You’ve probably heard the voice. It’s warm, slightly raspy, and feels like a grandfatherly hug. That was Hal Smith. He played John Avery Whittaker—the heart of Whit's End—for the first seven years of the show. When Smith passed away in 1994, fans didn't just lose a character; they lost the anchor of a series that, by all rights, probably shouldn't have lasted this long. But it did. The world of Adventures in Odyssey actors is a strange, tight-knit bubble where voices don't just tell stories; they become part of the listener’s family.
Audio drama is a brutal medium. You can’t rely on a handsome face or a flashy special effect. If the voice doesn't land, the story dies. Focus on the Family started this "radio drama" experiment back in 1987, and honestly, the casting was its secret weapon. They didn't just hire local talent from Colorado Springs. They tapped into a deep well of veteran Hollywood voice actors, people who had spent decades in the trenches of Disney films and Saturday morning cartoons.
The Impossible Task of Replacing a Legend
The biggest hurdle the show ever faced was the transition from Hal Smith to Paul Herlinger. Smith was an icon. He was Otis Campbell on The Andy Griffith Show. He was Owl in Winnie the Pooh. When he died, the show went on a hiatus for Whit, sending the character to the Middle East for a "mission trip." It was a clever narrative move, but eventually, the producers had to find a new voice.
Paul Herlinger didn't just "do an impression." That would’ve felt cheap. Instead, he captured the spirit of Whit—the wisdom, the occasional sternness, and the infinite patience. It’s fascinating because, for a whole generation of listeners who grew up in the late 90s, Paul is Whit. Then, life happened again. Herlinger’s health declined, leading to his retirement and eventual passing in 2010.
Enter Andre Stojka. If you’re a Disney fan, you know him as Owl (taking over for Hal Smith there, too!) or Ludwig Von Drake. Stojka brought a slightly more whimsical, energetic tone to the role. Some fans struggled with the shift, but that’s the reality of a show that’s been running for nearly four decades. The actors age. They retire. They pass on. Yet the characters, suspended in that perpetual "Odyssey" time, must live on.
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Katie Leigh and the Connie Kendall Evolution
Let’s talk about Katie Leigh. She has played Connie Kendall since the very beginning. Think about that for a second. She started playing a 16-year-old girl in 1987 and is still voicing her today. It’s a feat of vocal gymnastics that most people don't appreciate. Connie is the "everyman" of the show—impulsive, heartfelt, and often the one learning the toughest lessons.
Leigh’s career outside of Odyssey is massive. She was Sunny Gummi in Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears and Baby Rowlf in Muppet Babies. That professional polish is why Connie feels so real. She isn't just a caricature of a teenager. Over 900+ episodes, we’ve heard Leigh navigate Connie through the death of her mother (June Kendall), her conversion to Christianity, and her endless "will-they-won't-they" tension with Mitch.
The chemistry between Adventures in Odyssey actors is often built on decades of real-life friendship. When you hear Connie and Eugene sniped at each other, that’s Katie Leigh and Will Ryan tapping into a rapport they developed over thirty years of recording together.
The Tragedy of Will Ryan and the Eugene Meltsner Legacy
Will Ryan was a genius. There’s really no other way to put it. He didn't just voice Eugene Meltsner; he was the character's DNA. Eugene was the brilliant, loquacious, slightly socially awkward foil to basically everyone in town. Ryan’s ability to deliver high-speed, multisyllabic dialogue without tripping over his tongue was legendary in the booth.
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When Will Ryan passed away in late 2021, it sent a shockwave through the fandom. How do you replace Eugene? You don't. For a long time, the show’s producers wrestled with how to handle his absence. They eventually introduced characters like his son, Buck Oliver (voiced by Robby Bruce), to carry the Meltsner torch. But the loss of Ryan highlighted a truth about the show: certain actors are irreplaceable because they didn't just read lines; they improvised, they sang, and they helped shape the scripts.
Breaking Down the Supporting Cast
Odyssey thrives on its "B-team." These are the characters who fill the town and make it feel lived-in.
- Chris Anthony: As the host, "Chris" is the first voice you hear. She’s the bridge between our world and the fictional one. Her delivery is incredibly consistent—always cheerful, always welcoming.
- Townsend Coleman: You might know him as Michelangelo from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In Odyssey, he plays Jason Whittaker, Whit’s son. He brings a gritty, action-hero energy that balances out the softer tones of the show.
- Jess Harnell: This guy is a voice-acting titan. He’s Wakko Warner from Animaniacs. In Odyssey, he plays Wooton Bassett, the eccentric, comic-book-loving mailman. Wooton could have been an annoying character, but Harnell’s genuine warmth makes him one of the most beloved figures in the series.
- Walker Edmiston: He played Tom Riley and Bart Rathbone. Think about the range required to play the town’s most moral farmer and its most sleazy car salesman/politician at the same time. He did it seamlessly for years.
Why Voice Acting for Audio Drama is Different
In a movie, an actor can use a subtle look to convey grief. In Odyssey, the actor has to put that grief into the breath, the hesitation, or a slight crack in the voice. Dave Arnold and Paul McCusker, the longtime writers and directors, often talk about "the theater of the mind." They rely on the actors to paint the scenery.
When an actor like Kimmy Robertson (Penny Wise) enters a scene, the energy shifts instantly. You "see" her brightly colored outfits and frantic movements just through the pitch and pace of her speech. This is why the show hasn't moved to full-scale animation. There’s something special about the intimacy of audio that lets the listener co-create the world with the actors.
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The New Generation and the Future of Odyssey
The show is currently in a transition phase. We’re seeing more younger actors come into the fold to play the "kids" of Odyssey. Unlike the adults, the child actors have to be replaced every few years because, well, puberty happens.
Shona Kennedy, who won a "Get in the Show" contest to join the cast as Jules Kendall, is a great example of how the production team is trying to find fresh talent that can keep up with the veterans. It’s a steep learning curve. You’re stepping into a booth with people who have been doing this for forty years.
How to Follow the Cast Today
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of these performers, there are a few places to go.
- The Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast: This is the gold standard. They regularly interview the actors, and you get to hear the "real" voices behind the characters. Seeing Will Ryan or Katie Leigh out of character is always a trip.
- The Adventures in Odyssey Club: This is a subscription service that gives access to almost every episode ever made, plus exclusive "behind the scenes" video footage of the recording sessions.
- Fan Conventions: Events like "Skyline" or various Christian media outings often feature these actors. They are notoriously kind to their fans, largely because they know they’ve been the soundtrack to people’s childhoods.
What You Should Do Next
If you really want to appreciate the craft of these Adventures in Odyssey actors, stop listening to the show as "background noise." Pick a character-heavy episode—something like "The Mortal Coil" or "The Life of the Party"—and put on a pair of high-quality headphones.
Listen for the mouth noises. Listen for the way they inhale before a big revelation. Notice how the veteran actors handle the comedy versus the high-stakes drama. The nuance is staggering. You’ll start to realize that Odyssey isn't just "a show for kids"; it's a masterclass in vocal performance that has managed to maintain a high bar of excellence for nearly four decades.
Explore the IMDB pages of the main cast. You’ll be shocked at how many of your favorite childhood cartoons were voiced by the same people who hang out at Whit's End. It gives you a whole new perspective on the talent required to make a fictional town in Ohio feel like home.