JESS HARNELL

Full Name, Age & Place of Birth

Jess Quinn Harnell was born on December 23, 1963, at Englewood Hospital in Englewood, New Jersey, USA, and grew up in nearby Teaneck. As of June 2025, he’s 61 years old .

Family Background & Early Passion

He is the son of celebrated jazz composer Joe Harnell and his wife Alice Penslar Harnell . As a child, Jess was drawn to cartoons and mimicry—practicing voices such as David Cassidy and the Beatles—before following in his father’s steps to work in voice acting .

Voice Acting Breakthrough

Jess began his career in the late 1980s. In 1993, he landed the iconic role of Wakko Warner on Animaniacs, also voicing characters like Walter Wolf—a role that became one of his signature performances . He’s been the long-time voice of Br’er Rabbit at Disney theme parks since 1989 and the announcer on America’s Funniest Home Videos since 1998 .

Iconic Characters Across Media

Jess’s versatility shines in a wide range of characters:

TV animation:

• Animaniacs (Wakko Warner, etc.)

• Drawn Together (Captain Hero)

• Totally Spies! (Jerry)

• Doc McStuffins (Chilly)

Animated films:

• Ironhide in the first three Transformers films

• Voice roles in Up, Wreck-It Ralph, Toy Story 3, The Secret Life of Pets, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Inside Out

Video games:

• Crash Bandicoot franchise's titular character

• Spyro in Spyro: A Hero’s Tail

• Dr. Finkelstein in Kingdom Hearts

• Multiple roles in Star Wars and Ratchet & Clank series

Music Career & Bands

Beyond voice acting, Jess is a singer. In 1995, he released his solo album The Sound of Your Voice . Later, he became lead vocalist for the pop‑metal mash-up band Rock Sugar, evolving from his earlier band Loud & Clear, releasing several albums from 2003 onward .

Personal Life & Marriage

On November 19, 2019, Jess married his longtime partner, Cara Leanne, in an intimate ceremony, marking a joyous milestone in his personal life .

Recognition & Legacy

Jess Harnell is celebrated for his versatility—from comedic cartoon leads to commanding figurative roles in film and video games. Notably, he received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Pet Alien, and a BTVA award for Wreck-It Ralph, reflecting industry acclaim .

Why Jess Harnell Stands Out

Jess’s career spans over three decades across animation, gaming, and music. Whether he's embodying the zany energy of Wakko, deepening an animated blockbuster’s world, or rocking a mash-up stage, his impact endures—and his warm, friendly presence continues to delight audiences of all ages.