Prolific Voice Actor for Animation
Charles Michael “Charlie” Adler was born on October 2, 1956, in Paterson, New Jersey. He would go on to become one of the most prolific and recognizable voice actors and voice directors in American animation, bringing an extraordinary range of characters to life in television series, films, video games, and other productions.
Adler discovered his interest in acting at an early age. He has recalled deciding that he wanted to become an actor while he was still in the fifth grade, inspired in part by a teacher who was also an actor. Growing up, he was an enthusiastic television viewer and fan of classic comedy, including The Three Stooges and The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.
From the Stage to Animation
Adler began his professional acting career in New York and worked in theater, television, and commercials before establishing himself in animation. His stage career included the Broadway production of Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song Trilogy, where Adler succeeded Fierstein in the role of Arnold Beckoff. He also performed Off-Broadway and toured nationally in theatrical productions.
His transition into animation opened the door to a remarkably varied career. Adler quickly developed a reputation for his ability to create distinctive voices and, importantly, to perform multiple characters within the same production.
A Voice Behind Generations of Cartoons
Over the course of his career, Adler has appeared as a series regular or recurring performer in more than 125 animated series. Among his best-known characters are:
- Buster Bunny in Tiny Toon Adventures
- Ed and Bev Bighead in Rocko’s Modern Life
- Ickis in Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
- Cow, Chicken, and the Red Guy in Cow and Chicken
- Baboon in I Am Weasel
- Mr. Whiskers in Brandy & Mr. Whiskers
- Professor Monkey-for-a-Head in Earthworm Jim
- T-Bone in SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron
- Cobra Commander in G.I. Joe
- Starscream in the Transformers franchise
- Dr. Doom and other characters in The Super Hero Squad Show
- MODOK in Marvel productions.
His work on Cow and Chicken was particularly notable because he supplied the voices of several major characters, including both Cow and Chicken and their antagonist, the Red Guy. His versatility allowed him to perform opposite himself, creating entire comic exchanges through different vocal personalities.
Starscream and the Transformers Legacy
One of Adler’s most recognizable roles is Starscream, the ambitious Decepticon from Transformers. His association with the franchise began with the animated Transformers universe, where he voiced characters including Silverbolt, before eventually taking on Starscream in Michael Bay’s live-action Transformers films.
The role helped introduce Adler’s distinctive voice work to a new generation of Transformers fans and demonstrated his ability to carry an animated character into a major live-action film franchise.
Voice Director and Casting Director
Adler’s career extends well beyond performing. He has become an Emmy-winning voice director and casting director, working behind the scenes on numerous animated productions.
He has directed voice performances for such projects as Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys, Rocket Power, All Grown Up!, The Replacements, The Buzz on Maggie, Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny, Madagascar: A Little Wild, Harley Quinn, Creature Commandos, and other productions. His work on the Rugrats franchise earned him an Emmy for directing.
Adler has also worked in video games, feature films, audiobooks, and live-action productions. His career demonstrates that successful voice acting involves far more than simply providing a memorable voice—it requires acting, improvisation, characterization, timing, and an understanding of how performance works with animation.
Recognition
Adler’s accomplishments have earned him considerable recognition within the animation and voice-over industries. Animation Magazine named him among the Top 13 All-Time Voice-Over Artists, while Animation World Network recognized him as a “Voice of the Decade.” In 2022, he received the Voice Arts Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Voice Arts & Sciences. In 2025, he was also honored as a NATAS Gold Circle Honoree at the Children & Family Emmy Awards.
A Paterson-Born Talent
Although Charlie Adler’s career ultimately took him far beyond New Jersey, his story begins in Paterson, adding his name to the city’s long tradition of producing actors, entertainers, artists, musicians, and other creative talents.
From the stages of New York to some of the most beloved animated programs of the past several decades, Adler has created an enormous gallery of memorable characters. His distinctive ability to move effortlessly between wildly different personalities has made him one of the enduring voices of American animation.
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Charlie Adler has become a major figure in the world of animation—both in front of the microphone and behind it.