The voice cast stayed more or less the same in the 15 years since the movie premiered and video sequels, a TV Show, park appearances of the characters, cameos in other Disney projects and all the merchandise requiring the character to speak.
You all know that Robin Williams didn’t return for most reappearances of Genie and Lea Salonga didn’t return either as Princess Jasmine singing voice.
Scott Weinger
Speaking voice Aladdin
Promotional photograph of Scott in the recording booth.
Before Aladdin Scott had various small roles in TV and movie land. Noteworthy is his role as Steve Smith in “Life Goes On” in 1989 and 1990 working alongside Kellie Martin who would voice Sadira 4 years later. Scott’s best known role is as the boyfriend of DJ in “Full House”.
After Aladdin Scott continued with the various small roles between Aladdin projects like both sequels and the TV series. He also went back into the recording booth for Aladdin’s lines in “House of Mouse”. In 2005 he penned a few episodes for the sitcom “What I Like About You”.
Brad Kane
Singing voice Aladdin
Promotional photograph of Brad Kane preforming.
Before Aladdin Brad had a small movie/tv career as actor landing him a guest role on “Law and Order” with Jerry Orbach. He also played along side Jonathan Freeman in the Broadway musical “She Loves Me”.
After Aladdin he and Lea had guest role in the Olson Twins Mothers Day Special connecting him with Scott Weinger again. He would do some singing and release a few albums and singles but nothing really got mainstream. When needed by Disney he’ll do the singing parts for Aladdin. But not on the House of Mous Christmas special where Aladdin sings a few lines. Rick Logan did Aladdin’s part while Bobbie Paige did Jasmine.
Linda Larkin
Speaking voice Jasmine
Promotional photograph of Linda and a Jasmine statue.
Before Aladdin Linda Larkin had a few guest roles in 70′s/80′s hit series like “Murder She Wrote” and “Doogie Houser M.D.”.
After Aladdin Linda landed small supporting roles in video and TV films. Besides that she stayed true to her alter ago by doing the voice of the feisty arabian princess whenever she was called for. Her most recent re-appearance as Princess Jasmine was in Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams and the video game Enchanted Journey.
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Lea Salonga
Singing voice Jasmine
Promotional photograph of Lea Salonga recording.
Before Aladdin Lea Salonga was starring as the lead in Miss Saigon and was Eponine in Les Misérables on New York’s Broadway. She was also productions like “Annie”, “The Sound of Music” and “Fantasticks.”
After Aladdin Lea became a succesful singer and a star in the Philippines and United States. She kept her musical talents warm by preforming in productions like Grease, They’re Playing Our Song, and Into The Woods in the Philippines and Singapore. She would join Disney on Mulan where she did the singing for the title character Fa Mulan in 1998. She wouldn’t be reunited with some of the Aladdin cast, Gilbert and Frank, until the 2007 Disney Princes Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams segment I’m Not Peacock Princess as Jasmine’s singing voice.
Robin Williams
voice Genie
No photo
Before Aladdin Robin Williams had a long career as comedian and comedy actor going back to 1977. Robin got fame and fortune as Mork in the TV series “Mork and Mindy” in 1978. A string of successes and failures followed most notable successes where often light hearted comedy films like “Good Morning, Vietnam” or “Hook”. On the flip side his humor wasn’t always enough to save movies from the void of forgetfulness. Average Joe hardly remembers “Club Paradise” or the live-action “Popeye” film from 1980. That Robin could play a serious role became a known fact in the box office successes “Dead Poets Society” or the 1990 Penny Marshal classic “Awakenings” .
After Aladdin Robin Williams carrier leapt for the skies with hits like “Mrs. Doubtfire”, “Jumanji”, “The Birdcage” up to 1997′s “Good Will Hunting”. Like all actors not everything he touches turns into gold. Does anyone remember “Toys”, “Being Human” or “The Secret Agent”? Even the Disney remake of “Flubber” can be seen as a failure if going by 4.5 IMDB Users gave the movie.
Around 2000 Robin seemed to have lost his magic, almost all of his films didn’t rank in much cash but weren’t bad films per so more underappreciated. “Bicentennial Man” and “One Hour Photo” are examples of low box office results but good IMDB rating.
Robin reprised Genie in “Aladdin and the King of Thieves” and the video game “Aladdin’s Math Quest” though that could be re-used lines from the movie.
Jonathan Freeman
Speaking voice Jafar
Promotional photograph of Jonathan.
Before Aladdin Jafar’s voice actor had forgettable guest appearances in 80′s and 90′s TV Series and movies. In fact even his Broadway career would not impress many, having only played in the 1978 musical “Platinum.
After Aladdin Jonathan got himself into the picture by casting agencies and the Broadway scene. In 1993 he played alongside Brad Kane and Judy Kuhn (Pocahontas) in the revival of “She Loves Me”. In the 1995 theater season Jonathan portrayed Brett Brattin in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”. ’98 followed him in “On the Town”. In the 21th century he did “The Producers” for a while and “42th Street”.
Then late 2006 he was asked to play Cogsworth in “Beauty and the Beast” before switching to do Grimsby in “The Little Mermaid” directly connecting him to Disney and the movies that would follow after Aladdin. It also reunites him with Alan Menken.
His screen career, however, was still mostly limited to being Jafar when Disney called for in “Return of Jafar”, Hercules’ guest role and various video games.
Gilbert Gottfried
Speaking voice Iago
Promotional photograph of Gilbert Gottfried with Iago statue.
Before Aladdin Gilbert had many guest roles in the 1980′s. He was a regular in “Saturday Night Live” Played Mr. Peabody in all the “Problem Child” films. His typical voice and features landed him a tiny role in “Beverly Hills Cop II”.
After Aladdin Gilbert continued with guest roles in movies, TV series and cartoons. When needed he played the annoying parrot again.
Douglas Seale
voice Sultan
No photo
Before Aladdin Douglas Seale had roles in many films and TV series. His credits roll all the way back to 1937, the year “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” saw her world premiere, as a young chap in the TV film Once In A Life Time. Strangely enough there’re a gap between his appearance on a 1939 TV show and “Amadeus” in 1984. He was the voice of Krebbs in the 1990 Rescuers sequel “Rescuers Down Under”. In the 70′s and 80′s he had roles in a couple of musical productions and he was a stage actor as well.
After Aladdin he played in a couple of movies before his death in 1999.
Frank Welker
voice Abu
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Before Aladdin Frank Welker had already a long career as professional voice actor behind him. Thanks to his ability to simulate about every animal on the planet. Besides animal vocals like Abu he can do about every dialect in the English spoken language. His first credits is was the character Orbity in the 1962 cartoon series “The Jetsons”. In “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” Frank did Freddy he would reprise that role in almost other Scooby cartoon following. More cartoons and movies followed until in the mid-1980′s the Saturday Morning Cartoon phenomenon picked up speed with shows like “Dungons & Dragons”, “G.I. Joe” and “Transformers” His first Disney production was “The Great Mouse Detective”. Frank Welker would then ‘star’ in almost all Disney feature films and series.
After Aladdin he would continue doing voices and vocal effects. Of course he returned to do Abu and other voices when asked upon. In “Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams” he also did Rajah.
