When you think of Jafar, that tall, spindly sorcerer with the snake staff and the world's most dramatic eye makeup, you probably hear a very specific sound in your head. It’s a voice that’s simultaneously oily, elegant, and completely unhinged.
Honestly, it’s one of the most iconic villain performances in the history of animation. But who is the man behind the sneer?
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The voice of Jafar in Aladdin is Jonathan Freeman.
He didn't just step into a recording booth for a few weeks in the early '90s and call it a day. Freeman lived as Jafar for over thirty years. It’s a career trajectory that is basically unheard of in Hollywood, where roles are usually recast or rebooted every decade. From the original 1992 masterpiece to the Broadway stage, Freeman has been the consistent, gravelly soul of Agrabah’s most dangerous vizier.
The Man Who Created a Monster
Jonathan Freeman wasn't exactly a household name when he landed the gig. He was a seasoned stage actor, a "theater guy" through and through. In fact, he got the audition because a casting director saw him in an Off-Broadway show called In a Pig's Valise.
Imagine this: It’s 1990. Freeman goes into a tiny room in New York with a tape recorder. He does the voice. Then he waits. And waits.
Six months go by before a callback. Another six months pass before he gets the actual job. He finally got the "yes" on Christmas Day, 1990. Talk about a holiday gift.
What's wild is how much Freeman influenced the character's look. Jafar’s lead animator, Andreas Deja, worked closely with Freeman. He watched the actor's facial expressions and gestures during recording sessions. Those heavy eyelids? The way Jafar moves his hands? That's all Freeman. They became close friends, and that collaboration is why the character feels so cohesive. The voice and the drawing aren't just synced; they're the same person.
The Broadway Transition
Most voice actors stay in the booth. Freeman did something nobody else has ever done with a Disney character.
In 2011, when Disney decided to bring Aladdin to the stage, they didn't look for a "Jonathan Freeman type." They just hired the man himself. He is the first actor in Disney history to originate a voice on film and then play that same character in the Broadway production.
He stayed with the Broadway show for nearly eight years at the New Amsterdam Theatre. Think about the stamina that requires. Eight shows a week. Makeup that takes forever to apply. Heavy capes. And that voice—which Freeman has described as "operatic" in its scale—requires constant maintenance. He’s said in interviews that he basically lived on warm beverages and vocal rest just to keep Jafar sounding sufficiently menacing.
Why the 2019 Live-Action Jafar Felt Different
When the 2019 live-action remake was announced, everyone wondered if Freeman would return. He didn't. Instead, Disney cast Marwan Kenzari.
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Kenzari is a great actor, but the reaction was... mixed. Fans quickly dubbed him "Hot Jafar." That was part of the problem. In the original, Jafar is creepy. He’s an old, lanky, terrifying sorcerer. Kenzari’s version was younger, more of a "street rat who made it big."
The biggest sticking point for most people, though, was the voice.
Kenzari's voice is much higher than Freeman's. It lacked that rumbling, bass-heavy authority that we grew up with. Without that specific vocal texture, the character felt less like a looming threat and more like a petulant younger brother. It highlights just how much of Jafar's "villainy" was actually located in Jonathan Freeman’s vocal cords.
The Jafar "Multiverse" (Before That Was a Thing)
If you played Kingdom Hearts or watched the direct-to-video sequels like The Return of Jafar, you were still hearing Freeman.
He has reprised the role for:
- The Return of Jafar (1994)
- The Aladdin animated TV series
- Hercules: The Animated Series (that weird crossover episode!)
- House of Mouse
- The Kingdom Hearts video game series
- Theme park attractions and even talking books
He once joked that he gets called in to be Jafar every three to six months for something. Whether it’s a parade recording or a new toy, he’s been the "guardian" of that legacy.
A Few Weird Facts You Probably Didn't Know
Here’s the irony of the century: Jonathan Freeman is actually ornithophobic.
He is deathly afraid of birds.
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Think about that for a second. His most famous character spends 90% of his time with a parrot on his shoulder. When they were recording the original movie, Freeman had to work alongside the legendary Gilbert Gottfried (who voiced Iago). Luckily, they were in a studio, not a zoo.
Another fun tidbit: Freeman has his own "headcanon" for Jafar. He has mentioned in passing that he always played the character as if he were an opium smoker—slow, deliberate, and slightly detached from reality until he snaps into a "psychotic break." Disney definitely didn't put that in the press kit, but it explains that strange, hypnotic rhythm Jafar has.
The End of an Era?
In January 2022, Jonathan Freeman finally hung up the staff and the turban on Broadway. He "retired" from the stage production after thousands of performances.
But does a Disney villain ever really retire? Not really.
He’s still the "official" voice for animation and projects. When Disney needs Jafar for a cameo or a new game, Freeman is still the first call. He’s even done work for Cirque du Soleil projects involving the character.
How to Appreciate the Performance Today
If you want to really understand why the voice of Jafar in Aladdin matters, don't just watch the movie. Listen to the "deleted" music.
Before the 1992 film was finalized, Jafar had several full-length songs that were cut for time or tone. One was called "Humiliate the Boy." It’s incredibly dark. Another was "Why Me?" which Freeman actually recorded with a full orchestra at MGM Studios.
You can find these on the "Music Behind the Magic" box sets or various Special Edition DVDs. Hearing Freeman belt out a full villain song gives you a whole new appreciation for his range. He wasn't just a voice actor; he was a musical theater powerhouse who happened to be trapped inside a drawing of a vizier.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're a Disney buff or a voice acting nerd, here’s how to dive deeper into Freeman's work:
- Watch the Documentary Life, Animated: It’s a beautiful film about a boy with autism who uses Disney movies to communicate. Freeman makes a guest appearance and meets the boy. It’ll make you cry, guaranteed.
- Hunt Down the "Prince Ali" Reprise Demos: Listen to the different versions Freeman did. He experimented with different levels of "crazy" before they landed on the version in the film.
- Check Out His Other Broadway Roles: Freeman wasn't just Jafar. He was Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, Grimsby in The Little Mermaid, and Admiral Boom in Mary Poppins. He’s basically the unofficial King of Disney Broadway.
Jafar works as a villain because he feels real, even in a world with flying carpets. That reality comes from a man who spent three decades making sure every "s" was hissed perfectly and every evil laugh felt earned.
Next Step: Watch the 1992 Aladdin and the 2019 version back-to-back. Pay close attention to the scene where Jafar reveals himself in the throne room. The difference in vocal gravity between Freeman and Kenzari is the best lesson in voice acting you'll ever get.