Mike Pollock (voice actor)

Michael B. Pollock (born March 9, 1965)[2][3] is an American voice actor and comedian, best known as the current voice of Doctor Eggman in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, as well as many characters in various anime English-language dubs and video games. He provided voices for the narrator, Raoul Contesta, and Drayden in the Pokémon series, Adon Coborlwitz from Berserk, Meat from Ultimate Muscle, Langston Lickatoad from Viva Piñata, Suikyou from the Ikki Tousen series and Beast in the motion comic adaptation of Astonishing X-Men.

Mike Pollock
Born (1965-03-09) March 9, 1965
Other namesHerb Lawrence[1]
OccupationVoice actor, comedian
Years active1988–present
Children2
Parent(s)Herb Lawrence Pollock (father)[1]
RelativesBill Pollock (brother)
Websitewww.itsamike.com

Biography

Pollock was born on March 9, 1965, the son of Herb Lawrence Pollock. He worked in radio in Upstate New York in the 1980s. He graduated from Roslyn High School in 1983, where he was involved with their theater program, called the Royal Crown Players.[3] When he returned to New York City in the 1990s, he was booked into some children's videos, anime, and an episode of Pokémon.[1] Pollock recalls it was director Eric Stuart who brought him in as a guest spot for Pokémon and he then got recommended for roles in Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, Ultimate Muscle, as well as the Fox Box promotion announcer.[4] His first major anime role was Meat in Ultimate Muscle.[5]

Dr. Eggman in Sonic franchise

Pollock first took the role of Doctor Eggman in the English dub of Sonic X, in which he also portrayed Professor Gerald Robotnik.[6] Pollock assumed the role of Eggman in the video game series beginning with the 2005 games Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic Rush, as part of an initiative by SEGA to maintain vocal consistency between the concurrent video game/TV portrayals of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.[1]

Several anime websites, anime conventions, podcasters and interviewers have also taken notice of Pollock's performance as Dr. Eggman in numerous video games and animated series within the Sonic franchise.[7] His performance as Dr. Eggman has become synonymous to the character himself.[8]

On July 15, 2010, Sega announced that the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise would undergo a re-casting, with a new set of voice actors based in Los Angeles, California assuming the roles of each character; however, it was also announced that Pollock would continue to voice Dr. Eggman.[9]

Pollock is the only voice actor out of the entire Sonic cast to still reside in New York as opposed to California; he communicates with the Studiopolis cast via headphones. Pollock has reprised his role of Dr. Eggman on the TV series Sonic Boom, which premiered on November 8, 2014. Pollock has currently held the role for longer than any other English-speaking actor.[10]

Other voice work

For Teleflora's Mother's Day campaign in 2016, Pollock narrated Vince Lombardi's "What It Takes to Be Number One" speech in a commercial video called "One Tough Mother".[11][12]

Personal life

His brother, Bill Pollock, is the director of a publishing house called No Starch Press.[13]

Filmography

Anime
List of dubbing performances in anime
Year Title Role Notes Refs[2]
2000Demon Fighter KochoProfessor[14]
2001Twin SignalThe Professor[15]
2001Magic User's ClubMitsuru Minowa[16][17]
2002BerserkAdon Coborlwitz[18]
2002–06Kirby: Right Back at Ya!Mayor Len Blustergas, Samo
2002–04Ultimate MuscleMeat[5][19]
2002Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel MonstersArthur Hawkins, Gurimo[20]
2003–06Sonic XDoctor Eggman, Ella
2003–20PokémonNarrator, Drayden, Raoul Contesta, others[18][21][22][23]
2004GokusenKouzou Wakamatsu[24]
2004Giant Robo: The AnimationIssei, Professor Shizuma[25]
2005Shingu: Secret of the Stellar WarsCabinet Secretary, Velosh[26][27]
2005Ah! My GoddessUrn of Hakushon the Demon King[28][29]
2005–08Yu-Gi-Oh! GXJean Louis Bonaparte
2006Animation Runner KuromiYu Tokahara, The Boss[16]
2007Ah! My Goddess: Flights of FancyPriestAs Herb Lawrence[30]
2009Ikki Tousen: Dragon DestinySuikyou[16][31][32]
2011BakumanFumio[33]
2011–12GoGoRikiBigoriki4Kids dub
2013Queen's Blade RebellionDogura, Elder[34]
2013Ikki Tousen: Great GuardiansSuikyou[35]
2014Ikki Tousen: Xtreme XecutorSuikyou[36]
2015Holy KnightLilith's Father[37][38]
2016Rio: Rainbow GateTom HowardAlso Reshuffle[39][40]
2017World War BlueMarcus, Guligi[41]
2018Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue TheseHans von Seeckt[42]
2019Dr. StoneYakov Nikitin[43]
2020Great PretenderKudoNetflix dub[44]

Animation
List of voice performances in animation
Year Title Role Notes Refs[2]
2003–04Fighting FoodonsHot Doggone-It[45]
2003–06Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesGarbageman, Kirby
2006–09Viva PiñataLangston Lickatoad, Announcer[4]
2009–12Huntik: Secrets & SeekersVarious characters[46]
2013–16Alisa Knows What to Do![47]
2014–2017Sonic BoomDr. Eggman, Fastidious Beaver, Mayor Fink[48]
2018-present44 CatsCop, Cats in Black agent

Film
List of voice performances in feature films
Year Title Role Notes Refs[2]
2004Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of LightNewscaster[49][50]
2016Miss HokusaiManjidoFilm festival release of English dub[51][52]
2017Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!Bonji[53][54]
2018Lu over the WallNodoguro[55]
2018Liz and the Blue BirdMr. HashimotoLimited theatrical release[56]
2018Mazinger Z: InfinityDr. HellLimited theatrical release[57]
2019PromareDeus PromethLimited theatrical release[58]


List of voice performances in direct-to-video and television films
Year Title Role Notes Refs[2]
2003Jungle Emperor LeoDr. Moustache[59]
2005Pokémon: Destiny DeoxysNarrator[60]
2006Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of MewNarrator[61]
2007RatatoingGregCredited as Herb Lawerence[16]
2012A Cat in ParisMister Baby, Zookeeper[16]
2013Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II - The Battle for DoldreyAdon Coborlwitz[18][62]
2014Welcome to the Space ShowNeppo, Moose Alien[63]
2016Kikoriki: Legend of the Golden Dragon[64]

Video games
List of voice performances in video games
Year Title Role Notes Refs[2]
2005Shadow the HedgehogDr. Eggman, Professor Gerald RobotnikGrouped under English Character Voices[65][66]
2005Sonic RushDr. Eggman, Eggman Nega[16]
2006Sonic RidersDr. EggmanGrouped under English Character Voices[67]
2006Sonic the HedgehogDr. EggmanGrouped under English Character Voices[68][69]
2007Sonic and the Secret RingsKing ShahryarGrouped under English Voice Actors[70]
2007Sonic Rush AdventureDr. Eggman, Eggman Nega[16]
2007Mario & Sonic at the Olympic GamesDr. EggmanGrouped under Character Voices[71]
2008Sonic Riders: Zero GravityDr. EggmanGrouped under English Character Voices[72]
2008Sonic UnleashedDr. EggmanGrouped under Cast[73]
2009Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter GamesDr. Eggman, Eggman NegaGrouped under Sega Characters (English)[74]
2010Sonic Free RidersDr. EggmanGrouped under English Character Voices[75]
2010Sonic ColorsDr. Eggman[16]
2011Sonic GenerationsDr. Eggman, Classic EggmanGrouped under English Character Voices[76][77]
2011Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic GamesDr. Eggman, Eggman NegaGrouped under Sega Characters (English)[78]
2013Sonic Lost WorldDr. EggmanGrouped under English Character Voices[79]
2013Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter GamesDr. Eggman, Eggman NegaGrouped under Sega Characters (English)[80]
2014Sonic Boom: Rise of LyricDr. Eggman, Mayor Fink, Fastidious BeaverGrouped under English Character Voices[81]
2015Just Cause 3Grouped under Voice and Motion Capture Actors[82]
2016Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic GamesDr. Eggman, Eggman NegaGrouped under Sega Characters (English)[83]
2016Sonic Boom: Fire & IceDr. EggmanGrouped under English Character Voices[84][10]
2017Sonic ForcesDr. EggmanGrouped under English Character Voices[85]
2017SmiteKuzenboGrouped under English Character Voices[85]

Radio
List of voice performances in radio
Year Title Role Notes Refs[2]
2006–2014 Master Tape Theatre Sir Hardin Thicke

Other roles
List of voice performances in other roles
Year Title Role Notes Refs[2]
2009Astonishing X-MenBeastmotion comics[86]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result
2014 BTVA Voice Acting Award Best Male Vocal Performance in a Video Game Sonic Lost World Nominated
BTVA Anime Dub Award Best Vocal Ensemble in an Anime Movie/Special (shared with entire cast) Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II - The Battle for Doldrey Nominated
Best Male Supporting Vocal Performance in an Anime Movie/Special Nominated
2016 8th Annual Shorty Awards Best Overall Twitter Presence "Dr. Eggman Twitter Takeover" Finalist[87]

References
  1. "Mike's Fan FAQ - Voice Over Actor Mike Pollock - It's A Mike!". www.itsamike.com. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  2. Resumes and profiles:
  3. "The Royal Crown Players - ALUMNI". rcp.roslynschools.org. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  4. "In Case You Missed it: The Mike Pollock SAGE Chat". tssznews.com. July 31, 2009. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  5. IshNT (December 17, 2004). "Mike Pollock Interview". Eggman Empire / Sonic World. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  6. Anime News Network citations for Pollock's roles in Sonic X:
  7. Interviews with Pollock/conventions that Pollock attended:
  8. Hazeldine, Julian (October 11, 2014). Speedrun: The Unauthorised History of Sonic the Hedgehog. Lulu Press, Inc. ISBN 9781291832341.
  9. "SEGA Blog | Sonic the Hedgehog". Blogs.sega.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  10. Silberman, Ryan (September 29, 2016). "Review: Sonic Boom Fire & Ice (3DS)". The Inner Circle Games Network. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  11. Gianatasio, David (April 25, 2016). "Ad of the Day: Teleflora Finds Fresh Use for Vince Lombardi in Powerful Ad for Mother's Day". Adweek. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  12. Jones, Brian (April 26, 2016). "WATCH: Vince Lombardi featured in Teleflora commercial". 247Sports.com. Green Bay. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  13. Pollock, Mike (February 27, 2019). "Pic of my bro, for all your sibling headshot needs". @itsamike. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  14. Demon Fighter Kocho OAV. AnimeWorks. 2000. Event occurs at Closing credits, English Voice Cast.
  15. Twin Signal. Episode 1. Event occurs at Closing credits, English Voice Cast.
  16. "Behind The Voice Actors - Mike Pollock". Behind The Voice Actors. Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  17. "Mitsuru Minowa". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 22, 2017. Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.
  18. "SpringFestNY Welcomes Voice Actor Mike Pollock As Guest of Honor". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  19. "Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy [Anime Series] (2001) - - Cast and Crew - AllMovie". allmovie.com. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  20. "Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME » Saturday's Voice Actor Panel Discussion". konami.com. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  21. "Anime Festival @ London Anime Con This 20–21 July & Cosplay Stars Ticket Contests!". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  22. Tweets concerning Mike Pollock's roles in Pokémon:
  23. Terrace 2008, p. 843
  24. Gokusen. Episode 1.
  25. Fightingdreamer (September 20, 2009). "Anime Dub Reviews: Giant Robo: Part 1: The NYAV Post Dub". animeenglishdubreviews.blogspot.com. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  26. "The War Record Begins". Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars. Episode 1. Nozomi Entertainment. Event occurs at Closing credits, English Cast – via YouTube.
  27. "After the Rain, More Rain". Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars. Episode 9. Nozomi Entertainment. Event occurs at Closing credits, English Cast – via YouTube.
  28. "Ah! The Devil's Whisper Coming From An Urn?". Ah! My Goddess. Season 1. Episode 22. Event occurs at Closing credits.
  29. "Ah! The Savior of the World Arrives with the Sound of the Flute?". Ah! My Goddess. Season 1. Episode 23. Event occurs at Closing credits.
  30. "Ah! I Wish... Once More!". Ah! My Goddess: Flights of Fancy. Season 2. Episode 1. Event occurs at Closing credits, English cast.
  31. "Funimation Unveils Ikki Tousen: Great Guardians' Dub Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  32. "Funimation Reveals Ikki Tousen XX's English Dub Cast, Trailer". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  33. "Media Blasters Announces Bakuman. Dub Cast". animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  34. Green, Scott (September 24, 2013). "Crunchyroll – "Queen's Blade Rebellion" English Dub Cast Listed". Crunchyroll. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  35. "Funimation Unveils Ikki Tousen: Great Guardians' Dub Cast". animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  36. "FUNimation Reveals 'Ikki Tousen Xtreme Xecutor' Anime Dub Cast, First Trailer". fandompost.com. January 9, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  37. "Media Blasters Casts Mike Pollock, Michael A. Zekas in Holy Knight OVA". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  38. "Mike Pollock Added To 'Holy Knight' Anime Dub Cast". The Fandom Post. February 6, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  39. "Media Blasters Reveals Full English Dub Cast for Rio - Rainbow Gate! Anime". animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  40. "Rio Rainbow Gate: Reshuffle Cast Announced! – Media Blasters". media-blasters.com. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  41. Media Blasters [@Media_Blasters] (November 30, 2016). "The #worldwarblue hype continues with @Kirbopher @AmaAmaLeeLee @itsamike @kylehebert @rinachan #voiceover #videogames #dub" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  42. Lauda, Brittany (May 28, 2018). "Episode 6 of Legend of the Galactic Heroes is now streaming on @FUNimation for your viewing pleasure :D @CliffordChapin and I are excited to have brought @itsamike on board as Hans von Seeckt for his first Funimation project!". @BrittanyLaudaVO. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  43. Chapin, Clifford [@cliffordchapin] (November 1, 2019). "Episode 16 of #DrSTONE is now available in English!! The ISS crew is...Lillian - @caitlinsvoice Shamil - @Seitz_Unseen Yakov - @itsamike Connie -@tsunderica Dalia - @larynx_lynx What better way to have a crew sound out of this world than by having a cast from all over it?" (Tweet). Retrieved December 14, 2019 – via Twitter.
  44. "Netflix Announces Great Pretender Anime's English Dub Cast". Anime News Network. August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  45. Terrace 2008, p. 341
  46. Middleton, Brad (February 5, 2015). Un-Dead TV: The Ultimate Guide to Vampire Television. By Light Unseen Media. ISBN 9781935303480. Retrieved May 2, 2017 – via Google Books.
  47. "Alisa Knows What To Do! (Season 1)". HBO.
  48. "SONIC BOOM". Sonic The Hedgehog. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  49. Beck 2005, p. 322
  50. Willis, John; Monush, Barry (April 1, 2006). Screen World: 2005 Film Annual. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9781557836670. Retrieved May 2, 2017 – via Google Books.
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  52. "'Miss Hokusai' Now Playing at Nuart Theatre". rafu.com. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  53. Rogers, Bill [@billsvoice] (November 5, 2017). "Happy to reprise my role as Lucario in the 20th Pokemon movie. Missed it? There's 3 more screenings Nov 6, 11 & 14. www.fathomevents.com/events/pokemon-the-movie …" (Tweet). Retrieved November 7, 2017 – via Twitter.
  54. Pollock, Mike [@itsamike] (November 6, 2017). "And now it can be told! bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Bonj%C4%AB" (Tweet). Retrieved March 11, 2018 – via Twitter.
  55. "Lu over the wall (movie)". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  56. Sherman, Jennifer (November 8, 2018). "Eleven Arts Reveals Liz and the Blue Bird Anime Film's English Dub Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  57. "Viz Media Announces the Home Media Release of Mazinger z: Infinity". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  58. "Promare Anime Film's English-dubbed Trailer Streamed (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  59. "ProZD Likes to Voice Act • An Interview with Mike Pollock, the Voice of Dr..." tumblr.com. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  60. IV, Stuart Galbraith (May 16, 2008). The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9781461673743. Retrieved May 2, 2017 – via Google Books.
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  62. "Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II - The Battle for Doldrey (2012)". cinemamontreal.com. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  63. "Dub Cast for Welcome to the Space Show Announced". animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  64. "Kikoriki. Legend of the Golden Dragon (2016) - Denis Chernov - Cast and Crew - AllMovie". allmovie.com. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  65. Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 1:42 in, English Character Voices.
  66. "UPDATE: Happy 10th Anniversary to Mike Pollock as Eggman in the video games (over 12 years in total!)". sonicstadium.org. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  67. Sonic Team, NOW Production. Sonic Riders. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 1m40s in, English Character Voices.
  68. Sonic Team, NOW Production. Sonic the Hedgehog. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, Cast, English Character Voices.
  69. Doctor X (December 24, 2013). "Let's Play Sonic 06 - Part 1 w/ Mike Pollock". Retrieved October 24, 2017 – via YouTube.
  70. Sonic Team. Sonic and the Secret Rings. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 3m08s in, English Voice Actors.
  71. Sega Sports R&D. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 1m55s in, Character Voices.
  72. Sonic Team. Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 2m20s in, English Character Voices.
  73. Sonic Team. Sonic Unleashed. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 8 minutes in, Cast.
  74. Sega, Racjin. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 2m30s in, Sega Characters (English).
  75. Sonic Team. Sonic Free Riders. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 1m in, English Character Voices.
  76. Sonic Team. Sonic Generations. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 1m43s in, English Character Voices.
  77. 1upTV Games (March 28, 2012). "Mykle and Mike Pollock (Voice of Eggman) Play: Sonic Generations - Part 17 (Credits)". Retrieved October 24, 2017 – via YouTube.
  78. Sega Sports R&D, Racjin. Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 2 minutes in, Voice - Sega Characters (English).
  79. Sonic Team. Sonic Lost World. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 1m09 in, English Character Voices.
  80. Sega Sports R&D. Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 2:23 in, Sega Characters (English).
  81. Sonic Team. Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 2m15 in, English Character Voices.
  82. Avalanche Studios. Just Cause 3. Square Enix. Scene: Closing credits, 1m30s in, Voice and Motion Capture Actors.
  83. Sega Sports R&D. Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 2:23 in, Sega Characters (English).
  84. Sanzaru Games. Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice. Sega. Scene: Closing credits, 1m15 in, English Character Voices.
  85. "SEGA Reveal First Gameplay Footage of Sonic Forces and Flying Battery Zone in Sonic Mania". Gaming Respawn. March 18, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  86. Sims, Chris (August 9, 2010). "Astonishing X-Men: Motion Comics, Why Bother? [Review]". ComicsAlliance. I was especially impressed with Mike Pollock’s voice for Beast, as he gives him the cadence of a nerdy scientist with the underlying animalistic growl of…well, of a beast.
  87. "Best Overall Twitter Presence in Social Media - Shorty Awards". shortyawards.com. Retrieved May 1, 2017.

Works cited
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