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Billy West

Birth Name:
William Richard West
Birth Place:
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Profession
Actor, Soundtrack, Writer, Director, Producer, Music department
Billy West

Fast Facts

  • Was nominated for an Annie Award for best achievement in voice acting for "The Ren & Stimpy Show" in 1994
  • Received greater exposure doing impersonation of Marge Schott, owner of the Cincinnati Reds, on "The Howard Stern Show․"
  • Started out doing impersonations on Boston's WBNC FM morning show with Charles Laquidara in the 1980s
  • Quote: "You watch people and study them the way an alien would ․․․ It's an ear a voice performer has, where they're able to hear things in real life, and they're able to grab hold of it and then amplify it through another character or a direct impression․"
  • Best known as the voice actor behind Philip J․ Fry, Professor Farnsworth and Dr․ Zoidberg in "Futurama," and Ren Höek and Stimpson J․ Cat in "The Ren & Stimpy Show․"
  • He is also a musician, playing guitar and singing in the bands The Shutdowns and Billy West and the Grief Counselors, who released their first album in 2004
  • His "Futurama" character Zapp Brannigan is based on the voices of the disc jockeys he worked with when he worked in radio
  • Played some live shows with Steven Tyler, lead singer of the then-separated band Aerosmith, in the 1980s
  • Some of his other iconic voices are Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd in the 1996 film "Space Jam," and the Red M&M

Awards

  • 1994Annie - Best Achievement for Voice Acting:Nominated
  • 2012BTVA People's Choice Voice Acting Award - Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series:Winner
  • 2012BTVA Television Voice Acting Award - Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series:Nominated
  • 2012BTVA People's Choice Voice Acting Award - Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series:Winner
  • 2012BTVA Television Voice Acting Award - Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series:Winner
  • 2013BTVA Television Voice Acting Award - Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series - Comedy/Musical:Nominated
  • 2013BTVA People's Choice Voice Acting Award - Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Comedy/Musical:Winner
  • 2013BTVA Television Voice Acting Award - Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Comedy/Musical:Winner
  • 2014BTVA Television Voice Acting Award - Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series - Comedy/Musical:Nominated
  • 2014BTVA Television Voice Acting Award - Best Male Vocal Performance in a Television Series in a Supporting Role - Comedy/Musical:Nominated
  • 2014BTVA Television Voice Acting Award - Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Comedy/Musical:Winner
  • 2014BTVA Special/DVD Voice Acting Award - Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short:Nominated
  • 2014OFTA Television Award - Best Voice-Over Performance:Nominated
  • 2015BTVA Television Voice Acting Award - Best Vocal Ensemble in a New Television Series:Winner
  • 2016BTVA Television Voice Acting Award - Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series:Winner
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