DVDizzy Forum

David Odgen Stiers has voiced many memorable Disney characters:
narrator ("Beauty and the Beast")
Cogsworth ("Beauty and the Beast")
Governor Ratcliffe ("Pocahontas")
Wiggins ("Pocahontas")
The Archdeacon ("The Hunchback of Notre Dame")
Mr. Jolly ("Teacher's Pet")
Fenton Harcourt ("Atlantis: The Lost Empire")
Dr. Jumba Jookiba ("Lilo & Stitch")

He's also been in some Disney live action films:
J.W. Harper ("Iron Will")
Alexei Jovanovic ("Jungle 2 Jungle")

The thought of this thread came to me when I was thinking how, in another thread, some people didn't know that Mr. Stiers had voiced these numerous characters.

When I was little, my parents taped a couple "The Making of 'Beauty and the Beast'" shows, and I would watch them over and over...even at a young age, I've liked Mr. Stiers' voice- it's soothing. He's immensely talented, which is especially true in his roles of both Governer Ratcliffe and Wiggins in the movie "Pocahontas"- if one didn't know who voiced the characters, it'd be hard to guess that Mr. Stiers voiced them both.

I've only ever seen his animated voice work, but, from that, I can tell that he's an amazing actor. I've always loved the character of Cogsworth...and I've always liked Wiggins a lot; they both are such different characters- he is great at becoming a character and making the character believable.

What are your thoughts on this talented actor?

Thanks for bringing some attention to a Disney legend who doesn't get talked about as much, Amy. Looking over this list, it's certainly quite impressive. I knew he voiced Ratcliffe and Cogsworth, but had never really thought about the two together until now -- really amazing how different he made them. There's a thread around here somewhere about actors who have voiced multiple Disney characters. If Stiers isn't listed there yet, he should be. Because of this thread, I went and looked at his IMDb profile and realize that he's appeared in many of my favorite TV series as well -- more than I realized and often in recurring roles!

-Aaron

I've been a fan of his for a long time, dating from his days on M*A*S*H. He was great on that show and has been a wonderful voice actor for Disney. As much as I loved his work work in Beauty and the Beast, though, I'd have to say I was most impressed with his voice work in Pocahontas, doing two very different-sounding characters who were often on the screen at the same time.

I've long thought David Ogden Stiers, or DOS as I like to call him, to be like the Sterling Holloway of the present-day. In other words, Disney's go-to voice guy. He has remarkable vocal range, from gently narrating Pooh movies to embodying imposing villains. I love his turn in <i>Jungle 2 Jungle</i>. So much fun and to me, it'd be completely understandable for someone to mistake him for a real Russian. (Russian people, especially those in the Russian mafia, feel free to step in and correct me here.)

Ah, excellent thread. He and Tony Jay are easily my two favorite voice talents Disney used in the 90's (and into the present day, for that matter).

You forgot to mention that he's also been in the Disney dubs of the Studio Ghibli films:

Porco Rosso: Mr. Piccolo
Spirited Away: Kamaji

He was also the detective frog in "Hoodwinked".

pap64 wrote:You forgot to mention that he's also been in the Disney dubs of the Studio Ghibli films:

Porco Rosso: Mr. Piccolo
Spirited Away: Kamaji

I didn't forget, because I didn't know! Thanks for adding those, pap64!

pap64 wrote: He was also the detective frog in "Hoodwinked".

"Hoodwinked" isn't Disney! *gasp*
[Don't be offended- I say that line to everyone when they mention a non-Disney movie!]

I hereby appreciate!

His name first of all makes me think of M*A*S*H.

I always liked him in MASH, but now also for his wonderful voice work not only on Disney films but also on some of the Miyazaki films.

David also did a great job narrating the excellent Ric Burns PBS documentary "New York."

Yeah, I agree with you. David Odgen Stiers is a good voice actor, and he's really brought many great characters to life. He's up there among the best voice actors with the likes of Tony Jay and Jim Cummings, to give some examples.