Frederic Melton
Chuck E. Cheese, the mascot of the Chuck E. Cheese chain of family entertainment centres, has had several voice actors over the years. From 1977 to 1983, the character was voiced by John Widelock, followed by Scott Wilson from 1983 to 1993. Duncan Brannan took over the role from 1994 until 2012, when Jaret Reddick, the vocalist and guitarist of Bowling for Soup, became the new voice of Chuck E. Cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current voice actor | Jaret Reddick |
| Previous voice actors | John Widelock, Scott Wilson, Duncan Brannan |
| First voice actor | John Widelock |
| Accent | New Jersey accent (until 2012) |
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What You'll Learn
John Widelock was the first voice of Chuck E. Cheese
The character of Chuck E. Cheese was created in 1977 by Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari. Bushnell had purchased a costume that resembled a coyote, intending to use it for his planned Coyote Pizza restaurant. However, upon receiving the costume, he realized it was actually a rat, and thus, the character of Chuck E. Cheese was born. The name was chosen to be alliterative with Disney's Mickey Mouse and to have a catchy, three-syllable ring to it.
Widelock's portrayal of Chuck E. Cheese laid the foundation for the character's enduring appeal. During his seven-year tenure, Chuck E. Cheese was known for his New Jersey accent, quick wit, and the occasional cigar—a trait that was retired during the Great American Smokeout in 1980. Widelock's version of the character was also a rat, which would later be changed to a mouse in 1993.
Widelock's impact on the character extended beyond his vocal performance. The name "Bingley" was considered for the character, but it is said that Widelock had trouble pronouncing it, leading to the decision to stick with Chuck E. Cheese. Additionally, Widelock's inability to sing led to the introduction of Scott Wilson, who provided the singing vocals for Chuck E. Cheese during the Christmas special "The Christmas That Almost Wasn't."
In December 1983, John Widelock passed the torch to Scott Wilson, who became the full-time voice of Chuck E. Cheese. Wilson continued to develop the character, and under his portrayal, Chuck E. Cheese evolved and grew alongside the brand.
Today, Chuck E. Cheese remains a beloved icon, with his rockstar image and guitar-playing skills. The character has undergone several redesigns and has been voiced by talented individuals, but it was John Widelock who first brought him to life, shaping the trajectory of a character that has captured the imaginations of children and families for decades.
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Scott Wilson took over from Widelock in 1983
Scott Wilson took over from John Widelock (or Widlock) in 1983 as the voice of Chuck E. Cheese. Widelock had provided the voice of the character for the first seven years of its existence, from May 1977 to December 1983.
The character of Chuck E. Cheese was originally created in 1977 as the mascot for a restaurant proposed by Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari. Bushnell bought a costume that he believed to be a coyote for his planned Coyote Pizza restaurant, but when it arrived, it turned out to be a rat. Bushnell decided to change the restaurant's name to Rick Rat's Pizza, but his group of planners believed that naming a restaurant after a rat would be inappropriate. They settled on the name Chuck E. Cheese, and the first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre opened in San Jose, California, in 1977.
The rat mascot was originally given a New Jersey accent and would tell jokes, occasionally holding a cigar—although this was retired during the Great American Smokeout in 1980. When Scott Wilson took over the role in 1983, he also provided the singing vocals for the character, as Widelock could not sing. Wilson continued in the role until 1993, when he was replaced by Duncan Brannan, who was tasked with transforming the character from a rat to a mouse.
In 2012, Jaret Reddick, the vocalist and guitarist of Bowling for Soup, was chosen to be the new voice of Chuck E. Cheese as part of a revamp for the company. This decision caused some controversy, as Reddick did not attempt a New Jersey accent for the character, unlike previous voice actors.
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Duncan Brannan replaced Scott Wilson in 1994
Duncan Brannan replaced Scott Wilson as the voice of Chuck E. Cheese in 1994. Brannan, an American voice actor, writer, Christian pastor, speaker, director, and fine arts consultant, was hired to replace Wilson in December 1993. Brannan voiced Chuck E. Cheese from 1994 to 2012, with the exception of a brief period in 1997 when Wilson returned to the role.
The character of Chuck E. Cheese underwent a significant transformation during Brannan's tenure. In 1993, the character changed from an anthropomorphic rat to a mouse, and Brannan was tasked with voicing the new version of the character. By 1995, Chuck E. Cheese had been redesigned to be more child-friendly, with a wider cheek structure, a less pointy and shorter snout, longer eyes, smaller ears, and a slimmer physique. This redesign also marked a shift in the character's personality, as he began to be portrayed as a skateboarder in commercials starting in 1997.
Brannan's version of Chuck E. Cheese was well-loved by fans, and he is considered one of the most iconic voice actors to have played the character. However, in 2012, Chuck E. Cheese's underwent a rebrand due to declining sales. As a result, Brannan was replaced by musician and singer Jaret Reddick, who was chosen to voice a new, rockstar-themed version of the character.
The transition from Brannan to Reddick was not without controversy. Some fans felt that Brannan was treated unfairly by the company during the replacement process. Despite inquiries from Brannan and his agent, the company initially denied that they were planning to replace him. Brannan only learned that he had been replaced when a new Chuck E. Cheese's song was released featuring Reddick's voice.
Despite the controversy, Reddick's version of Chuck E. Cheese has been generally well-received, and the character continues to be a beloved mascot for the brand.
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Jaret Reddick replaced Brannan in 2012
Jaret Reddick replaced Duncan Brannan as the voice of Chuck E. Cheese in 2012. Reddick is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the pop-punk band Bowling for Soup. He is also an actor and
Reddick was chosen by Chuck E. Cheese's to be the new voice of their mascot as part of a revamp for the company and the character. The mascot was redesigned to incorporate a rockstar-influenced incarnation of the character that played a guitar. This was in response to a decrease in sales during 2011.
Reddick replaced Brannan, who had voiced the character for 19 years. Brannan claimed that the news of his replacement came as a complete surprise and was hurtful. Brannan said that he wasn't given a heads-up about the change and that he only found out when he heard "Chuck's Hot New Single" and realised the voice was not his.
Reddick has since voiced commercials for Chuck E. Cheese.
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Jeremy Blaido also voiced Chuck E. Cheese
Jeremy Blaido was one of several voice actors who played Chuck E. Cheese. Blaido took on the role in 1997, replacing Scott Wilson, who had voiced the character since 1983. Blaido's tenure as the voice of Chuck E. Cheese was short-lived, however, as he was replaced by Duncan Brannan in 1998.
Blaido's time as the voice of Chuck E. Cheese coincided with a period of transition for the character. During this time, Chuck E. Cheese underwent a redesign, moving away from the "Tux" and "Coach Chuck" designs that had been introduced in the late 1980s and early 1990s, respectively. The new look, known as "Cool Chuck", aimed to give the character a younger and cooler appearance to appeal to kids in the mid to late 1990s. Blaido's voice work helped bring this updated version of Chuck E. Cheese to life, contributing to the character's hip and trendy image.
In addition to his role as the voice of Chuck E. Cheese, Blaido also voiced another character in the Chuck E. Cheese universe, Jasper T. Jowls. Blaido began voicing Jasper in 1999, after his stint as Chuck E. Cheese had ended. While Blaido's time as the titular character was brief, his voice work for Jasper T. Jowls allowed him to remain a part of the franchise and further develop his voice acting skills.
Jeremy Blaido's contribution to the Chuck E. Cheese franchise is an important part of its history. His voice work helped shape the character of Chuck E. Cheese during a pivotal period of transformation and evolution. While the character has undergone numerous redesigns and been voiced by multiple actors since Blaido's tenure, his impact on the franchise remains a testament to the character's enduring appeal and ability to adapt to changing times.
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Frequently asked questions
John Widelock was the first person to voice Chuck E. Cheese, from 1977 to 1983.
Scott Wilson, Lonny Wilder, Duncan Brannan, and Jaret Reddick have all provided the voice for Chuck E. Cheese.
Jaret Reddick has been the voice of Chuck E. Cheese since 2012.
Chuck E. Cheese was rebranded in 2012 to be slimmer and Rockstar-themed, so a new voice actor, Jaret Reddick, was brought in.
