The actor, most recognized for his roles in Family Guy, The Emperor’s New Groove, and A Series of Unfortunate Events, discussed the craft of acting during a Q&A with students.
On Nov. 20, students in Temple’s School of Theater, Film and Media Arts (TFMA) had a rare opportunity to speak directly with acclaimed actor Patrick Warburton, who shared advice on honing the craft of acting, navigating a career in show business and making the most of life.
The actor, who was in Philadelphia promoting his upcoming role of Mayor Winddancer in Disney’s Zootopia 2, is beloved for both his live-action and animated roles, including David Puddy on Seinfeld, Lemony Snicket in the Netflix series A Series of Unfortunate Events, Kronk in The Emperor’s New Groove and Joe Swanson in Family Guy.
Filling a classroom in Ritter Hall, students were rapt and eager to learn more about breaking into the entertainment industry. The conversation began with questions moderated by Jason Lindner, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications at TFMA. Warburton shared how his career in acting started with live action, but then unexpectedly segued into voice acting thanks to neighbors in Los Angeles who worked in the field.
“Voice acting is always a little bit bigger than life,” said Warburton, who briefly slipped into the voice roles of Kronk and Joe Swanson, to the delight of the students in the room.
When asked by a student about the craft of voice acting, Warburton emphasized the importance of making bold choices when bringing characters to life. He shared how his success came from committing to his own vision for a character and encouraged students to create and share their own voice acting content on social media.
“Whatever you make, have the most fun with it,” said Warburton. “That always comes through.”
Towards the end of Warburton’s visit, students gasped when Warburton lifted the cuff of his pants to reveal that he has the tattoo referenced in his role in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
The actor also shared advice for dealing with constant rejection in the entertainment industry. He reminded students that a ‘no’ is rarely personal, and that rejection usually means they simply aren’t who the producers are looking for. He also emphasized the importance of prioritizing happiness throughout the ups and downs of a career.
“Don’t ever put off happiness until you reach a certain level of success,” said Warburton. “Success doesn’t bring happiness. It’s all about the journey. Enjoy every day of what you’re doing. You’ve got to just have fun. Appreciate the day.”