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Fun Facts About The Voices Of 'Rick And Morty'

Conner Schwerdtfeger
Updated July 3, 2024 353.7K views 24 items

Rick and Morty has spawned a rabid fan base and created a sprawling sci-fi mythology, neither of which could have been accomplished without its voice cast. The Adult Swim animated series was met with immediate critical acclaim upon its debut and has only grown more popular since. What could have been little more than an easy spoof of Back to the Future turned into a strange combination of science fiction adventure, sharp satire, and sophisticated storytelling.

Much of the show’s success is owed to the performances of its principal cast. Co-creator Justin Roiland voices the two title characters, and he's joined by Chris Parnell, Sarah Chalke, and Summer Grammer as the rest of the Smith clan.Together, these actors have created a family that is wacky, yet also dark. From Roiland’s absurdly cynical take on the alcoholic Rick to Parnell’s hopelessly ineffectual Jerry, each actor vividly brings each animated character to aural life. If you're finding yourself missing these characters, watch more shows like Rick and Morty.

That's why there's a list of the most interesting facts about the voices behind Rick and Morty’s ensemble. Vote up the ones that you find the most interesting, and remember: Wubalubadubdub!

 

  • Voice Acting Runs in the Grammer Family

    Voice Acting Runs in the Grammer Family
    Spencer Grammer, who voices Morty's older sister Summer, is the daughter of famous actor Kelsey Grammer. No stranger to the world of animation himself, Kelsey Grammer has a legendary and recurring gig voicing Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons.

  • Mr. Meeseeks Started with a Name and a Scream

    Mr. Meeseeks Started with a Name and a Scream
    During a Reddit AMA session, Justin Roiland admitted that he and executive producer Dan Harmon grew tired of coming up with complex story ideas, so instead, Roiland just started screaming "I'm Mr. Meeseeks!" From those simple outbursts they developed what has gone on to become perhaps the show's most popular character.

  • Rick's Catchphrase Is a Mockery of Catchphrases

    Rick's Catchphrase Is a Mockery of Catchphrases

    Justin Roiland has said that Rick's catchphrase of "Wubalubadubdub!" is meant to satirize TV show catchphrases, and was never intended to become a catchphrase itself.

    In his own words, "That catchphrase thing is a joke on stupid catchphrases... That's the joke. It's a horrible cringeworthy catchphrase that I just made up in the record as an outtake that made its way into the show."

  • Even Werner Herzog Has Had a Role on Rick and Morty

    Even Werner Herzog Has Had a Role on Rick and Morty
    In the season 2 episode Interdimensional Cable II: Tempting Fate managed to get legendary documentarian and director Werner Herzog to deliver a monologue about the human fascination with penises. Yes, the filmmaker behind Grizzly Man and Bad Lieutenant: port of Call New Orleans talked about wieners as a fictional alien named Shrimply Pibbles.

  • Adult Swim Gives Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon Complete Creative Freedom

    Adult Swim Gives Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon Complete Creative Freedom
    During their Reddit AMA session, Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland praised Adult Swim for giving them complete creative freedom to do what they want with Rick and Morty, and not bogging them down with oversight. However, they also admitted that it adds some pressure because there will be no one to blame but themselves if the show dips in quality.

  • Justin Roiland Almost Didn't Voice Morty at All

    Justin Roiland Almost Didn't Voice Morty at All
    Early in the development of Rick and Morty, Adult Swim wasn't too keen on the idea of Justin Roiland voicing both of the show's titular characters. The two frontrunners to voice the awkward teenager were prolific voice actors Billy West, known as the voice of Phillip Fry in Futurama (as well as Doug on Doug), and Tara Strong, known for her work as Harley Quinn in the Batman: Arkham games. Eventually, Adult Swim relented and Roiland was granted both lead roles.