Mike Nawrocki

Michael Lewis Nawrocki (born July 8, 1966) is an American director, voice actor, producer, writer, animator, musician, puppeteer, and businessman best known as the co-creator of the long-running, Christian video series, VeggieTales where he voices Larry the Cucumber.[1][2] He also voices many other main characters on the show, including Jerry Gourd, and Jean-Claude Pea, and other various characters, is the co-founder of Big Idea Entertainment alongside Phil Vischer, and currently serves as the Executive Vice President of the company.[3] He has directed several of their productions, including the award-winning Silly Songs with Larry segments from VeggieTales.

Mike Nawrocki
Born
Michael Lewis Nawrocki

(1966-07-08) July 8, 1966
Dayton, Ohio, United States
Alma materSt. Paul Bible College
University of Illinois
OccupationExecutive Vice President and co-founder of Big Idea Entertainment
Years active1989–present
Notable work
Spouse(s)Lisa Nawrocki
Children2

Life and career

Nawrocki originally wanted a career in the medicine field, and studied at St. Paul Bible College (now Crown College) where he met Phil Vischer while serving on a puppet ministry.[4] Nawrocki later enrolled at the University of Illinois-Chicago, and joined Vischer at GRAFx, Nawrocki helped to finance his education by taking a job with Renaissance Video, a video production facility where he gained experience in video production and animation and later worked for Post Effects and Film and Tape Works. Nawrocki graduated from UIC in 1992 with a BS in biology and a BA in history. In 1993, Nawrocki left Film & Tape Works, a company that had purchased GRAFx Studios, and his future in medicine to join Vischer and founded Big Idea Productions.[5] After Big Idea's liquidation in 2003, Nawrocki reactivated the company in 2004.[6]

On September 30, 2008, Big Idea Entertainment appointed Nawrocki to the position of Executive Vice President. He will "oversee all creative and production at the Big Idea studio," "spearhead the development and launch of new series, brands and properties for Big Idea," will have the "initial focus will include developing an original new VeggieTales TV series," and "cultivate new strategic partnerships and alliances in the creative community to help expand the Big Idea portfolio."

In 2014, DreamWorks Classics, the parent company of Big Idea, signed an exclusive deal with Netflix to produce and distribute VeggieTales in the House. Nawrocki was signed on to continue voicing Larry, Jerry, and Jean-Claude.[7]

Revival of VeggieTales

In March of 2019, Mike's partner Phil Vischer announced on his Twitter that he had re-teamed with Mike at TBN to revive the VeggieTales series. Just like previously, Vischer and Nawrocki would return to voice their characters and also work as writers for the new show.[8]

Awards
Year Award Nominated work Result
1997 Animated Short Film or Video World's Children's Prize Foundation's Children's Jury Award Very Silly Songs Won
1997 Children's Music Album of the Year GMA Dove Award A Very Veggie Christmas Won
1998 Long Form Music Video of the Year GMA Dove Award A Very Silly Sing Along Won
2000 Children's Music Album of the Year GMA Dove Award Larry-Boy: The Soundtrack Won
2001 Children's Music Album of the Year GMA Dove Award A Queen, A King, and A Very Blue Berry - VeggieTunes; Won
2003 Children's Music Album of the Year GMA Dove Award Jonah, A Veggie Tales Movie Original Soundtrack Won
2004 Long Form Music Video of the Year GMA Dove Award Belly Button Nominated
2007 Children's Music Album of the Year GMA Dove Award VeggieTales Worship Songs Won
2014 Children's Album of the Year GMA Dove Award 25 Favorite Bible Songs - Veggie Tales Won

Published works
  • Bob Lends a Helping . . . Hand? (2003) ISBN 0-310-70538-X (co-author with Cindy Kenney)
  • Peas and Thank You! (2003) ISBN 0-310-70540-1 (writing as the voice of Larry the Cucumber)
  • The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything and Me! (2004) (co-author with Karen Poth)

Filmography
Year Title Voice role Crew role, notes
1993–2015 VeggieTales series Larry the Cucumber, Jerry Gourd, QWERTY, Jean Claude Pea, Scallion 2, The Peach, Li'l Pea, Mad Scientist's Assistant, Closet Monster #2, Closet Monster #3, Henry the Miner, Sheep, Announcer, Dad Carrot, Bear-Trapped Bear, Fairie Peas, Maewyn Succat / St. Patrick, Pirates, Sumo Men's Choir, Oscar, Chief Elder, Cockney Eagle, Cheese E Rodent, French Peas, Society Lady, Maid, Obadiah Bumbly, Kids, French Pea Brothers, Radio Announcer, Minions, Lumberjack Silverstein, Dirk, Mounted Muskellunge, Mexican Extras, Tour Guide, Potato Henchman #1, Extreme Veggie Crew Member #1, Extreme Veggie Crew Member #2, Ducks, Alfredo, Boy in Museum, Grandma Gourd, Old Man on Beach, Old Woman on Beach, Baguette Guy, Birthday Snoodle, Snoodle Knight, Unbrilliant, Art Green, Grandpa Gourd, Pig #1, Guitar Player, Disclaimer Guy, Townpersons, Hip Pig, Garius Grape, Tim Turnip, Tom Turnip, Tod Turnip, Gladiators, Mall Shopkeepers, Turnips, Shoppers, Townspeople, PAL, Ziggy, Applepies Crew, Henchmen, Robot Guards, General Celery, Beni Haha Announcer, Roadie, Hotel Guests Direct-to-video series
Director, producer, writer, composer, score, executive producer
2000–03, 2006–08 3-2-1 Penguins! Vacuum TV series
Developer, writer
2002 Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie Larry the Cucumber, Jerry Gourd, Jean Claude Pea, Self-Help Tape Voice, Cockney Pea 1, Whooping BBQ Pea Feature film
Director, writer, composer
2002–03 Larryboy: The Cartoon Adventures Larry-Boy/Larry, Bob the Tomato TV series
2008 The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie Elliot (Larry the Cucumber), Theater Foe (Jerry Gourd), Pirate Jean Claude Pea, Pirate with Dummy, Pirate Spy Sidekick, Rock Monster Father Feature film
Director, producer
2011-2015 Bubble Guppies Scallion #2 6 episodes
2014–2016 VeggieTales in the House Larry, Jerry Gourd, Jean Claude Pea, Larry-Boy, Officer Wedge, Buffalorange, LarryMobile, LarryCave Computer, Customer #2, Kid #1 (1), Broccoli Kid (1), Little Corn Girl, Singing Money, Carrot Anchor, Random Voice #1, Carrot Mailman, Captain LarryBeard, Radish A (2), Radish Pirate A, Random Carrot (3), TV Secretary Judith, Broccoli Kid (2), Corn Man (2), Radish C (1), Narrator, Larry's Brain, Carrot Man A, Carrot Man B, Corn Man (3), Random Carrot (4), Carrot Teacher, Broccoli Kid (3), News Anchor, Delivery Guy, Pea Boy, Pea Girl, Carrot Kid (3), Broccoli Kid (4), Fancy Corn, Teacher, Random Kid (2), Radish B (3), Radish B (4), Broccoli Woman, Corn Boy (2), Kid #1 (2), Danny Dustbunny, Radio DJ #1, Radish B (5), Radish A (7), Random Carrot (6), No-Beard the Radish, Corn Man (4), Corn Woman (3), Carrot Soccer Player #1, Radish B (8), Corn Teacher, Radish A (11), Happy Shunshine Bubbles, Sawtooth Flytrap, Radish B (10), TV Announcer, Carrot Man in Line, Carrot Covered in Garbage, Dust Bunny, Fast Food Corn Employee, Radish A (14) Netflix TV series
2017 VeggieTales in the City Larry, Jerry Gourd, Jean Claude Pea, Larry-Boy, Officer Wedge, Buffalorange, Radish B (1), Random Veggies, Broccoli Kid (1), Radish (2), Corn Man (2), Random Broccoli (1), Sock Museum Guy, Train Conductor, Larry's Brain, Carrot Man (1), Math Guy, Dustbunnies, Corn Person #2, Corn Person #3, Broccoli Kid (2), Corn Playing Cards, Corn Man Actor, Broccoli Kid (3), Corn Trumpet Player, Bike Messenger, Corn Worker, Carrot Worker, Pea Worker, Random Carrot (3), Random Corn (4), Danny Dustbunny, Weather Man, Employee Fun Day Announcer, Customer #2 (1), Random Pea (1), Random Pea (2), Random Carrot (4), Random Corn (5), Woman Pea, Radishes, Random Corn B, Random Carrot (5) Netflix TV series
2019-2020 The VeggieTales Show Larry, Jerry Gourd, Jean Claude Pea, others Writer, Composer

References
  1. "Mike Nawrocki of VeggieTales". First Person Interview with Wayne Shepherd. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  2. Filby, Julie (November 20, 2013). "Virtuous veggies 'leaf' big impression". Denver Catholic. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  3. "Bloomberg Business Profile". Bloomberg. August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  4. "'Veggie' Sprouts In Mainstream". Billboard. 30 May 1998. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  5. Easley, Michael (December 9, 2014). "Michael Easley inContext interview with Mike Nawrocki". Michael Easley inContext. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  6. Pistorius, Martin (May 1, 2004). "Running Out of Miracles". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  7. Kessel, Jaclyn (2014-11-14). "EXCLUSIVE: Mike Nawrocki of 'VeggieTales In The House' Talks Series Netflix Reboot". Decider | Where To Stream Movies & Shows on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant, HBO Go. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
  8. Vischer, Phil (2019-03-28). "Correction - TBN is licensing VT from Universal... they didn't buy it. Bob and Larry still live with Shrek and Donkey and Minions. BUT... TBN is producing new eps and Mike and I are writing!https://twitter.com/ericmetaxas/status/1111281056013967360 …". @philvischer. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
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