Top voice actor to visit SU

Top voice actor to visit SUApril 15, 2003Nicci Brownnicbrown@syr.edu

Odie the dog, Eeyore the donkey and Orson the pig will be all heard around the corridors of the Newhouse School April 21- That is, assuming Gregg Berger is willing to perform. Berger, one of the foremost voice actors in the nation, will be at SU to take part in “Think Globally, Act Vocally: A Voice Actor Speaks Out.” The event is an open conversation and question and answer session moderated by Richard Dubin, a visiting professor in television-radio-film. It will be held 2 p.m. in room 200, Newhouse I and is free and open to the public.

Dubin says it’s a rare opportunity to meet someone who does work that is usually “invisible” in an area of entertainment that is not generally understood. “Gregg will give us a bird’s eye view-not to mention a pig’s and dog’s eye view too-of the world of voice acting,” Dubin says. “Whenever students, scholars and the community can meet an artist who regularly portrays household pets and barnyard animals our understanding of entertainment, culture and the world can only expand.”

Berger’s TV and film characters, commercials, and interactive game appearances are well known across the country. Among many other roles, he “plays” Odie on “Garfield,” The Gromble on “Real Monsters,” and Baby, Niles’ talking cockatiel on “Frasier.” He has also had guest roles in a number of television series including “Becker,” “The Drew Carey Show,” and “Night Court.”

“Think Globally, Act Vocally: A Voice Actor Speaks Out” is being sponsored by Newhouse’s television-radio-film department and the Center for the Study of Popular Television.