Each Single Actor Who’s Ever Performed The Grinch, in Order

Dr. Seuss’ Grinch is a beloved and iconic a part of Christmas, well-known for his hatred of the vacation, two-sizes-too-small coronary heart, and dependable canine, Max. Most viewers will acknowledge him from the 1966 TV particular and two films that got here out in 2000 and 2018, which all give attention to him bitterly stealing presents from the Whos down in Whoville earlier than studying the true which means of Christmas.

Past these movies, the Grinch has featured in quite a few commercials, musicals, and audio CDs. To get into the vacation spirit, we have spotlighted the actors behind these notable appearances and detailed how they helped deliver the Grinch and his Christmas magic to life.

20 Boris Karloff (aka William Henry Pratt)

‘Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ (1966)

The long-lasting voice that began all of it, Boris Karloff introduced the Grinch to life within the 1966 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas! He wasn’t simply the voice of the Grinch but additionally the Narrator, although the singing was completed by Thurl Ravenscroft. This animated basic established the Grinch as a part of vacation lore, and Karloff’s efficiency made the character and larger story one thing magical.

Certainly one of Many Starring Roles

Earlier than voicing the Grinch, Karloff had a number of different notable roles, together with Frankenstein’s monster in Frankenstein and the antagonist Im-Ho-Tep from The Mummy. Admittedly, it looks as if the actor had a sort—monstrous and misunderstood.

19 Hans Conried

‘Halloween Is Grinch Evening’ (1977)

The prequel to “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,” “Halloween is Grinch Evening” takes place on Halloween, also called Grinch Evening, when the Grinch descends upon the city of Whoville. Like Karloff, Conried performed each the Grinch and the Narrator on this model, and Thurl Ravenscroft as soon as once more supplied the Grinch’s singing voice.

One other Proficient Performer

The voice of each Captain Hook and George Darling within the 1953 Peter Pan, Conried boasted a formidable resume. Allegedly, he was slated to reprise his position in “The Grinch Grinches the Cat within the Hat” however handed away earlier than manufacturing started.

18 Bob Holt

‘The Grinch Grinches the Cat within the Hat’ (1982)

“The Grinch Grinches the Cat within the Hat” is an Emmy-award-winning animated particular that includes the voice of Bob Holt. After a minor automotive accident involving the Grinch and the Cat within the Hat, a automotive chase ensues, adopted by a remedy session, numerous hijinks, and finally, a musical quantity concerning the Grinch’s useless mom.

A Man of Many Dr. Seuss Hats

Holt performs each the Grinch and the Grinch’s mom, in addition to a waiter within the restaurant. Nevertheless, Mason Adams, who performed the position of the Cat within the Hat, performed the Narrator, marking a departure for the earlier Grinch/Narrator vocal pairings. Holt was additionally a voice actor for a number of different Dr. Seuss specials, together with The Lorax and Dr. Seuss on the Unfastened.

17 Dan Castellaneta

‘Tiny Toon Adventures’ (1992)

The Tiny Toon Adventures episode “It is a Fantastic Tiny Toons Christmas Particular” served because the sequence finale. Parodying It is a Fantastic Life, the episode features a scene by which Buster and Babs go sledding and are available throughout two characters who resemble the Grinch and his canine Max, the previous of whom is voiced by Dan Castellaneta. As an alternative of inexperienced, the Grinch is blue, and as a substitute of Whoville, the duo try to steal Christmas from the city of Shmagooville.

The Grinch and the Simpsons

These days, Dan Castellaneta is greatest identified for his voice appearing position of Homer Simpson on The Simpsons. Funnily sufficient, a parody model of the Grinch known as The Grumple has appeared in a number of episodes, however as a substitute of Castellaneta, he was voiced by Hank Azaria.

16 Walter Matthau

‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ (1992)

In some ways, this subsequent installment of The Grinch was just like Boris Karloff’s model. It instructed the identical story however with none songs or animation. As an alternative, it merely featured Walter Matthau’s narration alongside photographs from the ebook.

An On-Display screen Star

Matthau starred in a number of movies earlier than and after his Grinch narration. A few of these included The Odd Couple, The Dangerous Information Bears, Dennis the Menace, and Grumpy Previous Males.

15 Anthony Asbury

‘The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss’ (1996 – 1998)

A youngsters’s TV present spanning two seasons, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss featured reside puppets from a number of Dr. Seuss classics. Within the first season, every episode was hosted by the Cat within the Hat and instructed a cohesive story about one of many characters. Within the second season, the present alternated between the Cat within the Hat’s playhouse and a number of other shorter tales that passed off at acquainted places like Mount Crumpit. In season 1, the Grinch was considered one of two foremost antagonists, and in season 2, he grew to become the sequence’ major villain.

Abilities Past Voice Performing

Asbury performed a number of different characters in The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss together with Yertle the Turtle and Thidwick the Massive-Hearted Moose. A puppeteer, he was additionally a crew member behind a number of huge productions, together with Labyrinth, The Witches, and Little Store of Horrors.

14 Wally Wingert

‘Household Man’ (1999)

Through the Household Man episode “A Hero Sits Subsequent Door,” the viewers witnesses an obvious flashback by which Joe Swanson tries to arrest the Grinch. He follows him to the highest of an orphanage the place they interact in an all-out brawl, which causes Joe to fall from the roof and develop into paralyzed. In a later episode, “Joe’s Revenge,” it is revealed that this story was a lie.

The Voice Behind Varied Mediums

Wally Wingert voices a number of different minor characters on Household Man. He has additionally voiced characters in a number of anime sequence resembling Bleach, quite a few video video games, together with the Batman: Arkham sequence, and numerous different cartoons, from Invader Zim to The Powerpuff Ladies.

13 Corey Burton

Seuss Touchdown Road Present (1999)

Again in 1999, Common Islands of Journey gave park attendees the prospect to satisfy their favourite characters in individual. Certainly one of these characters, the Grinch, could possibly be discovered dancing within the Seuss Touchdown Road Present. His voice—which was really the voice of Corey Burton—is also heard over the radio within the Sneetch Seashore Space.

Alongside along with his work for Common, Burton has dubbed a number of video video games and narrated a number of documentaries. At present, he’s the voice of Captain Hook (similar to his Grinch predecessor, Conried) and has lent his expertise to different Disney characters resembling Dale in Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers and Zeus from the animated Hercules sequence.

12 Josh Gerhardt

‘The Grinch’ (2000)

Prematurely of the 2000 film, Konami launched a Grinch online game, which garnered blended opinions. Josh Gerhardt voiced the titular Grinch, who sought to steal the Whos’ presents whereas recovering blueprints for his Christmas-destroying units.

Some Acquainted Appearances

Josh Gerhardt has starred in quite a few different online game roles and voiced a number of cartoons and anime characters. A number of notable appearances embrace Completely Spies!, Cowboy Bebop, and Akira.

11 Jim Carrey and Josh Ryan Evans

‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (2000)

Jim Carrey and Josh Ryan Evans each performed the Grinch within the 2000 film, with Carrey taking part in the grownup model and Evans taking part in him as a baby. This model largely adopted the formulation from the ebook, although the Grinch’s background, alongside a number of Whos resembling Cindy Lou Who and Martha Could Whovier, have been higher fleshed out and explored.

When it first got here out, How the Grinch Stole Christmas was extremely unpopular. However lately, many have come to view it as the perfect of the Grinch films. A big motive for that’s Carrey’s efficiency, which stands out for its humor, emotion, and basic dedication to the position. Trying again, it is arduous to think about the Grinch and never see Carrey’s model.

Nonetheless Delivering Laughs

Regardless of rumors claiming Carrey was going to return to the Grinch sequence, he has as a substitute overtly mentioned his retirement plans. Happily, these plans have but to be set in movement, and he has since taken on roles starting from Horton in Horton Hears a Who! to Dr. Robotnik within the Sonic sequence.

10 Rik Mayall

‘The Dr. Seuss Assortment’ (2000)

Across the identical time because the Jim Carrey film, a Grinch audio CD was launched starring Rik Mayall. Together with How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the CD contains Dr Seuss’s ABC, The Lorax, and One Fish, Two Fish, Pink Fish, Blue Fish.

Spreading Christmas Cheer

Mayall was well-known for a number of TV appearances, together with Younger Ones and Drop Useless Fred. He additionally had a detailed partnership with Adrian Edmondson, who voiced a number of different Dr. Seuss tales.

9 Stefán Karl Stefánsson

‘Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ (2008 – 2015)

The seasonal stage adaptation How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical has been delighting audiences since 1990. In 2008, actor Stefán Karl Stefánsson took over the titular position for the US tour. He spent his final $600 as a way to fly to New York to audition, and after securing the position, he was decided to make it his personal and produce one thing new to the efficiency.

A Likable Villain

Stefánsson isn’t any stranger to villainous roles, having beforehand performed Robbie Rotten in LazyTown. Apart from the Grinch, he additionally held stage roles in The Jungle Guide, Little Store of Horrors, A Midsummer Evening’s Dream, and numerous different productions.

8 Stephen Stanton

‘Mad’ (2010)

In season 1, episode 12 of Mad titled “Da Grinchy Code,” Stephen Stanton starred because the Grinch as he was accused but once more of stealing Christmas presents. A crossover with The Da Vinci Code, the episode targeted on Indiana Jones, Tom Hanks, and Nicolas Cage attempting to crack Da Grinchy Code and remedy who had taken the aforementioned presents, solely to later be revealed because the thieves themselves.

A Man of Many Skills

Well-known for his “audio double” abilities, Stanton has supplied voices for Disney exhibits and theme parks. A visible results artist, he has additionally labored on a number of films, together with Batman Returns and Alien 3.

7 Seth Inexperienced

‘Robotic Rooster’ 2010-2013

The Grinch seems in a number of shorts throughout a number of Robotic Rooster episodes, together with “Born Once more Virgin Christmas Particular,” “Robotic Rooster’s ATM Christmas Particular,” and “Robotic Rooster’s DP Christmas Particular.” These variations of the Grinch are way more disturbing than earlier iterations.

Within the brief “Frosty and the Grinch,” the Grinch is seen fatally stapling antlers to Max, whereas in “The Grinch’s Coronary heart,” he receives a terminal coronary heart prognosis. Equally, in “How the Nerd Saved Christmas,” a nerd assaults the Grinch and kills him.

A Man of Many Roles

Co-creator, director, and author behind the sequence, Seth Inexperienced voiced many Robotic Rooster characters. Notably, he additionally voices Chris Griffin on Household Man, which as beforehand talked about marked a unique Grinch look.

6 Benedict Cumberbatch

‘The Grinch’ (2018)

Though it shared a lot in widespread with the films that got here earlier than it, the 2018 model of The Grinch, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch, was distinctive in a number of methods. First, Cumberbatch’s Grinch is a extra sociable, much less imply model of the Grinch. Second, the general really feel of the film has been modernized with new pop songs and cleaner animation. It additionally alters the Grinch’s backstory, and reasonably than reside alone on Mount Crumpet, he has a number of pleasant Who neighbors.

Nothing to Be Grumpy About

Though this model of the Grinch obtained blended opinions, The Grinch was considered one of Cumbatch’s greatest performances of 2010, and it was removed from his first or final starring position. He has additionally performed Stephen Unusual within the Physician Unusual movies, Smaug and Sauron within the Hobbit films, and Alan Turing in The Imitation Recreation, to call only a few notable portrayals.

5 Matthew Morrison

‘Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical Stay!’ (2020)

Matthew Morrison performed the Grinch within the 2020 reside TV musical. Primarily based on a 2006 stage adaptation, the particular obtained largely blended or adverse opinions. Nonetheless, it was an bold tackle the unique, that includes new songs and dance numbers, and for higher or worse, it definitely stood other than the opposite variations.

Returning to Theatre

A former dancer, Morrison was beforehand a choose on the competitors actuality presentSo You Assume You Can Dance. He additionally performed Will Schuester on Glee. In keeping with his Grinch portrayal, it seems he is since switched his focus away from films and is as a substitute specializing in theatre.

4 David Howard Thornton

‘The Imply One’ 2022

At first, it might sound unusual to create a horror model of a youngsters’s story, however within the case of the Grinch, the items have been all the time there. The Imply One builds off of the creepy components behind the unique story to ship a horrifying, humanoid creature in a Santa swimsuit. This Grinch is each misunderstood and malicious, selecting to commit a number of murders after by accident killing Cindy You-Know-Who’s mom and being known as a monster. On the finish of the movie, Cindy chooses to forgive him, which causes the Grinch’s coronary heart to develop three sizes and explode.

Subpar Film, Stellar Efficiency

Though the film obtained largely adverse opinions, the Grinch continues to be thought of considered one of David Howard Thornton’s greatest roles. His portrayal of Artwork the Clown within the Terrifier sequence has additionally been well-received, and he is slated to play one other monster within the upcoming Steamboat Willie parody Screamboat.

3 James Austin Johnson

‘Tis the Grinch Vacation Discuss Present’ (2023)

On the floor, the concept of the Grinch as a chat present host appears practically as unusual as his parody-monster model. Nevertheless, James Austin Johnson’s ‘Tis the Grinch Vacation Discuss Present pulled it off, with the Grinch inviting well-known visitors to hitch him in a weekly dialogue/rant concerning the vacation season.

Saturday Evening Stay Affect

Together with the discuss present, Johnson was a solid member on SNL, and his model of the Grinch was largely based mostly on a number of of his impressions from the present. He additionally invited former SNL star Bobby Moynihan as considered one of his visitors, together with actress Skai Jackson, comic Patton Oswalt, and numerous different celebrities.

2 David Kaye

Capital One Business (2023)

After making his mark on musicals, audio CDs, video video games, and TV specials, the Grinch’s subsequent enterprise was into commercials. The Capital One industrial featured a girl having to determine who would ship Christmas toys. The Grinch volunteered, however the lady turned him down, since he’d beforehand tried to steal the vacation.

Reworking the Grinch

David Kaye’s roots are in radio, and he has labored for numerous film trailers, cartoons, and different commercials. Notably, he was the primary actor within the Transformers franchise to be solid within the roles of each Megatron and Optimus Prime.

1 Darin De Paul

Walmart Business (2023)

Following his Capital One commercial, the Grinch returned to commercials by making an attempt to steal Walmart Christmas presents. After attending to benefit from the presents for himself, he got here to know the enjoyment they introduced and selected to return them as a substitute.

‘Tis the Season for Commercialism

This closing look of the Grinch was voiced by Darin De Paul, who is generally identified for voicing online game characters. Funnily sufficient, this depiction feels pretty full circle, because it introduced the vacation again to stolen presents. Certain, the Grinch finally discovered that there is extra to the season than presents, however it’s positively a giant a part of it.

The Grinch is perhaps charming as an eel, however all of the actors who’ve performed him have introduced one thing particular to their performances. With such a formidable lineup of voices already—and a lot of the character left to discover—audiences are wanting to see who will painting him subsequent.