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LOS ANGELES - His name is not well-known to most audiences, but the characters he helps bring to life are internationally renowned. Rob Paulsen, the Emmy and Annie award-winning voice actor, has been entertaining audiences for more than 25 years. He is a firm believer in repaying all of his success and contributing to wounded service members and others less fortunate.
Paulsen is best known as the man behind the voice of such beloved characters as Yakko and Pinky in "Animaniacs," Carl Wheezer from "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" and Raphael in the classic "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" animated series. He also voices Donatello in the forthcoming Nickelodeon iteration of the turtle characters and literally hundreds of other characters in some of the most popular animated series over the last three decades.
Although he was never in the military himself, Paulsen has some military background. His father was an officer in the Michigan National Guard. Paulsen has tremendous respect and appreciation for the military and those that serve. Throughout his career he has had many opportunities to contribute to many charitable organizations and at the moment divides his attention between Operation Smile and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Since 1982, Operation Smile – through the help of dedicated medical volunteers – has provided more than two million patient evaluations and more than 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.
“[Operation Smile is] near and dear to my heart,” said Paulsen, “because I’ve spent 25 or 30 years hopefully making kids of all ages smile.”
Paulsen also contributes heavily to the Wounded Warrior Project, which raises awareness and enlists the public’s aid for needs of injured service members.
The majority of contributions are generated by Paulsen’s online autograph program, by which fans send in $20 for an autographed picture of the actor. One hundred percent of the proceeds are then donated to the two charities.
“I thought if I’m going to charge, I would like to give the money away, and people have been very generous,” said Paulsen.
Paulsen’s podcast “Talkin’ Toons” has become a huge success, rocketing to the top of the iTunes TV and Film chart. This has only gone to increase the demand for Rob’s autograph, thus aiding his ability to make larger donations to the programs he feels so strongly about.
“It’s my great pleasure to sign [the autographs]; I think the problem is when people stop asking.” Paulsen laughs.
Paulsen is extremely adamant in his humble appreciation for those in uniform.
“I’m just glad that the Wounded Warrior Project is there,” says Paulsen. “It gives me someplace tangible to send money to do something that makes me feel like I can show these people how grateful I am.
“These guys and gals I don’t think they deserve charity,” said Paulsen of the service members who have been injured during deployments. “They deserve our respect and our admiration and whatever it takes to get them feeling better. It’s not charity; we owe them. Charity is something we start doing out of the goodness of our hearts because folks are less fortunate. But these folks aren’t less fortunate. These folks went and they put themselves in harm’s way to keep us from being less fortunate. I can’t buy them a new leg, but I can make them laugh and often that can be just as important.
“All you guys chose to do this. That’s pretty gutsy,” continued Paulsen, reflecting on the commitment of service members. “It’s beyond gutsy. It’s patriotic, it’s selfless, it’s really impressive and you are the best of us.”
As part of his endearing generosity and goodwill, Paulsen seeks to help whomever he can, be it voice-over and acting classes or simply sending messages as one of his characters to ill children. Rob feels the most honored when an individual or service member thanks him and his characters for helping them get through sometimes difficult and traumatic times in their lives. The connection people can have over something as simple as a cartoon with a relative or a friend that they may have lost can be very important, and oftentimes those individuals will continue to watch the shows to remember them.
When asked if he has ever been contacted by the USO to visit military hospital or installations, he says that this has not been the case. Paulsen thinks that it’s not that the USO wouldn’t want him to go but believes that he is not as well known as other celebrities.
“The characters become famous,” said Paulsen, “but I have to tell you. Once people find out who I am and what I do they freak in the coolest way.”
In his deep gratitude and respect for the military, Paulsen feels as if he couldn’t do enough.
“It would be absolutely an honor to go spend time with real heroes. I’ve been playing them on TV for a while, so it’d be really cool to go see what a real one has to say.”
If given the chance, Paulsen would jump at the opportunity to do a voice actor tour and entertain the troops worldwide with some of his other talented friends. Paulsen even brought up the possibility of joining his friend Maurice LaMarche for a Pinky and The Brain military tour.
“When it comes to doing stuff for the military, I’m happy to; if I could get a plane ticket and some MREs I’m ready to go.”
Those wishing to purchase one of Rob’s autographs and help contribute to Operation Smile and the Wounded Warrior Project may do so by visiting to Paulsen’s website at www.robpaulsenlive.com.
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2012 18:33 |
| Story ID: | 89693 |
| Location: | LOS ANGELES, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Millions of voices, one big heart, by SGT Benjamin Kullman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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