Personal details
- Birth Date: 1952-11-03
- Height: 5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
- Birth Location: Youngstown, Ohio, USA
- Children: (divorced, 2 children) Raleigh West
- Professions: Actor, Music Department, Producer
Born James Jonah Cummings, November 3, 1952—yeah, that’s a mouthful—he kicked things off in Youngstown, Ohio. Honestly, not the most glamorous start. But things got a whole lot weirder and more interesting when he packed up and headed down to New Orleans. I mean, how many people can say they’ve designed Mardi Gras floats and actually survived the chaos? That’s some serious street cred. Not to mention, he wasn’t just chilling in Louisiana—he did a little bit of everything. Singing gigs, hustling as a door-to-door salesman (can you imagine him with a suitcase full of who-knows-what?), and even working as a riverboat deckhand, probably sweating buckets under the Louisiana sun. Fast forward a bit, and Cummings decided he’d had enough of that Southern heat. So he made his way out west to Anaheim, California. That’s where things really started popping off. His first break? Playing Lionel on Dumbo’s Circus back in 1985. Kinda wild, right? One minute you’re slinging goods door to door, next minute you’re in a full-on animal suit, dancing around on a kids’ show. California must’ve felt like another planet compared to Youngstown or New Orleans. But honestly, it was the perfect launchpad. That gig paved the way for a career that’d see him voicing some of the most iconic characters ever. Starting out in the Midwest, detouring through the bayou, and ending up in the land of movie magic—what a wild ride.
So, here’s a wild bit of Lion King lore for you—did you know Jeremy Irons, the guy who voiced Scar, actually lost his voice in the middle of recording “Be Prepared”? Yeah, no joke. Right after belting out that sassy “You won’t get a sniff without me!” his voice just gave out. Classic. The studio didn’t want to scrap the whole thing, so they brought in Jim Cummings, who’s like the Swiss Army knife of Disney voices. He finished the rest of Scar’s singing for the song. If you listen closely, you can actually hear the shift—Jim’s voice blends in, but it’s got a different edge. It’s honestly wild how seamless it sounds, considering the switch in the middle of one of the most iconic villain songs ever. Just goes to show, sometimes the behind-the-scenes drama is just as interesting as what you see on screen.
Some movies just sneak up on you, right? This one—yeah, it’s got that vibe. It’s about these voice actors, which, let’s be real, are kind of unsung heroes in the entertainment world. You never really see their faces, but man, their voices are everywhere. The story takes you into this weird, competitive, and kinda hilarious community. You meet folks hustling for gigs, showing up at auditions, dealing with the weird politics of the industry—like, who gets to be the next big animated hero or that iconic movie trailer voice. There’s a lot of heart, a bit of rivalry, and, honestly, a ton of awkward moments that feel way too real. It’s not just about chasing fame, though; it’s about finding your own voice, literally and figuratively, and figuring out where you fit in a world that barely notices you’re even there. Not many movies shine a light on this world, but this one totally does.
November 3, 1952
5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
Konidela Ram Charan
Youngstown, Ohio, USA
Yes, Raleigh West
72 years old