Malachi Pearson

Malachi Pearson (born August 22, 1975) is an American former child actor best known for providing the iconic voice of the title character in the 1995 live‑action/CGI hybrid film Casper. Growing up in Los Angeles, California, Pearson entered the entertainment industry at a very young age, landing his first television appearances in the late 1980s on shows such as The Wonder Years and Star Trek: The Next Generation. His early work displayed a natural talent for delivering nuanced performances despite his youth, and he quickly became a familiar face in commercials and minor film roles. By the time he reached his teens, Pearson had already accumulated a modest résumé that included a supporting role in the family drama The Amazing Panda Adventure (1995) and a brief cameo in the cult classic The Little Rascals (1994). Throughout this formative period, he was praised for his professionalism on set and his ability to adapt to both live‑action and voice‑over work, a skill that would prove decisive for his most famous assignment. When director Brad Silberling cast Pearson as the voice of Casper McFadden, the young actor faced the daunting task of conveying the gentle melancholy of a friendly ghost while interacting with a heavily CGI‑enhanced environment. Pearson recorded his lines in a sound booth, imbuing the spectral character with a blend of innocence and wistfulness that resonated with audiences and helped the film achieve its $289 million worldwide box office success. Following the release of Casper, Pearson appeared in a handful of low‑budget projects before stepping away from the limelight in the early 2000s. He has since kept a low public profile, occasionally participating in fan conventions and interviews that celebrate his contribution to one of the most memorable family movies of the 1990s.