FRANK WELKER
(March 12, 1946- )
Notable Roles: Fred Jones, Scooby-Doo, Pudge, Wheelie, Chopper,
Jabberjaw, Wonderbug, Dynomutt, Buford, Nugget Nose, H.E.R.B.I.E., Impossible
Man, Crazy Legs Crane Jr., Dragonfly, Toyman, Dinky Dog, Shmooo, Mr. Mxyzptlk,
Droopy Dog, Dingbat, Rockjaw, Dollar, Cosmo, Blip, Mr. Cool, Dirty Dawg, Hefty
Smurf, Poet Smurf, Smurfberry Bird, Timber, Wild Bill, Rock ‘n Roll, Marvin,
Wonder Dog, Fangface, Donkey Kong Jr., Flash the dog, the General Lee, Smokey,
Iceman/Bobby Drake, Flash Thompson, Darkseid, Kalibak, The Joker, Dr. Claw,
Brain, Uni, Scoooter, Blaster, Rest-Q, Cap’n O.G. Readmore, Megatron,
Soundwave, Skywarp, Dr. Ray Stantz, Slimer, Foofur, Catgut, Tooter Shelby,
Occy, Bigtime Beagle, Baggy Beagle, Bubba the Caveduck, Toto, Kermit the Frog,
Skeeter, Beaker, Abu, Gogo Dodo, Furball, Barney Rubble, Fall-Apart Rabbit, Dr.
Viper, Bo, Booker, Sheldon, Bronx, Ralph the Security Guard, Krypto the
Superdog, Father Time
When Welker moved to California, he attended Santa Monica College where he
majored in theatrical arts. He received honors for his performance as the
Cowardly Lion in the school’s 1966 production of The Wizard of Oz. His
career officially started on stage as a stand-up comedian and impressionist,
landing his first voice-over role in a Friskies
commercial. The producer’s girlfriend encouraged him to audition for Hanna-Barbera while they
were casting for Scooby-Doo,
Where Are You! He auditioned for Scooby-Doo and Shaggy but ended up
with the role of Fred Jones, which he has played in almost every incarnation of
the franchise since (he did eventually get the role of Scooby after original
actor Don Messick retired).
Welker has since led a prolific voice acting career, spanning television shows
and films. Along with Scooby, he’s most associated with the Transformers franchise;
voicing several characters including primary antagonist, Megatron. Notable for his
creature and animal sound effects, Welker is often cast as monsters, ghosts,
animals or other inhuman characters. A good range of his vocal effects can be
heard with the character Tooter from Snorks, who only communicated via
sounds. He has done work for all the major animation studios, including
Hanna-Barbera, Filmation,
Ruby-Spears, Marvel Productions,
DiC Entertainment,
Warner Bros., Disney and others. Though rare, Welker has
made on-camera appearances in films and television shows. His first on-screen
role was as a kid who befriended Elvis
Presley in 1969’s The
Trouble with Girls. He also appeared in The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
and its sequel, How
to Frame a Figg and Dirty Little Billy. On
television, he’s appeared on Laugh-In, Love, American
Style, The Patridge
Family, Catch-22 and
others. Welker made an on-camera appearance in CBS’
1984 Saturday morning preview
special, which showcased his recording an episode of Muppet
Babies. In 2016, he was honored with a lifetime
achievement Emmy Award.
Saturday Credits:
Scooby-Doo, Where Are
You!
The Barkleys
The ABC Saturday
Superstar Movie
The New Scooby-Doo Movies
Super Friends (1973)
Bailey’s Comets
Valley of the Dinosaurs
Hong Kong Phooey
Wheelie and the Chopper
Bunch
The New Tom & Jerry
Show
The Oddball Couple
Jabberjaw
Wonderbug
The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt
Hour
Dynomutt, Dog Wonder
What’s New, Mr. Magoo?
The Skatebirds
Scooby’s Laff-A-Lympics
Captain Caveman and the
Teen Angels
Fred Flintstone and
Friends
The Robonic Stooges
The All-New Popeye Hour
Fangface
Yogi’s Space Race
The Fantastic Four (1978)
The All-New Pink Panther
Show
Challenge of the
Superfriends
Dinky Dog
The New Adventures of
Mighty Mouse and Heckle and Jeckle
Fred and Barney Meet the
Shmoo
The New Shmoo
Casper and the Angels
The World’s Greatest
Superfriends
The Super Globetrotters
The Plastic Man
Comedy/Adventure Show
The Tom and Jerry Comedy
Show
The Tarzan/Lone
Ranger/Zorro Adventure Hour
Scooby-Doo and
Scrappy-Doo (1979)
Heathcliff (1980)
Super Friends (1980)
The Flintstone Comedy
Show
The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo
Show
Richie Rich
Space Stars
The Fonz and the Happy
Days Gang
Trollkins
Blackstar
The Kwicky Koala Show
The Smurfs
Spider-Man and His
Amazing Friends
Shirt Tales
The Scooby and
Scrappy-Doo Puppy Hour
The Puppy’s Further
Adventures
Mork & Mindy/Laverne
& Shirley/Fonz Hour
Pac Preview Party
Pac-Man
Inspector Gadget
Dungeons & Dragons
Monchichis
Saturday Supercade
The New Scooby and
Scrappy-Doo Show
The New Scooby-Doo
Mysteries
ABC Weekend Specials (episodes)
The Dukes
Alvin & The Chipmunks
(1983)
The Littles
SuperFriends: The
Legendary Super Powers Show
Snorks
The Get Along Gang
Turbo Teen
Jim Henson’s Muppet
Babies
Pink Panther and Sons
Back to Next Saturday
Jim Henson’s Little
Muppet Monsters
Punky Brewster
Robotix
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo
The Super Powers Team:
Galactic Guardians
The Wuzzles
Challenge of the GoBots
There Berenstain Bears
Galtar and the Golden
Lance
Pound Puppies (1986)
The Real Ghostbusters
Scooby’s Mystery Funhouse
Kissyfur
Teen Wolf
CBS Storybreak
Wildfire
Foofur
Lazer Tag and Academy
DuckTales (1987)
Disney’s Adventures of
the Gummi Bears
The Flintstone Kids
Popeye and Son
Yogi’s Treasure Hunt
The Completely Mental
Misadventures of Ed Grimley
Superman (1988)
Garfield and Friends
The New Yogi Bear Show
Dino-Riders
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo
Dink, the Little Dinosaur
Pryde of the X-Men
Cartoon All-Stars to the
Rescue
The Funtastic World of
Hanna-Barbera
The Wizard of Oz
Rick Moranis in Gravedale
High
Captain N: The Game
Master
Where’s Waldo? (1991)
Yo Yogi!
Tom & Jerry Kids Show
Tiny Toon Adventures
Bobby’s World
The Plucky Duck Show
Darkwing Duck
The Pirates of Dark Water
Goof Troop
The Addams Family (1992)
Batman: The Animated
Series
The Little Mermaid: The
Animated Series
Marsupilami
Sonic the Hedgehog (1993)
Cro
Animaniacs
Droopy: Master Detective
Gargoyles
Freakazoid!
The Savage Dragon
The Mask: The Animated
Series
Pinky and the Brain
Timon & Pumbaa
The Sylvester &
Tweety Mysteries
Mighty Ducks
Casper
101 Dalmatians: The
Series
Mortal Kombat: Defenders
of the Realm
Road Rovers
Jungle Cubs
The Legend of Calamity
Jane
Waynehead
Superman: The Animated
Series
Cave Kids
The Secret Files of the
SpyDogs
Hercules: The Animated
Series
Histeria!
Pinky, Elmyra & the
Brain
Xyber9: New Dawn
Mickey Mouse Works
