“When I heard that Mike Henry was stepping down from the role of Cleveland Brown — my favorite cartoon character of all time — I was shocked and saddened, assuming we’d never see him again,” Zahir said. Known on YouTube as “Azerrz,” Zahir does video impressions of President Obama, Cleveland Brown, Donald Trump and Kendrick Lamar (among others), and has 6.25 million subscribers. (FOX/BEN KRANTZ) Voice actor Mike Henry will now longer voice Cleveland Brown on the animated series Family Guy. The 54-year-old voice actor announced in June he would be stepping down as the voice of the popular 'Family Guy' character - who once had his own spin-off in the form of the since-axed 'Cleveland Show' - as he no longer felt it was right for him to voice a Black character. “I look forward to getting to know Arif and working with him to make sure Cleveland stays every bit as awesome as he has always been.”. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Phil LaMarr. To Mike, you created something truly special and I promise I will do my absolute best to honor your legacy. “When I learned I would get to take over the role? Incarnations On BTVA: 6 Versions from 6 Titles. He was conceived during the seventh-inning stretch of a Cleveland Indians game. In this image released by Fox, animated characters, from left, Peter Griffin, Glenn Quagmire, both voiced by Seth MacFarlane, Cleveland Brown, … Fox has found the new voice of “Family Guy’s” Cleveland Brown. Mike Henry, who is white, has played Cleveland Brown on "Family Guy," since the show was created in 1999. Cleveland Brown voice actor to step down. FAMILY Guy producers have cast YouTuber Arif Zahir as the new voice of Cleveland Brown after the original voice actor quit. Zahir will succeed the actor Mike Henry in the part. ALL; SHOWS (4) MOVIES (1) GAMES (1) NEW FEATURE - Click the Filter dropdown to view VAs grouped by reprisals. Voice actor Arif Zahir will be taking over the role from Mike Henry, who said in June he would be stepping down from the part, series creator Seth MacFarlane and showrunners Rich Appel and Alec Sulkin said Friday. He also played the character in … The actor is known for his impressions of Cleveland Brown. His video “Hit Rap Songs in Voice Impressions,” which features him reimagining “Sicko Mode” as sung by Cleveland, has attracted 14.2 million views; another one from 2017 featuring Cleveland performing hit rap songs garnered 6.5 million views. Zahir said he studied Cleveland Brown both as a voice impressionist but also as an actor, and that may have been the edge that landed him the part. THE FAMILY Guy voice actor who plays Cleveland Brown and Consuela has stepped down after 20 years to make way for a minority actor. Sept. 25, 2020 Cleveland Brown has found his new voice: The actor Arif Zahir will take over the role of this friendly “Family Guy” neighbor on the Fox animated series. Overabundant gratitude. The news of Zahir’s hiring comes a day after Variety broke the news that actor Alex Désert had taken over the role of Carl Carlson on “The Simpsons” season opener. Arif Zahir has been cast as the new voice of Cleveland Brown on Fox's Family Guy following Mike Henry stepping down from the role. Kevin Michael Richardson. ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection Family Guy Casts Black Actor Arif Zahir to Voice Cleveland Brown, Mike Henry to Remain Series Regular. In June, Henry announced that he would step down from playing Cleveland: “I love this character, but persons of color should play characters of color,” he said at the time. 20th Television said that Henry, who is continuing to voice other characters on “Family Guy,” will still play Cleveland in episodes for the show’s coming 18th season, which begins on Sunday, and that Zahir will take over the character in episodes for the 19th season, which has just gone into production. Watch Tyrone Magnus's video on Cleveland Brown's Voice Actor Stepping Down! https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/family-guy-cleveland-arif-zahir-1234783294 https://people.com/tv/family-guy-mike-henry-no-longer-voice-cleveland-brown But series creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane and showrunners Rich Appel and Alec Sulkin announced on Friday that Zahir would take over as Cleveland moving forward. Offline. FOX 25th Anniversary Special (2012 TV Show) Cleveland Brown. Member since: Feb. 3, 2020. Voiced most times by Mike Henry. Mike Henry, who has played Cleveland Brown … YouTube star Arif Zahir will become the new voice of Cleveland Brown when "Family Guy" goes into production for Season 19. Family Guy has hired Cleveland Brown impersonator Arif Zahir to do the job for real and replace Mike Henry in the role of the Griffins' neighbor. Azerrz (a YouTuber) He is known for his work on the animated TV series Family Guy (1999–present), where he writes and produces episodes along with voicing Cleveland Brown, Herbert, Bruce, and Consuela, among others.Henry is also known for co-creating and starring in the spin-off, The Cleveland … Earlier this week, "Family Guy" was renewed for two more seasons. Family Guy’s new Cleveland voice actor revealed his version of the character and fans are thrilled about it. Family Guy has hired Cleveland Brown impersonator Arif Zahir to do the job for real and replace Mike Henry in the role of the Griffins' neighbor. Michael Robert Henry (born November 7, 1965) is an American actor, voice actor, comedian, director, writer and producer. When I learned I would get to take over the role? Voice actor Mike Henry has announced that he is stepping down from his role as Cleveland Brown on Family Guy. The decision is just the latest in an avalanche of White voice actors leaving roles that should be played by Black voice actors. “Arif’s vocal talent is obvious, but his understanding of Cleveland and his respect for the character give me confidence that he is in the right hands,” he said. Family Guy star Mike Henry (Cleveland Brown's voice actor) will no longer be playing the role. https://www.vanityfair.com/.../2020/09/family-guy-cleveland-brown-recast Henry said he wanted to give the opportunity to play the character to a black actor. The change at “Family Guy” comes amid wider moves in animation to stop using white actors to play nonwhite characters. In June, after Henry announced he was giving up the role as Cleveland, Zahir made a TikTok video offering up his services (and tagging Henry on Twitter to hopefully see it). The actor is known for his impressions of Cleveland Brown. Tone Loc. (2018).He has earned lots of fame at the present time, his voice is not only in movies but he has also voiced in TV series as well. Arif Zahir has gone from impersonating “Family Guy’s” Cleveland Brown on YouTube… to being cast as the new voice of the character on the actual show. https://people.com/tv/family-guy-mike-henry-no-longer-voice-cleveland-brown Now, after The Simpsons found a new actor to voice Homer’s friend Carl, Family Guy has done the same by announcing a new voice for Cleveland Brown. Mike Henry, … Roberta Tubbs . 1 2. BUM-DRILLER. As one of Peter Griffin's neighbors and friends, Cleveland is also one of the few recurring African American characters on the show. A big change is coming to Family Guy, as the actor who voices Cleveland Brown quits in order to allow a Black actor to take over the role. Voice actor Mike Henry said Friday on Twitter that he no longer will voice the Cleveland Brown character on Fox’s animated Family Guy. As one of Peter Griffin's neighbors and friends, Cleveland is also one of the few recurring African American characters on the show. Arif Zahir is an amazing voice actor who is starred as a new voice actor for the Cleveland Brown in ‘Family Guy’. To Rich Appel, Alec Sulkin and Seth MacFarlane, thank you for this incredible gift. After a controversy over the casting of White actors in non-White roles, Family Guy has announced the new voice of Cleveland Brown. The … And to the millions of fans who love this show, I promise not to let you down.”. On Friday, 20th Television, the studio that produces “Family Guy,” said that Zahir, a prolific YouTube performer, will succeed the actor Mike Henry in the part. What's going on? Zahir will begin voicing … White ‘Family Guy’ Actor Says He Will No Longer Voice Cleveland Brown Character June 26, 2020 - 11:17 pm by VIBE Staff Mike Henry has viced the character for 20 years. Member since: Feb. 3, 2020. 679 Views | 46 Replies. 1 2. FRANCHISE … Earlier this week, "Family Guy" was renewed for two more seasons. His established profession was that of a deli owner, before … He is well-known for his Eraser (2016), How It Should Have Ended (2005), and G.P.A. Cleveland Brown voice actor to step down 2020-06-26 18:44:08. At the same time, protests … Henry, who is white, in June said that he would no longer play Cleveland: “Persons of color should play characters of color.”. Cleveland on ‘Family Guy’ to Be Voiced by Arif Zahir. Variety reports comedian and YouTube star Arif Zahir will be taking over the role of Cleveland Brown from Mike Henry. Henry will continue to be heard as Cleveland in this year’s Season 18 “Family Guy” episodes, which had already been completed and return on Sunday night with the show’s 350th episode. FAMILY Guy producers have cast YouTuber Arif Zahir as the new voice of Cleveland Brown after the original voice actor quit. VOICE COMPARES. Carl, who is Black, had been voiced by Hank Azaria. Send Private Message; Browse All Posts (2,879) Block; Blocked; Supporter Level 06 Blank Slate. 674 Views | 46 Replies. Family Guy have announced that YouTuber Arif Zahir will voice the role of Cleveland Brown on the show going forward.. In June, as the conversation about representation on TV extended to animation, Henry said he would no longer voice Cleveland, while Kristen Bell also stepped down from plating the biracial character Molly on “Central Park” and Jenny Slate said she wouldn’t continue to play Missy, also a biracial character, on Netflix’s “Big Mouth.” Emily Raver-Lampman will now play Molly in Season 2 of “Central Park,” while Ayo Edebiri has been tapped to voice Missy moving forward on “Big Mouth.”. He has earned lots of fame at the present time, his voice is not only in movies but he has also voiced in TV series as well. Arif Zahir will take over the character in episodes for the 19th season, which has just started production. This decision may be the most seismic yet, however, as Cleveland has been voiced by the same actor for over two decades now. New Topic Respond to this Topic « Return to General | All Forums. FAMILY Guy producers have cast YouTuber Arif Zahir as the new voice of Cleveland Brown after the original voice actor quit. “I look forward to getting to know Arif and working with him to make sure Cleveland stays every bit as awesome as he has always been.”. Family Guy voice actor Mike Henry said Friday that he is stepping down from the role of Cleveland Brown on the Fox animated series. © Copyright 2020 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. On … Listen to all the actors who have voiced the following The Cleveland Show characters. And the producers of “The Simpsons,” another long-running Fox animated comedy, said over the summer that they would no longer have white actors voice nonwhite characters. The decision comes nearly three months after Mike Henry, 54, announced his resignation in the wake of George Floyd's death, saying an actor of color should play the character. He has got lots of viewers … Family Guy have announced that YouTuber Arif Zahir will voice the role of Cleveland Brown on the show going forward. Arif Zahir is even available on his Youtube. He takes over from Mike Henry, who created the character and voiced it since “Family Guy” premiered in 1999 (and later on the spin-off “The Cleveland Show”). Filters: ALL VERSIONS. Three months after Family Guy star Mike Henry announced that he was stepping down as the voice of Cleveland Brown, a replacement has been … Mike Henry, 54, announced his resignation after voicing the chara… He was conceived during the seventh-inning stretch of a Cleveland Indians game. The decision comes nearly three months after Mike Henry, 54, announced hi… Fox's Family Guy has found its new Cleveland Brown.. YouTuber and voice actor Arif Zahir will take over the role for the Fox animated show's 19th season, which is set to air in the 2021-22 season. Cleveland Brown: 25.0% (3 votes) Cleveland Jr. 16.7% (2 votes) Kenny West: 16.7% (2 votes) Stewie Griffin: 8.3% (1 vote) Llyod Waterman: 8.3% (1 vote) Rallo Tubbs: 8.3% (1 vote) Terry Kimple: 8.3% (1 vote) Roberta Tubbs: 8.3% (1 vote) 12 Total Votes. BUM-DRILLER. He is well-known for his Eraser (2016), How It Should Have Ended (2005), and G.P.A. Arif Zahir knows he’s living a bit of a Cinderella story: The aspiring young actor has gone from impersonating the “ Family Guy ” character Cleveland Brown on … Arif Zahir is an amazing voice actor who is starred as a new voice actor for the Cleveland Brown in ‘Family Guy’. Michael Robert Henry (born November 7, 1965) is an American Family Guy ’s new Cleveland voice actor revealed his version of the character and fans are thrilled about it. Cleveland Brown has found his new voice: The actor Arif Zahir will take over the role of this friendly “Family Guy” neighbor on the Fox animated series. Voice actor Mike Henry announced he would leave the role of Cleveland Brown on 'Family Guy' to allow a black actor to play the character. Mike Henry, who has played Cleveland Brown … “Arif’s vocal talent is obvious, but his understanding of Cleveland and his respect for the character give me confidence that he is in the right hands,” Henry said. “I love this character, but persons of color should play characters of color,” Henry said at the time. Cleveland Brown Voice. Cleveland Brown voice actor to step down 2020-06-26 18:44:08. Family Guy Casts Black Actor Arif Zahir to Voice Cleveland Brown, Mike Henry to Remain Series Regular. Arif Zahir has been cast as the new voice of Cleveland Brown on Fox's Family Guy following Mike Henry stepping down from the role. 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