Jess Harnell
The voice behind Wakko Warner, Crash Bandicoot, and decades of iconic animation.
Jess Harnell is an American voice actor and singer born on December 23, 1963. While he is widely recognized for voicing Wakko Warner in Animaniacs starting in 1993, his career extends far beyond that single role. He voices the title character in the Crash Bandicoot franchise, voiced Ironhide in the first three Transformers films directed by Michael Bay and Barricade in the 2007 film, and has been the announcer for America's Funniest Home Videos since 1998. His versatility spans from singing the father in Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress to voicing Captain Hero in Drawn Together.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 23 December 1963
- Birthplace
- Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
- Occupation
- Voice actor, singer
- Years active
- 1987–present
- Father
- Joe Harnell
- Spouse
- Cara Leanne (2019)
Lore & Background
Harnell's connection to Animaniacs began in 1993 when he went on to voice Wakko Warner. Rob Paulsen and Tress MacNeille voice the other two Warner siblings, Yakko and Dot.
Reader's Guide
In Animaniacs, he voiced Wakko Warner starting in 1993 and reprised the role for the revival series. His video game work is equally prominent; he voiced Crash Bandicoot in multiple titles including Crash Tag Team Racing, Crash of the Titans, Crash: Mind over Mutant, and the N Sane Trilogy. He also provided voices for characters like Jerry in the first two seasons of Totally Spies! and Cedric in Sofia the First from 2013 to 2018. His film work includes Ironhide in the first three Transformers films directed by Michael Bay (Revenge of the Fallen, Dark of the Moon) and Barricade in The Last Knight. Additionally, he has been the announcer for America's Funniest Home Videos since 1998 and voiced Wooton Bassett in Adventures in Odyssey.
Did You Know?
- In 2007, he replaced Neil Flynn to voice The Plumber in Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction.
- He was born on December 23, 1963, in Englewood, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby Teaneck.
More in People & Notable Figures
Elsewhere in Animaniacs
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