Frank Welker: Movies & Box Office

Frank Welker (born March 12, 1946) is an American actor and one of the most prolific voice talents in the history of animation, with a career that spans over five decades. Beginning as a stand‑up comedian and impressionist in 1967, Welker quickly transitioned to on‑screen work before landing his first voice‑over in a Friskies cat food commercial, a breakthrough that led to his iconic casting as Fred Jones in Scooby‑Doo, Where Are You! in 1969. Over the ensuing years he has amassed roughly 850 film, television and video‑game credits, contributing vocal performances to beloved series such as The Real Ghostbusters, Animaniacs, The Simpsons, and the Transformers franchise, where he famously voiced Megatron and Soundwave across multiple generations. His versatility extends to animal and creature vocal effects, from Abu the monkey in Aladdin to the whales in Free Willy 2 and the Martians in Mars Attacks!; he even supplied Spock’s iconic screams in Star Trekk III: The Search for Spock. In addition to his animated work, Welker has appeared on camera in films like The Trouble with Girls (1969) and The Informant! (2009), and he maintains a presence in live‑action voice roles, such as the meowing of Puss in Boots in Shrek 2. His contributions have earned him a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 2016 and a nomination for a Children’s and Family Emmy in 2022. Welker continues to lend his voice to new projects, including the Scoob! film (2020) and various Transformers media, solidifying his status as a cornerstone of modern voice acting. Beyond the studio, he is a licensed pilot, flying a Beechcraft Bonanza, and remains a close friend of fellow voice legend Peter Cullen, reflecting a career defined by both artistic range and personal camaraderie.