Bill Farmer (born November 14, 1952) is an American voice actor, comedian and impressionist. He has performed the voice of the Disney character Goofy since 1987 and is also the voice of Pluto and Horace Horsecollar.
Early life
Farmer was born on November 14, 1952, in Pratt, Kansas, the second child in his family. His parents were of English and Welsh descent.
Farmer’s first job, at the age of 15, involved doing voices, especially those of Western stars like John Wayne or Walter Brennan. He and his friends would sometimes go through fast food drive-thrus and order foods in his character voices. Bill graduated from the University of Kansas in 1975 and is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. In college, he found work in radio and TV and then moved on to stand-up comedy as an impressionist until he moved out to Hollywood, where he began voicing Goofy in January 1987. In 1982, while he was still doing stand-up comedy, Farmer worked at a comedy club called the Comedy Corner in Dallas, Texas. He continued to work there until his move to Hollywood in 1986.
His decision to move to California came from a Dallas commercial agent who suggested that, given his talent for voices, he should try his luck in California. He was recently married, but he and his wife talked it over and came to an arrangement. She stayed back in Dallas while he commuted for a year after he got an apartment. Then four months after his moving out to Hollywood, his agent asked him if he could do any Disney characters.
He asserts that voice acting is not about funny voices, but about acting. His mentor was the versatile voice actor Daws Butler, the man behind many of Hanna-Barbera’s characters. He taught Farmer that when doing cartoon voices, you’re not merely doing a funny voice, you’re an actor and the acting is premier and you have to think like the character you’re doing.
Career
In 1987, Farmer had a small part as reporter Justin Ballard-Watkins in the film RoboCop.
His very first voice over audition was for Goofy. When he auditioned for the voice, he studied the way the original actor Pinto Colvig performed as Goofy in the classic cartoons. He studied the hilarious laugh and the distinctive “gawrsh”. He inherited the voice of Goofy (and also Pluto) around the same time Tony Anselmo inherited Donald Duck and Russi Taylor inherited Minnie Mouse.
He originated the voice of Horace Horsecollar in Disney’s version of The Prince and the Pauper and has played him ever since as well. Farmer also performed additional voices on The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse (1987) and Astro Boy (2004).
Other significant characters he has played include Yosemite Sam, Sylvester and Foghorn Leghorn in the film Space Jam (1996). He has also done several guest voices, both on TV, including The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and in video games, including the Destroy All Humans! series, Namco’s Tales of Symphonia, where he voiced Governor-General Dorr, in Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts series reprising the role of Goofy, Detective Date in the SEGA game Yakuza, Captain Wedgewood and Frill Lizard in Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, many voices on EverQuest II, Cletus Samson, Floyd Sanders, Jeff Meyers and Ryan LaRosa in the video game Dead Rising and Sam and others in the cult classic adventure game Sam & Max Hit the Road.
Farmer has also played Secret Squirrel on Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law in both the animated series and its spin-off video game, Stinkie in Casper: A Spirited Beginning and Casper Meets Wendy, Oliver Sansweet’s lawyer in The Incredibles, Willie Bear in Horton Hears a Who!, and Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck in Robot Chicken.
From 2014 to 2016, he played Doc, the leader of the title characters in Disney’s animated television series The 7D. He also voiced Blackhoof Boar Clan Leader in the 2008 video game Kung Fu Panda.
Farmer still regularly performs comedy routines at the Laugh Factory. He has been voicing the character “Hop-Pop” on Disney’s Amphibia.
In 2020, Farmer began hosting the live action television show It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer on Disney+.
Recognition
In September 2009, Farmer was named a Disney Legend. In 2011, the International Family Film Festival awarded Bill Farmer the ‘Friz Award’ for Animation.
He won the Annie Award for Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production for his work as Goofy and Grandma Goofy in Mickey Mouse.
Personal life
Farmer has been married to his wife Jennifer Farmer since 1985, about a year or two before his career began; together they have a son, Austin.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Who Framed Roger Rabbit | Goofy (some scenes) | |
| 1991 | Rover Dangerfield | Farm voices | |
| Beauty and the Beast | Stanley | ||
| 1995 | Theodore Rex | Additional voices | |
| A Goofy Movie | Goofy | Nominated – Annie Award for Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production | |
| Runaway Brain | Pluto | Short film | |
| Toy Story | Monotone Announcer | ||
| 1996 | Space Jam | Foghorn Leghorn, Sylvester, Yosemite Sam | Role of Foghorn shared with Greg Burson |
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Frollo’s Soldiers | ||
| 1997 | Cats Don’t Dance | Reporter | |
| Hercules | Builder #1 | ||
| 1998 | A Bug’s Life | Scared Ant #2 | |
| 1999 | The Iron Giant | Maine Man #2 | |
| Toy Story 2 | Man #1 | ||
| 2001 | Monsters, Inc. | CDA, Photographer | |
| 2003 | Brother Bear | Edgar | |
| 2004 | Home on the Range | Donkey, Morse | |
| 2005 | Son of the Mask | Masked Otis | Role shared with Richard Horvitz |
| 2006 | Ice Age: The Meltdown | Male Elk | |
| Cars | Winford Bradford Rutherford, Lee Revkins, Ruby Easy Oaks | ||
| 2007 | Happily N’Ever After | Additional voices | |
| Surf’s Up | Additional voices | ||
| 2008 | Horton Hears a Who | Willie the Bear | |
| 2010 | I Want Your Money | George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush | |
| 2012 | The Lorax | Thneedville Man #3 | |
| 2013 | Monsters University | Jason Chiang | |
| 2015 | Minions | Additional voices | |
| 2016 | The Secret Life of Pets | Additional voices | |
| Sing | Bob | ||
| 2017 | Despicable Me 3 | Additional voices | |
| 2018 | The Grinch | Sam the Bus Driver | |
| 2020 | Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe | Hermellivue |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Prince and the Pauper | Goofy, Pluto, Horace Horsecollar, Weasels #1 | |
| Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Disneyland Fun | Goofy, Pluto | ||
| 1993 | Disney Sing-Along-Songs: The Twelve Days of Christmas | Goofy | |
| 1994–95 | Mickey’s Fun Songs series | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 1997 | Casper: A Spirited Beginning | Stinkie | |
| 1998 | Casper Meets Wendy | Stinkie | |
| The Spirit of Mickey | Goofy | ||
| 1999 | Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2000 | An Extremely Goofy Movie | Goofy | Nominated – Outstanding Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production |
| 2001 | Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse | Goofy, Pluto, Practical Pig | |
| The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald | Knight #2, Mob Leader | Episode 5 | |
| 2002 | Cinderella II: Dreams Come True | Citizens, Additional voices | |
| Mickey’s House of Villains | Goofy, Pluto | ||
| 2004 | The Lion King 1½ | Goofy, Sleepy | |
| Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers | Goofy, Pluto | ||
| Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas | Goofy, Pluto | ||
| 2007 | Mickey’s Great Clubhouse Hunt | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2009 | Mickey’s Adventures in Wonderland | Goofy, Pluto | |
| Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Choo-Choo Express | Goofy, Pluto | ||
| 2010 | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Road Rally | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2011 | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure | Goofy, Pluto |
Animation
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | D-TV Doggone Valantine | Goofy | Television film |
| 1987 | D-TV Monster Hits | Goofy | Television film |
| 1988 | Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures | Additional voices | 6 episodes |
| 1989 | Goofy About Health | Goofy | |
| 1989 | Betty Boop’s Hollywood Mystery | Fergie Furbelow | |
| 1989 | Goody Field Trips | Goofy | Episode: “Planes” |
| 1990 | Goofy’s Guide to Success | Goofy | Television film |
| 1991 | Murphy Brown | George Bush | Episode: “Hoarse Play” |
| 1992 | Raw Toonage | Goofy | 1 episode |
| Goof Troop Christmas | Goofy | Television film | |
| Mickey’s Nutcracker | Goofy, Pluto | Uncredited Television special |
|
| 1992–93 | Goof Troop | Goofy | Main cast |
| Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa | Puma | 4 episodes | |
| 1993 | Bonkers | Goofy | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | What-a-Mess | Additional voices | |
| 1996 | Quack Pack | Pluto | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Paracycling | Goofy | |
| 1999 | Disney’s Mouseworks Spaceship | Pluto | |
| 1999–2000 | Mickey Mouse Works | Goofy, Pluto, Horace Horsecollar | Main cast |
| 2001–03 | Disney’s House of Mouse | Goofy, Pluto, Horace Horsecollar, Practical Pig, Sheriff of Nottingham | Main cast |
| 2003–04 | Totally Spies | President | Uncredited Episodes: “First Brat”, “Totally Switched” |
| 2003–06 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Stank Williams, Blort Sportscaster | 3 episodes |
| 2004 | Game Over | Race Announcer | Episode: “Meet the Smashenburns” |
| 2004–05 | Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law | Secret Squirrel | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Loonatics Unleashed | Mr. Leghorn | Episode: “Stop the World I Want to Get Off” |
| 2006–16 | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse | Goofy, Pluto | Main cast |
| 2006–16 | Robot Chicken | Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Coach, Pubertis | 4 episodes |
| 2006 | The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius | Additional voices | Episode: “Who Framed Jimmy Neutron?/Flippy” |
| 2006 | Ergo Proxy | Al (English dub) | Episode: “Shoujo Smile: Eternal Smile” |
| 2006–2007 | VeggieTales | Additional voices | 3 episodes |
| 2007 | Higglytown Heroes | Janitor Jay | Episode: “The Big Pink Elephant/Higglies on Horseback |
| 2008 | The Banana Splits | Fleegle, Bingo | |
| 2008–2013 | The Garfield Show | Additional voices | 5 episodes |
| 2010 | ‘Til Death | George Bush, Minister | Episode: “The Wedding” |
| 2010 | Jonah Hex: Motion Comics | Additional voices | 7 episodes |
| 2011–2016 | Minnie’s Bow-Toons | Goofy, Pluto, Additional voices | 40 episodes |
| 2013 | Wheel of Fortune | Goofy, Pluto | Episodes: “Making Disney Memories Week 1, Making Disney Memories Week 2” |
| 2013–2019 | Mickey Mouse | Goofy, Pluto | Main cast |
| 2014–16 | The 7D | Doc, Sir Yips-A-Lot | Main cast |
| 2015 | Jake and the Never Land Pirates | Ghostly Bob | 2 episodes |
| 2017–2021 | Mickey and the Roadster Racers / Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures |
Goofy, Pluto, Horace Horsecoller, Mayor McBeagle, Mr. Bigby, Additional voices | Main cast |
| 2018–2019 | Uncle Goof | 3 episodes | |
| 2019 | The Tom and Jerry Show | Irish Spike, Irish Butch | Episode: “Double Dog Trouble” |
| 2019–present | Amphibia | Hopediah “Hop Pop” Plantar | Main cast |
| 2019 | Vampirina | Larry Moss | Episode: “Bat Got Your Tongue/Haunted Theater” |
| 2020 | DuckTales | Goofy | Episode: “Quack Pack!” |
| 2020–present | The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse | Goofy | Main cast |
| 2021 | Mickey Mouse Funhouse | Goofy | Main cast |
Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures
Anime
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Porco Rosso | Additional voices | English dub |
| 2004 | Astro Boy | Tawashi | Main cast |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Sam and Max Hit the Road | Sam, Psychic, Flambe | |
| 1994 | Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness | Leshy | |
| 1995 | Full Throttle | Horrace, Corley Motors Merchandise Salesman, Gas Guard Pilot, News Anchorman | |
| 1996 | Mortimer and the Riddles of the Medallion | Bald Eagle, Coyote, Gila Monster, Additional voices | |
| 1998 | Disney’s Hades Challenge | Goofy | |
| King’s Quest VIII: Mask of Eternity | King Gryph, Weirdling Tradesman | ||
| Baldur’s Gate | Brunos, Irlentree, Yeslick Orothiar | ||
| 2000 | Mickey’s Speedway USA | Goofy | |
| Looney Tunes Racing | Foghorn Leghorn | ||
| Looney Tunes: Space Race | Foghorn Leghorn | ||
| Mickey Mouse Kindergarten | Goofy, Pluto, Bellhop #1, Bellhop #2 | ||
| Mickey Mouse Preschool | Goofy, Pluto, Gas Attendant | ||
| The Flintstones: Bedrock Bowling | Bamm-Bamm Rubble, Dino Bridge | ||
| The Emperor’s New Groove | Villager | ||
| 2001 | Disney Learning: Phonics Quest | Goofy, Horace Horsecollar | |
| Goofy’s Fun House | Goofy | ||
| 2002 | Ty the Tasmanian Tiger | Wedgwood the Pirate, The Frill Necked Lizard | |
| Kingdom Hearts | Goofy, Pluto | ||
| Disney Golf | Goofy | ||
| Disney Sports Soccer | Goofy | ||
| Disney Sports Skateboarding | Goofy | ||
| Disney Sports Football | Goofy | ||
| Disney Sports Basketball | Goofy | ||
| 2003 | Disney’s Party | Goofy | |
| Toontown Online | Goofy | ||
| Tales of Symphonia | Governor-General Dorr | ||
| 2004 | Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest | Additional voices | |
| Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2 | Parrotbeard, Squeaver, Johno | ||
| EverQuest II | Various characters | ||
| 2005 | Destroy All Humans! | Narrator, Rural Male | |
| Crash Tag Team Racing | Old Man, Park Drones | ||
| Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 3: Night of the Quinkan | Parrotbeard | ||
| 2006 | Over the Hedge | Lou, Rottweiler | |
| Cars | Rustbucket Cars | ||
| Dead Rising | Cletus Samson, Floyd Sanders, Jeff Meyers, Ryan LaRosa | ||
| Kingdom Hearts II | Goofy, Pluto | ||
| Scooby-Doo! Who’s Watching Who? | Ghost of Elias Kingston, Sylvester Sweetsugar, Farmer Burt Harrison, Captain Quint | ||
| Yakuza | Makoto Date | English dub | |
| Flushed Away | Spike | ||
| Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island | Old Hermit Crab, Plant King, Crab Refugee #4, Plant Guard | ||
| 2007 | Meet the Robinsons | Ice Cream Vendor | |
| 2008 | Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law | Secret Squirrel, Cameraman, Prison Guard #2 | |
| Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed | Colonel Kluckin | ||
| Kung Fu Panda | Blackhoof Boar Clan Leader | ||
| Disney Think Fast | Goofy, Horace Horsecollar | ||
| Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon | Legg Tallman, Deep Navel | ||
| Looney Tunes: Cartoon Conductor | Foghorn Leghorn, Mouse | ||
| Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories | Goofy | ||
| 2009 | Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days | Goofy | |
| 2010 | Epic Mickey | Goofy, Horace Horsecollar | |
| Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep | Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Sleepy | ||
| 2011 | Kinect Disneyland Adventures | Goofy, Pluto | |
| 2012 | Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two | Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Practical Pig | |
| Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion | Goofy | ||
| Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance | Goofy | ||
| 2013 | Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix | Goofy, Pluto | Archive audio |
| 2014 | Disney Magical World | Goofy, Pluto, Sleepy | |
| Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix | Goofy, Horace Horsecollar, Sleepy | Archive audio | |
| 2017 | Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue | Goofy | Archive audio |
| 2019 | Kingdom Hearts III | Goofy | |
| 2020 | Yakuza: Like a Dragon | Makoto Date | English dub |
| Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory | Goofy |
Theme park attractions
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Mickey’s PhilharMagic | Goofy |
| 2020 | Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway | Goofy, Pluto |
Live-action
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | RoboCop | Justin Ballard-Watkins | ||
| 1998 | Pumpkin Man | Father Goblin / Billy Bob Sr. | ||
| 1999 | Men in Scoring Position | Smiling Jack | ||
| 2000 | Bob’s Video | Sheriff Harmon | ||
| 2013 | I Know That Voice | Himself | Documentary | |
| 2017 | Generational Sins | Sheriff Randall | ||
| The UnPop Podshow | Phil Gardender | Podcast Episode: “Podfellas” |
||
| 2020 | Desert Shadows | Detective Jerry McElroy | Upcoming film | |
| It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer | Himself (host) |
Production credits
| Year | Title | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Death Becomes Her | ADR loop group |
| 2004 | Shrek 2 | ADR group |
| Boomerang | Editor | |
| 2015 | With Lee in Virginia | Cinematographer |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production | An Extremely Goofy Movie | Nominated |
| 2009 | Disney Legend Award | Animation – Voice | Won | |
| 2011 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse | Nominated |
| 2012 | Behind the Voice Actors Video Game Voice Acting Award | Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game | Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two | Nominated |
| 2014 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance | Mickey Mouse | Nominated |
| 2015 | Behind the Voice Actors Television Voice Acting Award | Best Vocal Ensemble in a New Television Series | The 7D | Won |
| Best Male Vocal Performance in a Television Series – Children’s/Educational | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse | Nominated | ||
| Annie Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production | Mickey Mouse | Won | |
| 2016 | Behind the Voice Actors Television Voice Acting Award | Best Vocal Ensemble in a New Television Series | The 7D | Won |
External Links
