The Voices of Your Childhood

The velvet curtain slowly opens and a wave of excitement washes over the crowd as the curly-haired, sequin-jacket-wearing rockstar makes his way across the stage. He’s used to this by now, but it’s still just as exciting as the first time.

Jess Harnell is no stranger to attention, and his lifestyle and success is one that most people could only dream of.

Going to five-star steakhouses and hanging out with celebrities are just a couple of the perks that Harnell gets to enjoy while spending his weekends at comic conventions and concerts all around the world. “I am so incredibly lucky that this is my life,” said Harnell.

Often referred to as “The Spaceship House”, Harnell resides comfortably here in the hills of Studio City, Calif., with his British wife, Cara, and their two silver-shaded chinchilla Persian cats, Beau and Teddy. “I don’t know what I did to get so blessed,” said Cara. “Never in a million years did I think I’d get so lucky.”

Almost four years of marriage later, they are still writing love notes on post-Its and buying “Mr. and Mrs.” coffee mugs. Harnell refers to Cara as “the most beautiful, most kind and caring wife in the world! Can’t get much better than that right?”

It’s safe to say that their cats, one being the star of the Fancy Feast commercials, are in a supportive and loving environment. It’s also safe to say that Harnell’s career has been very good to him, given that he is one of the top voice actors in the world and is the lead singer of a successful rock band, Rock Sugar, known for their mashups of pop and heavy metal music.

The long-time announcer for America’s Funniest Home Videos has a strong connection with his faith, and says that he acknowledges God every day for the continuous blessings put into his life. Whether it’s Cara, the cats, or a new gig, Harnell is constantly thanking God for everything he has. “I wake up every single morning feeling so thankful and fortunate,” said Harnell.

The brown-eyed singer landed his first voice acting job as Br’er Rabbit, along with some other critters, on the Splash Mountain ride at Disneyland back in 1989. Since then, his career hasn’t seemed to slow down. From Wakko Warner, to Crash Bandicoot, to Scary Terry from Rick and Morty, Harnell’s credits list is longer than a receipt from CVS.

Meeting the fans is an effective way to make a difference, and Harnell takes a lot of opportunities to get the chance to meet them. There are hundreds of comic cons going on all year, all around the world, and the Harnells travel to lots of them to meet the wide-eyed, energetic fans.

Cara runs Harnell’s social media accounts, and always lets the fans know how much fun they have meeting them. She also lets them know how stylish the couple’s wardrobes are by posting their matching date-night outfits every week, each one seemingly more extravagant and sparkly than the last. It makes sense though, given that Harnell has over 1000 pairs of pants in his color-coded closet, and Cara has a polaroid photo album of her shoes so she knows exactly what pairs she has.

Although it can be draining, meeting the fans is one of, if not the most, fun part of Harnell’s job. By the end of the weekend, he has a scratched-up throat and is sipping hot teas from Starbucks, all while still meeting and greeting fans. “They are the reason I’m here,” said Harnell, “the fans are so awesome and I love them all.” He’s aware of how difficult it is for some fans to make the shows, and that makes it even more meaningful when they find their way to him. “Whether it’s issues with money or health or something else, I’m just happy they’re here,” he said.

Harnell is often described as a “larger than life presence” by those who work with him, one being Brett Parker, an employee of Celebrity Talent Booking. CTB represents talent from all aspects of the entertainment industry and is owned by Jeff Zannini, who is Harnell’s booking agent and long-time best friend. Parker explained that although the charismatic rockstar loves to play practical jokes and mess around with his friends, he will always be there for the people he loves when they really need him. He is a friend that quickly turns into family, and he never turns his back on family.

The old saying about blood being thicker than water doesn’t apply to Harnell’s views. He sees family in a different way than other people. “I love my blood-related brothers, but I also love my non-blood-related brothers just as much,” said Harnell, “The ability to choose your own family is a blessing that shouldn’t be taken lightly.”

Harnell knows and acknowledges how lucky he is all the time and loves to give back when he has the chance. One of the most rewarding experiences is when he travels to Salt Lake City around Christmas time for a toy drive. Fans bring in a toy in exchange for an autograph or picture with a celebrity, and every toy is donated to a child that otherwise wouldn’t have anything to open on Christmas morning. They end up with thousands of toys every year, and it’s a “very heart-warming weekend.”

Back at his lavish home in the hills, Harnell lives a peaceful life with his wife and cats. They wake up each day with something new to thank God for and never forget how blessed they are. Harnell has so much to be grateful for, and even more to look forward to.