When you think of a warthog with a flatulence problem and a heart of gold, you probably hear one specific, raspy, boisterous voice in your head. It’s iconic. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine The Lion King even working without that specific comedic timing. If you’ve ever wondered who voiced Pumbaa in The Lion King, the answer starts with a man named Ernie Sabella, but the story is a lot more interesting than just a name on a casting sheet.
It wasn't just a job. Sabella, alongside Nathan Lane (who voiced Timon), basically reshaped the entire dynamic of the movie.
Initially, the creators of the 1994 Disney classic didn't envision Timon and Pumbaa as the scene-stealing duo we know today. They were meant to be much more secondary characters. But when Ernie Sabella and Nathan Lane showed up to audition, they didn't just read lines. They riffed. They ad-libbed. They brought a vaudevillian energy that forced the animators to rethink everything.
The Man Behind the Tusks: Ernie Sabella
Ernie Sabella is the definitive answer to the question. Before he became a Disney legend, he was a seasoned Broadway actor. That stage background is exactly why Pumbaa feels so "big." Animation requires a certain level of over-acting because the voice has to carry the character's physical weight. Sabella nailed that.
He didn't just do a voice; he created a persona.
Interestingly, Sabella and Lane were actually starring in Guys and Dolls on Broadway together when they auditioned. They walked into the recording booth at the same time, which was unusual for voice acting back then. Usually, actors record their lines solo. Because they had such natural chemistry from their nightly stage performances, the producers let them record together. That’s where the magic happened. Most of the banter you hear in the final film—the bickering, the overlapping jokes, the genuine warmth—came from those live sessions where they were literally standing next to each other, making each other laugh.
Why his performance stuck
There is a specific texture to Sabella’s voice. It’s gravelly but sweet. If he had played Pumbaa as a strictly "gross" character, the audience might have turned away. Instead, he played him with a certain naivety. Pumbaa is arguably the smartest character in the movie—he’s the one who actually understands what stars are (balls of gas burning billions of miles away)—but Sabella voices him with such humility that it feels like a throwaway line.
The "Hakuna Matata" philosophy wouldn't have landed if the voice didn't sound like someone who had actually found peace.
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Seth Rogen and the 2019 Remake
Fast forward twenty-five years. Disney decides to do the "live-action" (hyper-realistic CGI) remake. This time, the task of who voiced Pumbaa in The Lion King fell to Seth Rogen.
This was a polarizing choice for some purists.
Rogen has a very distinct public persona. He’s known for a specific type of laugh and a specific type of humor. However, director Jon Favreau wanted the 2019 version to feel more like a documentary-style film where the animals just happened to talk. Rogen’s natural, conversational, and somewhat stoner-adjacent vibe actually fit that brief quite well.
- Rogen brought a more improvised, modern feel to the dialogue.
- He worked closely with Billy Eichner (Timon) to replicate that "recorded in the same room" energy from the original.
- He leaned into the physical comedy of Pumbaa’s size, using his deep bass voice to emphasize the character's girth.
While Sabella’s Pumbaa was a Broadway belter, Rogen’s Pumbaa felt more like a guy you’d meet at a backyard BBQ. Both versions work for their respective films, but Sabella remains the blueprint.
Other Actors Who Stepped Into the Hooves
Believe it or not, the list of people who have voiced Pumbaa is longer than just two names. Because Disney has produced so many spin-offs, theme park attractions, and sequels, they’ve needed "sound-alikes" or replacement actors over the years.
In the Timon & Pumbaa TV series, Ernie Sabella actually returned for most of it. He’s incredibly loyal to the character. But in various video games and certain animated shorts, other actors have stepped in.
- Kevin Schon: He often filled in for Nathan Lane as Timon, but he also provided additional voices in the franchise and worked closely with the Pumbaa character in various media.
- Braxton Beckham: Voiced a younger version or appeared in different iterations like The Lion Guard.
Actually, speaking of The Lion Guard, that show introduced a whole new generation to the pride lands. Ernie Sabella came back again to voice Pumbaa in that series. It’s rare for an actor to stick with a character for three decades, but Sabella has stated in multiple interviews that Pumbaa is his favorite role. He feels a deep responsibility to keep the character’s spirit consistent.
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The Secret Ingredient: The Grunt
If you listen closely to Sabella’s performance, it’s not just the words. It’s the grunts. The sighs. The little snorts. He spent time thinking about how a warthog would actually breathe.
When you’re asking who voiced Pumbaa in The Lion King, you’re really asking about the architecture of a performance. Sabella used a technique where he pushed his voice into the back of his throat to get that "muddy" quality. It sounds exhausting. And yet, he made it sound effortless.
Seth Rogen, on the other hand, didn't try to mimic Sabella's rasp. He used his own natural "gravel." Rogen’s Pumbaa is less of a caricature and more of a literal animal. This reflects the change in animation styles; you can't have a hyper-realistic warthog doing Broadway-style jazz hands. It would look terrifying.
Cultural Impact and the "Pumbaa Legacy"
Pumbaa was actually the first character in Disney history to... well, have gas. It was a big deal at the time. The writers were nervous about it. They thought it might be too "low-brow" for a Disney masterpiece.
But Sabella’s delivery saved it.
Because he voiced the character with such sincerity and slight embarrassment, the "flatulence" became a character trait rather than just a cheap gag. It made him an underdog. Everyone can relate to having something about themselves that they’re a bit ashamed of, right? That vulnerability is why Pumbaa is often cited as the most relatable character in the movie.
Beyond the Movie: Where are they now?
Ernie Sabella is still around, often appearing at fan conventions. He’s fully embraced his status as a Disney icon. He often tells stories about how he and Nathan Lane were originally told they were auditioning for the roles of the hyenas. Can you imagine? Pumbaa as a hyena? It wouldn't have worked.
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The casting directors realized almost immediately that their chemistry was too "good" for villains. They needed to be the heart of the movie’s second act.
Seth Rogen continues to produce and act in massive hits, but he’s noted that Pumbaa was one of the most "nerve-wracking" roles of his career because he knew how much the original meant to people. He didn't want to ruin a childhood icon.
What to Remember About the Voices
When you look back at the history of the franchise, the voice of Pumbaa represents a shift in how Disney handled comedy. They moved away from scripted, rigid performances and toward character-driven, improvisational brilliance.
Whether it’s the 1994 Broadway-infused performance of Ernie Sabella or the 2019 "naturalist" approach of Seth Rogen, the character remains a pillar of the story.
If you want to dive deeper into the world of The Lion King voice acting, your next step should be watching the "Behind the Scenes" footage of the 1994 recording sessions. Seeing Ernie Sabella and Nathan Lane in their 30s, sweating in a booth and screaming lines at each other, gives you a whole new appreciation for the film. You can find these clips on Disney+ under the "Extras" tab for the original movie. It’s a masterclass in voice acting that shows how much of the character's soul came from the actors' real-life friendship.
Also, keep an ear out for Sabella in smaller Disney cameos; he’s popped up in everything from House of Mouse to various kingdom-themed video games, proving that once you are the voice of a warthog, you’re the voice for life.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the Original Cast Recording of The Lion King on Spotify to hear Sabella’s full vocal range in "Eating Bugs."
- Compare the 1994 and 2019 versions of "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" to hear the subtle differences in how Sabella and Rogen handle Pumbaa’s comedic interruptions.
- Look up Ernie Sabella’s work in Guys and Dolls to see the theatrical roots of his performance.