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Jim Cummings

Tell the kid he's got it, said the legendary Mel Blanc with a smile after listening to a young man's first demo tape of cartoon character voices. The year was 1984, the kid was Jim Cummings. Since then, the kid has gone on to give life and voice to some of America's most beloved animated characters, even a few of the late Mel Blanc's. Cummings was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for his work as the lovable Tigger on Disney Channel's My Friends Tigger and Pooh, in which he also voices everyone's favorite bear, Winnie the Pooh.

Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Cummings spent Saturday mornings riveted to the TV screen as he mimicked the characters in his favorite cartoons, all the while dreaming that one day he would voice them himself. At age 19, he moved to New Orleans, where he performed as a drummer, a singer, a deck hand on riverboats, and even designed and created Mardi Gras floats, all while absorbing the rich characters and accents that would some day find expression in animation.

Years later, Cummings relocated to Southern California and managed a video store as he pursued his childhood dream. He gave his first demo tape to a customer who was also a movie producer, and the rest, as they say, is history. In 1984, Cummings landed his first role as Lionel the Lion, in Disney Channel's Dumbo's Circus. During his illustrious career, he has worked extensively for The Walt Disney Studios, voicing classic characters such as Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, King Louis, Kaa the Snake, Pete (formerly Peg-Leg Pete), and more. His many other Disney credits include Darkwing Duck, Bonkers, Fat Cat and Monterey Jack on Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, Don Karnage on Talespin, and more.

His credits read like a top-list of animated and live-action films, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Tarzan, Pocahontas, The Lion King, Babe: Pig in the City, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Brother Bear 2, among others.

Cummings' work in voiceover includes hundreds of television and radio commercials, movie trailers, promos and videogames.

He's a proud father of four and resides in Southern California with his wife Stephanie, their beautiful daughters Grace and Lulu Rose, and their critters.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2009.
Read earlier biographies on this page.

Jim Cummings Facts

Birth Name James Jonah Cummings
OccupationDirector
BirthdayNovember 3, 1952 (71)
SignScorpio
BirthplaceYoungstown, Ohio, USA
Height5' 6" (1m68)  How tall is Jim Cummings compared to you?

Selected Filmography

Not available.