neil kaplan

Neil Charles Kaplan embarked on his career as a comedian, showcasing his talent through impressions of figures such as Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, and Dan Rather. This early experience in performance laid the foundation for his transition into voice acting. His initial forays into the voice industry included contributions to video games, particularly several titles within the Star Wars universe, where he began to establish his vocal range and character versatility. This period marked a significant turning point, demonstrating his capability to adapt his voice to various roles and media.

Kaplan’s career progressed into television, where he lent his voice to prominent animated series and anime. Notable roles from this era include his work on “Power Rangers,” “Digimon: Digital Monsters,” and “Transformers: Robots in Disguise.” In “Transformers: Robots in Disguise,” he voiced Optimus Prime from 2001 to 2002, becoming the second actor to portray the iconic character. He was also a contestant on the game show “Street Smarts,” where he further demonstrated his impressionistic skills, including that of Gilbert Gottfried. Beyond performing, Kaplan has also engaged in creative development, having conceived the television series “The Way it WASN’T!” and the graphic novel “I, of the Wolf.” Throughout his career, he has been a guest at various conventions, including Power Morphicon in 2007 and 2010, Armageddon in 2007, and AVCon in 2018, connecting with fans and sharing insights into his profession.

His extensive portfolio showcases significant roles such as Hawkmon in “Digimon,” Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto in “Bleach,” Emperor Zarkon in “Voltron: Legendary Defender,” and Madara Uchiha in “Naruto.” Kaplan’s career is marked by a consistent presence in high-profile projects, making him a recognizable voice in the entertainment industry.