Charles Fleischer

Charles Fleischer was born in Washington, D.C. on August 27, 1950. He initially pursued medicine at Southampton College, part of Long Island University, before changing his focus to acting at the Goodman School of Drama, then affiliated with the Art Institute of Chicago. Fleischer began his career as a stand-up comedian, gaining early recognition on the comedy club circuit. His television debut came with an appearance on ‘Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In’ on January 15, 1973, where he showcased his unique musical instruments. This was followed by a spot on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson’ in May 1974, further establishing his presence in the entertainment industry. He also had a recurring role as Carvelli in the popular 1970s TV series ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’ and appeared as Chuck on the ABC series ‘Laverne & Shirley’.

Fleischer is widely recognized for his voice-acting contributions, particularly as the voice of Roger Rabbit, Benny the Cab, Greasy, and Psycho in the 1988 film ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit.’ Following the film’s success, he continued to voice Roger Rabbit in various Disney television appearances, theme park attractions, and three follow-up shorts. His voice talents extended to other animated features, including ‘The Polar Express’ (2004), ‘We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story’ (1993), and ‘Rango’ (2011), where he voiced Elbows. On-screen, Fleischer’s filmography includes a cameo in ‘Back to the Future Part II’ (1989) as Terry, ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ (1984) as Dr. King, ‘Gridlock’d’ (1997) as Mr. Woodson, and ‘Zodiac’ (2007) as Bob Vaughn. He also had a role as Talk Show Host in ‘Reality Queen!’ (2016).

In addition to acting and comedy, Fleischer is a musician and songwriter. He performed as a guest harmonica player with the group Blues Traveler in 1995 and frequently appeared at improvisational theatre venues. From 2010 to 2011, he hosted his weekly web show ‘Fleischer’s Universe’ on Ustream.tv. His work also includes acting in a video shown at Disneyland’s Space Mountain as a used spaceship salesman. Fleischer’s diverse career reflects his enduring contributions across multiple entertainment platforms.