The voice behind 100s of classic cartoon characters explains his process

Though getting to know the voice behind iconic cartoon characters can be somewhat distracting, it can also reveal some hilarious truths. Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob Squarepants, played both a satanist preacher and an acid-tripping monster during his stint on Mr. Show, for example. And Phil LaMarr, whose head we saw get blown to pulpy, bone-flecked smithereens in one of Pulp Fiction’s most memorable scenes, has lent his elastic voice to more than 250 cartoon characters in his day. Among these are Futurama’s Hermes Conrad, Family Guy’s bellowing Ollie Williams, and Samurai Jack himself.

In a new profile from Great Big Story, Lamarr discusses what distinguishes voice acting from work onstage and in film, while also breaking down his process when it comes to his most famous characters. For Samurai Jack, for example, he aimed for a “young Asian Clint Eastwood.” His work on the WB animated series Static Shock, on the other hand, found him channeling his 14-year old self. He also breaks down just why Hermes’ Jamaican patois was so significantly reigned in as Futurama evolved.

Watch the full video above and, if you’ve got the stomach, revisit poor Marvin’s fate in Pulp Fiction below.