The Tuba Elephant

The Voice Behind Gorilla Grodd, Kaido and Shockwave, David Sobolov Turns 62 Years Old ! 🎙️🎂 With his unmistakably deep, commanding voice, David Sobolov has brought some of animation and gaming's most intimidating characters to life. Anime fans know him as the English voice of Kaido in One Piece, while DC fans recognize his thunderous performance as Gorilla Grodd in The Flash. He also gave Marvel's Drax the Destroyer his signature tough-guy personality in the animated Guardians of the Galaxy series. His impressive voice acting career stretches across generations of beloved franchises, especially Transformers. From the calculating Shockwave in Transformers: Prime and Depth Charge in Beast Wars to Blitzwing in Bumblebee and Battletrap in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Sobolov has helped make countless larger-than-life characters unforgettable. His distinctive voice has also appeared throughout the DC universe, Ben 10, Halo, and League of Legends. Some of his most memorable voice roles include: • Kaido — One Piece (English Dub) • Gorilla Grodd — The Flash / DC's Legends of Tomorrow • Drax the Destroyer — Guardians of the Galaxy (Animated Series) • Shockwave — Transformers: Prime • Depth Charge — Beast Wars: Transformers • Blitzwing — Bumblebee • Battletrap — Transformers: Rise of the Beasts • Apelinq — Transformers: Rise of the Beasts • Lobo — Young Justice / Injustice: Gods Among Us • Doctor Fate — Injustice 2 • Volibear — League of Legends • RoboCop / Alex Murphy — RoboCop: Alpha Commando • Upgrade — Ben 10 (2016) • The Arbiter — Halo Wars • Jul 'Mdama — Halo 4 • Tatsurion / Bob — Kaijudo • Lord Tyger — Spider-Man Unlimited • Spookie Jar — Sabrina: The Animated Series Happy 62nd birthday, David Sobolov! Whether it's Kaido's overwhelming presence, Grodd's menacing intelligence, or Shockwave's cold precision, his voice has given so many iconic characters their unforgettable power. Thank you for the incredible performances that continue to thrill anime, animation, and gaming fans around the world! 🎙️🎉

Pocahontas and The Last of the Mohicans Star Russell Means Passed Away Fourteen Years Ago Today at 72 🎬🕊️ Russell Means brought a commanding presence to the screen that made his characters immediately memorable. His breakthrough film role came as Chingachgook in The Last of the Mohicans, where his strength and gravitas became an essential part of the film’s emotional core. Animation introduced his voice to another generation when he portrayed Chief Powhatan in Disney’s Pocahontas and returned for Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World. Means continued acting across film and television, appearing in Natural Born Killers, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Into the West, Banshee, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Some of his memorable roles include: • Chief Powhatan — Pocahontas / Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World • Chingachgook — The Last of the Mohicans • Billy Twofeathers — Thomas and the Magic Railroad • Old Indian — Natural Born Killers • Pathfinder — Pathfinder • Benjamin Longshadow — Banshee • Wandering Bear — Curb Your Enthusiasm • Older Running Fox — Into the West • Sitting Bull — Buffalo Girls • Arrowhead — The Pathfinder • Shaman / Chief Sentry — Turok: Son of Stone • Willie Ortiz — Tiger Eyes • Bud — Black Cloud • Washakie — Wind River • Mudjekeewis — The Song of Hiawatha Outside acting, Means was also widely known for decades of advocacy for Indigenous rights before beginning his Hollywood career in the 1990s. Russell Means was 72 when he passed away, leaving behind Chingachgook’s strength, Chief Powhatan’s commanding voice, and a screen legacy deeply connected to the characters and stories he brought to life. 🎙️🎬