Lion King 1994 Cast: Full Voice Actor List for Every Character

There’s something about the voice cast of a beloved childhood film that sticks with you—long after you’ve memorized every line. The original 1994 Lion King brought together an ensemble so iconic that it set the standard for animated voice acting. Here’s your complete guide to who voiced every character in Disney’s classic, from Simba to the hyenas.

Release year: 1994 ·
Lead voice actors: Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons ·
Total cast members: 14 main voice actors ·
Young Simba actor: Jonathan Taylor Thomas ·
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 93% (Certified Fresh)

Five key facts, one pattern: the 1994 cast blended Broadway veterans with film stars, creating a vocal ensemble that still feels fresh three decades later.

Who voiced Simba in The Lion King 1994?

• Matthew Broderick voiced adult Simba in the 1994 film (IMDb cast page).
• Jonathan Taylor Thomas voiced young Simba (IMDb).
• Both actors are listed in the full credit roll on IMDb and Wikipedia.

Matthew Broderick as adult Simba

Broderick, already famous for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, brought a cocky but vulnerable energy to the grown lion. According to Rotten Tomatoes cast listing, he is credited as the lead voice. Broderick’s Simba delivers the defiant line “I laugh in the face of danger.”

Jonathan Taylor Thomas as young Simba

Thomas, star of Home Improvement, voiced the cub version. The Wikipedia article notes that Thomas also sang for the character in some sequences, though the film credits Jason Weaver for young Simba’s singing voice (Rotten Tomatoes).

The pattern: Disney doubled down on casting live-action TV stars alongside stage-trained actors, a move that gave young Simba instant recognizability and adult Simba theatrical depth.

What is the full cast list for The Lion King 1994?

Fourteen main voice actors, one ensemble: the table below maps every principal character to their performer.

• James Earl Jones voiced Mufasa (IMDb, Wikipedia).
• Jeremy Irons voiced Scar (IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes).
• Moira Kelly voiced adult Nala (IMDb, Wikipedia).
• Niketa Calame voiced young Nala (IMDb).
• Nathan Lane voiced Timon (IMDb, Wikipedia).
• Ernie Sabella voiced Pumbaa (IMDb, Wikipedia).
• Rowan Atkinson voiced Zazu (IMDb, Wikipedia).
• Robert Guillaume voiced Rafiki (IMDb, Wikipedia).
• Whoopi Goldberg voiced Shenzi (IMDb).
• Cheech Marin voiced Banzai (IMDb).
• Jim Cummings voiced Ed (IMDb).
• Madge Sinclair voiced Sarabi (IMDb).
• Zoe Leader voiced Sarafina (IMDb).

Main voice cast for every character

The film also credited several actors for singing voices. Rotten Tomatoes lists Jason Weaver as young Simba’s singing voice, Joseph Williams for adult Simba’s singing, Sally Dworsky for adult Nala’s singing, and Laura Williams for young Nala’s singing. Frank Welker contributed lion roars and additional vocal effects (IMDb technical credits).

Supporting and minor roles

Some minor characters—like the Ostrich and Giraffe—are uncredited or inconsistently attributed across sources. The Wikipedia entry notes the ensemble cast includes the main actors listed above, but additional animal vocalizations remain undocumented.

The implication: For fans seeking a definitive list, the 14 named actors above form the canonical voice cast that shaped the film’s identity.

Who voiced the hyenas in The Lion King 1994?

• Whoopi Goldberg voiced Shenzi (IMDb).
• Cheech Marin voiced Banzai (IMDb).
• Jim Cummings voiced Ed the hyena (IMDb).

Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed voice actors

Goldberg and Marin brought star power to the hyena pack, while Cummings (a prolific voice actor who also voiced additional roles) handled Ed, the giggling hyena with minimal dialogue. According to Wikipedia, the hyena trio served as Scar’s enforcers and provided much of the film’s comic menace.

The trade-off: Casting three distinct personalities for the hyenas—rather than a single actor voicing all—allowed for layered banter and distinct identities, though Ed’s limited vocalizations meant Cummings’ performance is often overlooked in casual cast lists.

Who voiced Timon and Pumbaa in The Lion King 1994?

• Nathan Lane voiced Timon the meerkat (IMDb, Wikipedia).
• Ernie Sabella voiced Pumbaa the warthog (IMDb, Wikipedia).

Nathan Lane as Timon

Lane brought his Broadway-honed timing to the wisecracking meerkat. He and Sabella originally auditioned together for hyena roles before being cast as the comic duo (Rotten Tomatoes). Their chemistry turned Timon and Pumbaa into one of Disney’s most beloved pairings.

Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa

Sabella’s warm, goofy voice gave Pumbaa an endearing innocence. The Wikipedia article notes that Sabella continued voicing Pumbaa in subsequent spin-offs and sequels.

Why this matters: The duo’s casting from a single hyena audition illustrates how a lucky creative detour can define a film’s legacy—Timon and Pumbaa became the breakout comic relief in a movie that otherwise leaned on Shakespearean drama.

Who voiced Zazu and Rafiki in The Lion King 1994?

• Rowan Atkinson voiced Zazu the hornbill (IMDb, Wikipedia).
• Robert Guillaume voiced Rafiki the mandrill (IMDb, Wikipedia).

Rowan Atkinson as Zazu

Atkinson, best known as Mr. Bean, used his signature fastidious tone to portray Mufasa’s loyal but put-upon majordomo. Both IMDb and Wikipedia credit Atkinson in the voice cast.

Robert Guillaume as Rafiki

Guillaume brought gravitas and eccentricity to the wise mandrill. The Wikipedia article lists him among the main voice actors, and his portrayal of the shaman character remains a fan favorite.

The pattern: Both actors were seasoned stage and screen performers—Atkinson from British comedy, Guillaume from Broadway and TV—giving their characters depth that transcended typical cartoon sidekicks.

“I laugh in the face of danger.”

— Matthew Broderick as adult Simba

“Be prepared.”

— Jeremy Irons as Scar

For anyone revisiting the Pride Lands, the 1994 cast remains a masterclass in ensemble voice acting. The mix of stage-trained performers and screen stars created characters that feel lived-in rather than cartoonish. Gods of Egypt Cast and Cast of Blazing Saddles offer similar deep dives into film ensembles, but few rival the cultural footprint of this Disney lineup. For fans trying to figure out who played whom, the answer is straightforward: the original cast is documented consistently across IMDb, Wikipedia, and Rotten Tomatoes—and that consistency is exactly what makes it so easy to trust.