Patrick Fraley is one of the most well respected voice over performers and teachers in North America. He has been performing and teaching voice for 40 years. As a performer, he has created voices for over 4,000 characters; placing him in the top ten of all time to be cast in animated TV shows. His performances and projects have garnered awards and nominations across all entertainment mediums including Emmys, Audies, Annies, and a Lifetime Achievement “Voicey” Award in 2008. Of recent, Patrick voiced characters for Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” Harvey Weinstein’s, “Seal Team Six,” “Cartoon Network’s,” “Level Up,” and “Sony Pictures,” “Left to Die.”
As a teacher, Patrick has guided more performers into meaning voice over careers than anyone in the history of VO Instruction. Yearly, he traverses North America conducting voice over events, which address a myriad of skills, performance concepts, and methods. Patrick also writes, produces and publishes voice over instructional materials on dialect, comedy, character voice, audiobook narration, voice over tricks and techniques, business and recording.
Patrick was reared in Seattle, Washington and began studying performance in High School and went on to receive his BA in Dramatic Arts, from Whitman College, and a Master of Fine Arts in Professional Acting from Cornell University.
Patrick then moved “Down Under” where he performed the classics as a member of The South Australian Theatre Company, appeared in Peter Weir’s movie, “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” and toured the outback with his own theatre company. While living in Australia he learned the skill of creating, performing, and teaching character voice-overs.
He began teaching voice at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, where he was the first person in the history of voice over instruction to create a discipline to studying and performing character voice by deconstructing the character voice down to its elements.
When he returned to the U.S. from Australia, Patrick gained his insightful perspective on advertising and commercial production by working as the Creative Director for “Vantage Advertising” in Seattle, Washington.
In 1979, Patrick moved to Los Angeles and began his long career creating characters for animation at the famed “Hanna Barbara Productions,” by voicing cartoon characters for, “Scooby-Doo,” “The Flintstones,” ”Huckleberry Hound,” and “The Jetsons.” During the following decades, Patrick gained a reputation for bringing to life unique, evocative characters, such as the evil, chortling villain, “Krang,” for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “The “Worm Guys,” for the “Warner Brother’s” animated series, “Men in Black,” “Cousin Itt” for “The Addams Family,” and “Wildcat” for “Disney’s” “Tail Spin.” His formidable credits at IMDb tell it all.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0289710/filmogenre
Here are some comments from his students and colleagues on his teaching and performing:
Nancy Cartwright “Pat NEVER disappoints. His techniques cover everything the pros in the industry expect you to know, but nobody else teaches.”
Ed Asner “If you’re ready for an audio version of Cirque du Soleil, look no further than Pat Fraley.”
Craig Black (CEO, Blackstone Audio) “Simply put, Pat Fraley is the David Lean of Audiobook Producers. They don’t get any better.”
Brad Garrett “Pat Fraley is such a gifted and passionate coach that immediately after taking his class I became a hand model. He’s truly brilliant. Bring your wallet.”
Mark Hamill “One of the most talented actors I’ve ever worked with.”
Joe Mantegna “In the world of teaching voice over and vocal performance, Patrick Fraley is simply the best.”
Gary Owens “I’ve worked with Pat Fraley for many years doing cartoons and commercials. He is, with a doubt, the greatest character actor in the seat in front of me.”
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0289710/filmogenre