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Frank Welker Biography

Birth Name:Franklin Wendell Welker

Birth Place:Denver, Colorado, United States

Profession Actor, Sound department, Soundtrack, Music department

Fast Facts

  • In 1994, he was nominated for an Annie Award for his work in "Animaniacs․"
  • First voice-acting gig was a commercial for Friskies dog food
  • After moving to California to pursue acting, he studied theatrical arts at Santa Monica City College
  • Quote: "I like looking at the characters․ Seeing them always brings up some voice or attitude․ I am much more visual and that works so much better than having someone tell me what the character is all about․"
  • Quote: "I was doing standup comedy in a club in Los Angeles when this fellow and his girlfriend walked in ․․․ Based on my performance of barking and growling and hissing, he cast me in a Friskies dog food commercial and [she] cast me in Scooby Doo!"
  • While working on a production, he frequently portrays multiple animal characters in the project
  • Got his voice for the Dr․ Claw character in "Inspector Gadget" from trying to impersonate Barry White one day
  • From 1980 to 2011, his films grossed more money than any other actor in Hollywood
  • Tried stand-up comedy before getting into voice acting
  • Originally auditioned for the lead role in "Scooby Doo," but was cast as Fred Jones instead

Awards

  • 1994Annie-Best Achievement for Voice Acting: nominated
  • 2012BTVA Special/DVD Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short: nominated
  • 2012BTVA Voice Acting Award-Best New Vocal Interpretation of an Established Character: winner
  • 2012BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: nominated
  • 2012BTVA Special/DVD Voice Acting Award-Best Male Vocal Performance in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short: nominated
  • 2012BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series: nominated
  • 2013BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series - Action/Drama: nominated
  • 2013BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series - Comedy/Musical: nominated
  • 2013BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series - Comedy/Musical: nominated
  • 2013BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Comedy/Musical: nominated
  • 2013BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: nominated
  • 2013BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Action/Drama: nominated
  • 2013BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Children's/Educational: nominated
  • 2013BTVA Special/DVD Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short: nominated
  • 2013BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Children's/Educational: nominated
  • 2014BTVA Special/DVD Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short: nominated
  • 2014BTVA Special/DVD Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short: winner
  • 2014BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Action/Drama: nominated
  • 2014BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Male Vocal Performance in a Television Series in a Guest Role - Action/Drama: nominated
  • 2014BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series - Action/Drama: winner
  • 2015BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series - Children's/Educational: nominated
  • 2018BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Male Vocal Performance in a Television Series in a Guest Role: nominated
  • 2022Emmy-Outstanding Voice Performance in an Animated Program: nominated