The Voice is the Same

 

I recently saw a video of a Q & A with H. Jon Benjamin at Comicon. A question was asked of how it was that Benjamin prepared for his various voice roles. For those unfamiliar with either H. Jon Benjamin’s name or his work let me explain his background a little bit. 

H. Jon Benjamin is a voice actor who has worked in various adult cartoon comedy shows. Benjamin is most noted as the voice of Sterling Archer in ‘Archer’ as well as Bob in ‘Bob’s Burgers’ and Orpheus’ master in ‘Venture Bros’. He has also done several other bit parts such as Moth Monster Man in ‘Aqua Teen Hunger Force’ and several others.

Now the reason the question is so funny is because Benjamin’s voice is the same no matter what character he voices. He has a very distinctive voice that’s easy to recognize. Also unlike other voice actors, such as Tom Kenny or Frank Welker, Benjamin never changes the sound of his voice. It’s always his own voice which makes it so easy to pick out.

As much as fans enjoy Benjamin’s voice and his work he does get picked on a bit because of never changing or fluctuating his voice. Although there is another voice actor from the 80s who did the same thing; who also had a very distinctive voice. That actor’s name is Lorenzo Music.

Music was the voice of Garfield the cat on ‘Garfield and Friends’ as well as the voice of Peter Venhkman on ‘The Real Ghostbusters’. He was also the voice of the announcements at Winfred Louder on ‘The Drew Carey’ show and Rhoda’s doorman in ‘Rhoda’. Sadly Music passed away from cancer in 2001.

So what Benjamin does voice wise has been done before. What’s funny is that the 2 men even kind of look alike. Although the biggest difference is that Lorenzo Music was much more family friendly oriented in his work while H. Jon Benjamin is certainly aimed towards adults.

Personally I’m a fan of both men. As a kid I loved Music as Garfield and Vehnkman and as an adult I like Benjamin in pretty much anything I hear him in.