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Dr. Seuss’ Grinch is a beloved and iconic part of Christmas, well known for his hatred of the holiday, two-sizes-too-small heart, and loyal dog, Max. Most viewers will recognize him from the 1966 TV special and two movies that came out in 2000 and 2018, which all focus on him bitterly stealing presents from the Whos down in Whoville before learning the true meaning of Christmas.
- Release Date
- December 18, 1966
Beyond these films, the Grinch has featured in numerous commercials, musicals, and audio CDs. To get into the holiday spirit, we’ve spotlighted the actors behind these notable appearances and detailed how they helped bring the Grinch and his Christmas magic to life.
20 Boris Karloff (aka William Henry Pratt)
‘Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ (1966)
The iconic voice that started it all, Boris Karloff brought the Grinch to life in the 1966 movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas! He wasn’t just the voice of the Grinch but also the Narrator, though the singing was done by Thurl Ravenscroft. This animated classic established the Grinch as part of holiday lore, and Karloff’s performance made the character and greater story something magical.
One of Many Starring Roles
Before voicing the Grinch, Karloff had several other notable roles, including Frankenstein’s monster in Frankenstein and the antagonist Im-Ho-Tep from The Mummy. Admittedly, it seems like the actor had a type—monstrous and misunderstood.
19 Hans Conried
‘Halloween Is Grinch Night’ (1977)
The prequel to “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,” “Halloween is Grinch Night” takes place on Halloween, also known as Grinch Night, when the Grinch descends upon the town of Whoville. Like Karloff, Conried played both the Grinch and the Narrator in this version, and Thurl Ravenscroft once again provided the Grinch’s singing voice.
Another Talented Performer
The voice of both Captain Hook and George Darling in the 1953 Peter Pan, Conried boasted an impressive resume. Allegedly, he was slated to reprise his role in “The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat” but passed away before production began.
18 Bob Holt
‘The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat’ (1982)
“The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat” is an Emmy-award-winning animated special featuring the voice of Bob Holt. After a minor car accident involving the Grinch and the Cat in the Hat, a car chase ensues, followed by a therapy session, various hijinks, and eventually, a musical number about the Grinch’s dead mother.
A Man of Many Dr. Seuss Hats
Holt plays both the Grinch and the Grinch’s mother, as well as a waiter in the restaurant. However, Mason Adams, who played the role of the Cat in the Hat, played the Narrator, marking a departure for the previous Grinch/Narrator vocal pairings. Holt was also a voice actor for multiple other Dr. Seuss specials, including The Lorax and Dr. Seuss on the Loose.
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17 Dan Castellaneta
‘Tiny Toon Adventures’ (1992)
The Tiny Toon Adventures episode “It’s a Wonderful Tiny Toons Christmas Special” served as the series finale. Parodying It’s a Wonderful Life, the episode includes a scene in which Buster and Babs go sledding and come across two characters who resemble the Grinch and his dog Max, the former of whom is voiced by Dan Castellaneta. Instead of green, the Grinch is blue, and instead of Whoville, the duo are trying to steal Christmas from the town of Shmagooville.
The Grinch and the Simpsons
Nowadays, Dan Castellaneta is best known for his voice acting role of Homer Simpson on The Simpsons. Funnily enough, a parody version of the Grinch called The Grumple has appeared in several episodes, but instead of Castellaneta, he was voiced by Hank Azaria.
16 Walter Matthau
‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ (1992)
How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
- Release Date
- December 12, 1992
- Cast
- Walter Matthau
- Runtime
- 12 minutes
In many ways, this next installment of The Grinch was similar to Boris Karloff’s version. It told the same story but without any songs or animation. Instead, it simply featured Walter Matthau’s narration alongside images from the book.
An On-Screen Star
Matthau starred in multiple films before and after his Grinch narration. Some of these included The Odd Couple, The Bad News Bears, Dennis the Menace, and Grumpy Old Men.
15 Anthony Asbury
‘The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss’ (1996 – 1998)
A children’s TV show spanning two seasons, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss featured live puppets from several Dr. Seuss classics. In the first season, each episode was hosted by the Cat in the Hat and told a cohesive story about one of the characters. In the second season, the show alternated between the Cat in the Hat’s playhouse and several shorter stories that took place at familiar locations like Mount Crumpit. In season 1, the Grinch was one of two main antagonists, and in season 2, he became the series’ primary villain.
Skills Beyond Voice Acting
Asbury played several other characters in The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss including Yertle the Turtle and Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose. A puppeteer, he was also a crew member behind several big productions, including Labyrinth, The Witches, and Little Shop of Horrors.
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14 Wally Wingert
‘Family Guy’ (1999)
During the Family Guy episode “A Hero Sits Next Door,” the audience witnesses an apparent flashback in which Joe Swanson tries to arrest the Grinch. He follows him to the top of an orphanage where they engage in an all-out brawl, which causes Joe to fall from the roof and become paralyzed. In a later episode, “Joe’s Revenge,” it’s revealed that this story was a lie.
The Voice Behind Various Mediums
Wally Wingert voices multiple other minor characters on Family Guy. He has also voiced characters in several anime series such as Bleach, numerous video games, including the Batman: Arkham series, and various other cartoons, from Invader Zim to The Powerpuff Girls.
13 Corey Burton
Seuss Landing Street Show (1999)
Back in 1999, Universal Islands of Adventure gave park attendees the chance to meet their favorite characters in person. One of these characters, the Grinch, could be found dancing in the Seuss Landing Street Show. His voice—which was actually the voice of Corey Burton—could also be heard over the radio in the Sneetch Beach Area.
Along with his work for Universal, Burton has dubbed several video games and narrated multiple documentaries. Currently, he is the voice of Captain Hook (just like his Grinch predecessor, Conried) and has lent his talent to other Disney characters such as Dale in Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers and Zeus from the animated Hercules series.
12 Josh Gerhardt
‘The Grinch’ (2000)
In advance of the 2000 movie, Konami released a Grinch video game, which garnered mixed reviews. Josh Gerhardt voiced the titular Grinch, who sought to steal the Whos’ gifts while recovering blueprints for his Christmas-destroying devices.
Some Familiar Appearances
Josh Gerhardt has starred in numerous other video game roles and voiced several cartoons and anime characters. A few notable appearances include Totally Spies!, Cowboy Bebop, and Akira.
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11 Jim Carrey and Josh Ryan Evans
‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (2000)
- Release Date
- November 17, 2000
Jim Carrey and Josh Ryan Evans both played the Grinch in the 2000 movie, with Carrey playing the adult version and Evans playing him as a child. This version mostly followed the formula from the book, though the Grinch’s background, alongside several Whos such as Cindy Lou Who and Martha May Whovier, were better fleshed out and explored.
When it first came out, How the Grinch Stole Christmas was incredibly unpopular. But in recent years, many have come to view it as the best of the Grinch movies. A large reason for that is Carrey’s performance, which stands out for its humor, emotion, and general commitment to the role. Looking back, it’s hard to think of the Grinch and not see Carrey’s version.
Still Delivering Laughs
Despite rumors claiming Carrey was going to return to the Grinch series, he has instead openly discussed his retirement plans. Fortunately, these plans have yet to be set in motion, and he has since taken on roles ranging from Horton in Horton Hears a Who! to Dr. Robotnik in the Sonic series.
10 Rik Mayall
‘The Dr. Seuss Collection’ (2000)
Around the same time as the Jim Carrey movie, a Grinch audio CD was released starring Rik Mayall. Along with How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the CD includes Dr Seuss’s ABC, The Lorax, and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
Spreading Christmas Cheer
Mayall was well known for several TV appearances, including Young Ones and Drop Dead Fred. He also had a close partnership with Adrian Edmondson, who voiced several other Dr. Seuss stories.
9 Stefán Karl Stefánsson
‘Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ (2008 – 2015)
The seasonal stage adaptation How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical has been delighting audiences since 1990. In 2008, actor Stefán Karl Stefánsson took over the titular role for the US tour. He spent his last $600 in order to fly to New York to audition, and after securing the role, he was determined to make it his own and bring something new to the performance.
A Likable Villain
Stefánsson is no stranger to villainous roles, having previously played Robbie Rotten in LazyTown. Besides the Grinch, he also held stage roles in The Jungle Book, Little Shop of Horrors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and various other productions.
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8 Stephen Stanton
‘Mad’ (2010)
In season 1, episode 12 of Mad titled “Da Grinchy Code,” Stephen Stanton starred as the Grinch as he was accused yet again of stealing Christmas presents. A crossover with The Da Vinci Code, the episode focused on Indiana Jones, Tom Hanks, and Nicolas Cage trying to crack Da Grinchy Code and solve who had taken the aforementioned gifts, only to later be revealed as the thieves themselves.
A Man of Many Talents
Well known for his “audio double” talents, Stanton has provided voices for Disney shows and theme parks. A visual effects artist, he has also worked on multiple movies, including Batman Returns and Alien 3.
7 Seth Green
‘Robot Chicken’ 2010-2013
The Grinch appears in several shorts across multiple Robot Chicken episodes, including “Born Again Virgin Christmas Special,” “Robot Chicken’s ATM Christmas Special,” and “Robot Chicken’s DP Christmas Special.” These versions of the Grinch are much more disturbing than previous iterations.
In the short “Frosty and the Grinch,” the Grinch is seen fatally stapling antlers to Max, while in “The Grinch’s Heart,” he receives a terminal heart diagnosis. Similarly, in “How the Nerd Saved Christmas,” a nerd attacks the Grinch and kills him.
A Man of Many Roles
Co-creator, director, and writer behind the series, Seth Green voiced many Robot Chicken characters. Notably, he also voices Chris Griffin on Family Guy, which as previously mentioned marked a different Grinch appearance.
6 Benedict Cumberbatch
‘The Grinch’ (2018)
The Grinch
- Release Date
- November 9, 2018
- Director
- Yarrow Cheney , Scott Mosier
Although it shared much in common with the movies that came before it, the 2018 version of The Grinch, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch, was unique in several ways. First, Cumberbatch’s Grinch is a more sociable, less mean version of the Grinch. Second, the overall feel of the movie has been modernized with new pop songs and cleaner animation. It also alters the Grinch’s backstory, and rather than live alone on Mount Crumpet, he has several friendly Who neighbors.
Nothing to Be Grumpy About
Although this version of the Grinch received mixed reviews, The Grinch was one of Cumbatch’s best performances of 2010, and it was far from his first or last starring role. He has also played Stephen Strange in the Doctor Strange films, Smaug and Sauron in the Hobbit movies, and Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, to name just a few notable portrayals.
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5 Matthew Morrison
‘Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical Live!’ (2020)
Matthew Morrison played the Grinch in the 2020 live TV musical. Based on a 2006 stage adaptation, the special received mostly mixed or negative reviews. Still, it was an ambitious take on the original, featuring new songs and dance numbers, and for better or worse, it certainly stood apart from the other versions.
Returning to Theatre
A former dancer, Morrison was previously a judge on the competition reality showSo You Think You Can Dance. He also played Will Schuester on Glee. In line with his Grinch portrayal, it appears he’s since switched his focus away from movies and is instead focusing on theatre.
4 David Howard Thornton
‘The Mean One’ 2022
- Release Date
- December 15, 2022
- Director
- Steven LaMorte
- Cast
- David Howard Thornton , Krystle Martin , Amy Schumacher
At first, it might seem strange to create a horror version of a children’s story, but in the case of the Grinch, the pieces were always there. The Mean One builds off of the creepy elements behind the original story to deliver a horrifying, humanoid creature in a Santa suit. This Grinch is both misunderstood and malicious, choosing to commit several murders after accidentally killing Cindy You-Know-Who’s mother and being called a monster. At the end of the film, Cindy chooses to forgive him, which causes the Grinch’s heart to grow three sizes and explode.
Subpar Movie, Stellar Performance
Although the movie received mostly negative reviews, the Grinch is still considered one of David Howard Thornton’s best roles. His portrayal of Art the Clown in the Terrifier series has also been well-received, and he’s slated to play another monster in the upcoming Steamboat Willie parody Screamboat.
3 James Austin Johnson
‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Talk Show’ (2023)
On the surface, the idea of the Grinch as a talk show host seems nearly as strange as his parody-monster version. However, James Austin Johnson’s ‘Tis the Grinch Holiday Talk Show pulled it off, with the Grinch inviting famous guests to join him in a weekly discussion/rant about the holiday season.
Saturday Night Live Influence
Along with the talk show, Johnson was a cast member on SNL, and his version of the Grinch was largely based on several of his impressions from the show. He also invited former SNL star Bobby Moynihan as one of his guests, along with actress Skai Jackson, comedian Patton Oswalt, and various other celebrities.
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2 David Kaye
Capital One Commercial (2023)
After making his mark on musicals, audio CDs, video games, and TV specials, the Grinch’s next venture was into commercials. The Capital One commercial featured a woman having to decide who would deliver Christmas toys. The Grinch volunteered, but the woman turned him down, since he’d previously tried to steal the holiday.
Transforming the Grinch
David Kaye’s roots are in radio, and he has worked for various movie trailers, cartoons, and other commercials. Notably, he was the first actor in the Transformers franchise to be cast in the roles of both Megatron and Optimus Prime.
1 Darin De Paul
Walmart Commercial (2023)
Following his Capital One advertisement, the Grinch returned to commercials by attempting to steal Walmart Christmas presents. After getting to enjoy the gifts for himself, he came to understand the joy they brought and chose to return them instead.
‘Tis the Season for Commercialism
This final appearance of the Grinch was voiced by Darin De Paul, who is mostly known for voicing video game characters. Funnily enough, this depiction feels fairly full circle, as it brought the holiday back to stolen gifts. Sure, the Grinch eventually learned that there’s more to the season than presents, but it’s definitely a big part of it.
The Grinch might be charming as an eel, but all the actors who have played him have brought something special to their performances. With such an impressive lineup of voices already—and so much of the character left to explore—audiences are eager to see who will portray him next.
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