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Chunky Puffs! YUM! YUM! YUM!
The Doctor Will Be on Ze Mic!
Interviewed with Dean Julian
Ed, Edd n Eddy
1999-2009
December 1, 2015
JXP: When did you get started in the voice over industry?
DEAN: During my sophomore year in college (many moons ago), I made a series of prank phone calls to a local radio station in Oshkosh Wisconsin--various celebrities requesting songs to be played. Not only did the DJ play the songs I requested, but he would also play the phone call as a lead in. After about 10 of these calls, the DJ told me people were calling the radio station wondering if there was a celebrity party in town, and offered me my first paying voiceover job… doing celebrity and character comedy bits for a few radio stations.
JXP: What inspired you to do voices / any actors for your inspirations?
DEAN: When I was a kid, I would walk around the house and entertain my mom by mimicking characters on Sesame Street. As I got older, inspired by Rich Little, I started to play around with celebrity voices, and realized I was pretty good at it, as I was able to make people laugh.
JXP: Any voiceover training?
DEAN: My senior year in high school, there was an open casting call for a movie that was going to be shot in Wisconsin. I auditioned and got a lead role in the film. During production, they provided an acting coach named Jim Melberg.
Unfortunately, the movie got canned halfway through production. I was devastated, and after spending a few days grieving in my room, I decided I was going to move to California. My father told me to get my education first, and then I could do whatever I wanted. So I did that (at UW Oshkosh) then moved to California right after I graduated. In California, during the 1990s, I received training from Susan Blu, Jamie Thomason, Chris Zimmerman, Bonnie Pietila and Ginny McSwain via VoiceTrax West.
JXP: How did you get to be on Beavis and Butt-Head?
DEAN: When I moved to California, my older brother told me to look up a friend of his from college--Kristofor Brown--said we would get along great. Sure enough, Kris and I hit it off… in fact, we made prank phone calls together on a number of occasions and recorded them... BEFORE the emergence of the Jerky Boys. Soon after, Kris took a job in New York on Beavis & Butt-head. He got me an audition, and I booked a few roles.
JXP: Did you get to work with Mike Judge directly and did you guys record together?
DEAN: I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to watch Mike Judge in the recording booth, both in New York and at his private studio in Austin, Texas. Mike recorded all of his characters in the booth solo, as did I. I actually prefer recording that way, better focus.
JXP: How do you feel about Earl's personality?
DEAN: To be honest, I've never really given it much thought. To me, he's just a bully that's been held back in school a few too many times.
JXP: I see you played Rick Moranis in ILL-ustrated. Have you seen the Ghostbusters films? How about the Ghostbusters' cartoon or Gravedale High.
DEAN: I did see him in Ghostbusters, in fact I used a monologue from that film to get the role. :-) I did not see Ghostbuster Toon or Gravedale High, but I did watch Rick Moranis on SCTV when I was younger.
JXP: What cartoon voices / celebrity impressions are you a master of, or have been well received by fans, friends and loved ones?
DEAN: I have done over 100 celebrity/character voices for radio programs and/or television shows over the years. I'm told that my Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone are pretty solid, and I just did the voice of Gary Busey for a new TV pilot. Other competitive ones include Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Darth Vader, Casey Kasem, Wilford Brimley, David Archuleta, Willem Dafoe, Larry the Cable Guy, Mike Tyson, Pee Wee Herman, and a few dozen others along with a slew of cartoon characters and most of the Muppets.
JXP: Where did you study?
DEAN: UW-Oshkosh
JXP: You voiced Macho Taco and Dr. Gut-Punch on Disney's Kirby Buckets, correct? How did you land the role for those two, and did you do any impressions or put a lot of energy on the characters?
DEAN: Once again, my friend Kristofor Brown recommended me for an audition with Disney. An interesting note I was given--Disney did not want Macho Taco to sound Hispanic, even though he is a character dressed in full Mexican wrestling gear. This politically correct desire played perfectly into my audition because I do a pretty mean Randy "Macho Man" Savage (RIP), and the "OH YEAAAA!" got me the role. As for Dr. Gut-Punch, it is a male version of Dr. Ruth, another voice I played around with when I was younger... "Hello, you are on ze air."
JXP: Besides Maco and Gutpunch, what other voices did you do on the show?
DEAN: I also voice the recurring character ZIP ZAP, the space alien that sounds like Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars. And I voiced Prank Williams Junior in his 2 episodes. I've also done more than a dozen other minor voices on the show.
JXP: Which studio do you record?
DEAN: We record at Warner Brothers.
JXP: If together, what was it like working with Josh Faure-Brac ("Tri-Butt" and "Scrunch Face")?
DEAN: Josh is a great guy. I've worked with him on prior shows as well. While we don't record at the same time, I have heard him record numerous times, very talented!!
JXP: Ever met the live action cast?
DEAN: I met all of the kids at the season one wrap party. It was actually kind of funny… they were all so impressed to meet the guy behind several of the cartoon characters on their show. Definitely a cool feeling. A few months ago, I got to visit the set and I met Stephen Kierin (Principal Mitchell). The guy is hilarious.And I met Michael Naughton (Kirby's dad on the show) at the season 2 wrap party, very nice guy.
JXP: What are your favorite Kirby Buckets episodes?
DEAN: The pilot episode, of course (production value). And "Viva La Dad" is up there, as it is Macho Taco's biggest episode. Flice and Bradlands are also personal favorites.
JXP: When you watch your performances live on TV, do you feel self-conscious or embaressed?
DEAN: Not at all. It's kind of surreal though.
JXP: Any advice for a voice actor like myself?
DEAN: Build relationships, but be genuine in those relationships. The harder you work, the luckier you get. Stay positive...there is more rejection in this industry than in any other, but if you look at it as "selection" rather than rejection, you will carry your self-confidence to the role that is perfect for you.
JXP: What cartoons do you watch as a kid?
DEAN: All the Looney Tunes, Woody Woodpecker, and Tarzan Lord of the Apes come to mind.