• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Comedy
  • Music
  • TV Recaps
  • Streamliner
  • Vulture Lists
  • Books
  • Theater
  • Art
  • The Gold Rush
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • About
  • How to Pitch
  • Newsletters
  • Games
  • Vulture Festival
  • NYMag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
Subscribe Give A Gift
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Comedy
  • Music
  • TV Recaps
  • Streamliner
  • Vulture Lists
  • Books
  • Theater
  • Art
  • The Gold Rush
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • About
  • How to Pitch
  • Newsletters
  • Games
  • Vulture Festival
  • NYMag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin It
+Comments Leave a Comment
slideshow
March 29, 2011

What to Tell Your Kids About the R-Rated Pasts of Stars in Animated Movies

By Kyle Buchanan

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin It
Photo: Kevin Winter/2011 Getty Images
Photo: Kevin Winter/2011 Getty Images

Russell Brand first came to prominence in America during a Video Music Awards hosting stint where he memorably mocked the G-rated purity of the Jonas Brothers, but this Friday, Brand will make his own foray into family-friendly entertainment when he voices a lovable, fluffy Easter Bunny in Hop. It’s only the latest example of a formerly foul-mouthed comedian or a celebrity with a long criminal record finding unexpected success as a voice-over artist for children’s films, but what happens when your kids get a little bit curious about who’s voicing their favorite cartoon characters? Vulture’s rounded up twelve celebrities with shady pasts who’ve successfully made the transition to animation, and to help you out, we’ve suggested what you might want to say when Jaden, Braden, and Caden ask why that funny cartoon monkey got arrested for doing drugs with hookers.

View
1 / 12 Photos
His Past Includes: Heroin addiction, alcoholism, sex addiction, dressing as Osama bin Laden the day after 9/11, obscene phone calls that led him to resign from his BBC job, eleven arrests (including one for battery after attacking a paparazzo)

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "They raise bunnies differently in England." His Past Includes: Heroin addiction, alcoholism, sex addiction, dressing as Osama bin Laden the day after 9/11, obscene phone calls that led him to resign from his BBC job, eleven arrests (including one for battery after attacking a paparazzo)

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "They raise bunnies differently in England."
His Past Includes: Heroin addiction, alcoholism, sex addiction, dressing as Osama bin Laden the day after 9/11, obscene phone calls that led him to re... His Past Includes: Heroin addiction, alcoholism, sex addiction, dressing as Osama bin Laden the day after 9/11, obscene phone calls that led him to resign from his BBC job, eleven arrests (including one for battery after attacking a paparazzo)
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "They raise bunnies differently in England."
His Past Includes: Over two years in prison for a 1978 drug-trafficking arrest

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Buzz spent two years in a box when he was selling the other toys a little too much chocolate milk. Don't worry, though: He's been factory-reprogrammed." His Past Includes: Over two years in prison for a 1978 drug-trafficking arrest

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Buzz spent two years in a box when he was selling the other toys a little too much chocolate milk. Don't worry, though: He's been factory-reprogrammed."
His Past Includes: Over two years in prison for a 1978 drug-trafficking arrest
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Buzz spent two yea...
His Past Includes: Over two years in prison for a 1978 drug-trafficking arrest
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Buzz spent two years in a box when he was selling the other toys a little too much chocolate milk. Don't worry, though: He's been factory-reprogrammed."
His Past Includes: A 2007 suicide attempt

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Remember when daddy had to take the car in to get fixed? Well, one time, Lightning McQueen had to go into the shop for reasons he still hasn't divulged to the press. That happens." His Past Includes: A 2007 suicide attempt

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Remember when daddy had to take the car in to get fixed? Well, one time, Lightning McQueen had to go into the shop for reasons he still hasn't divulged to the press. That happens."
His Past Includes: A 2007 suicide attempt
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Remember when daddy had to take the car in to get fixed...
His Past Includes: A 2007 suicide attempt
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Remember when daddy had to take the car in to get fixed? Well, one time, Lightning McQueen had to go into the shop for reasons he still hasn't divulged to the press. That happens."
His Past Includes: Multiple drug arrests, gang affiliations, a murder charge (for which he was acquitted in 1996), firearm violations, fan assault, visa issues stemming from vandalization of a duty-free shop, pimping, pornographic movies

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "His name is funny, but there are just some things Snoop Dogg has done that you're not allowed to do, okay? And that includes ending your words with -izzle." His Past Includes: Multiple drug arrests, gang affiliations, a murder charge (for which he was acquitted in 1996), firearm violations, fan assault, visa issues stemming from vandalization of a duty-free shop, pimping, pornographic movies

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "His name is funny, but there are just some things Snoop Dogg has done that you're not allowed to do, okay? And that includes ending your words with -izzle."
His Past Includes: Multiple drug arrests, gang affiliations, a murder charge (for which he was acquitted in 1996), firearm violations, fan assault, vi... His Past Includes: Multiple drug arrests, gang affiliations, a murder charge (for which he was acquitted in 1996), firearm violations, fan assault, visa issues stemming from vandalization of a duty-free shop, pimping, pornographic movies
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "His name is funny, but there are just some things Snoop Dogg has done that you're not allowed to do, okay? And that includes ending your words with -izzle."
His Past Includes: Very R-rated, homophobic routines in concert films like Raw and Delirious, which were made deliciously ironic when he was caught with a transvestite prostitute by police in 1997

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Sometimes donkeys like dragons, and sometimes donkeys like other donkeys that are only dressed like dragons. It's very complicated to be a donkey." His Past Includes: Very R-rated, homophobic routines in concert films like Raw and Delirious, which were made deliciously ironic when he was caught with a transvestite prostitute by police in 1997

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Sometimes donkeys like dragons, and sometimes donkeys like other donkeys that are only dressed like dragons. It's very complicated to be a donkey."
His Past Includes: Very R-rated, homophobic routines in concert films like Raw and Delirious, which were made deliciously ironic when he was caught wi... His Past Includes: Very R-rated, homophobic routines in concert films like Raw and Delirious, which were made deliciously ironic when he was caught with a transvestite prostitute by police in 1997
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Sometimes donkeys like dragons, and sometimes donkeys like other donkeys that are only dressed like dragons. It's very complicated to be a donkey."
Her Past Includes: Drug and alcohol addictions that led her to rehab at age 13, a suicide attempt the next year, nude appearances in Playboy, Interview, and on David Letterman's desk

How to Explain Her Transgressions to Your Child: "Sometimes, the animator forgets to draw clothes on Drew Barrymore." Her Past Includes: Drug and alcohol addictions that led her to rehab at age 13, a suicide attempt the next year, nude appearances in Playboy, Interview, and on David Letterman's desk

How to Explain Her Transgressions to Your Child: "Sometimes, the animator forgets to draw clothes on Drew Barrymore."
Her Past Includes: Drug and alcohol addictions that led her to rehab at age 13, a suicide attempt the next year, nude appearances in Playboy, Intervie... Her Past Includes: Drug and alcohol addictions that led her to rehab at age 13, a suicide attempt the next year, nude appearances in Playboy, Interview, and on David Letterman's desk
How to Explain Her Transgressions to Your Child: "Sometimes, the animator forgets to draw clothes on Drew Barrymore."
His Past Includes: Drug and alcohol addiction, arrests for public urination and intoxication, accusations of devil worship, ant snorting, dove decapitating

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "A deer eats ants and doves all the time in the woods, and Ozzy was just researching. For decades." His Past Includes: Drug and alcohol addiction, arrests for public urination and intoxication, accusations of devil worship, ant snorting, dove decapitating

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "A deer eats ants and doves all the time in the woods, and Ozzy was just researching. For decades."
His Past Includes: Drug and alcohol addiction, arrests for public urination and intoxication, accusations of devil worship, ant snorting, dove decapit... His Past Includes: Drug and alcohol addiction, arrests for public urination and intoxication, accusations of devil worship, ant snorting, dove decapitating
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "A deer eats ants and doves all the time in the woods, and Ozzy was just researching. For decades."
His Past Includes: Drug arrests; DUI charges; inappropriately touching many people including an underage waitress and Ivanka Trump; breaking into a stranger's home; public urination; shouting ethnic slurs; and ejections from the AVN Awards, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, and countless bars and comedy clubs

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Sweetheart, if you ever see this man, you run away, okay?" His Past Includes: Drug arrests; DUI charges; inappropriately touching many people including an underage waitress and Ivanka Trump; breaking into a stranger's home; public urination; shouting ethnic slurs; and ejections from the AVN Awards, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, and countless bars and comedy clubs

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Sweetheart, if you ever see this man, you run away, okay?"
His Past Includes: Drug arrests; DUI charges; inappropriately touching many people including an underage waitress and Ivanka Trump; breaking into a st... His Past Includes: Drug arrests; DUI charges; inappropriately touching many people including an underage waitress and Ivanka Trump; breaking into a stranger's home; public urination; shouting ethnic slurs; and ejections from the AVN Awards, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, and countless bars and comedy clubs
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Sweetheart, if you ever see this man, you run away, okay?"
His Past Includes: Sex and drug stories that involve Courtney Love and Owen Wilson in all the worst ways

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Remember what mommy and daddy told you about how British people raise bunnies all weird? That goes double for dogs." His Past Includes: Sex and drug stories that involve Courtney Love and Owen Wilson in all the worst ways

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Remember what mommy and daddy told you about how British people raise bunnies all weird? That goes double for dogs."
His Past Includes: Sex and drug stories that involve Courtney Love and Owen Wilson in all the worst ways
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your ...
His Past Includes: Sex and drug stories that involve Courtney Love and Owen Wilson in all the worst ways
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Remember what mommy and daddy told you about how British people raise bunnies all weird? That goes double for dogs."
His Past Includes: A 2001 arrest for assaulting and stalking his wife, a 2008 lawsuit for attacking composer Tex Allen, an unfortunate predilection for baby wipes

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Wouldn't you rather know about Don Cheadle instead? He's terrific!" His Past Includes: A 2001 arrest for assaulting and stalking his wife, a 2008 lawsuit for attacking composer Tex Allen, an unfortunate predilection for baby wipes

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Wouldn't you rather know about Don Cheadle instead? He's terrific!"
His Past Includes: A 2001 arrest for assaulting and stalking his wife, a 2008 lawsuit for attacking composer Tex Allen, an unfortunate predilection fo... His Past Includes: A 2001 arrest for assaulting and stalking his wife, a 2008 lawsuit for attacking composer Tex Allen, an unfortunate predilection for baby wipes
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Wouldn't you rather know about Don Cheadle instead? He's terrific!"
His Past Includes: With partner Tommy Chong, he served as the face of stoner comedy in Cheech & Chong routines and movies like Up in Smoke

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Basically, your older brother is grounded for doing what the hyena in The Lion King did." His Past Includes: With partner Tommy Chong, he served as the face of stoner comedy in Cheech & Chong routines and movies like Up in Smoke

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Basically, your older brother is grounded for doing what the hyena in The Lion King did."
His Past Includes: With partner Tommy Chong, he served as the face of stoner comedy in Cheech & Chong routines and movies like Up in Smoke
How to E...
His Past Includes: With partner Tommy Chong, he served as the face of stoner comedy in Cheech & Chong routines and movies like Up in Smoke
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: "Basically, your older brother is grounded for doing what the hyena in The Lion King did."
His Past Includes: Drunk-driving arrests, needlessly shirtless television appearances, calling Sarah Palin "great masturbation material" on live TV

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: You're the one making your child watch G-Force. Shouldn't you be explaining yourself to us? His Past Includes: Drunk-driving arrests, needlessly shirtless television appearances, calling Sarah Palin "great masturbation material" on live TV

How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: You're the one making your child watch G-Force. Shouldn't you be explaining yourself to us?
His Past Includes: Drunk-driving arrests, needlessly shirtless television appearances, calling Sarah Palin "great masturbation material" on live TV
...
His Past Includes: Drunk-driving arrests, needlessly shirtless television appearances, calling Sarah Palin "great masturbation material" on live TV
How to Explain His Transgressions to Your Child: You're the one making your child watch G-Force. Shouldn't you be explaining yourself to us?
1 / 12

Tags:

  • andy dick
  • cheech marin
  • david cross
  • drew barrymore
  • eddie murphy
  • hop
  • movies
  • owen wilson
  • ozzy osbourne
  • russell brand
  • slideshow
  • snoop dogg
  • steve coogan
  • terrence howard
  • tim allen
  • tracy morgan
  • More

More Galleries

first person Aug. 17, 2022
The Voice of New York Is Drill  It’s the most captivating sound the city has heard in decades — and also the most misunderstood. Here, 19 NY drill artists set the record straight. 
By Camille Squires
gallery July 19, 2022
Bradley Cooper As Bernstein  On the town and on the set with the biopic version of Lenny. 
By Justin Davidson
gallery June 23, 2022
The Faces of The Tribeca Film Festival 2022  Megan Fox, Robert De Niro, J. Lo, and more smize for the camera. 
By Vulture Editors
scenes May 18, 2022
PinkPantheress Fans Only  Everyone’s a main character at the anonymous singer’s live New York debut. 
By Rebecca Jennings
life in pictures Apr. 12, 2022
Sexy Cyrano  Behind the scenes at BAM with James McAvoy as he brings a smoldering version of de Bergerac Stateside. 
By Pari Dukovic
grammys 2022 Apr. 3, 2022
See Every Red Carpet Look From the 2022 Grammy Awards  Doja Cat, BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and more. 
By Savannah Salazar
oscars 2022 Mar. 27, 2022
See Every Red-Carpet Look From the 2022 Oscars  As the cast of High School Musical 3 once said, “Tonight’s the night!” 
By Savannah Salazar
reasons to love new york Dec. 10, 2021
Snapshots of the City Where Movies Were Born  Because every street has a story to tell; all you need is a camera to tell it. 
By Vulture Editors
gallery Nov. 19, 2021
The Faces of Vulture Festival 2021  We welcomed Issa Rae, Henry Winkler, John Cho, and dozens of other stars (plus one good dog) to our photo studio. 
By Bobby Doherty
emmys 2021 Sept. 19, 2021
See Every Red Carpet Look from the 2021 Primetime Emmys  Michaela Coel, Elizabeth Olsen, Anya Taylor-Joy, and more grace the Emmys red carpet. 
By Savannah Salazar
met gala 2021 Sept. 14, 2021
See Every Celebrity Look From Met Gala 2021  Including Rihanna, Billie Eilish, and more. 
By Charu Sinha
vmas 2021 Sept. 12, 2021
See Every Red-Carpet Look From the 2021 MTV VMAs  Doja Cat, Kacey Musgraves, Lil Nas X, and more arrive on the red carpet. 
By Savannah Salazar
oscars 2021 Apr. 25, 2021
See Every Red-Carpet Look From the 2021 Oscars  Colman Domingo, Steven Yeun, Emerald Fennell, and more are gracing the red carpet of the 93rd Academy Awards. 
By Savannah Salazar
grammys 2021 Mar. 14, 2021
See Every ‘Red Carpet’ Look From the 2021 Grammy Awards  Check out Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, and more in their red carpet looks. 
By Savannah Salazar
the gold rush Feb. 28, 2021
See Every ‘Red Carpet’ Look From the 2021 Golden Globes  Here’s to looking glam even at home. 
By Savannah Salazar
emmys 2020 Sept. 20, 2020
See Every ‘Red Carpet’ Look From the 2020 Emmys  At home and all dolled up. 
By Rebecca Alter
art June 29, 2020
See Peter Hujar’s Portraits of a Long-Ago Queer Downtown  Including a kittenish Fran Lebowitz. 
By Trupti Rami
psa Apr. 17, 2020
A Times Square Tribute to All of Us  Two dozen artists say thank-you. 
By Michael Kaler
shakespeare in the park Apr. 17, 2020
Shakespeare in the Park Canceled as Public Theater Furloughs Staff  Richard II and As You Like It were planned for this summer. 
By Jackson McHenry
oscars 2020 Feb. 9, 2020
See Every Red-Carpet Look From the 2020 Oscars  Greta Gerwig, Janelle Monáe, Cynthia Erivo, and more are gracing the red carpet of the 92nd Academy Awards. 
By Rebecca Alter
More Galleries
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Comedy
  • Music
  • What To Stream
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Media Kit
  • We’re Hiring
  • Press
  • Trademark
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Accessibility
vulture is a Vox Media Network. © 2022 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.