Jonathan Freeman is an American actor who is best known for puppeteering and voicing the character Tito Swing on Shining Time Station and voicing Jafar in both the classic Disney movie and the Aladdin musical in 2011. Through his dynamic performance as Jafar and Tito, Freeman earned a reputation for his larger than life voice. His voice ended up landing him numerous roles as a voice actor, and several parts on Broadway musicals (with one of his most recent and well-known roles, Jafar, on Broadway’s Aladdin musical included).
Freeman was born in Bay Village, Ohio, on February 5, 1950, and grew up there until he finally graduated from Ohio University and moved away. While growing up, he always appreciated Disney movies, and was intrigued the most by the villains in the films. Little did Freeman know, he would grow up to eventually play the part of one of the most notorious Disney villains. Ever since his first account, he claims this is a role that Disney calls him in every three to six months to reprise.
Over the course of Freeman’s long standing career, he has amassed countless roles as various characters and voices of all kinds. Since 1976 he has participated in 47 total productions and made over 20 theatrical appearances. Some of his most notable appearances include those in Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. In 1994, his convincing acting skills in the production She Loves Me allowed him to be nominated for the Best Featured Actor in a Musical Tony Award. His most recent performance was in 2020’s The High Note, in which he played the character Martin.
