Rupert Joel Degas (born 17 August 1970) is a British-Australian actor, impressionist and voice over artist. He is best known for his voice work in animation and audiobooks.[1] Since the 1980s, he has worked in audiobooks, film, podcasts, radio productions, television, theatre, and video games, and as a producer.

Rupert Degas
Degas in 2008
Born
Rupert Joel Degas

(1970-08-17) 17 August 1970 (age 53)
London, England
NationalityBritish
Australian
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
Australia
Occupations
  • Actor
  • impressionist
  • voice artist
Years active1985–present
Websitehttp://rupertdegas.com

Early life and education edit

Degas was born on 17 August 1970 in London, to producer and screenwriter Brian Degas and radio/television presenter Maggie Clews. He was educated at Hill House School in Knightsbridge and Emanuel School in Wandsworth.

Career edit

Animation edit

Best known as the voices of Zoomer and Scrambler in Bob the Builder[2] from 2004 to 2011, his other animation work includes Chop Socky Chooks,[3] Robotboy,[4] Thomas & Friends[5] Lucky Fred, Groove High, and The Amazing World of Gumball.[6] He also played several characters in the animated feature film Planet 51.[7]

Since moving to Australia, in 2013 Degas has provided voices for The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill,[8] Kitty Is Not a Cat,[9] The Strange Chores,[10] Maya the Bee: The Honey Games,[11] Bluey, Alien TV, Kangaroo Beach, 100% Wolf, and Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway.[12] In 2021, he narrated three episodes of The Wheel of Time.

Audiobook narration edit

Degas has narrated over 300 audiobooks. He has received particular critical acclaim for his performances of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss,[13][14][15] and Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy.[16] Degas says of audiobooks, "I do accents. It's my specialty."[17] The Guardian called his voice performances "shape-shifting".[18]. In 2022, Degas was inducted as a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.

Film and television edit

Degas' first film appearance was in Jerry Schatzberg's Reunion,[19] followed by television appearances in Dead Romantic,[20] Over Here,[21] A Touch of Frost[22] and Passport to Murder.[23] Other notable television appearances include EastEnders, Lovejoy, Van der Valk, Waiting For God, Lycée Alpin, Holby City,[24] Love Soup,[25] Shoot the Messenger,[26] Nathan Barley,[27] and Red Dwarf.[28] Degas also provided the voice of the demon in both Exorcist: The Beginning and the 2013 film Evil Dead.

Theatre edit

Having been a regular Newsrevue performer at the Canal Café Theatre and at the Edinburgh Fringe, Degas made his West End theatre debut in Stones in His Pockets[29] at The Duke of York's Theatre and the New Ambassadors Theatre,[30] and then in the original Olivier Award winning London cast of The 39 Steps[31][32] at The Tricycle Theatre before transferring to The Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus. He has also performed in several plays at The Battersea Arts Centre, Latchmere Theatre and The Southwark Playhouse.

Radio and podcasts edit

On radio, Degas has performed in over eighty plays and series, most notably Grovers Mill, and the BBC productions of The Brightonomicon,[33] Dirk Gently,[34][35] The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,[36] and Starship Titanic. He also played Pantalaimon in the full cast audio production of His Dark Materials.[37] Degas is also a regular contributor to the weekly satirical podcast A Rational Fear.

Awards and honours edit

Filmography edit

Voice in Animated Series edit

  • 2002-2004: Mr. Bean: The Animated Series
  • 2002-2011: Bob the Builder as Scrambler, Zoomer, Gripper, Flex, Sandy Beach, Dickie Olivier
    • Skip (Where’s Robert?), Tom (US Dub)
  • 2005-2007: Skatoony as Chudd Chudders and Big Tony
  • 2006-2008: Robotboy as Gus Turner, Constantine, and Kurt
  • 2006: Chop Socky Chooks as Bubba
  • 2010-2012: Thomas & Friends as Dart (Seasons 15-16) / Bertie (Seasons 15-16) / Butch (Season 15) / Flynn (Seasons 15-16) (UK Dub)
  • 2011-2012: Lucky Fred as Fred, Supercommander, and Wally K
  • 2011: Groove High as Duke and Dr. Khan
  • 2011-2013: The Amazing World of Gumball as Tobias Wilson / Laurence "Larry" Needlemeyer / Mr. Gaylord Robinson / Clayton / Felix / Paperball / Alan Keane / Idaho / Colin / Gary Hedges / Sal Left Thumb / Clipboard Men / Lenny Smith / Charlie / Albert (The Responsible)
  • 2015: The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill as Pablo, Bandi, and Eddie
  • 2017-2022: The Strange Chores as Barbarian, Frankie
  • 2018-2020: Kitty Is Not a Cat as Happy / Ming / Mr. Clean / Pierre / Harold Stinkleton
  • 2019: Alien TV as The Translator
  • 2019-2023: 100% Wolf as Gunnolf, The Doog, Maurice, Claude, Lord Hightail, Hans Beowulf, and Kenjo
  • 2019-2022: Bluey as Yes/No Button and Movie Trailer Voice
  • 2020-2023: Kangaroo Beach as Big Trev, Gherkinn, and Roadie

Voice in Animated Films edit

Voice in Anime Films edit

  • 1994: Urotsukidoji (English Dub)
  • 1994: Black Magic (manga) (English Dub)
  • 1994: Kekko Kamen (English Dub)
  • 1994: Adventure Duo (English Dub)
  • 1994: Gigolo (English Dub)
  • 1995: The Return of Arslan (English Dub)
  • 1996: X (English Dub as Shōgo Asagi)
  • 1996: Dub Seyiu (English Dub)

References edit

  1. ^ Bremner, Charles; Robertson, David. "The Essential Kipling". London: entertainment.timesonline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  2. ^ "IMDb". Bob the Builder. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Behind the Voice Actors". Chop Socky Chooks. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  4. ^ Emily Ashby. "Common Sense media". Robotboy. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  5. ^ Elliot Killick-Ward (10 July 2015). "Sodor Island". Thomas & friends. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Voice Chasers". The Amazing World of Gumball. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Voice Chasers". Planet 51. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  8. ^ "TV Guide". The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Screen Australia". Kitty Is Not a Cat. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Australian Television". The Strange Chores. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  11. ^ "imdb". Maya the Bee: The Honey Games. Archived from the original on 9 September 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Peter Rabbit 2' is finally on the big screen! I'm so excited to be playing not one, but four characters in this very funny and beautifully made film. While Aussies can catch it in the cinema from this week, British and American audiences will have to sit tight for a bit longer to see it, but it's well worth the wait. Peter Rabbit Movie Screen Australia Animal Logic SoundfirmSony Pictures RMK Management Pty Ltd Yakety Yak #peterrabbit2 #animation #australiananimation #voiceacting #voiceactor #samuelwhiskers #littlepigrobinson #rupertdegas #characteranimation ##voicetalent". facebook.com.
  13. ^ "The Times". The Name of the Wind. 26 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Good Reads". The Name of the Wind. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  15. ^ Amanda (1 September 2019). "Winter Is Coming". ???. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  16. ^ Robin Whitten (11 December 2008). "AudioFile". Skulduggery Pleasant. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  17. ^ a b Robin F. Whitten. "Spotlight: Rupert Degas". AudioFile. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  18. ^ Brian Logan (23 September 2006). "The 39 Steps". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  19. ^ Derek Winnert (14 March 2018). "Classic Movie Review". Reunion. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  20. ^ BBC Genome (14 February 1993). "BBC". Dead Romantic. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  21. ^ "British Comedy Guide". Over Here. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  22. ^ "epguides.com". A Touch of Frost. 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  23. ^ Tony Scott (4 March 1993). "Variety". Passport to Murder. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  24. ^ "epguides.com". Holby City. 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  25. ^ "British Comedy Guide". Love Soup. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  26. ^ "BFI". Shoot the Messenger. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  27. ^ "listal.com". Nathan Barley. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  28. ^ "British Comedy Guide". Red Dwarf. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  29. ^ "London Theatre". Stones in His Pockets. 23 September 2002. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  30. ^ Dominic Cavendish (23 July 2003). "The Telegraph". Stones in His Pockets. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  31. ^ Brian Logan (23 September 2006). "The Guardian". The 39 Steps. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  32. ^ Ernio Hernandez (19 April 2007). "Playbill". The 39 Steps. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  33. ^ "British Comedy Guide". The Brightonomicon. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  34. ^ "BBC". Dirk Gently. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  35. ^ "British Comedy Guide". Dirk Gently. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  36. ^ "BBC". The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  37. ^ "Bridge to the Stars". His Dark Materials. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  38. ^ "Rupert Degas at AudioFile". AudioFile. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  39. ^ "Past Winners". Odyssey Award. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  40. ^ "MEDICINE MAN Rupert Degas is the voice of Medicine Man in Asterix Conquers America". www.behindthevoiceactors.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  41. ^ "KENNEDY ST. SQUIRREL Rupert Degas is the voice of Kennedy St. Squirrel in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway". www.behindthevoiceactors.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.

External links edit