Robert Matthew "Bob" West (born June 25, 1956 in Finleyville, Pennsylvania) is an American a voice actor and current graphic designer. West was the original voice of Barney from 1988-2000 and was later succeeded by many others in the role of the voice. In addition to Barney, he is also known for voicing Pasqually and Jasper for Chuck E. Cheese.
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Early Life
West went to Ross S. Sterling High School and studied art at Trinity University.
Career
Barney & Friends
West auditioned for Barney back in 1987. As he recalls, "I didn't get the description until a few minutes before the first audition (and no drawings?), so I had to pretty much create it on the spot, which is common [for voice actors]. There was at least one callback audition, I think and the voice was adjusted a bit, as it was before and during early production. At the time, they were also considering using one person for both body and voice, but I was too tall for the costume they'd already started making." [1] Since then, Bob's voice for Barney has changed over the years. Bob's voice was not only used in the Barney and the Backyard Gang videos and on the Barney & Friends television show, but also on a 70 market radio show, on Multi-Platinum and Multi-Gold albums, for a feature film, for CBS and NBC primetime specials, as a Daytime Emmy presenter, for toys, for educational games, and for live tours and "personal appearances." In addition, he provided Barney's voice for interviews on The Today Show, Live With Regis & Kathy Lee, Oprah, The Phil Donahue Show, John & Leeza, Marilu, and appearances around the world.[2] In 2000, West retired from doing the voice of Barney and was succeeded by Duncan Brannan, Tim Dever, and later Dean Wendt.
After Barney & Friends
West would later become a graphic designer for the shows Speechless and The Muppets which both aired on ABC.
Personal Life
West currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Trivia
- Bob West's Barney voice is still heard daily at Universal Studios Florida's attraction A Day in the Park with Barney, as the show was prerecorded back in 1995.
- West reprised his role as Barney at the PBS Kids Sprout Launch event in 2005, with Carey Stinson inside the costume as Dean Wendt, the voice of Barney during that time, was unavailable.
- In My Party with Barney, Bob shared the role with Duncan Brannan. West would sing and Duncan Brannan supplied the speaking voice.
