Jeff Bergman on taking over Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story 5

When Toy Story debuted in 1995 most of the toys were original creations, but Mr. Potato Head was a real toy that had been popular since the 1950s and remained a staple in children’s toy boxes. Pixar cast comedian Don Rickles and leaned on his loudmouth, insulting stage persona; the first film even nods to Rickles’ act when Mr.

Potato Head asks, “What are you looking at, you hockey puck?” Rickles voiced the character for the first three films and died in 2017, with archival recordings used for a few lines in the fourth. For Toy Story 5, Pixar recast the role and turned to Jeff Bergman, a voice actor known for striking impersonations and for inheriting legacy characters like Bugs Bunny and Fred Flintstone.

Bergman calls joining Toy Story “an epic honor of a lifetime” and says stepping in after Rickles carries a large responsibility to fans across generations. He compares the assignment to replacing Mel Blanc on Bugs Bunny, noting each legacy role presents different challenges; Mr.

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