In the 1980s, there were only 63 Black films by, for, or about Black Americans. But in the 1990s, that number quadrupled, with 220 Black films making their way to cinema screens nationwide. What sparked this “Black New Wave?” Who blazed this path for contemporaries like Ava DuVernay, Kasi Lemmons and Jordan Peele? And how did these films transform American culture as a whole? Presenting The Class of 1989, a new limited-run series from pop culture critics Len Webb and Vincent Williams, hosts ...
…
continue reading
Content provided by Hayden, Mitch, and Tom. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Hayden, Mitch, and Tom or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
Similar to Entertain This!
We see The Sci-Fi Christian, in all its iterations, as being about the collision between faith and nerdom. We believe that good genre fiction is about more than just entertainment. We seek to engage with the themes and philosophies behind our favorite stories, wrestling with the big ideas within speculative fiction. We’re unabashedly nerdy and unabashedly Christian. Even if your faith background differs from ours, we look forward to interacting with you at The Sci-Fi Christian!
…
continue reading
Watch what you want, where you want, when you want on whatever device you please. Take control of your TV, Movies and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
…
continue reading
DumTeeDum is a weekly podcast about The Archers featuring fans of Ambridge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
…
continue reading
Eli Bosnick, Heath Enwright, and Noah Lugeons team up for a weekly attempt to prove that if god existed, his PR couldn't possibly be this bad.
…
continue reading
Our fifth season is Decoding John Ford, a seven-episode series about cinema's most mysterious auteur. Using scores of never-before-heard archival interviews, host Ben Mankiewicz strips back John Ford's self-spun mythology to reveal his brilliance behind the camera – alongside the often ugly, uncomfortable truths about his life and movies, asking whether we can ever truly separate art from the artist. Decoding John Ford starts June 6.
…
continue reading
Since 2010, the We Hate Movies podcast has been loudly celebrating and tearing apart movies from across the spectrum: from forgotten '80s actioners and insane romantic comedies of the '90s, to the early CGI blockbusters of the aughts and the hyper-nostalgic franchises of the 2010s and today. Every week, comedians Andrew Jupin, Stephen Sajdak, Eric Szyszka, and Chris Cabin pick a movie from the near-past to discuss and joke around about in all its positive and negative glory.
…
continue reading
Hosted by former Marvel entertainment lawyer Paul Sarker and entertainment enthusiast Mesh Lakhani, Better Call Paul will delve into the business and legal issues at play behind the glitz and glam. This show takes you beyond the catchy headlines to find out what’s really at play behind the scenes and gives you an introduction to the business side of show business.
…
continue reading
America's premier investigative documentary series since 1983. We answer only to you. FRONTLINE presents audio versions of select full-length episodes for listening on the go. Want more full-length FRONTLINE Audiocasts? Please leave a review and let us know what you think.
…
continue reading
Discover movies you may have missed and be warned about others you should. Hosts Anderson Cowan (Loveline) and Bryan Bishop (The Adam Carolla Show) hash out their contrasting film tastes in the form of weekly Top 5 lists and recent screening reviews of both new and old titles. With numerous recommendations each episode, The Film Vault is entertainment about entertainment and as a result is a show that keeps on giving.
…
continue reading
Player FM - Podcast App
Go offline with the Player FM app!
Go offline with the Player FM app!
))
The Man Behind the Voices You Know: James Urbaniak
Manage episode 478178262 series 2919545
Content provided by Hayden, Mitch, and Tom. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Hayden, Mitch, and Tom or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
From accidentally stealing the spotlight on David Letterman's show as a teenager to voicing beloved animated characters for two decades, James Urbaniak's acting journey reads like a masterclass in versatility and perseverance.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Urbaniak reveals the unexpected path that took him from New Jersey community theater to New York's experimental off-off-Broadway scene in the late 1980s. With remarkable candor, he shares how challenging theatrical experiences—like performing a 75-minute solo monologue in "Tom Paine"—helped develop his craft before independent filmmaker Hal Hartley introduced him to the different demands of screen acting.
Fans of Adult Swim's cult classic "The Venture Bros." will delight in Urbaniak's behind-the-scenes stories from his 20-year tenure voicing Dr. Rusty Venture and other characters. He recounts the surreal experience of having a makeup artist on the set of an HBO film tell him she was more excited to meet the voice of Dr. Venture than Al Pacino himself—a testament to the profound connection voice actors can forge with audiences.
Urbaniak's philosophy of acting—describing himself as "a skeptic who likes to be surprised"—offers valuable insight into navigating the entertainment industry's inherent uncertainty. Whether discussing his brief but memorable appearance in Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," his experience playing Robert Crumb in "American Splendor," or his current work on Apple TV+'s "Palm Royale," Urbaniak demonstrates why character actors are often the secret ingredient that elevates productions across all media.
For aspiring actors, film buffs, animation fans, or anyone fascinated by the creative process, this conversation provides a rare glimpse into the life of a working actor who has successfully built a diverse career by embracing opportunities across multiple entertainment platforms.
Chapters
1. The Man Behind the Voices You Know: James Urbaniak (00:00:00)
2. Introduction to James Urbaniak (00:00:24)
3. Early TV Appearance on Letterman (00:03:28)
4. Video Game Voice Acting Career (00:07:59)
5. Theater Beginnings in 1980s New York (00:11:40)
6. Transitioning from Theater to Film (00:22:45)
7. Meeting Eric Idle and Celebrity Encounters (00:30:25)
8. The Venture Brothers Legacy (00:31:56)
9. Working with Al Pacino and Dr. Venture Fame (00:39:07)
10. Acting in Oppenheimer with Cillian Murphy (00:47:31)
11. Favorite Roles and Acting Challenges (00:55:19)
12. Audio Dramas and Current Projects (01:05:33)
369 episodes
Share
Manage episode 478178262 series 2919545
Content provided by Hayden, Mitch, and Tom. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Hayden, Mitch, and Tom or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
From accidentally stealing the spotlight on David Letterman's show as a teenager to voicing beloved animated characters for two decades, James Urbaniak's acting journey reads like a masterclass in versatility and perseverance.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Urbaniak reveals the unexpected path that took him from New Jersey community theater to New York's experimental off-off-Broadway scene in the late 1980s. With remarkable candor, he shares how challenging theatrical experiences—like performing a 75-minute solo monologue in "Tom Paine"—helped develop his craft before independent filmmaker Hal Hartley introduced him to the different demands of screen acting.
Fans of Adult Swim's cult classic "The Venture Bros." will delight in Urbaniak's behind-the-scenes stories from his 20-year tenure voicing Dr. Rusty Venture and other characters. He recounts the surreal experience of having a makeup artist on the set of an HBO film tell him she was more excited to meet the voice of Dr. Venture than Al Pacino himself—a testament to the profound connection voice actors can forge with audiences.
Urbaniak's philosophy of acting—describing himself as "a skeptic who likes to be surprised"—offers valuable insight into navigating the entertainment industry's inherent uncertainty. Whether discussing his brief but memorable appearance in Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," his experience playing Robert Crumb in "American Splendor," or his current work on Apple TV+'s "Palm Royale," Urbaniak demonstrates why character actors are often the secret ingredient that elevates productions across all media.
For aspiring actors, film buffs, animation fans, or anyone fascinated by the creative process, this conversation provides a rare glimpse into the life of a working actor who has successfully built a diverse career by embracing opportunities across multiple entertainment platforms.
Chapters
1. The Man Behind the Voices You Know: James Urbaniak (00:00:00)
2. Introduction to James Urbaniak (00:00:24)
3. Early TV Appearance on Letterman (00:03:28)
4. Video Game Voice Acting Career (00:07:59)
5. Theater Beginnings in 1980s New York (00:11:40)
6. Transitioning from Theater to Film (00:22:45)
7. Meeting Eric Idle and Celebrity Encounters (00:30:25)
8. The Venture Brothers Legacy (00:31:56)
9. Working with Al Pacino and Dr. Venture Fame (00:39:07)
10. Acting in Oppenheimer with Cillian Murphy (00:47:31)
11. Favorite Roles and Acting Challenges (00:55:19)
12. Audio Dramas and Current Projects (01:05:33)
369 episodes
All episodes
×
Welcome to Player FM!
Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.
Similar to Entertain This!
In the 1980s, there were only 63 Black films by, for, or about Black Americans. But in the 1990s, that number quadrupled, with 220 Black films making their way to cinema screens nationwide. What sparked this “Black New Wave?” Who blazed this path for contemporaries like Ava DuVernay, Kasi Lemmons and Jordan Peele? And how did these films transform American culture as a whole? Presenting The Class of 1989, a new limited-run series from pop culture critics Len Webb and Vincent Williams, hosts ...
…
continue reading
We see The Sci-Fi Christian, in all its iterations, as being about the collision between faith and nerdom. We believe that good genre fiction is about more than just entertainment. We seek to engage with the themes and philosophies behind our favorite stories, wrestling with the big ideas within speculative fiction. We’re unabashedly nerdy and unabashedly Christian. Even if your faith background differs from ours, we look forward to interacting with you at The Sci-Fi Christian!
…
continue reading
Watch what you want, where you want, when you want on whatever device you please. Take control of your TV, Movies and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
…
continue reading
DumTeeDum is a weekly podcast about The Archers featuring fans of Ambridge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
…
continue reading
Eli Bosnick, Heath Enwright, and Noah Lugeons team up for a weekly attempt to prove that if god existed, his PR couldn't possibly be this bad.
…
continue reading
Our fifth season is Decoding John Ford, a seven-episode series about cinema's most mysterious auteur. Using scores of never-before-heard archival interviews, host Ben Mankiewicz strips back John Ford's self-spun mythology to reveal his brilliance behind the camera – alongside the often ugly, uncomfortable truths about his life and movies, asking whether we can ever truly separate art from the artist. Decoding John Ford starts June 6.
…
continue reading
Since 2010, the We Hate Movies podcast has been loudly celebrating and tearing apart movies from across the spectrum: from forgotten '80s actioners and insane romantic comedies of the '90s, to the early CGI blockbusters of the aughts and the hyper-nostalgic franchises of the 2010s and today. Every week, comedians Andrew Jupin, Stephen Sajdak, Eric Szyszka, and Chris Cabin pick a movie from the near-past to discuss and joke around about in all its positive and negative glory.
…
continue reading
Hosted by former Marvel entertainment lawyer Paul Sarker and entertainment enthusiast Mesh Lakhani, Better Call Paul will delve into the business and legal issues at play behind the glitz and glam. This show takes you beyond the catchy headlines to find out what’s really at play behind the scenes and gives you an introduction to the business side of show business.
…
continue reading
America's premier investigative documentary series since 1983. We answer only to you. FRONTLINE presents audio versions of select full-length episodes for listening on the go. Want more full-length FRONTLINE Audiocasts? Please leave a review and let us know what you think.
…
continue reading
Discover movies you may have missed and be warned about others you should. Hosts Anderson Cowan (Loveline) and Bryan Bishop (The Adam Carolla Show) hash out their contrasting film tastes in the form of weekly Top 5 lists and recent screening reviews of both new and old titles. With numerous recommendations each episode, The Film Vault is entertainment about entertainment and as a result is a show that keeps on giving.
…
continue reading
Player FM - Podcast App
Go offline with the Player FM app!
Go offline with the Player FM app!
