Ursuline grad stars as voice of Winnie the Pooh & Tigger in new Disney movie
Disney's Christopher Robin opens in movie theaters across the country on Thursday and if you go see it, pay special attention to the voice of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Disney's Christopher Robin opens in movie theaters across the country on Thursday and if you go see it, pay special attention to the voice of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger.
The voices are done by Jim Cummings, who grew up in Youngstown and graduated from Ursuline High School.
"A true privilege. It's an honor to bring these beautiful characters from literature to a new generation," said Cummings.
Cummings has been the voice of Winnie the Pooh for three decades and reprises the role in "Christopher Robin" which features a grown-up Christopher Robin who has lost all sense of his imagination.
"Complete new re-imagining of Pooh and the gang. I mean, who'd a thunk it? Christopher Robin went and grew up on us," said Cummings. "The poor guy has a 9-5 job and the cog in the wheel, the whole bit gets him down and so Pooh and Tigger and the whole Hundred Acre Wood gang go back and rescue him by dragging him kicking and screaming back to his childhood."
As one of the leading voice actors in Hollywood, Cummings has voiced more than 400 characters but says none are more special than Pooh and Tigger.
He talked about his approach to each voice in their respective voice.
"I always thought it was like the wind blowing through the cattails and Tigger is, you know Pooh is the storm, Tigger is the storm, he is the hurricane, you just gotta keep on bouncing, and don't stand close," Cummings said.
It was growing up as a kid in Youngstown where Cummings really honed his skills. Glued to the TV, watching Saturday morning cartoons. He then practiced in school.
"I was the kid the in the back doing dolphin sounds. We don't have dolphins here at St. Columba Mr. Cummings, but they do now apparently. I turned monkey hour into a profession," Cumming said.
A profession that is showing no signs of slowing down after more than 30 years.
"Don't forget to go to a theater near you and see Christopher Robin on account of because, you're stronger than you seem, wiser than you think and I forget the rest, but keep on bouncing," Cummings said.
For showtimes of Christopher Robin, check your local listings.
