunglerEpisode: "Beware of the Bungler!"
2004What's New, Scooby-Doo?Jimmy ProudwolfEpisode: "New Mexico, Old Monster"
ZimEpisode: "Pilot"
Justice League UnlimitedSkeetsEpisode: "The Greatest Story Never Told"
2004, 2006Numbuh 13
2005The Life and Times of Juniper LeeLeprechaunEpisode: " It's Your Party and I'll Whine If I Want To"
The Proud Family MovieBoard Member, Cab DriverTelevision film
2006–2007Stimpy, Popeye, Denzel Washington
2006The Jimmy Timmy Power HourSam Melvick, Corky Shimatzu, Blix, British OfficialTelevision film
Bear Captain, Bear GuardEpisode: "The Secret Door"
Ben 10Kraab, Punk, Guard2 episodes
2006–2007Kyle Finster
Loonatics UnleashedSagittarius Stomper, Electro J. Fudd2 episodes
2007ChowderAdditional voices
2007–2009Various voices
Back at the Barnyard
2008The Marvelous Misadventures of FlapjackAdditional voices
The Mighty B!
Random! CartoonsMooBeard, Value Guy, Finster, Johnny Space Guy, Space Pilot, Space Thugs
2009–2010Skeets5 episodes
2009–2012Ellyvan
2010Additional voices
T.U.F.F. Puppy
2010, 2012Scooby-Doo! Mystery IncorporatedGunther Gator, Randy Warsaw, Butch Firbanks
2010Glenn Martin, DDSMr. VernonEpisode: "Camp"
2011Mongo Wrestling AllianceVarious
Eric Kaplan's Sketch WorldAdditional voicesWeb series
2011–2014The Looney Tunes ShowElmer Fudd, Waiter
2012The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying OrangeCranberry
2013Ultimate Spider-ManEpisode: "Guardians of the Galaxy"
2014Philip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. ZoidbergEpisode: ""
Lunk, Gobba, Balk
Goose, Dr. Erik Adamkinson, MayorEpisode: "Everything's Jake"
Fleagor, Mosquito, Adolfo, Waterbug, Ritchie, Howie, Jack A. Lopez
Sextus ScribnousEpisode: "Ahhh, Serenity"
2014–2016The 7DBashful, various voices
2015–2019The Stinky & Dirty ShowChill
2016Rolling with the Ronks!GodziReplacing Dee Bradley Baker
Star vs. the Forces of EvilHungry LarryEpisode: "Hungry Larry"
BunniculaDracula, Friendless Sven the Destroyer3 episodes
Doug Funnie, WafflefaceEpisode: "Yogurt in a Bag"
Mighty MagiswordsHerman, Pterodactyl, Spiffy the SphinxEpisode: "Manlier Fish the Fishlier Man"
2016–2018The Adventures of Puss in BootsAngus, Thieves3 episodes
2017Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!Sheriff Boon, PacoEpisode: "How to Train Your Coward"
2017–2019Wacky Races, Tiny, Huckleberry Hound, , Quick Draw McGraw, ,
2018Happy!RaspberryEpisode: "The Scrapyard of Childish Things"
2018–2023DisenchantmentSorcerio, The Jester, Mertz, Pops the Elf, King Rulo the Elf series
2019Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?Various voices2 episodes
Welcome to the WayneBaby OllyEpisode: "The Best Buddy I Never Had"
2020–presentBig City GreensNick MulliganRecurring role
2020–2021Spitting Image, , , , ,
2025Theme Song TakeoverNick MulliganEpisode: "Grandpa Nick Takeover"


Video games

+ List of voice performances in video games ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"Notes
1996Nickelodeon 3D Movie MakerRen, Stimpy
1997Atomic Bomberman
1999Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd
Emilio Baza, Vampire
Hamton J. Pig
2000Wacky RacesMuttley, Little Gruesome
M&M's: The Lost FormulasRed
Additional voices
Stimpy
Looney Tunes RacingBugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Pepé Le Pew
Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd
Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Pepé Le Pew
2001Bolok
Muttley, L'il Gruesome
2002Additional voices
2003Murfy
FuturamaPhilip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg, Zapp Brannigan
Crash Nitro KartNash, Zam
Ninja
2006Open SeasonToothy O'Toole, Ricky Sr.
2007Sparx
Stimpy
The Simpsons GameDr. Zoidberg
2008Elmer Fudd
Muttley
2011The Yak
2013 seriesFire Kraken, Freeze Blade, Food Fight, Chill Bill, Rocky Roll
2015Narrator, Siggie, Fanboy
2021Nickelodeon All-Star BrawlRen, StimpyVoiceover added in the June 2022 update
2022
2023Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2


Live-action
+ List of acting performances in feature films ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"Notes
2004Leo MatuzikDirect-to-video
2011Robert Reilly
2013I Know That VoiceHimselfDocumentary


Discography
  • Me-Pod (2004) Label under Universal Records (Philippines)


See also
  • The Magic Behind the Voices


External links

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