Poll: Who do you respect most as a voice actor?

[The Funslinger]

Voice acting can require massive levels of talent. Especially when it comes to going outside of your natural voice to create iconic characters.

For me, it's close between Billy West and John DiMaggio. I've enjoyed a lot of their work over the years. I have to lean slightly towards Billy West, though, because the vocal manipulation that man is capable of is incredible. Futurama's Fry being fairly close to his standard voice, it was a huge shock when I found out he voiced Zoidberg and the Professor, too.

My one qualm with John is that even when he changes his voice, entertaining as he is, you can usually hear that it's John underneath. He is, however, a gifted impersonator. As an impersonator myself, I envy his Barry White:

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Steve Blum and Jennifer Hale come to mind, as well as Mark Hamill, Laura Bailey and John DiMaggio.

Steve Blum's voice is like cigarette smoke dancing tentatively across a silken scarf

 

[Andy Shandy]

If we're talking about being able to do different voices then someone like Jon St. John takes the cake. Would you believe the same man that voiced the iconic Duke Nukem was also the voice of Big The Cat from Sonic Adventure?

But honestly, I can't say that I respect one voice actor over the rest, because so many them are very talented.

Cop out answer I know, but still.

 

[R4ptur3]

I don't know whether respect is the right word, but I do quite admire Logan Cunningham's voice (aka the narrator of bastion). Honestly, if I could have sex with a voice, it would be his.

Also Seth MacFarlane. Think of him what you will, but I believe he is a good voice actor.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Mel Blanc

Freaking vocal wizard that guy was. He was the Looney Tunes.

I also always kinda liked Christine Cavanaugh.

 

[TehCookie]

I respect Duke Nukem the most because I met him at cons and he is just an awesome and funny guy.

If we're talking about being able to do different voices then someone like Jon St. John takes the cake. Would you believe the same man that voiced the iconic Duke Nukem was also the voice of Big The Cat from Sonic Adventure?

Don't say that to him, he hated doing Big the Cat.

Though I'm going to also cop out right now where he's my most respected voice actor, I wouldn't say he's the best because I can't pick one VA to be called the best. There are tons of great ones.

 

[Xarathox]

David Hayter simply because I can't imagine anyone else voicing Solid Snake. Steve Blum, for obvious reasons. Mark Hamil, again for obvious reasons. And I've got to give props to Camilla Luddington for her work as the new Lara Croft. She brings a lot of emotion in her performance.

 

[EeveeElectro]

Tara Strong for all the kind things she does out of work. She's always raising for charity and visiting/speaking to her fans.
Awesome voice actor too!
I like all the others listed a lot too.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Mel Blanc

Freaking vocal wizard that guy was. He was the Looney Tunes.

This... always this... and only this!

Any other answer is decidedly wrong, completely wrong and will always be wrong!

Once he took on the role of Elmer Fudd (from the original guy) it just sealed it. This, folks, is the guy who brought life to the wisecracking rabbit while being allergic to carrots... -_-

 

[ohnoitsabear]

Mel Blanc

Freaking vocal wizard that guy was. He was the Looney Tunes.

This. None of the voice actors in the poll can hold a candle to the sheer vocal talent of Mel Blanc. He simply is the greatest voice actor that ever lived, period.

 

[Scarim Coral]

While I do respect the above voice actors (well more toward Tara Strong) but Kevin Conroy and Peter Cullun have to be given some credit too!
Sure those two have fewer range compared to the above VA's but they had made Batman and Optimus Prime voices very iconic (the whole Bruce lighter voice and Batman darker voice was all thanks to Kevin).

 

[Terminate421]

I love John Dimaggio and Mark Hammill but they don't have much of a 'signature' other than John's gritty voice.

Dan Green may have only done anime but I love how much of a "clear" tone it has regardless of it's pitch:

Also Liam Neeson is a fucking awesome voice actor. He seriously should do more work like that:

 

[Accel]

Mel Blanc

Freaking vocal wizard that guy was. He was the Looney Tunes.

Pretty much this. The guy was goddamn redonkulous.


Other personal faves include:

Scott McNeil- guy does a good growley tough-guy voice (like Piccolo and Wolverine) but he also has a surprising amount of range (see: Beast Wars)

Christine Cavanaugh- played a lot of different popular characters back in the day and always seemed to do something different with each of them. Shame she's not active in the industry anymore.

Tress MacNeille- great at voices in both kids' and adults' cartoons. Love her roles in Futurama and Simpsons

 

[GundamSentinel]

Brian Drummond because IT'S OVER 9000! (really, he was a great Vegeta)

In all seriousness, I'd say David Hayter, because he is Snake .There are many great voice actors around, but some of them don't have much range or are used so often that I just can't see them as the character they're supposed to portray anymore. People like Nolan North or Jennifer Hale would fit that bill for me. David Hayter is Snake, not the other way around, that's the difference I feel there.

 

[Ilikemilkshake]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Andy Serkis, I'd give it to Him or Mark Hammill.

 

[AsurasEyes]

Johnny Young Bosch and Ron FUCKMOTHERING Perlman.
Lelouche vi Britannia and Vash the Stampede vs Slade and Hellboy. I can't decide.

 

[an annoyed writer]

Surprised at the lack of mentions of Fred Tatasciore, who did quite a few things, from Damon Baird in Gears of War to Kevin Flynn and Clu in Tron: Uprising and Evolution. Seriously, look at this guy's filmography. He's been in just about everything.

 

[Dead Seerius]

Nolan North!

Well, I do love Hamill's voice work. The sad thing is every time I hear his voice in a game/movie I immediately think of the Joker. Eh, I suppose that's just a testament to his talent in that role. Too bad it won't be filled by him again.

Oh the sorrow!

 

[unindexedsearchengine]

Adrian Hough, the glorious voice of Haytham Kenway. That voice just really stands out.