Disney has an exalted place in the world of film. Play or voice a Disney character, you’ll probably be set for life. It’s something that should be on every actor’s bucket list, so it makes sense that Disney has quite a star-studded roster in their casting department. That being said, you’d be surprised to see how many have been forgotten in recent years.
Disney has had some serious star-power behind some of their flicks, but some have been lost in the wayside with the fanbase. Fortunately, we have a list of ten great actors featured in Disney’s filmography to jog your memory.
Liam Neeson (The Chronicles of Narnia)
Liam Neeson is one of the most brilliant actors of our time, having undertaken a menagerie of roles as colorful as his performing skill. Though we all remember him for his work in films like The Phantom Menace, Nolan’s Batman series, and the Taken franchise, Disney had him bring to life one of the most beloved characters in the fantasy genre, Aslan.
The great king of Narnia needs a powerful but gentle voice to back him up, and Liam Neeson’s rich vocal tones do the job right. He was made to play royalty.
Billy Connolly (Brave)
How can you have a movie about Scottland without featuring one of the most Scottish actors in existence? Billy Connolly has undeniable skill when it comes to over-the-top character parts, and Disney has used him more than a few times. His most memorable role, however, has to be King Fergus in Pixar’s Brave.
Connolly shines in this role, using his thick Scottish brogue to great effect to make Fergus larger than life, much like the actor himself. You can tell he’s having a great time with the character and his roguish swagger is palpable.
Idris Elba (Zootopia)
Idris Elba is easily one of our favorite performers on this list. Though many may know him as Heimdal in the Thor portions of the MCU, and even more might know him for his legion of action-movie roles, the Disney fans all know him as Chief Bogo from ZPD’s District 1 in Zootopia.
Elba’s performance as the horned, hard-nosed, buffalo police chief is a different side of the actor’s range compared to some of his other performances. He’s a no-nonsense professional but has a lovable center, and we have to put him on the list.
Kurt Russell (Various)
Definitely an actor with an impressive resume longer than our arms, Kurt Russell has had some exciting and impressive films in his career. Though he might be remembered more for films like Escape From New York, Big Trouble in Little China, and The Thing, the prolific performer has a slew of Disney flicks under his belt.
Russell has been featured in at least twelve different Disney titles including Follow Me, Boys, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Sky High, and most recently Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. If you’ve not experienced some of the actor’s earlier work, we highly recommend checking out some of these films.
Jeff Bridges (Tron)
The Dude abides, but he also does a Disney flick on occasion. Jeff Bridges is definitely known for playing the seasoned, rugged, bearded types, but he’s also been a part of one of Disney’s greatest cult films, Tron. Specifically, Bridges originated the role of the film’s protagonist, Kevin Flynn, and the sequel’s antagonist, Clu.
Though characters like Lebowski, Rooster Cogburn, and Obadiah Stane might be more memorable than the programmer of Space Paranoids and his corresponding Program persona, we’ve got to include Bridges on our list for his underappreciated contribution to Disney.
Helen Mirren (Monsters University)
One of the greatest leading ladies in the realm of cinema and stage, Helen Mirren is a phenomenal talent who’s worthy of her accolades and awards. Having starred in films like The Queen, The Tempest, and Excalibur, one might think her repertoire is a bit too upper-crust for Disney, but they’d be wrong.
Not only has Mirren appeared in a number of stage and screen roles, but she portrayed the fiercely intimidating Dean Hardscrabble in Pixar’s Monsters University. Hardscrabble’s nightmarish appearance paired with Mirren’s soft and professional delivery certainly makes for one memorable character in our books.
Peter Capaldi (Christopher Robin)
The wonderful and wild Peter Capaldi makes our list simply because this British actor is not one many would associate with the house of mouse. Known for playing more serious and aggressive characters, we hardly think anyone could see him in a Disney flick, let alone something like Christopher Robin.
Though you might not have caught his distinct voice in this live-action adaptation of the Hundred Acre Wood at first listen, Capaldi trades in the TARDIS for fur as he plays Pooh’s friend Rabbit. Though it’s not an intense role per the actor’s norm, it’s still one worth mentioning.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Angels in the Outfield/Treasure Planet)
Definitely a shining star of the big and small screen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has had more than a few great roles in his time. From his stint on Third Rock From the Sun to films like A River Runs Through It and 10 Things I Hate About You, he’s had an impressive career, but he’s also got a pair of Disney titles thrown in for good measure.
Though everyone remembers the roguish Jim Hawkins from Disney’s Treasure Planet, one of Levitt’s first big-screen roles was opposite Christopher Lloyd in Angels in the Outfield. The earlier film might not have been a home run, but Treasure Planet is a standout project in the actor’s filmography.
Mel Gibson (Pocahontas)
Is there anyone who hasn’t heard of Mel Gibson or his work? The actor has a high pedigree of films under his belt, including Braveheart, Mad Max, and the Lethal Weapon series to back up his impressive resume. With such a selection of films, it makes sense Disney would want him for one of their biggest projects.
At the time Pocahontas was Disney’s biggest project, shucking out for the best animators, musicians, and performers to bring the story to life. So it was no surprise when they cast Gibson as the handsome explorer, John Smith. Though the film hasn’t aged terrifically, Gibson’s performance is still as golden as the character’s luxurious locks.
Sean Connery (Darby O’ Gill And The Little People)
Sean Connery wasn’t just in a Disney movie, but a Disney movie musical in which he sings a delightfully delirious love song to Janet Munro called “My Darling Irish Girl.” The idea of 007 in a Walt Disney-made production is surreal on its own, but hearing the guy sing takes things to a whole new level.
The movie itself is pretty strange, what with its leprechauns, banshees, and pots of gold at the end of a rainbow. But there’s just something about hearing Sean Connery’s pipes that pushes us over the edge. Not that we’re complaining, mind you.
