Background and career
Corey Weinberg, known professionally as Corey Burton, is an American voice actor known for his roles as Shockwave in The Transformers, Ludwig Von Drake and Captain Hook in Walt Disney Company productions, Brainiac in the DC Animated Universe, Count Dooku and Cad Bane in the Star Wars franchise, Megatron in Transformers: Animated, Zeus in the God of War series, and Hugo Strange in Batman: Arkham City.
Burton's grandparents immigrated from Transylvania. Burton was initially hesitant to pursue voice acting due to his shy demeanor and Asperger syndrome, but credits the design and storytelling of Disney's The Haunted Mansion attraction as his inspiration to move forward. He also cited The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends (which he watched during his childhood) as an inspiration. Burton started his career at age 17 under the stage name Corey Weinman, with an imitation performance of Hans Conried for a filmstrip by Disney, titled Chef Ahmalette's Health Diet. He studied radio acting with Daws Butler for four years and went on to work with nearly all of the original Hollywood radio actors in classic-style radio dramas.
Burton has done extensive voice-work for Disney, including animated features and theme park attractions at the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, and Tokyo Disney Resort. He provided the narration for many of the behind-the-scenes programs of Disney movies on many of their VHS issues from the 1990s. He provided the voice of Captain Hook since 1977 and dubbed the voice of Deems Taylor in Fantasia for the film's 2000 and 2010 re-releases. Burton has voiced sound-alikes and original characters for over 50 Disney Storyteller records. His roles include:
Ludwig Von Drake since 1987 Dale and Zipper in Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers. The How-to Narrator in Goof Troop and later Disney media The White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, Dale, Captain Hook, and Chernabog in House of Mouse. Gruffi Gummi and Toadwart in Adventures of the Gummi Bears (following the death of Bill Scott). Zeus in the animated series Hercules (replacing Rip Torn). Quint and Speedy the Snail in Timon & Pumbaa. Gaetan "Mole" Molière in Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Atlantis: Milo's Return. Ansem the Wise in the Kingdom Hearts series. Professor Owl in the Disney Sing-Along Songs series. King Stefan in Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams. Yen Sid and Captain Hook in the Epic Mickey and Kingdom Hearts series. Doc Hudson in various Cars media and Radiator Springs Racers (replacing Paul Newman). General Knowledge from the former Cranium Command attraction at Epcot. Dale, Bruno Biggs, and Moe Whiplash from Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour.
Burton, for many years, served as a protégé to voice actor Paul Frees. Following Frees' death and his son Fred's temporary takeover, Burton stepped in and imitated Frees' voice as the Ghost Host in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction. He also recited the classic line "Welcome, foolish mortals," in the opening of the 2003 film adaption and currently serves as the Ghost Host's voice in every Haunted Mansion franchise-related media, adoptions, and events. He was approached to record a new safety spiel for the intro to the original Haunted Mansion ride. He declined and the spiel was instead recorded by voice actor Joe Leahy. He provided many other Paul Frees-like voices for Disneyland Park, including several newer pirates in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction (like the "Pooped Pirate" and the pirate voice that guides the guests on and off the boat), Grumpy on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction, and several voices in Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Burton also performed Frees imitations for comedian Stan Freberg's album Stan Freberg Presents The United States of America, Volume Two, and as the voice of the announcer in the 1999 film Dudley Do-Right, and did likewise as the voices of the alien foreheads in Larry Blamire's 2008 satire Trail of the Screaming Forehead.
Burton appeared as Shockwave, Sunstreaker, Brawn, and Spike Witwicky in the original Transformers animated series by Sunbow Productions and Marvel Productions. He would later voice Megatron, Ratchet, Ironhide, Brawn, Cyrus "The Colossus" Rhodes, Spike, and Longarm Prime/Shockwave in Transformers: Animated by Cartoon Network. Burton stated in an interview that Shockwave was by far his favorite character to perform in the original series. Despite this, he turned down the offer to reprise the role in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, as he felt he had voiced the character enough times. Consequently, the part was given to Frank Welker, the voice of Megatron/Galvatron.
