As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. That said, never in my wildest dreams did I think, or even anticipate the idea of getting to interview Carlos Alazraqui. The opportunity seemed like a fluke.
Part of his team discovered my writing via this Crash vs Spyro article I wrote for Game Rant. Seeing as how he was the original voice of Spyro, they reached out to me and offered an interview. Given that Mr. Alazraqui influenced both my childhood and teen years, I jumped at the chance. So, here’s my quick interview with Carlos Alazraqui.
Me: Thank you for joining me today Mr. Alazraqui. Before we begin, let’s give readers a little setup to your career. How did you get into the industry? Was it live acting first and then you fell into voice acting or was it the opposite?
Carlos: You are welcome! I came into the voice over world via stand up comedy. First in Sacramento in the 1980s and then I moved to SF in 1987. I stumbled into an audition for a project called Rocko’s Modern Life in 1991 and was very fortunate to have the right voice at the right time for Rocko!!
Me: I’m very familiar with Rocko’s Modern Life. It was a big part of my childhood along with Nickelodeon in general. Are there any episodes that stick out to you as your favorites, or ones that you thought were perhaps particularly challenging to record?
Carlos: I wouldn’t say that any one of them was challenging to record but I loved “Wacky Delly.” It was so inside and had Rocko at his most crazed!
Me: No joke, that is one of my favorite episodes as well. Watching Rocko get unhinged by the bickering between Filburt and Heffer was comedy gold. Thanks to the performances that is.
After the show ended in 1996, you were brought back to voice Rocko in some video games correct? During any of these recording sessions, was there any buzz on bringing the show back? Perhaps a better question would be did you ever think the show was going to come back?
Carlos: There was no buzz back in 1996 but after I started doing cons I felt we needed to do a live event. I convinced Joe Murray to do a live read of “Wacky Delly” at the Downtown Independent Theatre in LA in 2012. 600 seats sold out in 4 days! After that, I did a live event at Florida Con with Tom Kenny and Charlie Adler in 2014. Then the buzz was born!
Me: To get more into voice acting, is there a difference between recording something for a cartoon and a video game? Games, from the outside, seem like they would be more intense especially if you’re in something involving action like Spyro the Dragon, or Kingdom Hearts III.
Carlos: I think one has to be more meticulous with video games. There are specific details that have to be emphasized during the records. In terms of Kingdom Hearts III we had to follow the timing of the original Japanese Recording.
Me: Do you play games yourself? If not, do you at least play the games you’re in just out of curiosity?
Carlos: I can only play Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 – thrilled that I know Vince Valenzuela who is Francis in the original and that Dee Bradley Baker and Fred Tatasciore are The Spitter and Boomer in Two!!
Me: Left 4 Dead! I would not have guessed that. Do you still play today either by yourself or with a dedicated group of friends?
Carlos: My wife, my friend, Giacomo and I just dusted off Left 4 Dead 2. I died, but got my wife on the boat during The Plantation affair!
Me: Nothing like dusting off an old game for family and friends. Going back to Spyro, was this your first video game role? Regardless if it was or not, do you have any memorable stories, good or bad, about the experience?
Carlos: Yes – my first video game and I am working side by side with Clancy Brown! So intimidated! But what a blast!
Me: You said you recorded with Clancy Brown for Spyro. Do you usually record lines with other cast members for video games, or are sessions mostly solo affairs? Same question for cartoons as well.
Carlos: That was rare that I got to record with Clancy but most video games I have done have been solo affairs. Animated series will vary but it seems split 50/50 between group and individual recordings. Rocko’s Modern Life and Fairly Odd Parents were always a group.
Me: I know that you only got to voice Spyro in the first game with the role being taken over by your fellow co-star from Rocko’s Modern Life, Tom Kenny. What happened there? Was there a scheduling conflict, or did the developers just decide to cast someone else?
Carlos: The developers just made the decision to go with Tom.
Me: That’s the way it goes sometimes. Let’s move onto Kingdom Hearts III. I know that you played Mike Wazowski in the game, but this wasn’t your first time playing the character, correct? How did you land the role of replicating Billy Crystal’s voice? For example, was he a voice you imitated often before the games?
Carlos: I had an audition to be a sound-a-like for Disney’s Monster laugh Floor in Florida – I believe it was a gentleman named Brian Munroe who said I had the same tenor as Billy – which I did not believe. I rented the VHS of Forget Paris and watched it over and over until I felt like I had Billy then made the adjustment to pitch it up for Mike. It took many sessions for me to feel comfortable. My Billy has evolved into a much better version today!
Me: That’s a fantastic story! I think you do a great Billy Crystal as well. Have you ever met him and done your impression?
Carlos: I met Billy Crystal after a screening of an animated feature and just said, “I enjoy your work”. I did not feel right to say that I do your sound-alike stuff! Ha ha!
Me: Maybe one day! I’m sure he’d get a kick out of it. As a second part to that question have you rewatched movies, as you did for Forget Paris, to practice for other celebrity impersonations in games, or other roles? For example, I know that you played Dr. No in GoldenEye: Rogue Agent.
Carlos: Gosh, I forget that! I watch my box set of Rab C. Nesbitt from Scotland when I need to brush up on my Scottish/Glaswegian dialect. I had good training when I was a kid at my friend’s house but it has been years!
Me: I must admit, I’ve never heard of Rab C. Nesbitt. It’s good to learn from the pros on where to go if I need Scottish lessons though.
Anyway, Thank you so much for joining me today Mr. Alazraqui. It’s been a real treat and one my childhood self would not believe. Stay safe out there and good luck with all of your continued success.
Game Jurk 