Voice-A-Versa: Finding My Voice(s) Behind the Mic

A Memoir from the Voice Behind Ren, Stimpy, Doug, Bugs Bunny, Nearly Half the Main Futurama Characters, and More Reveals Life Before—and in Front of—the Mic

“Billy West is the kind of genius you have to write about in the plural. He’s not just a brilliant actor, he’s a hundred brilliant actors. And this hilarious book will give you the lowdown on Billy’s wild lives and unforgettable voices, and how those fevered brains of his crack us all up.”
—MATT GROENING, creator of The Simpsons, Futurama, and Disenchantment

Billy West is one the most accomplished and beloved voice actors alive today. He’s brought to life original animated characters like Ren and Stimpy from The Ren & Stimpy Show, Doug Funnie, and Philip J. Fry, Dr. Zoidberg, Zapp Brannigan, and Professor Farnsworth (and more) on Futurama. He’s played iconic characters like Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd in Space Jam, Popeye, and Woody Woodpecker.

Chances are, he’s made you laugh many times. You might even know some of his lines by heart.

In Voice-A-Versa: Finding My Voice(s) Behind the Mic (Abrams Press; July 14, 2026; U.S. $30.00; Hardcover), West recounts his remarkable life in show business and the circuitous route that got him there, from a radio call-in contest that led to skits on morning radio in Boston, to a one-off appearance on The Howard Stern Show that turned into a regular role, to a big move to Hollywood, and legendary roles working with other talented creators.

But West’s life story is deeper and darker than that, and this memoir reveals the traumatic upbringing that scarred and shaped him, and which gave birth to the “Billy-verse” of voices.

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Bio

Billy West was born in 1952 in Detroit, Michigan. Best known for his work on Ren & Stimpy, Futurama and Looney Toons, West has a career in radio and television that began in the 1980’s when he did comedic impersonations for Charles Laquidara’s Big Mattress morning show on Boston’s WBCN FM radio network. By the mid-90s, he had moved to doing impersonations of Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott on The Howard Stern Show, giving him greater exposure. From there, West became involved with the Nickelodeon shows Doug and Ren & Stimpy. Portraying the title characters on both shows, Billy West saw his voiceover work reach an even larger, yet younger audience.

This led to Warner Bros. hiring him for the film Space Jam in 1996. Featuring Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan and the cast of Looney Tunes, West voiced Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, two characters whom he has sporadically voiced throughout the next decade. He is also known for his portrayal of Philip J. Fry on the cartoon Futurama, which began in 1999 and has continued on through a number of changes through 2012 and currently airs on Comedy Central. In addition he is also the voice of the iconic Red M&M.