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The Faces & Facts Behind Disney Characters

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May 27, 2021 3:24 PM
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Robin Hood, Robin Hood

Legendary stage actor Brian Bedford is the man behind the hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor.


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The Beast, Beauty and the Beast

Robby Benson's voice was altered by the growls of real lions and panthers, and viewers don't actually hear his real voice until after he is transformed back into a prince at the end.


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The Genie, Aladdin

The late Robin Williams reportedly improvised his lines as the Genie so much that Disney had almost 16 hours of material to use.


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Aladdin

Scott Weinger, also known as DJ's boyfriend Steve from Full House, served as the voice behind Aladdin, but the singing was done by actor Brad Kane.


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Esmeralda, The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Demi Moore voiced the enchanting Esmeralda, who also happens to be the first Disney "princess" to have green eyes.


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Prince Eric, The Little Mermaid

Christopher Daniel Barnes was only 16 years old when he recorded his part of Prince Eric in the 1989 film.


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Ursula, The Little Mermaid

The part of Ursula the sea witch went to Pat Carroll, however the animators had created the character for Bea Arthur, but she was too busy with The Golden Girls to take the role.


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Timon & Pumba, The Lion King

Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella, the voices behind Simba's sidekicks, were originally supposed to sing "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" as a duet.


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Scar, The Lion King

The animators were so impressed with Jeremy Irons' performance as the evil Scar that a lot of his facial expressions were incorporated into the onscreen character.


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Simba, The Lion King

Home Improvement star Jonathan Taylor Thomas provided the voice for young Simba, while Broadway star Matthew Broderick is the man behind adult Simba. However, neither of them did their own singing in the film.


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Mrs. Potts, Beauty and the Beast

Angela Lansbury originally did not want to do the singing for the ballad "Beauty and the Beast," but producers had her record it anyway. Her version is the one that ended up in the film.


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Lumiere, Beauty and the Beast

The same year that late Broadway star Jerry Orbach voiced Lumiere the candelabrum, he appeared in an episode of Law & Order, a franchise he would later call home for over a decade.


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Peter Pan

Bobby Driscoll is the voice behind the boy who didn't want to grow up, but Walt Disney himself actually played Peter Pan in a school play.


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Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio

Three people have provided the voice for Jiminy Cricket, but it was Cliff Edwards who was the original, and he's the one who sang the now iconic "When You Wish Upon a Star."


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Secrets About How the Grinch Stole Christmas
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