Sean Schemmel | |
|---|---|
 Schemmel in 2019 | |
| Born | (1968-11-21)November 21, 1968 (age 57) Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouses | |
Sean Schemmel (born November 21, 1968)[1][2] is an American voice actor, ADR director, and screenwriter known chiefly for his work in cartoons, anime, and video games. Since 1999, he has served as the adult voice forSon Goku in the English dub of theDragon Ball franchise.
Initially, Schemmel never planned on becoming a voice actor; he trained to be aclassicalFrench horn player. When a friend persuaded him to audition forDragon Ball Z, he tried out for a minor character who was going to be killed in the first season of the show. He had been recording for two weeks before he was told that he was going to be the lead.[3] Since being cast asSon Goku by Funimation in 1999, he has been the most consistent English voice actor for the mainprotagonist of theDragon Ball franchise, having voiced the character's older teen and adult incarnations in every anime series produced to date (Dragon Ball,Z,GT,Kai,Super, andDaima) and mostDragon Ballanimated movies andvideo games, as well as other characters such asKing Kai andGoku Black.[4]
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Besides voicing Goku, Schemmel has lent his voice to several other anime characters includingAmidamaru inShaman King (2001),Lucario inPokémon andElliot Grant inMew Mew Power. His other roles in animation includeFirefly inG.I. Joe: Sigma 6,Gonard inKappa Mikey andHawkman inDC Super Friends. In video games, Schemmel has provided his voice to Makuta inBionicle, Black Doom inShadow the Hedgehog, Maxwell inBullet Witch, Horace inSkullgirls,Batman inThe Dark Knight Rises,Sun Wukong (whom Goku was originally based on) inSmite, and Marc Wilson inFallout 4.
In addition to his voice acting career, Schemmel was also an ADR Director and scriptwriter forNYAV Post, where he had directed and adapted for English dubs of several Japanese anime series. In the field of narration, he has won two awards for his audiobook recordings.
Schemmel was married to Melissa Cox, from 1993 to 1998. He married actress Melodee Lenz in 1998. The marriage ended nearly three years later.[3] In a 2018 interview, Schemmel mentioned that he is on the autism spectrum.[5][6]
| Year | Title | Role | Crew Role, Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2003; 2005 | Dragon Ball Z | Goku,King Kai, Nail,Vegito |
|
| 2001 | Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku | Goku (adult) | TV special |
| 2001–03 | Dragon Ball | Goku (teen) |
|
| 2001 | Blue Gender | Rick | |
| 2002 | Berserk | Gaston,Conrad, others | [8] |
| 2002 | Ultimate Muscle | Bone Cold | |
| 2002 | Yu Yu Hakusho | Shigeru Murota, Roto, Mr. Akashi | |
| 2003 | Hades Project Zeorymer | Gisou | OVA |
| 2003 | Samurai Deeper Kyo | Nobuyuki Sanada | ADR voice director, script writer |
| 2003 | Space Pirate Mito | ADR voice director, script writer | |
| 2003 | Sadamitsu the Destroyer | Junk/Helmet | ADR voice director, script writer |
| 2003–05 | Shaman King | Amidamaru,Rio, Nichrom | |
| 2003–15; 2020–present | Pokémon | Morrison, Archie, Cyrus, Sir Aaron'sLucario, Lampent, Dracovish, Sawk, Thundurus |
|
| 2003–05 | Dragon Ball GT | Goku (adult, Super Saiyan 4), King Kai,Gogeta (SS4) |
|
| 2004 | Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy | Goku | TV special |
| 2004 | Kiddy Grade | Carvo | Episode 4 |
| 2004 | Seven of Seven | ADR voice director, script writer | |
| 2004 | Case Closed | Kowalski | Episode 8 |
| 2004 | Giant Robo | Tetsugyu | OVA |
| 2004 | Domain of Murder | Dispatch | OVA |
| 2004 | The Gokusen | Minoru Tatsukawa, Kouhei Iwamoto | |
| 2004 | Fullmetal Alchemist | Clause's Father | Episode 4 |
| 2004 | Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning | Takashi Sonobe | Episodes 1–4 |
| 2004 | Munto | Munto | OVA |
| 2004 | Shura no Toki: Age of Chaos | Shinzaburo Kuki | |
| 2004 | Shrine of the Morning Mist | Naonori Hieda | ADR voice director |
| 2004–07; 2013–present | One Piece |
| |
| 2005 | Mobile Police Patlabor: The New Files | Hiromi Yamazaki | OVA |
| 2005 | Magical DoReMi | Mirabelle's Father, Simon | |
| 2005 | Mew Mew Power | Elliot Grant,The Blue Knight | 4Kids dub ofTokyo Mew Mew |
| 2005 | Midori Days | Jigoru | ADR voice director, script writer |
| 2005 | Piano: The Melody of a Young Girl's Heart | Seiji Nomura | |
| 2005–06 | The Galaxy Railways | Humanoid B | Episode 10 |
| 2005–06 | G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 | Firefly | [9] |
| 2005 | Samurai 7 | Genzo | Episodes 9, 11–12 |
| 2005 | Ah! My Goddess | 3rd Class Earth Spirit | ADR voice director |
| 2005–06 | Yu-Gi-Oh! | Bobasa, Karim | 4Kids dub ofYu-Gi-Oh! |
| 2005–08 | Yu-Gi-Oh! GX | Vellian Crowler, Ojama Yellow, Thelonious Viper, T-Bone, Mad Dog, Elemental Hero Neos, Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth, Dr. Collector | [9] |
| 2005 | Lupin III: Island of Assassins | Gordeau | TV special |
| 2006 | Pokémon Chronicles | Jimmy | [9] |
| 2006 | Munto 2: Beyond the Walls of Time | Munto, Munto's Father | OVA |
| 2006 | Ninja Nonsense | Onsokumaru | |
| 2006 | Outlanders | Tetsuya Wakatsuki, Geobaldi | OVA |
| 2007 | BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad | Hiroto | Episodes 23–24 |
| 2007–10 | Dinosaur King | Zander, Spectre, King Louis | |
| 2008–11 | Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's | Zigzix, Greiger, MC, Rudolph Heitmann, Hans, Mr.Pitts (season 3) | |
| 2010–13; 2017–18 | Dragon Ball Z Kai | Goku, King Kai, Nail, Vegito |
|
| 2010 | Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn | Flaste Schole | OVA |
| 2011–15 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal | Bronk Stone, Orbital 7(episode 13–75), Kazuma Tsukumo | [10] |
| 2016 | Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 | Flaste Schole | |
| 2017–19 | Dragon Ball Super | Goku, King Kai,Goku Black, Vegito |
|
| 2020 | Radiant | Pen Draig Knight B | Second Season |
| 2021 | Mars Red | Yoshinobu Maeda | [12] |
| 2025 | Dragon Ball Daima | Goku | Episode 1, Episode 19, Episode 20[13] |
| 2025 | My Hero Academia: Vigilantes | Captain Celebrity | [14] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Padre Pio | Prefect | ||
| 2014 | Time of Eve | Katoran | ||
| 2014 | Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods | Goku,King Kai | Limited U.S. theatrical release | [15] |
| 2015 | Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' | Goku | Limited U.S. theatrical release | [16] |
| 2019 | Dragon Ball Super: Broly | Goku,Gogeta | Limited U.S. theatrical release Gogeta shared w/Christopher Sabat | [17] |
| 2022 | Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero | Goku | Limited U.S. theatrical release | [18] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–09 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Nobody, Yukio Mashimi, Constable Biggles, Sh'Okanabo, Master Khan, Zippy Lad, Various characters | |
| 2006–07 | Winx Club | Valtor | 4Kids version |
| 2006–08 | Kappa Mikey | Gonard | [9] |
| 2006 | Wulin Warriors | Scar | |
| 2006 | Viva Piñata | Bart, Chortles Chippopotamus, Hamilton Horstachio | |
| 2006–11 | Thumb Wrestling Federation | Colonel Cossack, Face-Off Phil, Mr. Extremo, Dorsal Flynn, James Montgomery Flag, Lucky O'Leary, Pierre Pamplemousse, Knockout Ninja, Evil Ira, Flashback, The Visitor, The Scorchion, Mugsy Thumbscrew, Scoutmaster Scott. | |
| 2006–10 | Chaotic | Maxxor, Ulmar | [9] |
| 2008–09 | Three Delivery | Various characters | |
| 2008–09 | Speed Racer: The Next Generation | Dickie Ranford, Racer X / Rex Racer, Dr. Chezko / Sparky, narrator | |
| 2009 | Pat & Stan | Stuart | |
| 2009–12 | Huntik: Secrets & Seekers | LeBlanche, Mr. Mactavish, Ghost of Sir Lancelot | |
| 2011 | Shaktimaan Animated | Tock | English dub |
| 2015 | DC Super Friends | Hawkman | |
| 2015 | Sofia the First | Slim, King Habib | [20][21] |
| 2015 | Lego Scooby-Doo! Knight Time Terror | Charlie, Treasure Hunter No. 2 | |
| 2016 | Trip Tank | Wayne, Announcer | [22][23] |
| 2016 | Star vs. the Forces of Evil | The Box of Truth | [24][25] |
| 2017 | Spider-Man | Sal Salerno | [26] |
| 2020–24 | Lego Monkie Kid | Monkey King, Syntax, Jin | |
| 2022 | The Casagrandes | Mr. Vanderspeed | Episode: "Race Against the Machine"[27] |
| Year | Title | Role | Crew Role, Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Impy's Island | King Pumponell the 55th | |
| 2009 | TMNT: Turtles Forever | Raphael 84 | |
| 2010 | Animals United | Biggie the Rhinoceros | [28] |
| 2011 | A Car's Life 2 | Fender | |
| 2013 | A Car's Life 3: The Royal Heist | Fender, Otto, Pinion | |
| 2015 | A Car's Life 4: Junkyard Blues | Fender, Otto | |
| 2016 | DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year | Dark Opal | |
| 2017 | Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory | Mr. Salt, Mr. Turkentine |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ultraman Z | Ultraman Zero | English dub |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai | Goku,King Kai | |
| 2003 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 | Goku,Vegito, Gokule | |
| 2003 | Bionicle | Makuta | [citation needed] |
| 2004 | Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors | Goku | |
| 2004 | Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament | Roto | |
| 2004 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 | Goku, King Kai, Nail, Vegito,Gogeta | |
| 2005 | Dragon Ball Z: Sagas | Goku | |
| 2005 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi | Goku, King Kai (Narration), Vegito, Gogeta | |
| 2005 | Shadow the Hedgehog | Black Doom | [9] |
| 2006 | Shadow Hearts: From the New World | Ricardo Gomez | |
| 2006 | Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai | Goku, Vegito, Gogeta | |
| 2006 | Super Dragon Ball Z | Goku | |
| 2006 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 | Goku, King Kai, Vegito, Gogeta | |
| 2007 | Bullet Witch | Maxwell | [9] |
| 2007 | Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai – Another Road | Goku, Vegito, Gogeta | |
| 2007 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 | Goku, King Kai, Nail, Vegito, Gogeta | |
| 2008 | Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit | Goku | |
| 2008 | Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World | Goku, King Kai, Vegito, Gogeta | |
| 2009 | Dragon Ball: Raging Blast | Goku, Vegito, Gogeta | |
| 2010 | Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team | Goku, Vegito, Gogeta | |
| 2010 | Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 | Goku, Nail, Vegito, Gogeta | |
| 2011 | Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi | Goku, King Kai, Vegito, Gogeta | |
| 2012 | Skullgirls | Horace | |
| 2012 | Dragon Ball Z: For Kinect | Goku, Vegito | |
| 2012 | The Dark Knight Rises | Batman | Mobile game [29] |
| 2013 | Gangstar Vegas | Jason Malone, Radio Ads | [30][31][9] |
| 2014 | Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z | Goku, Vegito | |
| 2014 | Smite | Sun Wukong, Thor (Heavy Metal) | |
| 2014 | Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U | Lucario | [32] |
| 2015 | Dragon Ball Xenoverse | Goku, Tokitoki, Vegito, Gogeta | |
| 2015 | Fallout 4 | Strong, Marc Wilson, Male Ghouls | |
| 2015 | Halo 5: Guardians | Additional Voices | |
| 2016 | Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle | Goku (Narration) | Mobile game |
| 2016 | Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 | Goku, Nail, Tokitoki, Vegito, Gogeta,Goku Black | [33] |
| 2017 | Dishonored: Death of the Outsider | Overseers | [34] |
| 2018 | Dragon Ball FighterZ | Goku, Goku Black, Vegito, Gogeta | [33] |
| 2018 | Dragon Ball Legends | Goku, Vegito, Gogeta, Goku Black, Nail | Mobile game |
| 2018 | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Lucario | Archive audio |
| 2020 | Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot | Goku, King Kai, Nail, Vegito | [33] |
| 2024 | Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO | Goku, Nail, Vegito, Gogeta, Goku Black | [33] |
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Earphones Award | The Big Splash by Jack D. Ferraiolo | Won[35] | |
| 2013 | Audie Award | I Suck at Girls byJustin Halpern | Audie Award for Humor | Won[36] |
| 2019 | Guinness World Records | Kamehameha | Guinness World Record for most people performing aKamehameha | Won[37] |
Perhaps worse is realizing that one voice actor has multiple roles. As Hope Chapman noted, Steven Blum voices a police officer talking with Onizuka. Sean Schemmel voices every third character in Berserk. When you hear the same voices over and over in the same show, it makes it immediately obvious that you're being entertained instead of being part of a story.
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