Voice of Courage- Marty Grabstein

Marty Grabstein was born on November 28, 1954, and grew up in Astoria, New York. From a young age, he displayed a natural talent for acting and pursued a career in the entertainment industry. His early roles included appearances in films such as “Bury the Evidence” and “Apartment #5C”. Grabstein further honed his craft through various theater productions and co-wrote and co-starred in the sketch comedy act “Lab Rats” with Rick Mowat, performing in numerous New York City comedy clubs. This period allowed him to develop his comedic timing and stage presence, frequently introducing new material to engaged audiences.

Grabstein achieved widespread recognition for his iconic voice role as Courage in Cartoon Network’s animated series, “Courage the Cowardly Dog,” which aired from 1999 to 2002 across 52 episodes. His portrayal of the titular character, characterized by a unique blend of paranoia and panic, became a defining aspect of the show, although his dialogue was intentionally reduced to gibberish and mumbling in later seasons to enhance Courage’s laconic nature. Following the conclusion of “Courage the Cowardly Dog,” Grabstein appeared in several television dramas, including multiple episodes of “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and “Third Watch.” His film and television credits also include “Conviction” in 2006 and “A Cat’s Tale” in 2015.

Grabstein reprised his role as Courage in “The Fog of Courage” in 2014 and in the crossover film “Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog” in 2021, where he also voiced the characters Clown and Mr. McGill. He has also lent his voice to video games such as “Cartoon Network Racing” (2006) and “FusionFall” (2009). Beyond his acting career, Grabstein has taken on producing, notably for the short film “Hunter iS F**ked” (2024). In his personal life, he resides in New Jersey with his wife, Nancy, and their two sons, Matthew and Daniel.