Will Friedle

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Will Friedle
Friedle at GalaxyCon Austin in 2023
Born (1976-08-11) August 11, 1976 (age 47)
Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
EducationAvon High School
OccupationActor
Years active1988–present
Spouse
Susan Martens
​
(m. 2016)​
Signature

William Alan Friedle (/ˈfrɪdɛl/; born August 11, 1976) is an American actor.[1] He is best known for his role as Eric Matthews on the ABC sitcom Boy Meets World (1993–2000).

In animation, Friedle's first voice acting role was the lead role in Batman Beyond (1999–2001) where he provided the voice of Terry McGinnis / Batman. He also voiced Ron Stoppable on Kim Possible (2002–07), Doyle Blackwell on The Secret Saturdays (2008), Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle on Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008–11), Lion-O on the 2011 reboot of ThunderCats (2011–12), Bumblebee in the Transformers franchise (2013–16), Star-Lord on Guardians of the Galaxy (2015–19), and Kashaw Vesh in The Legend of Vox Machina (2022).[2]

Early life[edit]

Friedle was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the youngest of three boys of Patricia Joan (née Leary) and Gary Allen Friedle, both lawyers. His older brothers are Gary and Greg Friedle.[3][4][5] After committing himself to becoming an actor, Friedle continually commuted from Avon, Connecticut, to New York City for auditions. He graduated from Avon High School in 1994.

Friedle is allegedly credited on school brochures as having attended Occidental College. However, when interviewed on the February 11, 2019, episode of Critical Role: Between The Sheets,[6] he admitted having never attended the school. He stated that he learned he was being inaccurately credited by Occidental College as being an alumnus when his nephew visited the school and showed him the information package. Occidental College is not able to confirm that Friedle was ever used on marketing brochures; however, co-star Rider Strong attended Occidental College briefly during the filming of Boy Meets World. Additionally, he stated that he studied Latin for six years because he intended to become an archaeologist eventually. In the July 4, 2006, issue of People, Friedle mentioned he had thought about attending culinary school.

Career[edit]

After co-hosting Nickelodeon's Don't Just Sit There for three seasons (1988–1991), Friedle's breakthrough came when he was cast as Cory Matthews's likeable but underachieving elder brother Eric on the long-running TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000. In 1998, he starred with Elizabeth Harnois, Dabney Coleman, and Jay Thomas in My Date with the President's Daughter as part of The Wonderful World of Disney.

In 2004, he co-starred with Chris Owen in the independent film National Lampoon's Gold Diggers (originally titled Lady Killers). He also appeared in a supporting role in the 2005 ABC Family movie Everything You Want. Friedle was cast as Mike in the WB sitcom Off Centre, but could not accept the role because of a previous commitment to the UPN series The Random Years. The role ended up going to Eddie Kaye Thomas.[7]

Friedle voiced Seifer Almasy in the English-language version of the video game Kingdom Hearts II, Gideon Wyeth in the English-language version of the video game Advent Rising, and Jaster Rogue in the English-language version of the video game Rogue Galaxy.

In December 2013, in spite of initial reluctance, it was announced that Friedle would reprise his Boy Meets World role of Eric Matthews on the sequel series Girl Meets World.[8][9][10]

In April 2014, it was confirmed that Friedle reprised his Batman Beyond role of Terry McGinnis on the Batman Beyond short made by Darwyn Cooke to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Batman.[citation needed]

On June 27, 2019, the premiere episode of Christy's Kitchen Throwback featuring Friedle was uploaded to Christy Carlson Romano's YouTube Channel.[11]

Friedle at the San Diego Comic-Con 2019

Beginning March 4, 2022, Friedle and Romano began co-hosting a podcast called I Hear Voices available on Romano's YouTube channel and other podcast providers. Among the notable guests have included Eric Bauza, Shelby Young, Kevin Conroy, E.G. Daily, Phil LaMarr, Andrea Romano, Jason Marsden (who is also Friedle's real life best friend), Dan Povenmire, and Tara Strong. On June 7, 2022, the 20th anniversary of Kim Possible, the podcast had a special episode with creators Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley and voice actors John DiMaggio (Drakken) and Nicole Sullivan (Shego), as well as a brand new Kim Possible scene with the four actors written by McCorkle and Schooley and directed by original voice director Lisa Schaffer.[12]

On June 15, 2022, Friedle voiced the character Radiant Black in a promotional short for the comic's fifteenth issue. The short can be viewed on the official Black Market Narrative YouTube channel.[13][14]

He has hosted the Boy Meets World rewatch podcast Pod Meets World with Danielle Fishel and Rider Strong since 2022.[15]

Personal life[edit]

In 1997, Friedle dated actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, and co-starred with her in the romantic teen comedy Trojan War. Hewitt made a guest appearance as Jennifer Love "Feffy" Fefferman in the Boy Meets World episode "And Then There Was Shawn".

Friedle is best friends with actor Jason Marsden and was the best man at Marsden's wedding in October 2004. The two have also worked together in numerous productions: Boy Meets World (until Marsden's departure from the series in season 3 and his character Jason Marsden was eventually replaced by Matthew Lawrence's character Jack Hunter starting in season 5), Trojan War, Static Shock, Kim Possible, Batman Beyond, Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, ThunderCats, Transformers: Rescue Bots and Mad.

He married his girlfriend, Susan Martens, on September 25, 2016, in Connecticut. His affectionate name for her is Mrs. Squirrels, referencing Eric's nickname "Plays With Squirrels" from the final season of Boy Meets World.[16]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Trojan War Brad Kimble
2000 Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker Terry McGinnis / Batman Voice, direct-to-video[17]
2003 National Lampoon's Gold Diggers Calvin Menhoffer
2004 Howl's Moving Castle Additional Voices English dub
2008 Batman: Gotham Knight Anton, Cultist, Youth #1 Voice, direct-to-video
2015 Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts[18] Nightwing Voice, direct-to-video[17]
Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem[19]
2016 Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout[20]
Batman Unlimited: Mech vs. Mutants
2017 The Jetsons & WWE: Robo-WrestleMania! Mayor Mercury
2018 Batman Ninja Red Robin, Laughing Mask Samurai B Voice, direct-to-video[17]
2019 Lego DC Batman: Family Matters Nightwing Voice, direct-to-video[17]
2021 My Little Pony: A New Generation Skye Silver, Glitter Cupcake, Comet Tail, Commercial VO Voice[17]
2022 Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse Aquaman, Lex Luthor Voice, direct-to-video
2023 Lego Marvel Avengers: Code Red Hydra Goons Voice, Disney+ special[17]
2024 Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two Batman Beyond / Terry McGinnis, Kamandi Voice, direct-to-video

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1990 True Blue Billy Episode: "Caves"
1992 Law & Order Russ Episode: "Trust"
1993–2000 Boy Meets World Eric Matthews 158 episodes
1994 Are You Afraid of the Dark? Jimmy Armstrong Episode: "The Tale of the Long Ago Locket"
1996 ABC Afterschool Special Jason Gallagher Episode: "Educating Mom"
1998 My Date with the President's Daughter Duncan Fletcher Television film
1999 H-E Double Hockey Sticks Griffelkin
1999 Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane Jeremy Pinter Episode: "A Good Man Is Hard to Find"
Odd Man Out Phillip Evans Episode: "Punch Line"
1999–2001 Batman Beyond Terry McGinnis / Batman Voice, main role[17]
2001 The Zeta Project Voice, episode: "Shadows"[17]
3rd Rock from the Sun Stan Episode: "Dick Soup for the Soul"
Go Fish Pete Troutner 5 episodes
2002 The Random Years Alex Episode: "Corrupting Jacob"
2002–07 Kim Possible Ron Stoppable, Jonathan Stoppable Voice, main role
2003 Regular Joe Larry Episode: "Time and Punishment"
Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time Ron Stoppable Voice, television film
2003, 2005 Lilo & Stitch: The Series Ron Stoppable, Mackey Macaw Manager Voice, 2 episodes
2004 Static Shock Terry McGinnis / Batman Voice, episode: "Future Shock"[17]
Teen Titans Fang Voice, episode: "Date with Destiny"[17]
Less Than Perfect Caleb Episode: "Claude Wants to Know"
2004–05 Justice League Unlimited Kyle Rayner / Green Lantern, Terry McGinnis / Batman Voice, 3 episodes[17]
2005 Kim Possible: So the Drama Ron Stoppable Voice, television film[17]
Everything You Want Calvin Dillwaller Television film
The Batman Gearhead Voice, episode: "RPM"[17]
2006 American Dragon: Jake Long Cousin Greggy Voice, episode: "Feeding Frenzy"
2008 Ben 10: Alien Force Ken Tennyson Voice, episode: "Max Out"[17]
2008–10 The Secret Saturdays Doyle Blackwell Voice, 16 episodes[17]
2008–11 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle, Scarlet Scarab Voice, 15 episodes[17]
2010–11 Sym-Bionic Titan Bryan, Jason, Student #1 Voice, 4 episodes
The Penguins of Madagascar Randy Voice, 2 episodes[17]
2011–12 ThunderCats Lion-O Voice, 24 episodes[17]
2011–13 Mad Various Voice, 10 episodes
2012 Green Lantern: The Animated Series Prince Ragnar Voice, 2 episodes[17]
Gravity Falls Reginald Voice, episode: "The Legend of the Gobblewonker"
2012–13 Winx Club Nereus Voice, 9 episodes; Nickelodeon dub
2013 Transformers: Prime Bumblebee Voice, episode: "Deadlock"[17]
Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising Voice, television film[17]
Monsters vs. Aliens Man-Beast, Patron Voice, episode: "Curse of the Man-Beast"[17]
2013, 2016 Ultimate Spider-Man Deadpool, Web Beard, Video Game Voice Voice, 2 episodes[17]
2014 Turbo Fast Fusion Voice, episode: "Beat-A Fajita"[17]
2014–17 Transformers: Robots in Disguise Bumblebee, Butch Voice, 68 episodes[17]
2015 Avengers Assemble Star-Lord, Jeter Kan Toon Voice, 3 episodes; replacing Chris Cox[21][17]
Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Star-Lord Voice, episode: "Planet Monster"[22]
2015–17 Girl Meets World Eric Matthews 4 episodes
2015–19 Guardians of the Galaxy Star-Lord Voice, main role[17]
Teen Titans Go! Kid Flash Voice, 7 episodes, also wrote "Pie Bros"[17]
2016 Transformers: Rescue Bots Bumblebee Voice, episode: "Uninvited Guest"[17]
2016–17 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! Various Voice, 3 episodes[17]
2016–18 Future-Worm! Lobster Boy Voice, 3 episodes
2017–18 Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters Officer Reynolds Voice, 7 episodes[17]
2018 Hollywood Darlings Will Episode: "Y2K"
Bunnicula Captain Science Magic Love Voice, episode: "Flunicula"
2019–21 DC Super Hero Girls Lex Luthor, Aiden, Aquaman, Truant Officer Voice, 7 episodes
2019–2020 Big Hero 6: The Series Ian / Hardlight Voice, 2 episodes[17]
2020 Spider-Man Star-Lord, Scientist #1, A.I.M. Agent #1 Voice, episode: "Amazing Friends"
2022 Robot Chicken Lance, Nightwing, Pointy-Haired Boss Voice, episode: "May Cause a Squeakquel"
2023 The Legend of Vox Machina Kashaw Vesh Voice, 3 episodes[17]

Video games[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Spider-Man Dr. Antower Uncredited
2003 Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu Additional voices
2004 Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault Willy Gaines
2005 Jade Empire Lu the Prodigy, additional voices
Advent Rising Gideon Wyeth, Councillor Sevan
Rogue Galaxy Jaster Rogue [17]
Teen Titans Fang [17]
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland Hero / "Kensucky"
Chicken Little Additional voices
Kingdom Hearts II Seifer [17]
2009 The Secret Saturdays: Beasts of the 5th Sun Doyle Blackwell [17]
2010 Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame Blue Beetle
2013 Lego Marvel Super Heroes Archangel, Nova, Rick Jones
2014 Final Fantasy Explorers Additional Voices
2019 Marvel Dimension of Heroes Star-Lord [17]
2021 DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power Lex Luthor [17]

Web series[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2015–present Critical Role Kashaw Vesh 8 episodes

References[edit]

  1. ^ https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/worst-ever-podcast-with-christine-and-alaa/id1225846060?mt=2&i=1000410056460 at the 27:53 mark
  2. ^ Phegley, Kiel (January 28, 2009). "The Bravest & Boldest: Will Friedle". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  3. ^ "Art-World Movie Shot In State To Be Shown Saturday In New Milford". tribunedigital-thecourant. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  4. ^ "The Hartford Courant article archive – Friedle-Leary". Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  5. ^ "The Hartford Courant article archive – She Chose to Have Both". Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  6. ^ "Between the Sheets: Will Friedle". Between the Sheets. Season 2. Episode 8. Critical Role Productions. February 13, 2019. Archived from the original (YouTube) on March 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Wilkes, Neil (March 4, 2002). "Friedle lands UPN sitcom". Digital Spy. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  8. ^ Swift, Andy (December 3, 2014). "Girl Meets World: Eric, Mr. Feeny & More Returning in Season 2 — First Photo". TVLine. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  9. ^ @GMWWriters (December 3, 2014). "Announcement #4: Shawn, Eric and Mr. Feeny will be an important part of season 2. Lives will change. People will grow. People won't" (Tweet). Retrieved August 29, 2019 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Friedle, Will [@willfriedle] (December 3, 2014). "There is nothing as important as family. I think it is time I met my niche. #WednesdaywisdomwithMrSquirrels" (Tweet). Retrieved March 10, 2019 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable Make THE NACO!!! – YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021. Christy Carlson Romano and Will Friedle have an absolute blast recreating one of Kim Possible's favorite foods! Christy and Will dish about their time working together on Kim Possible and chat about everything from Boy Meets World, to Even Stevens, to how they've recently rejoined forces on Big Hero 6
  12. ^ I Hear Voices LLC. "I Hear Voices". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  13. ^ VERSUS | Radiant Black vs. Blaze, retrieved June 16, 2022
  14. ^ "RADIANT BLACK FANS TREATED TO ORIGINAL ANIMATION FEATURING VOICE OF WILL FRIEDLE". Image Comics. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  15. ^ Ridlehoover, John (June 3, 2022). "'Boy Meets World' Rewatch Podcast Coming Soon From Stars Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will Friedle". Collider.
  16. ^ "Will Friedle – His Life With Mrs Squirrel". The Celeb Times. June 24, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am "Will Friedle (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 15, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  18. ^ @SuperPRGuy (March 26, 2015). "Nightwing (@willfriedle) has a kitty issue – Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts. @LauraBaileyVO is Cheetah #BatmanUAA" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ Gerding, Stephen (June 2, 2015). "EXCLUSIVE TRAILER DEBUT: Joker Rules in "Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem"". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  20. ^ Siegel, Lucas (April 4, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: WB Reveals Next LEGO DC Comics Movie with Announcement Trailer". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  21. ^ "Guardians of the Galaxy 'Assemble' again on TV". USA Today. February 19, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  22. ^ "Planet Monster, Part 2". Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Season 2. Episode 26. June 28, 2015. Disney XD.

External links[edit]

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