Maurice LaMarche is a Canadian-born voice actor whose extensive career includes work in English-language dubs of Japanese anime and animated films. Born on March 30, 1958, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, LaMarche began his professional journey as a stand-up comedian before transitioning to voice-over work in the 1980s. He has since become a highly respected figure in animation, known for a wide range of character voices and impressions.

In the realm of anime and Japanese animation dubbed into English, LaMarche has several notable roles. He serves as the narrator for the English dub of the 1994 Studio Ghibli film Pom Poko, directed by Isao Takahata. This film, which features a large cast of characters, relies on his narration to help guide viewers through its complex story about shape-shifting raccoon dogs fighting to protect their forest home from urban development.

Another specific anime role is the character Dragbreak in the series Transformers: Robots in Disguise, a 2015 animated series that continues the story from Transformers: Prime. Dragbreak is a combined form of two Decepticon characters, Drag Strip and Wildbreak. His work in the Transformers franchise also includes providing the voice for the character Six-Gun in a single episode of the original 1980s Transformers series.

Beyond these roles, LaMarche has been involved in other Japanese animation productions. He provided the English voice for the character Fujimura in the 2006 film Tekkonkinkreet, also known as The Boy Who Saw the Sea. Earlier in his career, he voiced Scuttle in The Little Mermaid television series, which featured animation produced in Japan by Toei Animation. Through these performances, LaMarche has contributed to bringing various Japanese animated stories to English-speaking audiences.

His broader voice-acting career is marked by numerous major roles in Western animation, many of which are widely recognized. He is known for voicing the Brain in Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain, as well as several characters on Futurama, including Kif Kroker, Morbo, and Calculon. His other prominent roles include Egon Spengler in The Real Ghostbusters, Big Bob Pataki in Hey Arnold!, Father in Codename: Kids Next Door, and the voice of Mr. Big, a crime boss shrew, in the Disney animated film Zootopia. He also performs the voice of Yosemite Sam for Warner Bros. and has been the voice of Toucan Sam in Froot Loops commercials for many years.

Throughout his career, he has frequently collaborated with a circle of prominent voice actors, including Rob Paulsen, Tress MacNeille, and John DiMaggio, with whom he has worked on projects like Futurama, Animaniacs, and the English dub of Pom Poko. In recognition of his talent, LaMarche has received several awards. He has won Primetime Emmy Awards for his voice work on Futurama and has also been nominated for an Annie Award for his role as the Brain.