Let's Get Personal...

Perhaps the most common question I am asked is "How did you become a voice actor?""  Let's go way back. When I was born I weighed 10 pounds, 11 ounces. I had very little chance of surviving. I should have been delivered  by Cesarean section, but for some reason I wasn't. This caused a birth injury where my left arm was unusable. I was progressively able to slightly use my arm as I grew. I was a little different from the start.

My parents served as house parents at a children's home. My biological sister and I would share our parents with an average of 9 to 12 other children. While my parents were nurturing and loving, there were only two of them. Consequently, I found myself fighting for attention at every turn. Every day was a new show. The combination of these elements along with growing up in the small town (at that time) of Keller, Texas was the perfect formula for being a square peg. Due to the birth injury, sports were out, so I was naturally led to the arts. Bullied beyond belief, I was forced to overcome adversity. I am actually thankful for that bullying because it proved to make me strong.

In 8th grade, probably a few days after having my head slammed against a brick wall, I attended an electives fair at our high school. My friend and I were stopped by a beautiful girl who asked if we had ever considered joining drama. "What do you do?"" I asked, "sit around on stools and read poetry" Lesson of the day? One decision can prove to change the trajectory of your entire life.

Through Theatre I found a place to belong. I actually was not the weirdest in class. I began to be labeled in a new way - TALENTED! My father's fear came true. I was going to be a Theatre Major. Thankfully I achieved success as a stage actor along with finding true joy in teaching Middle School Theatre. And, then one day......

It was the first day of summer vacation over twenty years ago. Driving home my cell phone rang. I answered to a panicked voice of my friend, Cristie. She said her agent had gotten her an audition at something called Funimation and she couldn't find it. She knew I grew up in the area and asked for help. After meeting in the parking lot of KFC and someone finally answering the phone we located the studio. They informed her that they had a cancellation and would be willing to see her. I asked, "What about me?"" She kindly asked them, and they kindly said, no. Well, I am a fighter and I went anyway! I attempted to give my business card to the receptionist at the front desk - "Should you happen to get a cancellation, I'll be waiting in the parking lot (In Texas! In June!!)"" He responded that he would not be able to help me.  I would need to speak with so and so. I asked where she might be found. He told me that as a matter of fact, she was walking through the glass doors now. You have all heard of someone's "Big Break?'' This was mine! A choir of voice acting angels sang as I nervously approached

her. "My name is Barry Yandell....," she cut me off saying that she knew me. I had just completed an 8 month run in a show called Forever Plaid. We were slight local celebrities so I assumed she knew me from that show. She said she actually recognized me because we competed against each other in college. As my nerves lessened, I asked, "Did you win, or did I?" She told me that I had probably won because I was so good. I thanked her for the compliment and asked if she happened to get a cancellation would she be willing to allow me an audition. She said, "Oh, I know what you can do, you don't need a cancellation, follow me."" She led me to a room filled with hopeful voice actors. My friends' face lit up followed by a confused expression as if to say, "How did you get back here?" I was allowed an audition and I don't remember much about that audition but was asked to return 3 to 5 times over the next few months. I landed my first role of Dolltaki in Dragon Ball GT: The Lost Episodes. And the rest....as they say, is history.