Bill Farmer

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For other people named Bill Farmer, see Bill Farmer (disambiguation).

Bill Farmer
Farmer at the Grand Rapids Comic-Con in Michigan on November 4, 2023
Born (1952-11-14) November 14, 1952 (age 71)
Pratt, Kansas, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Kansas
Occupations
  • Voice actor
  • comedian
  • impressionist
Years active1975–present
AgentAVO Talent
Spouse
Jennifer Wynne
​
(m. 1985)​
Children1[1][2]
Websitewww.billfarmer.com

Bill Farmer (born November 14, 1952)[1][3] is an American voice actor, comedian and impressionist. He has performed the voice of the Disney character Goofy since 1987, and has also been the voice of Pluto and Horace Horsecollar since 1990.

Early life[edit]

Bill Farmer was born on November 14, 1952, in Pratt, Kansas, the second child in his family.[1][3] His parents were of English and Welsh descent.[1]

Farmer began doing voices, at the age of ten, involved doing impressions, especially those of Western stars like John Wayne or Walter Brennan. He and his friends would sometimes go through fast food drive-thrus and order foods in his character voices.[4] Farmer graduated from the University of Kansas in 1975, where he became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.[4][1] In university, he found work in radio and TV and then moved on to stand-up comedy as an impressionist.[1] In 1982, while he was still doing stand-up comedy, Farmer worked at a comedy club called the Comedy Corner in Dallas, Texas. He continued to work there until his move to Hollywood in 1986.[1]

His decision to move to California came from a Dallas commercial agent who suggested that, given his talent for voices, he should try his luck in California.[5] He was recently married, but he and his wife talked it over and came to an arrangement. She stayed back in Dallas while he commuted for a year after he got an apartment. Then four months after his moving out to Hollywood, his agent asked him if he could do any Disney characters.

Farmer asserts that voice acting is not about funny voices, but about acting. His mentor was the versatile voice actor Daws Butler, the man behind many of Hanna-Barbera's characters. He taught Farmer that when doing cartoon voices, a person is not merely doing a funny voice, but they are an actor and the acting is premier and that one has to think like the character one is performing.[6]

Career[edit]

Upon moving to Hollywood, he got a call for an open audition for the Disney character Goofy.[1] When he auditioned for the role, he studied the way the original actor Pinto Colvig performed as Goofy in the classic cartoons. He studied the hilarious laugh and the distinctive "gawrsh". After auditioning for the role, he inherited the voice of Goofy in January 1987 (and also Pluto in 1990).[1][2]

He originated the voice of Horace Horsecollar in Disney's version of The Prince and the Pauper and has played him ever since as well.[6][7] Farmer also performed additional voices on The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse (1987) and Astro Boy (2004).[8]

In 1987, Farmer had a small part as reporter Justin Ballard-Watkins in the film RoboCop.[6]

Other significant characters he has played include Yosemite Sam, Sylvester and Foghorn Leghorn in the film Space Jam (1996). He has also done several guest voices, both on TV, including The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and in video games, including the Destroy All Humans! series, Namco's Tales of Symphonia, where he voiced Governor-General Dorr, in Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts series reprising the role of Goofy, Detective Date in the SEGA game Yakuza, Captain Wedgewood and Frill Lizard in Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, many voices on EverQuest II, Cletus Samson, Floyd Sanders, Jeff Meyers and Ryan LaRosa in the video game Dead Rising[9] and Sam and others in the cult classic adventure game Sam & Max Hit the Road.

Farmer has also played Secret Squirrel on Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law in both the animated series and its spin-off video game, Stinkie in Casper: A Spirited Beginning and Casper Meets Wendy, Stanley in Beauty and the Beast, male cats in Cats Don't Dance, male ants in A Bug's Life, photographer in Monsters, Inc., Edgar in Brother Bear, Oliver Sansweet's lawyer in The Incredibles, Willie Bear in Horton Hears a Who!, Sam the Bus Driver in The Grinch, Mr. Leghorn in Loonatics Unleashed and Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck in Robot Chicken.

From 2014 to 2016, he played Doc, the leader of the title characters in Disney's animated television series The 7D.[7] He also voiced Blackhoof Boar Clan Leader in the 2008 video game Kung Fu Panda.

Farmer still regularly performs comedy routines at the Laugh Factory. He voiced the character Hopediah "Hop Pop" Plantar on Disney's Amphibia from 2019 to 2022.

In 2020, Farmer began hosting the live action television show It's a Dog's Life with Bill Farmer on Disney+.[8][10]

Recognition[edit]

Bill Farmer Disney Legends plaque at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California

In September 2009, Farmer was named a Disney Legend. In 2011, the International Family Film Festival awarded Bill Farmer the 'Friz Award' for Animation.

He won the Annie Award for Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production for his work as Goofy and Grandma Goofy in Mickey Mouse.[11]

Personal life[edit]

Farmer has been married to his wife, Jennifer Wynne, since 1985.[1] Together they have a son, Austin.[1][2]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

List of voice performances in feature films
Year Title Role Notes
1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit Goofy (uncredited)
1991 Rover Dangerfield Farm voices  
Beauty and the Beast Additional voices Provides the "gulp, gulp, gulp" sound of Gaston swallowing eggs.
1995 Theodore Rex  
A Goofy Movie Goofy Nominated - Annie Award for Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production
Runaway Brain Pluto Short film
Toy Story Monotone Announcer  
1996 Space Jam Foghorn Leghorn, Sylvester, Yosemite Sam Role of Foghorn shared with Greg Burson
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Additional voices  
1997 Cats Don't Dance Male Cat #3  
Hercules Male Builder #1  
1998 A Bug's Life Male Ant #3  
1999 The Iron Giant Male Soldier #1  
Toy Story 2 Man #1  
2000 An Extremely Goofy Movie Goofy  
2001 Monsters, Inc. Photographer  
2003 Brother Bear Edgar  
2004 Home on the Range Donkey  
Shrek 2 — ADR group
2005 Son of the Mask Masked Otis Role shared with Richard Horvitz
2006 Ice Age: The Meltdown Male Elk
Cars Winford Bradford Rutherford, Lee Revkins, Ryan Shields
2007 Happily N'Ever After Additional voices
Surf's Up
2008 Horton Hears a Who! Willie Bear  
2012 The Lorax Additional voices
2013 Monsters University Professor Brandywine, Jason Chiang
2015 Minions Additional voices
2016 The Secret Life of Pets
Sing Bob the News Reporter Dog
2017 Despicable Me 3 Additional voices
2018 The Grinch Sam the Bus Driver
2020 Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe Hermellivue
2021 Seal Team Seal
2023 Once Upon a Studio Goofy Short film
2023 Four Souls of Coyote Duck/Racoon [12]
List of voice performances in direct-to-video and television films
Year Title Role Notes
1990 The Prince and the Pauper Goofy, Pluto, Horace Horsecollar, Weasels #1  
Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Disneyland Fun Goofy, Pluto  
1993 Disney Sing-Along-Songs: The Twelve Days of Christmas Goofy  
1994–95 Mickey's Fun Songs series Goofy, Pluto  
1997 Casper: A Spirited Beginning Stinkie  
1998 Casper Meets Wendy  
The Spirit of Mickey Goofy  
1999 Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas Goofy, Pluto  
2000 An Extremely Goofy Movie Goofy Nominated - Outstanding Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production
2001 Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse Goofy, Pluto, Practical Pig  
The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald Knight #2, Mob Leader Episode 5[13]
2002 Cinderella II: Dreams Come True Additional Voices  
Mickey's House of Villains Goofy, Pluto  
2004 The Lion King 1½ Goofy, Sleepy  
Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers Goofy, Pluto  
Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas  
2007 Mickey's Great Clubhouse Hunt  
2009 Mickey's Adventures in Wonderland  
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Choo-Choo Express  
2010 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Road Rally  
2011 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure  

Animation[edit]

List of voice performances in television shows
Year Title Role Notes
1987 D-TV Doggone Valantine Goofy Television film
D-TV Monster Hits
1988 Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures Additional voices 6 episodes
1989 Goofy About Health Goofy  
Betty Boop's Hollywood Mystery Fergie Furbelow  
Goody Field Trips Goofy Episode: "Planes"
1990 Goofy's Guide to Success Television film
1992 Raw Toonage 1 episode
Goof Troop Christmas Television film
Mickey's Nutcracker Goofy, Pluto Uncredited
Television special
1992–93 Goof Troop Goofy Main cast
Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa Puma 4 episodes
1993 Bonkers Goofy 3 episodes
1995 What-a-Mess Additional voices  
1996 Quack Pack Pluto 2 episodes
1998 Paracycling Goofy  
1999 Disney's Mouseworks Spaceship Pluto  
1999–2000 Mickey Mouse Works Goofy, Pluto, Horace Horsecollar Main cast
2001–03 House of Mouse Goofy, Pluto, Horace Horsecollar, Practical Pig, Sheriff of Nottingham
2003–04 Totally Spies President Uncredited
2 episodes
2003–06 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Stank Williams, Blort Sportscaster 3 episodes
2004 Game Over Race Announcer Episode: "Meet the Smashenburns"
2004–05 Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Secret Squirrel 2 episodes
2005 Loonatics Unleashed Mr. Leghorn Episode: "Stop the World I Want to Get Off"
2006–16 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Goofy, Pluto Main cast
2006–16 Robot Chicken Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Coach, Pubertis, Retired Navy Ship Commander 4 episodes
2006 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius Additional voices Episode: "Who Framed Jimmy?/Flippy"
Ergo Proxy Al (English dub) Episode: "Shoujo Smile: Eternal Smile"
2007 Higglytown Heroes Janitor Jay Episode: "The Big Pink Elephant/Higglies on Horseback
2008–2013 The Garfield Show Additional voices 5 episodes
2010 Jonah Hex: Motion Comics 7 episodes
2011–2016 Minnie's Bow-Toons Goofy, Pluto, Additional voices 40 episodes
2013 Wheel of Fortune Goofy, Pluto Episodes: "Making Disney Memories Week 1, Making Disney Memories Week 2"
2013–2019 Mickey Mouse Main cast
2014–16 The 7D Doc, Sir Yips-A-Lot
2015 Jake and the Never Land Pirates Ghostly Bob 2 episodes
2016 Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special Goofy Television special
2017 The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular
2017–2021 Mickey and the Roadster Racers /

Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures

Goofy, Pluto, Horace Horsecoller, Mayor McBeagle, Mr. Bigby, Uncle Goofy, Additional voices Main cast[14]
2019 The Tom and Jerry Show Irish Spike, Irish Butch Episode: "Double Dog Trouble"
2019–2022 Amphibia Hopediah "Hop Pop" Plantar Main cast
2019 Vampirina Larry Moss Episode: "Bat Got Your Tongue/Haunted Theater"
2020 DuckTales Goofy Episode: "Quack Pack!"
2020–2023 The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse Main cast
2021–present Mickey Mouse Funhouse Goofy, Pluto, Horace Horsecollar
2021–present Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life Pluto
2021 How to Stay at Home Goofy
2022 We Baby Bears Lord Billy Willy Episode: "Happy Bouncy Fun Town"
Chibiverse Hopediah "Hop Pop" Plantar Episode: "Bad Luck Chibis"
Dead End: Paranormal Park Chester Phoenix Episode: "The Other Side"
2023 Dew Drop Diaries Wilford the Dog

Anime[edit]

List of dubbing performances in anime
Year Title Role Notes
2003 Porco Rosso Additional voices English dub
2004 Astro Boy Tawashi Main cast

Video games[edit]

List of voice performances in video games
Year Title Role Notes
1993 Sam and Max Hit the Road Sam, Psychic, Flambe  
1994 Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness Leshy  
1995 Full Throttle Horrace, Corley Motors Merchandise Salesman, Gas Guard Pilot, News Anchorman  
1996 Mortimer and the Riddles of the Medallion Bald Eagle, Coyote, Desert Gate, Gila Monster  
1998 Disney's Hades Challenge Goofy  
King's Quest VIII: Mask of Eternity King Gryph, Weirdling Tradesman  
Baldur's Gate Brunos, Irlentree, Yeslick Orothiar  
2000 Mickey's Speedway USA Goofy  
Looney Tunes Racing Foghorn Leghorn  
Looney Tunes: Space Race  
Mickey Mouse Kindergarten Goofy, Pluto, Bellhop #1, Bellhop #2  
Mickey Mouse Preschool Goofy, Pluto, Gas Attendant  
The Flintstones: Bedrock Bowling Bamm-Bamm Rubble, Dino Bridge  
The Emperor's New Groove Villager  
2001 Disney Learning: Phonics Quest Goofy, Horace Horsecollar  
Goofy's Fun House Goofy  
2002 Ty the Tasmanian Tiger Wedgwood the Pirate, The Frill Necked Lizard  
Kingdom Hearts Goofy, Pluto  
Disney Golf Goofy  
Disney Sports Soccer  
Disney Sports Skateboarding  
Disney Sports Football  
Disney Sports Basketball  
2003 Disney's Party  
Toontown Online  
Command & Conquer: Generals Comanche, Tomahawk Launcher  
Tales of Symphonia Governor-General Dorr  
2004 Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest Additional voices  
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2 Parrotbeard, Squeaver, Johno  
EverQuest II Various characters  
2005 Destroy All Humans! Narrator, Rural Male [15]
Crash Tag Team Racing Old Man, Park Drones  
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 3: Night of the Quinkan Parrotbeard  
2006 Over the Hedge Lou, Rottweiler  
Cars Rustbucket Cars  
Dead Rising Cletus Samson, Floyd Sanders, Jeff Meyers, Ryan LaRosa  
Kingdom Hearts II Goofy, Pluto  
Scooby-Doo! Who's Watching Who? Ghost of Elias Kingston, Sylvester Sweetsugar, Farmer Burt Harrison, Captain Quint  
Yakuza Makoto Date English dub
Flushed Away Spike  
Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island Old Hermit Crab, Plant King, Crab Refugee #4, Plant Guard  
2007 Meet the Robinsons Ice Cream Vendor  
2008 Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Secret Squirrel, Cameraman, Prison Guard #2  
Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed Colonel Kluckin  
Kung Fu Panda Blackhoof Boar Clan Leader  
Disney Think Fast Goofy, Horace Horsecollar  
Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon Legg Tallman, Deep Navel  
Looney Tunes: Cartoon Conductor Foghorn Leghorn, Mouse [16]
Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories Goofy  
2009 Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days  
2010 Epic Mickey Goofy, Horace Horsecollar  
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Sleepy  
2011 Kinect Disneyland Adventures Goofy, Pluto  
2012 Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Practical Pig  
Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion Goofy  
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance  
2013 Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix Goofy, Pluto Archive audio
2014 Disney Magical World Goofy, Pluto, Sleepy  
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Sleepy Archive audio
2017 Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Goofy
2019 Kingdom Hearts III  
2020 Yakuza: Like a Dragon Makoto Date English dub[17]
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory Goofy  
2022 Disney Dreamlight Valley  
2023 Disney Illusion Island  
Disney Speedstorm  
2024 Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Makoto Date English dub[15]
Epic Mickey: Rebrushed Goofy, Horace Horsecollar Archive audio

Theme park attractions[edit]

Year Title Role
1989 The Great Movie Ride Cowardly Lion
2003 Mickey's PhilharMagic Goofy
2020 Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway Goofy, Pluto

Live-action[edit]

List of acting performances in feature films, short films and television shows
Year Title Role Notes Source
1987 RoboCop Justin Ballard-Watkins   [6][18]
1991 Murphy Brown George H. W. Bush (voice) Episode: "Hoarse Play"  
1992 Death Becomes Her — ADR loop group  
1997 Troops Announcer (voice) Short Film  
1998 Pumpkin Man Father Goblin / Billy Bob Sr.   [19]
1999 Men in Scoring Position Smiling Jack  
2000 Bob's Video Sheriff Harmon  
2004 Boomerang — Editor  
2010 I Want Your Money George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush (voices)  
'Til Death George W. Bush, Minister (voices) Episode: "The Wedding"  
2013 I Know That Voice Himself Documentary  
2015 With Lee in Virginia — Cinematographer  
2017 Generational Sins Sheriff Randall  
2020 It's a Dog's Life with Bill Farmer Himself (host) 9 episodes [8]

Web[edit]

List of acting performances in web shows
Year Title Role Notes
2017 The UnPop Podshow Phil Gardender Episode: "Podfellas"
2021 A Goofy Movie but it's the REAL voice actors - Lester's Possum Park Goofy  

Awards and nominations[edit]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result
2000 Annie Awards Outstanding Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production An Extremely Goofy Movie Nominated
2009 Disney Legend Award Animation - Voice Won
2011 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Nominated
2012 Behind the Voice Actors Video Game Voice Acting Award Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two Nominated
2014 Annie Awards Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance Mickey Mouse Nominated
2015 Behind the Voice Actors Television Voice Acting Award Best Vocal Ensemble in a New Television Series The 7D Won
Best Male Vocal Performance in a Television Series - Children's/Educational Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Nominated
Annie Awards Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production Mickey Mouse Won
2016 Behind the Voice Actors Television Voice Acting Award Best Vocal Ensemble in a New Television Series The 7D Won

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Stahl, Scarlett (February 24, 2012). "A Visit with a Goofy Guy Named Bill Farmer". LaughingPlace.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "About Toonhouse". Toonhouse Inc. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Disney Legends - Bill Farmer". D23. Archived from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  4. ^ a b McTavish, Brian (May 4, 1995). "Bill Farmer is 'Goofy' for fun and profit". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  5. ^ Armstrong, John (September 7, 1995). "It's Goofy, but it's a job". Vancouver Sun. p. C3. Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  6. ^ a b c d "042 – Bill Farmer on Talkin Toons with Rob Paulsen – Weekly Voice Acting and Voice Over Tips - Tech Jives Network". Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Disney Legend, Bill Farmer talks about voicing Goofy and new Disney Junior series "The 7D"". mediamikes.com. February 9, 2014. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c "The longtime voice of Goofy on yuks, gawrshes, and A Goofy Movie". TV Club. May 15, 2020. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  9. ^ "Bill Farmer". Voice Chasers. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  10. ^ It's A Dog's Life With Bill Farmer, archived from the original on June 2, 2020, retrieved June 1, 2020
  11. ^ Erik Pedersen (February 2015). "Annie Award Winners 2015: Full List Of Animation Award Winners - Deadline". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  12. ^ "Four Souls of Coyote". Four Souls of Coyote. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  13. ^ "The Voices of Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald (1998, Live-Action/Animated Series (Direct-to-Video)) - Voice Cast Listing at Voice Chasers". Voice Chasers. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  14. ^ "Bring Home this Fast Paced Fun of Mickey and the Roadster Racers on Disney DVD". Chip and Co. December 17, 2016. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Bill Farmer (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  16. ^ "Looney Tunes: Cartoon Conductor (2008) Nintendo DS credits". MobyGames. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  17. ^ Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Sega. Scene: Ending credits, 0:33.
  18. ^ "RoboCop (1987) - Paul Verhoeven - Cast and Crew". AllMovie. All Media Guide. Archived from the original on March 11, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  19. ^ "Pumpkin Man Cast". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2015.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bill Farmer.
Preceded by Voice of Goofy
1987–present 		Succeeded by
current voice
Preceded by Voice of Pluto
1990–present 		Succeeded by
current voice
Preceded by Voice of Horace Horsecollar
1990–present 		Succeeded by
current voice
Preceded by Voice of Yosemite Sam
1996 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Farmer&oldid=1219241296"