"I had to be on the set for 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' because my character was interacting with Bob Hoskins. It's a lot of 'hurry up and wait.' So there I was, at 2 a.m., sitting in a trailer at Griffith Park trying to stay awake. And I said to myself, 'This stinks.' The way I do it is better. I go into the studio about 10 a.m. There's no makeup to worry about. I can wear whatever I want. As soon I get there, I'm good to go. I record my stuff and go home."
About Jim Cummings
Jim Cummings — Life and Legacy
Jim Cummings is a prominent voice actor celebrated for his work in animation, particularly for iconic characters like Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. His ability to infuse personality and depth into his roles has made him a beloved figure in the industry. Cummings often reflects on the importance of character voices, stating that they are essential for bringing animated characters to life. This perspective reveals his understanding that voice acting is not just about sound but about embodying the essence of a character. His quote, 'Every character has a story,' underscores his belief that a well-rounded performance requires a deep connection to the character's background and motivations. Cummings challenges the notion that voice acting is a simple task; instead, he highlights the creativity and versatility required to adapt to various roles. His insights into the humor in animation show how he believes laughter can forge a strong bond with audiences, enhancing their overall experience. Today, Cummings' quotes and ideas continue to resonate, inspiring both aspiring voice actors and fans of animation alike.
Quote collection
Jim Cummings quotes (page 1 of 2)
28 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"I really have been blessed and fortunate to have accomplished what I have. I hope to do this for a long time. It's such an enjoyable job. I love to do it."
"I was at a restaurant and I heard this little voice at a nearby table pipe up and say, 'I believe I will have the chowder.' I got up and walked out into the middle of the restaurant. There was Sterling Holloway just sitting there being Sterling Holloway. Never in a million years would I have imagined that I'd have the honor of filling his shoes. I just regret not going up to him and saying hello."
"Bonkers doesn't go by the book-he doesn't even know there is a book."
"I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get out of here! Any minute the building will explode!' And then the reader says: "Yes...we have to get... out of here." So it's not easy to be in the moment in that kind of situation. Reading with the entire cast in the room for The Clone Wars makes the experience much more organic and I love that."
"My agency tells me I am rare because I sing, do movie trailers, and do cartoons too. I like that because it gives me variety in jobs. I don't just sit and do movie trailers, and I don't just do cartoons either. I can do both, and I feel very fortunate for that."
"Mr. Bumpy from Bump in the Night was this funky little guy who lived under the bed and thought eating dust bunnies was a delicacy. He was as cool as he could be, and ate dirty socks."
"I argue with myself, get mad at myself, throw myself around the room and then apologize to myself."
"Sometimes at drive-thrus I go into Winnie the Pooh and ask for a jar of honey."
"Darkwing Duck and Don Karnage are the most fun to do, because they're both probably the closest to me - I kinda improvise a lot of them, kinda ad lib."
"Don Karnage-he's one of my all-time favorites. He's so brash and so bold and so arrogant-and he just doesn't know what he's doing."
"I remember as a kid watching TV and seeing Mel Blanc doing his voices and Paul Winchell doing his ventriloquism and thinking, 'Those guys are having a good time. I want to do that.'"
"I have four daughters, with the two youngest being four years old and a year and a half. When one of my older daughters was in sixth grade, a classmate brought in their talking Winnie the Pooh doll for show and tell, so the next week my daughter one upped her classmates and brought me to school in for show and tell."
"I get to be one of the torch-bearers for a new generation."
"I do all the better bears."
"It was cool to have Mark [Hamill] ask me to do all these voices for him like he was a fan. I was like, "You're not meeting me, I'm meeting you.""
"Everybody can identify with somebody in the Hundred Acre Wood."
"I grew up watching all the great Disney animated films and to be able to carry that torch and know that I'm contributing to the same magic and wonder for a whole new generation is a great thing."
"I'm usually the guy who says, 'Bruce Willis and Denzel Washington in the Siege'!"
"A lot of times people will say, 'Well, gosh, you're really good; you should try acting!' And I say, 'Come on! I'm thesping my little guts out over here.'"