Born in 1953, Hulce made his acting debut in 1975, where he played opposite Anthony Hopkins in the Broadway play Equus. He is most known for his roles as Larry “Pinto” Kroger in the comedy film Animal Farm and as Amadeus Mozart in the biopic Amadeus. Some of his other film credits include The Inner Circle, Parenthood, The Heidi Chronicles, and Shadow Man. Throughout his career, he has been nominated for multiple awards at The Tony’s, Golden Globes, Academy Awards, Obie Awards, and Emmy’s. In recent years, he has been a leading producer on Broadway for shows such American Idiot, Ain’t Too Proud,andSpring Awakening - the latter for which he won a Tony Award. As of 2022, he is 68 years old.
FUN FACT: While it is said in the film that Quasimodo is named such because it means “half-formed,” this is not the case in the original novel. There, Quasimodo is the Italian name of the holiday in which the character was left on the steps of Notre Dame.
“The Unbirthday Song”fromAlice in Wonderland(1951)
Music and Lyrics by Mack David, Jerry Livingston, & Al Hoffman
Performed by Ed Wynn & Jerry Colonna
A very merry unbirthday to us, to us A very merry unbirthday to us, to us If there are no objections, let it be unanimous Oh, a very merry unbirthday A very merry unbirthday A very merry unbirthday to us!
A very merry unbirthday to me! To who? To me! Oh, you! A very merry unbirthday to you! Who me? Yes, you! Oh, me! Let’s all congratulate us with another cup of tea! A very merry unbirthday to you!
Now statistics prove, prove that you’ve one birthday Imagine, just one birthday every year Ah, but there are three hundred sixty four unbirthdays! Precisely why we’ve gathered here to cheer!
A very merry unbirthday to you! To me? To you! A very merry unbirthday For me? For you! Now blow out the candle, my dear And make your wish come true! A very merry unbirthday to you!
VOICE ACTORS: Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Young- Speaking), Jason Weaver (Young - Singing), Matthew Broderick (Adult - Speaking), & Joseph Williams (Adult - Singing)
Born in 1981, Jonathan Taylor Thomas began his television career in 1990 as Kevin Brady in The Brady’s, a spin-off of The Brady Bunch. At the time of The Lion King’s release, he was most known for his role as Randy Taylor, Tim Allen’s son, in Home Improvement. He has worked with Disney multiple times since providing his voice for Young Simba. Some of his other roles include Ben Archer in Man of the House, Tom Sawyer in Tom and Huck, and Jake Wilkenson in I’ll Be Home for Christmas. As of 2022, he is 40 years old.
Jason Weaver was born in 1979 and is most known for his performance as Marcus Henderson in the sitcom Smart Guy. One of his earliest roles was in Oprah Winfrey’s 1990 TV series The Brewsters, and he portrayed Michael Jackson in the 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream. In 1995, a year after The Lion King’s release, he released his debut album Love Ambition. As of 2022, he is 42 years old.
Born in 1962, Matthew Broderick has had an extensive career on both the stage and screen. His first major acting role was in a workshop of Horton Foote’s On Valentine’s Day, in which he acted opposite his father. He holds the record for youngest person to ever win the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, which he won at only 21 years old for his performance in Brighton Beach Memoirs. He also won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in 1995. Some of his other prominent stage credits include The Odd Couple, Plaza Suite, and The Producers, in which he starred alongside Nathan Lane, the voice of Timon in The Lion King. Broderick became a household name, however, for his starring role as the title character in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in 1985, as well as some of his other films including The Cable Guy andManchester By the Sea. After Simba, he was considered for many other Disney voice roles like Buzz Lightyear, Mike Wazowski, and Chicken Little, and while he didn’t get those, he has given his voice to other animated films such as Bee Movie, The Tale of Despereaux,andThe Thief and the Cobbler. He also reprised his role as Simba for all of the sequels. He married actress Sarah Jessica Parker in 1997, and in 2006 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As of 2022, he is 59 years old.
Joseph Williams was born in 1960 as the son of composer John Williams and actress Barbara Ruick. He was the lead vocalist for the band Toto in the mid-to-late 1980s, as well as releasing his own solo albums. Before The Lion King, he had worked with Disney when he sang the theme song for the 1985 TV series Adventures of the Gummi Bears. Since then, he has composed scores for many television and film projects, such as the series RoswellandThe Lyon’s Den. As of 2022, he is 61 years old.
FUN FACT: Simba was the first animated Disney character to have a villain as a biological relative. He would be followed by Hercules and Elsa & Anna in Frozen II.
VOICE ACTORS: Scott Weinger (Speaking) & Brad Kane (Singing)
Weinger is probably most known for his role as DJ Tanner’s boyfriend Steve on the 90s sitcom Full House. He appeared inAladdinabout halfway through the show’s run and reprised his voice performance for the Aladdinsequels & TV series, the crossover episode in the Hercules TV series, and in the Kingdom Hearts video games. In 1998, he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard with a degree in English & American Literature. In recent years, he’s become a prominent writer and producer for projects such as Galavant, Black-ish, and ABC’s The Muppets. Born in 1975, he is 46 years old as of 2022.
Outside of his work at Disney, Kane has had an extensive theatre and television career. Some of his Broadway and New York stage credits include a pre-Broadway workshop of Sunday in the Park with George, Evita, Titus Andronicus, A Winter’s Tale, and She Loves Me. On the small screen, he appeared in many commercials and series such as Law & Order, One Life to Live, Guiding Light,andBuffy the Vampire Slayer. Kane returned to provide Aladdin’s singing voice for the film’s sequels, and he performed the song “A Whole New World” with Lea Salonga at the 65th Academy Awards. Born in 1973, he is 48 years old as of 2022.
FUN FACT: In Arabic, Aladdin’s name means “devout of the faith.”
Today’s Princess of the Day is: Mora, from Disenchantment.
The free-spirited princess of Mermaid Island, Mora is an artistic and romantic individual with dreams of becoming an actress. Although she left her homeland to become an entertainer, her status as a mermaid bars her from a majority of acting roles.
Today’s Princess of the Day is: Poppy O’Hair, from Ever After High.
The stylish and innovative daughter of Rapunzel, Poppy marches to the beat of her own drum and is happy not to be tied down by a predetermined destiny. In actuality, she is the first-born daughter of Rapunzel, being born a few minutes ahead of her twin sister, Holly; however, their birth certificates were switched at birth, leading everyone to believe that Poppy is the younger twin.
Today’s Princess of the Day is: Liana, from Barbie & The Diamond Castle.
A peasant girl who lives in the forest with her best friend, Alexa, Liana is a loyal and brave girl who loves to sing. After she and Alexa free the muses of the Diamond Castle, they are crowned the Princesses of Music.
Today’s Princess of the Day is: Aja Tarron, from Tales of Arcadia.
A princess of the planet Akiridion-5, Aja travels to Earth with her brother Krel after her planet is overtaken by a coup. On Earth, she disguises herself as a human exchange student, and enrolls at Arcadia Oaks High.
Today’s Princess of the Day is: Nefera de Nile, from Monster High.
The eldest daughter of Ramses de Nile and Dedyet de Nile, Nefera is destined to inherit the de Nile throne. This has made her incredibly hostile to anyone that she perceives as a threat, specifically her younger sister, Cleo, whom she frequently torments.
Today’s Princess of the Day is: Jewel Sparkles, from Lalaloopsy.
The most graceful princess in all of Lalaloopsy Land, Jewel is a highly cultured girl who loves to teach her friends about etiquette and poise. She enjoys the spotlight and seeks attention whenever she can get it.
Today’s Princess of the Day is: Meeshell Mermaid, from Ever After High.
Destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps as the next Little Mermaid, Meeshell is a shy and reserved girl with a hidden love for singing. She tends to lack confidence in her human form, and is more comfortable as a mermaid.
Today’s Princess of the Day is: Princess Sophia of Gardania, from Barbie: Princess Charm School.
Raised under the name of Blair Willows, Sophia is brought up as a commoner without knowledge of her royal lineage. She is a caring and intelligent girl who works hard to provide for her adoptive mother and sister.
Today’s Princess of the Day is: Dot, from A Bug’s Life.
The younger princess of the ant colony, Dot resents her small size and wants to be bigger so that she can better support the colony. She is curious and loves to go on adventures, especially with her close friend, Flik.
Today’s Princess of the Day is: Cleo de Nile, from Monster High.
The 5842-year-old mummified princess of Egypt, Cleo is an arrogant girl who expects everyone to treat her as royalty. She has a highly competitive relationship with her sister, Nefera, who regularly works to undermine her accomplishments out of jealousy.
