Top 5 Best Guest Celebrity voice actors in Transformers History
Saturday, May 2nd, 2015 7:41am CDT
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top ListsPosted by: william-james88 Views: 55,544
Topic Options: View Discussion · Sign in or Join to reply
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was written in early January 2015.
Top 5 Celebrity voice actors in Transformers
Celebrities have lent their voice to Transformers characters in the media since the G1 era. It's always a treat regardless if it's for a few shows or just a few minutes. It's especially fun when the voice fits perfectly with the character. From Monty Python's Eric Idle to Boy Meets World's Will Friedle, we will now count down the best celebrity voice actors of all Transformers history starting with...
5. Dwayne the Rock Johnson as Cliff Jumper in Transformers Prime
Oh man, it's THE ROCK! And they totally emphasise it by using the theme of his horns referring to both the the Brahma Bull and Clifjumper's badass Prime design. Of course, a mega celeb like this could only be a guest star and this is what this role truly is even though he plays a main character of the world we are being introduced to. Using The Rock was a great way for us to fall in love with this doomed character, adding to the impact. If you don't know what I am talking about, just watch the first episode of Transformers Prime titled "Darkness Rising, Part 1".

4. Weird Al Yankovic as Wreck-Gar in Transformers Animated
Can there be a more perfect casting (yes, because this is number 4) than pairing up weird Al with this Transformers nutcase. Actually the Wreck-Gar character has had some great talent voice him, like Eric Idle. However, Weird Al tops that performance in part due to the improved speech pattern he gets to play with. He definitely helped Wreck Gar be as odd, hyper, passionate and as weird as he was supposed to be, while giving him a sweet and sympathetic side that helps from the shtick getting too annoying.

3. Orson Wells as Unicron in The Transformers Movie
This is the most solemn voice you could ever hear. It evokes power and certitude in anything it whispers and it is both the voice of the most powerful threat in Transformers history as well as the voice of the greatest filmmaker that ever lived, Orson Welles (if anyone doesn't know, at age 25 he directed "Citizen Kane" which is believed by film critics to be the best film of all time). You can't help but believe everything uttered by that voice and the fact that it speaks of tearing worlds apart can't make you see anything but doom. It was used sparingly but to amazing effect.

2. Tony Todd as Dreadwing in Transformers Prime
When I first heard Dreadwing speak, I took a step back. It was both deep and steely, it could bring a chill down your spine. And of course, it had to be by one of the scariest guys ever, Tony Todd, the Candy Man himself. His deep voice also worked with adding to the characters sense of honour, pride and determination since you knew that he meant every word he spoke. And the best part is that it doesn't take anything away from the character by being invassive or distracting. It just works. This is exactly what this no nonsense character would sound like and no one could have done a better job. But number one is kind of special...

1. Leanard Nimoy as Galvatron (not sentinel Prime) in The Transformers Movie
Was this too predictable? Firstly, the use of a different voice for Galvatron was very well done. It emphasised that this was a new version of the character with a new unhinged personality (think Doctor Who), and what we were comfortable with before had just flown out the window. Galvatron was more ruthless than Megatron ever was, and far more psychotic, to the point of even doublecrossing Unicron (WHO DOES THAT!?!?!). Leanard Nimoy conveys this transition perfectly, giving a great balance of power and insanity. This works so well in setting the tone of the film, and of the character, and it's also Leanard freaken Nimoy. Way to start the new age of G1 with a bang!

Honourable mentions: My number 5 was a hard choice between my pick and George Takei as Alpha Trion. I was so amused and surprised when I heard George Takei's unmistakable voice on the show, but that's kinda the problem. His voice was so obvious that I couldn't see Alpha Trion talking to Optimus, I just heard George Takei, hence why this guest voice wasn't the one chosen. Also, the previously mentioned Eric Idle.
This article was last modified on Tuesday, April 12th, 2016 9:35am CDT
Got Transformers News? Let us know here!
Most Popular Transformers News
Most Recent Transformers News
Posted by steve2275 on May 2nd, 2015 @ 7:47am CDT

Posted by Rated X on May 2nd, 2015 @ 8:10am CDT
Posted by Super Megatron on May 2nd, 2015 @ 8:15am CDT
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on May 2nd, 2015 @ 8:19am CDT
Rated X wrote:Why I totally understand how Lenord Nemoys recent passing puts him in legendary status, it was really the guy who played Galvatron in the cartoon series after the 1986 movie that defined Galvatron. The happy sounding, maniac voice worked much better for the character in my opinion than Lenord Nemoys more bold, serious voiceovers. Galvatron was a unpredictable raging lunatic and the cartoon voice was perfect.
I disagree. Nimoy's Galvatron was superb despite the relatively limited screentime. I hated the season 3 version that Welker voiced. Galvatron should be menacing, intimidating and imposing (fearing only Unicron) and give the sense that he really is an all-powerful almost-unstoppable being (main reason the Marvel UK version is my fave). Season 3's Galvatron just came across as a noisy ineffective idiot. One of the many reasons I really don't care for the series as a whole.
Posted by dragons on May 2nd, 2015 @ 8:36am CDT
Posted by Va'al on May 2nd, 2015 @ 8:47am CDT
That would exclude Cullen, Welker and other great voices like Strong, Montano, Sobolov and the such.
It's a very good list, given its parameters.

Posted by SFXPrime on May 2nd, 2015 @ 8:57am CDT
Posted by Desslok2201 on May 2nd, 2015 @ 9:26am CDT
Posted by Alex Jones on May 2nd, 2015 @ 9:38am CDT
Posted by Alex Jones on May 2nd, 2015 @ 9:40am CDT
SFXPrime wrote:Personally, I would have put Robert Stack up there for his performance as Ultra Magnus in the G1 Transformers movie. When I first heard him I was like hey, its sounds the dude from Unsolved Mysteries!
This too!
Posted by welcometothedarksyde on May 2nd, 2015 @ 9:45am CDT
Posted by griftimus prime on May 2nd, 2015 @ 9:58am CDT
Posted by Archanubis on May 2nd, 2015 @ 10:35am CDT
...to the point of even doublecrossing Unicron (WHO DOES THAT!?!?!).
Starscream did, apparently, though it's Starscream, so it's expected he'd betray someone.


Posted by Black Bumblebee on May 2nd, 2015 @ 10:52am CDT

Posted by Rated X on May 2nd, 2015 @ 11:01am CDT
Carnivius_Prime wrote:Rated X wrote:Why I totally understand how Lenord Nemoys recent passing puts him in legendary status, it was really the guy who played Galvatron in the cartoon series after the 1986 movie that defined Galvatron. The happy sounding, maniac voice worked much better for the character in my opinion than Lenord Nemoys more bold, serious voiceovers. Galvatron was a unpredictable raging lunatic and the cartoon voice was perfect.
I disagree. Nimoy's Galvatron was superb despite the relatively limited screentime. I hated the season 3 version that Welker voiced. Galvatron should be menacing, intimidating and imposing (fearing only Unicron) and give the sense that he really is an all-powerful almost-unstoppable being (main reason the Marvel UK version is my fave). Season 3's Galvatron just came across as a noisy ineffective idiot. One of the many reasons I really don't care for the series as a whole.
While I understand where your coming from, I feel Nimoys Galvatron voice was just another rendition of Megatron. Kind of Bland. It was Welkers voiceover that really made his voice unique. He sounded happy while still maintaining an evil demeanor (almost like starscream) which really worked for the character which was clearly insane unlike Megatron. I could not see the Nimoy voice being used successfully on the episode where Galvatron was sent for therapy on planet Torkulon. It just doesnt sound insane enough to me. I think Nimoys star trek status is making him seem like the better voice when in reality that is very debatable.
Posted by Noideaforaname on May 2nd, 2015 @ 11:56am CDT
Though I personally associate Leonard Nimoy with Sentinel before Galvatron, both because Bay's movies are how I got into the franchise and because "my" Galvatron is a psychotic madman, and Nimoy is just too... Nimoy for that.
Posted by Megatron Wolf on May 2nd, 2015 @ 12:04pm CDT
Posted by Ultra Markus on May 2nd, 2015 @ 12:07pm CDT
there's no excuse for that
Posted by shajaki on May 2nd, 2015 @ 12:46pm CDT
Great list. Only thing I'd have done differently is have it ordered differently. 1 & 2 as Nimoy and Wells.... but I can't decide which should be which!

Posted by Alex Jones on May 2nd, 2015 @ 2:06pm CDT