Bill Farmer
| Bill Farmer | |
|---|---|
 Farmer at the 2014 Annie Awards | |
| Born |
William Farmer November 14, 1952 Pratt, Kansas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Kansas |
| Occupation | Voice actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Agent | AVO Talent |
| Known for | The voice of Goofy and Pluto[1] |
| Notable work |
Mickey Mouse franchise The 7D |
| Spouse(s) | Jennifer Farmer[2] |
| Awards |
Disney Legend Award (2009) Annie Award (2013) |
| Website | Official website |
William "Bill" Farmer (born November 14, 1952) is an American voice actor and comedian, who is best known for his role of being the current voice of the Disney character Goofy, since 1987. He is also the current voice of Pluto and Horace Horsecollar.
Early life
Farmer was born on November 14, 1952 in Pratt, Kansas, as the second child in his family.[2][3] His parents were of English and Welsh descent.[2]
Farmer's first job, at the age of 15, involved doing voices, especially those of Western stars like John Wayne or Walter Brennan. He and his friends would sometimes go through fast food drive-thrus and order foods in his character voices. Bill attended the University of Kansas, and is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. In college, he found work in radio and TV and then moved on to stand-up comedy as an impressionist until he moved out to Hollywood, where he began voicing Goofy in January 1987. In 1982, while he was still doing stand-up comedy, Farmer worked at a comedy club called the Comedy Corner in Dallas, Texas. He continued to work there until his move to Hollywood in 1986.
His decision to move to California came from a Dallas commercial agent who suggested that, given his talent for voices, he should try his luck in California. He was recently married, but he and his wife talked it over and came to an arrangement. She stayed back in Dallas while he commuted for a year after he got an apartment. Then four months after his moving out to Hollywood, his agent asked him if he could do any Disney characters.
He asserts that voice acting is not about funny voices, but about acting. His mentor was the great voice actor Daws Butler, the man behind many of Hanna-Barbera's characters. He taught Farmer that when doing cartoon voices, you're not merely doing a funny voice, you're an actor and the acting is premier and you have to think like the character you're doing.[4]
Career
In 1987, he had a small part as reporter Justin Ballard-Watkins in the film RoboCop.[4]
Farmer's very first voice over audition was for Goofy. When he auditioned for the voice, he studied the way the original actor Pinto Colvig performed as Goofy in the 1930s and 1940s cartoons. He studied the hilarious laugh and the distinctive "gawrsh". He inherited the voice of Goofy (as well as Pluto), around the same time Tony Anselmo inherited Donald Duck, and Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor did likewise for Mickey and Minnie Mouse, respectively. Farmer also played Goofy in A Goofy Movie (1995), its sequel, An Extremely Goofy Movie (2000), the Kingdom Hearts series of video games, Goof Troop (1992), which centered around the character and his son, Mickey Mouse Works (1999), House of Mouse (2001), Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006).
He originated the voice of Horace Horsecollar in Disney's version of The Prince and the Pauper and has played him ever since.[4][5] Farmer also performed additional voices on The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse (1987), and Astro Boy (2004).
Other significant characters he has played include Yosemite Sam, Sylvester, and Foghorn Leghorn in the movie Space Jam (1996). He has also done several guest voices, both on TV, including The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and in video games, including the Destroy All Humans! series, Namco's Tales of Symphonia, where he voiced Governor-General Dorr, in Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts series reprising the role of Goofy, Detective Date in the SEGA game Yakuza, Captain Wedgewood and Frill Lizard in Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, many voices on EverQuest II, Cletus Samson, Floyd Sanders, Jeff Meyers and Ryan LaRosa in the video game Dead Rising[6] and Sam and others in the cult classic adventure game Sam & Max Hit the Road.
Farmer has also played Secret Squirrel on Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Stinkie in Casper: A Spirited Beginning and Casper Meets Wendy, Willie Bear in Horton Hears a Who! and Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck in Robot Chicken in both the animated series and its spin-off video game. He also voiced Gaston in one part of Beauty and the Beast, when Gaston eats eggs.
As of 2014, he plays Doc, the leader of the title characters in Disney's animated television series The 7D.[5]
Bill Farmer still regularly performs comedy routines at the Laugh Factory.
Recognition
In September 2009, Farmer was named a Disney Legend. In 2011, the International Family Film Festival awarded Bill Farmer the 'Friz Award' for Animation.
He won the Annie Award for Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production for his work as Goofy and Grandma in Mickey Mouse.[7]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | RoboCop | Justin Ballard-Watkins | [4][8] | |
| 1998 | Pumpkin Man | Father Goblin / Billy Bob Sr. | [9] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Rover Dangerfield | Farm voices | |
| 1995 | A Goofy Movie | Goofy | Nominated - Annie Award for Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production |
| 1996 | Space Jam | Foghorn Leghorn, Sylvester, Yosemite Sam | |
| 2008 | Horton Hears a Who | Willie Bear | |
| 2010 | I Want Your Money | George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Prince and the Pauper | Goofy, Pluto, Horace Horsecollar, Weasels #1 | |
| 1993 | Disney Sing-Along-Songs: The Twelve Days of Christmas | Goofy | |
| 1995 | Runaway Brain | Pluto | |
| 1997 | Casper: A Spirited Beginning | Stinkie | |
| 1998 | Casper Meets Wendy | Stinkie | |
| 1999 | Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2000 | An Extremely Goofy Movie | Goofy | |
| 2001 | Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse | Goofy, Pluto, Practical Pig | |
| 2002 | Mickey's House of Villains | Goofy | |
| 2004 | The Lion King 1½ | Goofy, Sleepy | |
| 2004 | Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers | Goofy | |
| 2004 | Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2005 | Son of the Mask | Masked Otis | |
| 2007 | Mickey's Great Clubhouse Hunt | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2009 | Mickey's Adventures in Wonderland | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2009 | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Choo-Choo Express | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2010 | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Road Rally | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2011 | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure | Goofy, Pluto |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | D-TV Doggone Valantine | Goofy | |
| 1987 | D-TV Monster Hits | Goofy | |
| 1989 | Goofy About Health | Goofy | |
| 1989 | Betty Boop's Hollywood Mystery | Fergie Furbelow | |
| 1990 | Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Disneyland Fun | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 1992 | Raw Toonage | Goofy | |
| 1992–93 | Goof Troop | Goofy | |
| 1992 | Goof Troop Christmas | Goofy | |
| 1993 | Bonkers | Goofy | |
| 1994–95 | Mickey's Fun Songs series | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 1995 | What-a-Mess | Additional Voices | |
| 1996 | Quack Pack | Pluto | |
| 1998 | The Spirit of Mickey | Goofy | |
| 1998 | Paracycling | Goofy | |
| 1998 | The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald[10] | Knight #2, Mob Leader (ep. 5) | |
| 1999 | Disney's Mouseworks Spaceship | Pluto | |
| 1999–2000 | Mickey Mouse Works | Goofy, Pluto, Horace Horsecollar | |
| 2000 | Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law | Secret Squirrel | |
| 2001–03 | Disney's House of Mouse | Goofy, Pluto, Horace Horsecollar, Practical Pig | |
| 2003–06 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Stank Williams, Blort Sportscaster | |
| 2004 | Astro Boy | Tawashi | |
| 2004 | Game Over | Race Announcer | |
| 2005 | Loonatics Unleashed | Mr. Leghorn | |
| 2006–present | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2006–12 | Robot Chicken | Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Pubertis | |
| 2007 | Higglytown Heroes | Janitor Jay | |
| 2008 | The Banana Splits | Fleegle | |
| 2010 | 'Til Death | George Bush, Minister | |
| 2012–present | Minnie's Bow-Toons | Goofy, Pluto, others | |
| 2013–present | Mickey Mouse | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2014–present | The 7D | Doc, Sir Yips-A-Lot | |
| 2015 | Jake and the Never Land Pirates | Ghostly Bob |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Sam and Max Hit the Road | Sam, Psychic, Flambe | |
| 1994 | Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness | Leshy | |
| 1995 | Full Throttle | Horrace, Corley Motors Merchandise Salesman, Gas Guard Pilot, News Anchorman | |
| 1996 | Mortimer and the Riddles of the Medallion | Bald Eagle, Coyote, Gila Monster, Additional vocies | |
| 1998 | Disney's Hades Challenge | Goofy | |
| 1998 | King's Quest VIII: Mask of Eternity | King Gryph, Weirdling Tradesman | |
| 1998 | Baldur's Gate | Brunos, Irlentree, Yeslick Orothiar | |
| 2000 | Mickey's Speedway USA | Goofy | |
| 2000 | Looney Tunes Racing | Foghorn Leghorn | |
| 2000 | Looney Tunes: Space Race | Foghorn Leghorn | |
| 2000 | Mickey Mouse Kindergarten | Goofy, Pluto, Bellhop #1, Bellhop #2 | |
| 2000 | The Flintstones: Bedrock Bowling | Bamm-Bamm Rubble, Dino Bridge | |
| 2000 | The Emperor's New Groove | Pacha | |
| 2001 | Disney Learning: Phonics Quest | Goofy, Horace Horsecollar | |
| 2001 | Goofy's Fun House | Goofy | |
| 2002 | Ty the Tasmanian Tiger | Wedgwood the Pirate, The Frill Necked Lizard | |
| 2002–present | Kingdom Hearts series | Goofy | |
| 2002 | Disney Golf | Goofy | |
| 2003 | Toontown Online | Goofy | |
| 2003 | Tales of Symphonia | Governor-General Dorr | |
| 2004 | Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2 | Parrotbeard, Squeaver, Johno | |
| 2004 | EverQuest II | additional voices | |
| 2005 | Destroy All Humans! | Narrator, Rural Male | |
| 2005 | Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 3: Night of the Quinkan | Parrotbeard | |
| 2006 | Over the Hedge | Lou, Rottweiler | |
| 2006 | Dead Rising | Cletus Samson | |
| 2006 | Yakuza | Date (English version) | |
| 2006 | Flushed Away | Spike | |
| 2006 | Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island | Old Hermit Crab, Plant King, Crab Refugee #4, Plant Guard | |
| 2007 | Meet the Robinsons | Ice Cream Vendor | |
| 2008 | Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law | Secret Squirrel, Cameraman, Prison Guard #2 | |
| 2008 | Disney Think Fast | Goofy, Horace Horsecollar | |
| 2010 | Epic Mickey | Goofy, Horace Horsecollar | |
| 2011 | Kinect Disneyland Adventures | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2012 | Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two | Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Practical Pig | |
| 2012 | Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion | Goofy | |
| 2014 | Disney Magical World | Goofy, Pluto, Sleepy |
Park Attractions
- Mickey's PhilharMagic - Goofy
References
- ↑ "About Toonhouse". Toonhouse Inc. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
- 1 2 3 Stahl, Scarlett (February 24, 2012). "A Visit with a Goofy Guy Named Bill Farmer". LaughingPlace.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
- ↑ "Disney Legends - Bill Farmer". D23. Archived from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Interview with Bill Farmer on Rob Paulsen's Talkin Toons Podcast, 2012
- 1 2 "Disney Legend, Bill Farmer talks about voicing Goofy and new Disney Junior series "The 7D"". mediamikes.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ "Bill Farmer". Voice Chasers. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ Erik Pedersen. "Annie Award Winners 2015: Full List Of Animation Award Winners - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ "RoboCop (1987) - Paul Verhoeven - Cast and Crew". AllMovie. All Media Guide. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ http://movieweb.com/movie/pumpkin-man/cast/
- ↑ "The Voices of Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald (1998, Live-Action/Animated Series (Direct-to-Video)) - Voice Cast Listing at Voice Chasers". Voice Chasers. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bill Farmer. |
|