Jim Cummings

**James Jonah Cummings**, born on November 3, 1952, is an accomplished American voice actor. Since the commencement of his career in the 1980s, he has taken on close to 400 diverse roles. Cummings is well-known for his extensive collaboration with entertainment giants The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros.

**In Disney Speedstorm he voices Steamboat Pete.**

	1. Early life
	2. Education
	3. Career
	4. Personal life

## About

Jim Cummings has been the official voice behind iconic characters like Winnie the Pooh since 1988, Tigger since 1989, the Tasmanian Devil since 1991, and Pete since 1992. Notable contributions include voicing Fat Cat and Monterey Jack on "Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers" (1989–1990), headlining as Darkwing Duck (1991–1992), lending his voice to Dr. Robotnik in the "Sonic the Hedgehog" animated series (1993–1994), portraying Kaa in "Jungle Cubs" (1996–1998) and "The Jungle Book 2", and embodying Cat in "CatDog" (1998–2005).

### Early life

Hailing from Youngstown, Ohio, Cummings later made his way to New Orleans, where he immersed himself in various pursuits including designing Mardi Gras floats, working as a riverboat deckhand, and even contributing as a singer and drummer for the locally successful rock band, Fusion.

### Education

His educational journey included attending Immaculate Conception and St. Columba grade schools, as well as Ursuline High School, where he graduated in 1970. Cummings' life took another turn when he moved to Anaheim, California, where he managed a video store in the early 1980s before embarking on his voice acting venture in late 1984.

### Career

Cummings' entry into the world of voice acting began with roles like Lionel the Lion and Aunt Fira in "Dumbo's Circus". Notably, he made his mark at Disney by stepping into the shoes of Sterling Holloway as the voice of Winnie the Pooh in 1988. His impression was so impeccable that he also filled in for Holloway as Kaa in both Jungle Cubs and The Jungle Book 2, as well as the Cheshire Cat in various Disney video games. Cummings' range extended to voicing J. Pat O'Malley characters such as Colonel Hathi in the aforementioned productions and the Colonel in 101 Dalmatians: The Series. He later became a regular voice for Pete, starting with Goof Troop.

His journey with Tigger began with "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh", initially alternating with Paul Winchell before fully taking over the role starting with "The Tigger Movie". Cummings also temporarily stepped in for Winchell as the voice of Zummi Gummi in the final season of "Adventures of the Gummi Bears" and as Dick Dastardly in "Wacky Races Forever" and "Wacky Races Starring Dastardly and Muttley". Similarly, he shared the role of Monterey Jack in "Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers" with Peter Cullen. Cummings' versatility was evident as he voiced King Triton in "The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning" and even took on Scar's voice when Jeremy Irons faced vocal challenges during the recording of "Be Prepared" in The Lion King.

Cummings' vocal prowess was further sought after for singing doubles and original characters in various productions, such as "Pocahontas", "Anastasia", and "Aladdin". He expanded his repertoire with roles in "Small Soldiers", "Balto", and the "Sonic the Hedgehog" animated series. His voice also resonated through the "Star Wars", "Scooby-Doo", "Tom and Jerry", and "Shrek" franchises, showcasing his adaptability and talent.

An interesting highlight came in 2018 when Cummings became the first voice performer to reprise roles for a live-action Disney film, portraying Winnie the Pooh and Tigger in "Christopher Robin". His captivating portrayal drew acclaim from critics, adding to his already remarkable legacy.

### Personal life

Cummings' personal life has had its share of complexities, including marriages, divorces, and custody disputes. He has drawn inspiration from legendary voice actors like Mel Blanc, Paul Winchell, and Frank Welker, each of whom left a significant impact on his career.

Cummings' dedication to his craft shines through his vast array of characters, with his favorites including Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Ray the Firefly, Darkwing Duck's Drake Mallard, and the enigmatic Hondo Ohnaka.

## References

1. ↑ Cummings, Jim.
2. ↑ Episode 17 with Guest: Jim Cummings.
3. ↑ Heard but not seen: Catholic voice actor leads an animated life.
4. ↑ The voice of Pooh and Tigger too Disney keeps Jim Cummings busy with voice work.
5. ↑ Becoming a character: An interview with Jim Cummings.
6. ↑ Has Disney Been 'Lion' About Jeremy Irons' Singing Voice?.
7. ↑ There's an Oscar-Worthy Performance in Disney's Christopher Robin.
8. ↑ 'Winnie the Pooh' Voice Actor and Ex Wife Accuse Each Other of Abuse.
9. ↑ Good News, Great News!.
10. ↑ Jim Cummings picks the 5 voice actors most influential to his carrer.
11. ↑ Jim Cummings on *Christopher Robin* and Voicing Both Winnie the Pooh and Tigger.