William Richard "Billy" West (born on April 16 1952 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American voice actor, known for roles on television shows such as The Ren and Stimpy Show, Futurama and Doug.
Billy West (September 22, 1892 - July 21, 1975) was an American film actor and director of the silent film era.
Born Roy B. Weissburg in Russia, West adopted his professional name some time after emigrating to America. He appeared in many short films, first in Apartment No. 13 in 1912, however he was to become best known as a Charlie Chaplin imitator, despite Chaplin not making his first film appearance until 1914. Oliver Hardy often appeared as his antagonist in a role reminiscent of those of Eric Campbell's in Chaplin's shorts with Mutual Films.
Billy West was a silent film comedian, the best-known and most successful imitator of Charles Chaplin's "Tramp" character, until West developed his own comedic persona. Oliver Hardy was West's foil in many of his silents.
Did celebrity impressions on the Howard Stern (I) Show for years.
Some of his characters' voices such as Stimpy are based on the voice of Larry Fine (I) of The Three Stooges.
Did the voice of ZIM in the pilot episode of "Invader ZIM" (2001).
Turned down the opportunity to reprise his role as the voice of the title character on the "Doug" (1991)-spinoff, "Brand Spanking New! Doug" (1996) because he considered it a role he did and did well and it was time to put it aside and move on.
Turned down the opportunity to reprise the role as the voice of the legendary Stimpy on John K.'s new "Ren & Stimpy 'Adult Party Cartoon'" (2003) on Spike.
Made his live-action debut in Mark Hamill (I)'s Comic Book: The Movie (2004) (V) along with numerous other voice-over actors. Hamill has made a real career as a voice-over actor and wanted many of his peers to appear on film in the flesh.
He based the voice of Zapp Brannigan in "Futurama" (1999) on the late Phil Hartman (I) who was a frequent guest voice on another of Matt Groening's TV shows, "Simpsons, The" (1989).
Is a vegan.
