Corey Burton

Corey Burton’s Rise from Radio Apprentice to Disney’s Ghost Host

At seventeen, Corey Gregg Weinberg adopted the name Corey Weinman for an imitation of Hans Conried in a Disney filmstrip, marking his entry into voice work. Four years of radio training under Daws Butler followed, connecting him to Hollywood’s last generation of classic-style broadcast actors. When mentor Paul Frees died, Burton stepped into his shoes as the Haunted Mansion Holiday’s Ghost Host, later delivering the line “Welcome, foolish mortals” in the 2003 film adaptation.

Disney’s Living Legacy: Captain Hook, Dale, and Ludwig Von Drake

Burton inherited several Disney characters after the deaths or retirements of their original performers, keeping Captain Hook, Ludwig Von Drake, Dale, and Yen Sid alive across new productions. That continuity carries into recent series like Mickey Mouse Funhouse and the rebooted Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, along with ongoing DuckTales episodes.

Shockwave to Megatron: A Half-Century in the Transformers Universe

The original 1984 Transformers series introduced his Shockwave, Sunstreaker, Brawn, and Spike Witwicky, with Shockwave becoming his personal favorite. Cartoon Network’s Transformers: Animated later expanded his range to Megatron, Ratchet, and Ironhide. He declined to reprise Shockwave for Dark of the Moon, passing the role to Frank Welker.

Count Dooku and Cad Bane Across the Star Wars Saga

Serving as Christopher Lee’s audio double, Burton voiced Count Dooku and Cad Bane throughout Star Wars: The Clone Wars, later carrying Bane into The Bad Batch, The Book of Boba Fett, and Tales of the Underworld. He returned to a starring Dooku role in Tales of the Jedi.

Brainiac, Hugo Strange, and DC’s Animated Rogues Gallery

Across Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, Static Shock, and Justice League Unlimited, Burton gave voice to the supervillain Brainiac, later reprising him in DC Universe Online. His Hugo Strange anchored Batman: Arkham City, and he currently lends his voice to Batman: Caped Crusader ahead of its second season.