Today, we celebrate the birthday of the man who has practically helped shape who I am today, none other than Bret Iwan!
Bret has been behind the microphone as the voice of Mickey Mouse for over 16 incredible years. Stepping in after the passing of Wayne Allwine, he’s helped make Mickey even more iconic and memorable, bringing him to life in almost every Mickey-related project since then!
Always fascinated by Disney’s magic and legacy, Bret pursued every opportunity to become part of it, starting off as a card designer for Hallmark in Kansas City, and later receiving a life-changing email from one of his college friends, a Pixar animator, about over-the-phone auditions to be Mickey’s understudy. After weeks of practice and callbacks, he was offered the role as the fourth official voice of Mickey Mouse.
Around the same time, he was introduced to the Disney Fine Art program, and since then, he has become an official Disney Fine Artist, creating portraits of Mickey, including the Mickey’s 95th Birthday portrait, “Swept Up in the Magic.” This artwork features Mickey in his Sorcerer’s Apprentice outfit from Fantasia. He is only the fourth artist ever to create a birthday portrait for Mickey, a tradition that began in 1953.
Bret is also the first openly LGBTQ+ actor to voice Mickey, marrying his longtime partner, art director Douglas Hoffman.
To Bret, my hero, idol, and inspiration, thank you for everything that you do. Keep bringing Mickey to life, and have the most magical birthday ever!
Mickey Mousekefan
Today, we celebrate the birthday of the man who has practically helped shape who I am today, none other than Bret Iwan!
Bret has been behind the microphone as the voice of Mickey Mouse for over 16 incredible years. Stepping in after the passing of Wayne Allwine, he’s helped make Mickey even more iconic and memorable, bringing him to life in almost every Mickey-related project since then!
Always fascinated by Disney’s magic and legacy, Bret pursued every opportunity to become part of it, starting off as a card designer for Hallmark in Kansas City, and later receiving a life-changing email from one of his college friends, a Pixar animator, about over-the-phone auditions to be Mickey’s understudy. After weeks of practice and callbacks, he was offered the role as the fourth official voice of Mickey Mouse.
Around the same time, he was introduced to the Disney Fine Art program, and since then, he has become an official Disney Fine Artist, creating portraits of Mickey, including the Mickey’s 95th Birthday portrait, “Swept Up in the Magic.” This artwork features Mickey in his Sorcerer’s Apprentice outfit from Fantasia. He is only the fourth artist ever to create a birthday portrait for Mickey, a tradition that began in 1953.
Bret is also the first openly LGBTQ+ actor to voice Mickey, marrying his longtime partner, art director Douglas Hoffman.
To Bret, my hero, idol, and inspiration, thank you for everything that you do. Keep bringing Mickey to life, and have the most magical birthday ever!
See ya real soon!
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 136