Ever watch a cartoon and think, "That voice sounds crazy familiar?" Happened to me big time with Mr. Peabody & Sherman. You search "mr peabody and sherman cast" because you want to put names to those brilliant voices, maybe find out where else you've heard them, or even get some juicy behind-the-scenes tidbits. Maybe you're a parent whose kid loves the movie, or just an animation fan like me. Let's crack this open.
The Core Duo: Brains and Heart
This movie lives and dies by its two leads. Get them wrong, and the whole WABAC machine crashes. Luckily, they nailed it.
Mr. Peabody (Voiced by Ty Burrell)
Ty Burrell. Yeah, Phil Dunphy from Modern Family. Honestly? I wasn't sure at first. Phil's this lovable, goofy dad. Peabody’s a genius Nobel Prize-winning dog. Worlds apart. But wow, did Burrell deliver. He gives Peabody this wonderful dry wit, that slight hint of smugness (he *is* the smartest being on Earth, after all), but layers it with genuine warmth, especially when Sherman's involved. It’s not just about sounding smart; it’s about making you believe a dog could be that brilliant and still deeply care. He avoids the trap of just doing a "cartoon voice." His Peabody feels real, sophisticated, and surprisingly human in his emotions. The heart of the movie rests on his furry shoulders, and Burrell carries it perfectly. You totally forget it's Phil Dunphy after about five minutes. Bravo.
Fun Fact: Burrell apparently spent hours studying old clips of the original 1960s Peabody's Improbable History segments from Rocky & Bullwinkle to capture the essence of the character while making it his own. You can hear that classic, measured delivery, but with more emotional range for the feature film.
Sherman (Voiced by Max Charles)
Finding the right kid to voice Sherman was crucial. He needed to sound genuinely curious, bright but not annoyingly precocious, and full of that wide-eyed innocence. Enter Max Charles. When he landed the role, he was only around 10 years old! What makes his performance work so well is the lack of artifice. He sounds like a real, sweet, slightly nerdy kid who absolutely adores his dog-dad. The excitement in his voice when they're about to time travel? Contagious. The worry when things go wrong? Genuine. He perfectly balances Sherman's intelligence with his childhood vulnerability. It’s a performance that could have easily become grating if handled differently, but Charles keeps it grounded and utterly lovable. He makes you root for Sherman instantly.
Honestly, their chemistry is the engine of the film. You completely buy their unconventional father-son bond. That's down to the actors playing off each other, even in the recording booth.
The Supporting Players You Definitely Recognize
The mr peabody and sherman cast isn't just about the leads. The supporting actors bring serious star power and comedic chops, filling out the world beautifully. Here’s who made the cut:
| Character | Voice Actor | Where You Know Them From | Role Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penny Peterson | Ariel Winter | Alex Dunphy in Modern Family (Ty Burrell's on-screen daughter!) | The initially mean girl who gets swept up in the adventure. Winter nails the shift from snotty to terrified to adventurous. |
| Paul Peterson | Stephen Colbert | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report | Penny's dad. Colbert brings his signature blend of smarmy arrogance and hilarious panic, especially when dealing with Peabody. |
| Patty Peterson | Leslie Mann | Knocked Up, This is 40, Blockers | Penny's mom. Mann provides warmth and a touch of suburban exasperation amidst the chaos. |
| Ms. Grunion | Allison Janney | The West Wing (C.J. Cregg), Mom, Juno | The villainous Child Protection Services officer. Janney is fantastically terrifying and rigid, her voice dripping with disdain for Peabody. A standout! |
| Ay | Stanley Tucci | The Hunger Games (Caesar Flickerman), The Devil Wears Prada | The stressed-out Pharaoh (father of King Tut). Tucci is hilarious, channeling pure exasperated dad energy into an ancient ruler. |
| Leonardo da Vinci | Patrick Warburton | Seinfeld (Puddy), Kronk in Emperor's New Groove, Joe Swanson in Family Guy | Pure Warburton gold. Deep voice, slightly dopey enthusiasm. His da Vinci is more lovable inventor than tortured genius, and it works perfectly. |
| Agamemnon | Mel Brooks | Comedy Legend! Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs | A fantastic cameo. Brooks brings his iconic gruffness and comedic timing to the King of Mycenae. A treat for fans. |
Let me tell you, Allison Janney as Ms. Grunion still gives me slight chills. That voice! So perfectly cold and bureaucratic. It’s a masterclass in vocal villainy without needing to shout. And Stanley Tucci as Ay? I crack up every time he complains about Tut's teenage rebellion. "He wants to change his name to Tut! Tut!" Pure parenting gold, even in ancient Egypt.
The Voices Behind the Historical Figures
A huge part of the fun in any Peabody and Sherman adventure is the time travel and the historical figures they meet. The movie cast nailed these iconic roles:
- King Tut (Zach Callison): Perfectly captures the spoiled, entitled teenager vibe of the young Pharaoh. Think ancient Egyptian brat with daddy issues. Callison (Steven Universe) gets just the right whiny tone.
- Marie Antoinette (Lauri Fraser): Delivers the iconic (though historically debated) "Let them eat cake!" line with the right mix of obliviousness and royal flair. Spot-on.
- Robespierre (Guillaume Aretos): Brings the necessary intensity and revolutionary fervor to the French leader. Sounds appropriately severe.
- Albert Einstein (Dennis Haysbert): Probably best known as the Allstate guy or President Palmer in 24. That deep, authoritative, instantly recognizable voice is perfect for Einstein. He sounds brilliantly absent-minded yet profound.
- Odysseus (Tom McGrath):
Director of the Madagascar films, voice of Skipper. He brings a fun, slightly exaggerated heroic tone to the Greek legend. Okay, minor gripe time: While most historical cameos are gems, I felt some were *too* brief. Isaac Newton, for instance, gets barely a line. Would have loved a bit more interaction with some of those giants. Feels like a wasted opportunity for extra laughs or insight. The movie packs a lot in, but a few more moments with these legends wouldn't have hurt.
Behind the Scenes: The Creative Force
Knowing the mr peabody and sherman cast isn't just about the actors you hear. The folks behind the camera shaped these voices and performances:
- Director: Rob Minkoff - A heavyweight in animation. Co-directed The Lion King. Clearly knows how to handle classic characters and big emotional beats. His direction guided the vocal performances towards that blend of humor and heart.
- Producer: Alex Schwartz (& others) - Overseeing the whole DreamWorks operation, ensuring the vision for the characters matched the original spirit while updating it for modern audiences. Casting choices start here.
- Casting Director: Christi Soper Hilt - The unsung hero! Matching actors to animated roles is an art. Finding Ty Burrell for Peabody was inspired, as was bringing in Max Charles so young. She assembled an incredibly cohesive vocal ensemble.
It's a reminder that an animated character's personality is a cocktail: the voice actor's skill poured into the glass shaped by the writers, directors, and animators. The mr peabody and sherman cast list reflects some truly smart choices by the creative team.
Awards Buzz and Critical Reception for the Cast
Did all this vocal talent get recognized? Well, kinda. While the movie itself got decent reviews (generally praised for its humor, heart, and animation, though some critics found it overly busy), the mr peabody and sherman cast itself generated positive buzz.
Award/Nomination Category Recipient Result Annie Awards Voice Acting in a Feature Production Max Charles (Sherman) Nominated Behind the Voice Actors Awards Best Male Vocal Performances in a Feature Film (Lead) Ty Burrell (Mr. Peabody) Nominated Behind the Voice Actors Awards Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film The Full Cast Nominated Max Charles' nomination for the Annie Award (a huge deal in animation) speaks volumes. It’s rare for a child actor to get that recognition in a lead role against seasoned pros. Ty Burrell's performance was consistently highlighted in reviews as a major strength. Allison Janney's Ms. Grunion also frequently got called out as a scene-stealer. While they didn't sweep the big awards, the critical consensus was that the voice acting was a significant asset to the film.
Where Are They Now? The Cast Then and Since
Wondering what the talented folks behind the mr peabody and sherman voice cast have been up to since 2014?
- Ty Burrell: Finished his long run on Modern Family (2009-2020), winning multiple Emmys. Done more film work (Rough Night, Storks), some theatre, and is co-owner of a Utah brewery (Bar X / Beer Bar). Seems to be enjoying life post-Phil Dunphy.
- Max Charles: Continued voice acting (Young Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man games, various animated series) and live-action roles (The Strain, The Neighbors). More recently appeared in the film Sweetwater (2023). He grew up!
- Ariel Winter: Completed Modern Family alongside Burrell. Pursued higher education at UCLA, continued acting (Speed Kills), and is an advocate for body positivity and mental health.
- Stephen Colbert: Became host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2015 and has been a major force in late-night television ever since.
- Allison Janney: Won an Oscar for I, Tonya (2017), starred in successful films like Bad Education and Bombshell, and continued acclaimed TV work (Mom). Busy and brilliant as ever.
- Stanley Tucci: Continues to be in everything! Major roles in The Hunger Games franchise, Beauty and the Beast, Supernova, TV series like Inside Man and Citadel, plus his popular food/travel shows (Searching for Italy). Renaissance man.
- Patrick Warburton: Still the go-to deep voice guy! Continued Joe Swanson in Family Guy, Kronk in various Disney projects, Buzz Lightyear in Lightyear (2022), plus live-action roles (A Series of Unfortunate Events TV series).
- Mel Brooks: Living legend status confirmed. Received an honorary Oscar in 2023. At 97, he's earned the rest!
Safe to say, the mr peabody and sherman cast members have all stayed busy and successful. Watching their careers post-movie is fun.
Your Burning Questions About the Mr. Peabody & Sherman Cast (Answered!)
Searching "mr peabody and sherman cast" usually means you've got questions. Let's tackle the most common ones I see:
Who voiced Penny in Mr. Peabody and Sherman?That was Ariel Winter. She was actually playing Ty Burrell's on-screen daughter on Modern Family (Alex Dunphy) at the exact same time she was voicing Penny! Weird coincidence, or smart casting? She brought a great mix of initial brattiness and growing charm to the role.
Is there a Mr. Peabody and Sherman 2?Ah, the eternal question! As of my last update (late 2023), no, there isn't a direct sequel movie. DreamWorks initially planned one, and there were even some early development images/concepts floating around online (think Cleopatra, Vikings). But unfortunately, it got cancelled. The main reasons cited were the first movie's box office performance being solid but not a massive breakout hit (it made money, but maybe not "franchise starter" money for DreamWorks at that time), and a shift in studio priorities. Bummer, right? Fans (myself included) would have loved more time-travel adventures with this cast. There *was* a short-lived TV series reboot on Netflix (The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, 2015-2017) with different voice actors (Chris Parnell as Peabody, Max Charles *did* return as Sherman for the first season only). It was fun, but it wasn't the same as the movie cast.
What other famous voices are in the movie?Beyond the main cast listed earlier, keep your ears peeled for:
- Karan Brar (Jesse on Disney's Jessie/Bunk'd): Voices Mason, a kid who briefly picks on Sherman.
- Stephen Tobolowsky (Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day!): Voices the Principal.
- Al Roker: The real-life weatherman plays himself in a quick TV news cameo.
- Lake Bell: Voiced Martha Washington.
- Rob Huebel: Plays the French baker who gets mad about Marie Antoinette's cake comment.
How old was Sherman's voice actor?Max Charles was born in 2003. Since Mr. Peabody & Sherman was released in March 2014, and voice recording happens months or even years before release, he was likely around 9 or 10 years old when he voiced Sherman. Pretty incredible performance for someone so young, capturing both the smarts and the sweetness.
Who is the most famous person in the Mr. Peabody and Sherman cast?Tough call! At the time of release, Ty Burrell was huge thanks to Modern Family. Stephen Colbert was about to take over The Late Show. Allison Janney and Stanley Tucci are Oscar winners/nominees consistently. Stanley Tucci might have the broadest international film recognition. Mel Brooks is a comedy god, though his role is a cameo. Patrick Warburton has massive voiceover fame. Honestly, it depends how you define "famous." The sheer density of recognizable names across film, TV, and comedy is impressive. It’s a genuinely star-studded mr peabody and sherman cast.
Why This Casting Still Resonates
Finding the right mr peabody and sherman cast was more than just grabbing big names. It was about finding voices that embodied specific qualities:
- Peabody Needed Nuance: Not just intelligence, but warmth, dry wit, and paternal instinct. Burrell delivered layers.
- Sherman Needed Authenticity: Genuine childlike wonder without cloying sweetness. Charles sounded real.
- The Villain Needed Chill: Janney made Grunion terrifying through icy control, not ranting.
- History Needed Personality: Actors like Tucci, Warburton, and Brooks didn't just play icons; they gave them relatable, funny modern spins.
Could other actors have done it? Maybe. But this specific combination created a unique alchemy. Ty Burrell’s Peabody sets the tone – clever but caring. Max Charles’ Sherman is the perfect foil – eager and endearing. The supporting cast, from Janney's villain to Colbert's pompous dad, fills every scene with character and humor. They understood the assignment: honor the classic cartoon roots while making it fresh and emotionally resonant for a new audience. That's why, years later, people still search for the "mr peabody and sherman cast." They remember the *people* behind the animation.
So next time you watch Mr. Peabody & Sherman, listen beyond the jokes and the adventure. Listen to the craft in those voices. That’s what makes this cast, and the movie they brought to life, truly special.
Leave a Message